Pre-Health Professions Advising

On This Page

Idaho State University offers advising for pre-health professional students which prepares them for application to and acceptance by a variety of health professional schools. Health professional programs for which advising is offered include: pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-physician assistant, pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, pre-veterinary medicine, pre-optometry, pre-podiatry, pre-chiropractic, pre-counseling, and pre-naturopathic medicine. For students interested in one of the health professional programs offered at Idaho State University, such as counseling, dental hygiene, community and public health, dietetics and nutrition sciences, health care administration, medical laboratory science, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, pharmacy, radiographic science, and speech pathology and audiology, the Pre-Health Advisor will refer students to the appropriate department or college for additional information.

The Pre-Health Professions Advisors are located on both the Pocatello Campus and the Meridian Campus. The main Pre-Health Advising Office is located in Beckley Nursing 307 in Pocatello. Students who plan to apply to one of the professional schools listed above should establish and maintain regular contact with a Pre-Health Advisor throughout their undergraduate program at Idaho State University. The Pre-Health Advisors monitor students’ progress through their degree programs and the health professional prerequisite courses, provide information about application procedures, and organize informational meetings, workshops, and speakers on specific health professional topics. The advisors also chair the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee that provides help to better prepare students for the health professional programs' application processes. The advisors also work with student organizations, such as the Pre-Health Professions Association, which provides leadership and service experiences.

Pre-Health Advisors:

To make an appointment with a Pre-Health Advisor, visit the Pre-Health Advising Directory

In general, health professional programs (such as medical and dental school) have no preference for specific pre-professional academic majors. Instead, they prefer that applicants major in a defined academic area (health science, biology, chemistry, psychology, or economics, for example) and complete necessary prerequisites while completing their degree requirements. Ideally, the degree or course of study should concurrently satisfy the prerequisite courses for the specific health professional school. The BS in Health Science is an interdisciplinary degree that has been designed specifically to fulfill the requirements for most health professional programs. Pre-Health professional students should consult with a Pre-Health Advisor or a member of the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee in order to successfully combine an academic major with a pre-health professional program. It is strongly recommended that pre-professional students develop a strong background in courses such as those listed below (this list is not comprehensive, but includes much of the basic coursework required for many health professional programs). Courses required by most health professional schools include, but are not limited to, the following, many of which also satisfy General Education Objectives:

BIOL 1101
& 1101L		Biology I
and Biology I Lab		4
BIOL 1102
& 1102L		Biology II
and Biology II Lab		4
BIOL 2206
& BIOL 2207		Cell Biology
and Cell Biology Laboratory		4
BIOL 4432Biochemistry3
CHEM 1111
& 1111L		General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab		5
CHEM 1112
& 1112L		General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab		4
CHEM 3301Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 3302Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 3303Organic Chemistry Laboratory I1
CHEM 3304Organic Chemistry Laboratory II1
ENGL 1101Writing and Rhetoric I3-4
or ENGL 1101P Writing and Rhetoric I Plus
ENGL 1102Writing and Rhetoric II3
PHYS 1111General Physics I3
PHYS 1112General Physics II3
PHYS 1113
& PHYS 1114		General Physics I Laboratory
and General Physics II Laboratory		2
PSYC 1101Introduction to Psychology3
and/or
SOC 1101Introduction to Sociology3

(Departmental prerequisites may apply to some of these courses.)

In addition to completing specified prerequisite courses, most health professional schools require that the pre-professional student obtain practical experience in the health professional field she or he plans to enter, and take a national standardized admission test. Up-to-date and specific information about the national exams and acceptable practical experiences may be obtained from a Pre-Health Advisor. Additional information that may be useful is included in the sections below.

Chiropractic

The undergraduate courses listed above provide some guidance for the pre-chiropractic student. However, significant differences in pre-requisite coursework by the various chiropractic schools require that students obtain a specific list of requirements for each school. The most current admission requirements for chiropractic schools are described on the schools’ websites, which can be accessed through the Association of Chiropractic Colleges website at http://www.chirocolleges.org.

Dentistry

The Idaho State University courses listed above provide a core for pre-dental requirements of most dental schools. However, some dental schools have additional requirements. The most current admission requirements for each dental school are described on the schools’ websites, which can be accessed through the American Dental Education Association website at http://www.adea.org, or by consulting the latest edition of “ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools,” published by the American Dental Education Association, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20001. A copy of this guide is available in the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office. All dental applicants must take the Dental Admission Test (DAT), and have shadowed a practicing dentist prior to applying to the individual schools of dentistry.

Cooperative Program with the Creighton University School of Dentistry

In the fall of 1982, Idaho State University and the Creighton University School of Dentistry implemented a decentralized dental education program, the Idaho Dental Education Program (IDEP). Under this program, up to 8 seats per year at the Creighton University School of Dentistry are reserved for Idaho residents. The first professional year of the dental school program is on the Idaho State University campus in Pocatello. The students then move to the Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, NE for the second, third, and fourth professional years. Idaho residents who wish to be considered for IDEP must apply to Creighton University School of Dentistry and meet all other admission requirements.

Allopathic Medicine

The undergraduate courses required by most medical schools are the same as those described above. However, many medical schools have additional requirements. The most current admission requirements for each medical school are described on the individual schools’ websites, which can be accessed through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website at http://www.aamc.org, or by subscribing to the  “Medical School Admission Requirements, USA and Canada,” updated by the Association of American Medical Colleges, One Dupont Circle NW, Washington, D. C. 20036. This information is available in the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office. All medical applicants must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and have shadowed a practicing physician prior to applying to the individual schools of medicine.

Cooperative Program with the University of Washington School of Medicine

Idaho residents are eligible for the Washington-Wyoming-Alaska-Montana-Idaho (WWAMI) decentralized medical education program of the University of Washington School of Medicine. Currently, the University of Washington reserves 40 seats for Idaho residents, and accepted students are charged an Idaho tuition rate. Idaho residents who wish to be considered for the WWAMI program must apply to the University of Washington School of Medicine, and meet all other admission requirements. Additional information about the WWAMI program is available in the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office.

WWAMI Idaho TRUST - As part of the application process, Idaho WWAMI students can now apply to participate in a focused rural and urban under-served track.  The goal of this track, called Idaho TRUST (Targeted Rural Under-served Track), is to allow for a focused medical school experience in rural and urban under-served care, with the eventual goal of returning physicians to practice in the rural and urban under-served areas of Idaho.  Idaho TRUST students will have multiple opportunities to experience firsthand the joys and satisfaction of practicing medicine in a rural or urban under-served community.  More information is available through the TRUST website:  https://depts.washington.edu/fammed/education/program/trust.

Cooperative Program with the University of Utah School of Medicine

Idaho residents are eligible to compete for 10 reserved seats at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and those accepted under this program pay an Idaho tuition rate. To be considered for this program, students must apply to the University of Utah School of Medicine, and meet all other admission requirements. Additional information about the Idaho agreement with the University of Utah School of Medicine is available in the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office.

 

Osteopathic Medicine

Admission requirements and undergraduate prerequisite courses for schools of osteopathic medicine are nearly identical to those described under medicine. More information about osteopathic medicine and admission requirements for the individual schools of osteopathic medicine can be found at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) website at http://www.aacom.org or by consulting the latest edition of "Osteopathic Medical College Information Book," published by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, 1090 Vermont Ave, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005.  A copy of this publication is available in the Pre-Health Professions Office.  All osteopathic medical applicants must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and have shadowed a practicing physician prior to applying to the individual schools of osteopathic medicine.

Guaranteed Interview Program with the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)

This program is made available for up to twenty (20) ISU students each year who meet the general admission requirements, including minimum MCAT and GPA as published on ICOM's website at the time of application, as well as all required prerequisite courses. Students must be nominated by the Office of Pre-Health Advising at ISU. Students are guaranteed an interview with ICOM, but not necessarily admission.

Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant

Advising for each of these professions is available at Idaho State University. Specific pre-professional requirements for these programs can be obtained in the Physical and Occupational Therapy section and Physician Assistant Studies section of this catalog.

Students may be advised in satisfying prerequisites not only for these programs at Idaho State University, but also for programs in the same profession located at other institutions. Students may consult with the Pre-Health Advisor for information about prerequisites for admission to these programs at other institutions. Prerequisites for professional programs at other institutions can be met by courses taken at Idaho State University.

Optometry

The undergraduate courses listed above provide some guidance for the pre-optometry student. However, significant differences in pre-optometry requirements by the various optometry schools require that students obtain a specific list of requirements for each optometry school. The most current admission requirements for optometry schools are described on the schools’ websites, which can be accessed through the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) website at http://www.opted.org, or by consulting the latest edition of “Schools and Colleges of Optometry Admission Requirements.” This is an electronic publication available on the ASCO website. All optometry applicants must take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT).

Podiatric Medicine

The undergraduate courses listed above are required by most podiatric medical schools. However, some podiatric medical schools may have additional requirements. The most current admission requirements for podiatric medical schools are described on the schools’ websites, which can be accessed through the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine website at http://www.aacpm.org, or by consulting the latest edition of “Podiatric Medical Education,” available from the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, 15850 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 320, Rockville MD 20855. A copy of this publication is available in the Pre-Health Professions Office. All podiatric medical applicants must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). In addition, most schools of podiatric medicine expect applicants to have shadowed a practicing podiatrist prior to applying to the individual schools of podiatry.

Veterinary Medicine

The undergraduate courses listed above provide some guidance for the pre-veterinary medicine student. However, significant differences in pre-veterinary requirements by the various schools of veterinary medicine require that students obtain a specific list of requirements for each school. The most current admission requirements for veterinary medicine schools are described on the schools’ websites, which can be accessed through the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC): http://www.aavmc.org. Veterinary medicine applicants must take the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and have volunteer experience with a practicing veterinarian prior to applying to the individual schools of veterinary medicine.

Idaho residents should be aware that a long term agreement has been reached among the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho (WOI) to share responsibility for the curriculum and program at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The WOI program gives admissions preference to 11 Idaho residents. Students who are not residents of Idaho or any students who wish to apply to other schools of veterinary medicine should consult with the Pre-Health Advisor concerning the proper development of a pre-veterinary medical program at Idaho State University.

Websites of Interest to Pre-Health Professions Students

Most health professions have national associations that maintain detailed websites with information about the profession, the professional schools, and admissions information. The list below includes websites most commonly used by the pre-health professions students.

Chiropractic

Dentistry

Medicine

Allopathic (M.D.)

Osteopathic (D.O.)

Podiatric (D.P.M.)

Occupational Therapy

Optometry

Physical Therapy

Physician Assistant

Veterinary Medicine