Some Pre-Professional Programs

Pre-professional programs:

Medicine
Optometry
Dentistry
Cytotechnology
Pharmacy
Veterinary medicine

Links to information about other professions including: physical therapy, nursing, engineering in medicine, and x-ray Technologies.

Another useful link:

UW System Transfer Information System -- for information about transferring course credits between UW institutions, and between Wisconsin Technical College System and UW institutions.

Pre-medicine

Detailed information found here

Links of interest:
American Medical Association
Association of American Medical Colleges
National Prehealth Student Organization
UW-Madison Medical School
Medical College of Wisconsin

Pre-medicine advisor:
Dr. Pete Mesner, Biology Dept., 319 Upham Hall, 472-5139, mesnerp@mail.uww.edu

Pre-optometry

Majors: There is no specific "pre-optometry" major. At UW-W, you will earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in a major of your choice. Optometry schools do not require a particular major, so you should choose your major based on your own interests and aptitudes. However, since many Optometry programs require a Microbiology course, students usually choose a Biology major or minor.

Typical Requirements for a College of Optometry Admissions

The pre-optometry program requires the following minimum courses:

English, two semesters (ENGLISH 101 and 102)
Psychology (PSYCH 211)
Introductory Biology II: Animal Focus with lab, one semester (BIOLOGY 142)^*
^*BIOLOGY 142 has a pre-req of BIOLOGY 141
General chemistry with lab, two semesters (CHEM 102 and 104)
Organic chemistry with lab, one semester (CHEM 251 and 261)
Calculus and analytic geometry I (MATH 253)
General physics with lab, two semesters (PHYSCS 140 and 141) or (PHYSCS 180 and 181)^**
^**PHYSCS 180 has a co-req of MATH 253, PHYSCS 181 has a co-req of MATH 254

Most Optometry programs also require applicants to have taken the following courses:

A basic statistical methods course (MATH 230, 231, or 352)
Microbiology (BIOLOGY 311)^***
^***BIOLOGY 311 has pre-reqs of BIOLOGY 141, 142, 251, and 253; CHEM 102 and 104

Here is a list of required or recommended courses for several schools of optometry.

See Dr. Pelzel for more specific pre-optometry advising information.

Timetable: Regardless of what major you choose, the required courses listed above should be completed by the end of your junior year. The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is usually taken near the end of the junior year or just before the senior year begins. The OAT covers quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, physics, biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. The exam is required for admission to any optometry program.

Grade point average: For serious consideration by medical schools, your GPA must be well above 3.0. The mean GPA for all students accepted to medical school is around 3.2.

Optometry School: Admission into optometry school is very competitive. Here is a chart of student profiles showing the admissions statistics for the major optometry schools in the nation.

A good site to find information about Optometry programs is the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. They have links to ASCO Member Schools and Colleges of Optometry Programs.

Links of interest:
American Optometric Association
American Optometric Student Association
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
Worldwide optometry schools

Here are links to the 17 accredited schools of optometry:

Indiana University School of Optometry	Southern College of Optometry	Illinois College of Optometry
Ohio State University	Michigan College of Optometry	University of Missouri - St. Louis
Pennsylvania College of Optometry	New England College of Optometry	State University of New York
Nova Southeastern University	Northeastern State University	University of Alabama - Birmingham
Sothern California College of Optometry	University of California - Berkeley	Pacific University
University of Houston	InterAmerican Univ. of Puerto Rico

Pre-optometry advisor:
Dr. Heather Pelzel, Biology Dept., 157 Upham Hall, 472-5113, pelzelh@uww.edu

Pre-dentistry

"A dental education opens up a world of professional opportunities. In addition to private practice, today's dental school graduates can choose to work in hospital emergency rooms, conduct advanced laboratory research, teach future dentists or even travel the world with international health and relief organizations." from ADA.org

Links of interest:

Pre-dentistry advisor:
Dr. Michael Woller, Biology Dept., 316 Upham Hall, 472-5137, wollerm@uww.edu

Cytotechnology

Description

Cytotechnologists are trained to perform microscopic examinations of body cells in order to detect the subtle differences that differentiate normal from neoplastic (cancerous) cells. Physicians rely on the diagnostic abilities of cytotechnologists to detect cancers in their early stages; greatly improving the potential for success in subsequent cancer treatment. Cytotechnologists are employed in hospitals, clinics, and medical laboratories. Experienced cytotechnologists have the opportunity to advance into supervisory positions and into research and teaching.

Training

Cytotechnologist training generally involves an intensive 12 month program consisting of lectures, discussions, and practical instruction in microscopy, microscopic pathology, cytogenetics, quality assurance, and laboratory procedures.

Typical Cytotechnology Program Admissions Requirements

A baccalaureate degree including a minimum of 20 semester hours in biological sciences, eight semester hours in chemistry, and three semester hours in mathematics. A minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is required. Favorable consideration will be given to applicants with above average academic record and recommendations. The School of Cytotechnology at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene offers a "3+1" program under which a student may be accepted into the school after completing three years of undergraduate course work. The course work must include the minimum requirements listed above and must be completed at an affiliated college or university such as UW-Whitewater.