Advising

Many of our Biology majors are planning a career in medicine. If you are one of these, you should start as early as possible getting mentally ready for what is ahead of you. For example, you will need to develop the ability to critically think through situations and problems in order to do well on the MCAT, which you will be taking the spring semester of your junior year. That kind of thinking doesn't just happen in a few weeks. It is something you should start working on now. Be sure you stay mentally engaged in your classes... all of them. Keep your mind sharp and try to develop and maintain the ability to do higher level thinking. Just being able to repeat something by rote memory is not higher level thinking. Being able to take different pieces of information and come up with something new is an aspect of higher level thinking. Start training your mind now.

The Department of Biology has a suggested schedule of courses you should take to be ready for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and to fulfill the requirements of the medical schools in Texas. Of course, this schedule can be tailored somewhat for your particular situation. It is, however, a pretty intense schedule so that a student can finish at UMHB in 4 years, even with the additional courses needed as prerequisites for medical school. Learn what to expect on the current MCAT and how to go about scheduling a time to take it.

TMDSAS is the centralized application processing service for applicants to the first-year entering classes at all of the public medical, dental and veterinary schools in the state of Texas. Access the online medical school application and for information on deadlines. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has also put together a nice timeline for application/admission to medical school.

Dr. Woodward of the Department of Biology, is who you should see for Health Advisory Committee letters of recommendation as you begin your application process. In addition, you should be sure that you get on his email list so that you are aware of special meetings and opportunities that arise for pre-med students from time to time.

There are three dental schools in Texas, all public institutions. All three dental schools have a four-year professional curriculum. Career options include general dentistry; dental public health; endodontics; oral & maxillofacial pathology, radiology, or surgery; orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics; pediatric dentistry; periodontics; and prosthodontics. The Texas Association of Advisors for the Health Professions has put together an informational handout you may find helpful as you consider the area of dentistry you are interested in. Among other things included on this handout is a list of prerequisites required by each of the three schools and information on application procedures.

Additional information about the Dental Admission Test can be found on the American Dental Association website. Find quick links to what areas you can expect to be tested on.

Another site you may find useful is the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), where you will find a wealth of information to guide you through the process of preparing for a career in dentistry.

Dr. Seena Mathew of the Department of Biology handles the advising for Biology majors who are planning to apply to dental school.

Veterinarians diagnose and treat diseases in a variety of animals. It is not unusual for them to specialize in a particular area of veterinary medicine, such as large animal or research, but many also own private practices dealing with many different species. Find additional information on veterinary medicine from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There are 28 veterinary medicine colleges in the United States, one of which is in Texas – Texas A&M. Some of them do not require a bachelor’s degree for admission but the competition is so high for admission (only 1/3 of applicants are admitted) that, realistically, a bachelor’s degree is needed. Applicants without a degree face a difficult time in gaining admittance.

Students serious about applying for admission to a veterinary medicine program should make sure they have logged experience around animals. Working with a practicing vet is one way to gain such experience. The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is also required by Texas A&M for admission.

In our department, Dr. Cathleen Early advises students wanting to pursue veterinary medicine. She can help you design a degree plan that covers all of the prerequisites for graduate studies in veterinary medicine and fulfills UMHB’s requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree. Most of our pre-Vet students pursue a Biology major with a minor in Chemistry. The Biology major allows the student to study a variety of animals (birds, reptiles, amphibians, vertebrates in general) and get field experience as well.

The Texas Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (TAAHP) has put together a helpful document for students interested in veterinary medicine which contains links to application services, national veterinary medicine societies, and schools outside of Texas. It also lists the prerequisites for entering the veterinary medicine program at Texas A&M. You may also go directly to the Texas A&M website for specific courses at UMHB that fulfill prerequisite requirements.

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and tell them how to safely use those medications. They often work in hospitals and clinics as part of a team of healthcare providers and they also may work outside the hospital in retail stores. Some pharmacists also work in the pharmaceutical industry designing new drugs or conducting clinical drug trials. Often times these individuals not only have a PharmD but also have a PhD to support the research end of things.

Pharmacists must have great analytical skills so that they can evaluate a patient’s needs and the effects that a particular medication may have on that patient. Because they interact with patients extensively, they must also have good communication skills. They must be detail-oriented because they are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of a prescription that they fill. If the pharmacist owns and runs their own retail pharmacy, they must also have good managerial skills both in the area of inventory and in staff oversight.

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) is required for individuals wanting to work as pharmacists. Pharmacists must have this degree in order to sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), which is one component of the licensure process required to practice in the United States. Following graduation from a PharmD program, some pharmacists may need to complete a 1-to 2-year residency, depending upon the specialty area that they desire to go into. The job outlook projection for pharmacists is to grow 3% per year up through 2024. In 2016, the average annual salary was $122,230.

Most PharmD programs take 4 years of post-baccalaureate work at an accredited college of pharmacy. There are currently 8 schools of pharmacy in Texas. See the prerequisites for each of the schools along with additional information about their programs.

The primary advisor for pre-pharmacy students in the Department of Biology is Dr. Ylostalo. He will be glad to help you successfully plan your pre-pharmacy coursework.

Clinical laboratory scientists are responsible for the performance of routine and specialized tests in the clinical laboratory. They are educated to correlate test results with the physiological condition of patients. Physicians utilize these results to determine the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of disease. Areas of laboratory medicine in which the clinical laboratory scientists are involved include hematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, hemostasis, immunohematology, serology, microbiology (including parasitology, mycology, and virology), and urinalysis. In addition to hospitals, clinical laboratory scientists may be employed in veterinary schools and clinics, research, reference laboratories, physician offices, industry, and biotechnology companies. Opportunities also exist for those interested in management/administration and education. For those who wish further education, clinical laboratory science can serve as a stepping stone to graduate degrees in biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pathology, medicine, dentistry, public health, or hospital administration.

UMHB has a close working relationship with the Scott & White Program in Clinical Laboratory Science. Application to the S&W CLS program is competitive – students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and a minimum science GPA of 2.5. Download an application form for this program and access the letter of recommendation form. Complete admissions requirements can also be found at this link.

Of course, a UMHB student may also complete a 4-year degree here and then apply to any other licensed program that they have met the prerequisites for. Find information on CLS training programs in Texas and professional CLS organization links.

Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. Their job description includes diagnosing and treating illnesses, assisting in surgery, writing prescriptions, giving physical exams, and a variety of other medically-oriented activities.

Training for PA's is extensive and follows a medical model somewhat like that of a physician. PA training includes basic medical and behavioral science instruction followed by clinical rotations in the major fields of medicine, including geriatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine, etc. Training typically takes about 26 months, although this may vary with the program and degree chosen. Upon graduation, PA's must pass a national certification exam prior to state licensure.

Most applicants to PA training programs have a bachelor's degree and about 4 years of healthcare experience (for example, nursing, EMT, paramedic) but you should check with the PA program you are interested in for their specific prerequisites. Many PA programs in the United States have a centralized application process so that applicants only need to fill out the CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants). Some programs require additional application forms. For additional information on physician assistants, including specific links to programs within Texas and across the United States, you may want to go to the American Academy of Physician Assistants website (under the FAQ heading). They also have data and statistical information on salary and employment. Another informative website is the Physician Assistant Education Association website.

Dr. Karen Grant is the person you should see for additional information on how to successfully prepare for admission to a physician assistant training program. She is regularly keeping abreast of any changes that may affect prerequisites needed for such a program. One such useful piece of information is the Pre-PA Manual on the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) website which gives current course prerequisites for all Texas PA training programs, along with application deadlines for those schools and whether or not they require the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) for admission.

Some other links you may find useful:

• Physician Assistant Scholarships
• Physician Assistant Careers

• Biology Plan
• Pre-Med/Pre-Dental Plan
• Pre-Veterinary Plan
• Pre-Physician Assistant Plan
• Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science Plan
• Pre 8-12 Life Science Certification Plan