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Is helping others a central motivation in your life? Do you have a strong desire and the enthusiasm to make a difference in your chosen profession? Do you have what it takes to become a physician, dentist, physical therapist or veterinarian? Qualities like maturity, stability, integrity, responsibility and trustworthiness are necessary to succeed in these highly competitive fields.
Elon’s health professions program is designed to advice and prepare students for entry into a variety of health professions, such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, podiatry, public health, psychology, osteopathy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician’s assistant, occupational therapy, nursing and many others.
“Elon's focus on engaged learning allowed me to gain exposure to most aspects of scientific research, and I had many opportunities to participate in community service, leadership and athletics. Most importantly, my close interactions with faculty enhanced my education.”
Geoffrey Lynn ’07
NIH Oxford/Cambridge Scholar
Health professions students may choose any major but should meet with a health professions advisor for assistance in planning a course of study as soon as possible. You should anticipate taking introductory biology or physics as well as chemistry courses your first semester.
Students should select a major and obtain an undergraduate degree in an area that is of greatest interest to them, keeping in mind that the minimum requirements for individual professional schools must be met. Although a science major may not be required for most health professions, typical minimum entrance requirements for medical, dental and related schools include two semesters each (eight semester hours) of general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, mathematics (may require calculus) and courses in English and social sciences.
At Elon, classes are small and the low student-faculty ratio means that students enjoy significant individual attention and build close working relationships with their professors. Faculty are closely involved with student research as well as their own research. They provide close supervision and advice for students interested in health professions.
Elon’s Health Professions Committee is designed to guide and advise students who have an interest in pursuing a variety of health professions. The committee is composed of faculty members with a background and expertise in advising students interested in health profession careers.
Health professions students have many opportunities to gain valuable experience through service learning, internships and study abroad. Contacts are made on campus, locally or through hometown health professionals. Health professions students are encouraged to pursue research projects and present their findings at institutional, regional and national conferences, such as Elon’s annual Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
Students can join the Lincoln Health Professions Society (named for a pathologist benefactor) in order to meet other students interested in a variety of health professions. Society members benefit from visits by representatives of various health profession programs; trips to local medical schools; practice Medical College Admissions Tests (MCAT) and assistance preparing for other professional tests; current information about application processes; assistance with internships; and enhancement of interview and essay writing skills.
As a health professions student, you will spend plenty of time in the $18 million McMichael Science Center, which provides access to a stunning array of the latest technologies and equipment, including a fully equipped cadaver lab and physiology labs. In addition, you will have access to books, brochures, catalogs, video and CD-ROM resources about health professions programs to help you choose your next step.
Students interested in the health professions program may qualify for the Elon College Fellows or Honors Fellows programs. These programs offer scholarship support, study abroad grants, special courses and other unique benefits. Visit the Elon Fellows programs Website for more information.
In addition, two Jane M. Baird Scholarships of $3,000 are awarded to incoming freshmen to the health professions program, and the Lincoln and Edmonds scholarships are awarded to continuing students.
Admission to programs in the health professions is highly competitive. Success involves being committed to your career goals and:
