Pre-Health Professions @ Wells College

Wells College
Aurora, NY 13026
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Recommended Preparation || Application || Useful Links

Welcome to the Pre-Heatlh Professions @ Wells College

Our mission is as the Wells College Pre-Health Professions Advisory Group it to advise students interested in the health professions. A member of this group serves as an adjunct to the student's individual advisor in all matters related to this career choice. The Advisory Group also helps students in the application process and coordinates letters of recommendation. The combination of academic program, practical experience, and comprehensive individual advising has given Wells students an excellent record in admission to schools in the health professions. Members of the group include:

Dr. Amy Godert, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Stratton 301 (364-3268)
Dr. Candace Collmer, Professor of Biology, Stratton 201 (on sabbatical leave, 2010-2011)
Dr. Arnold Shilepsky, Professor of Mathematics (on leave, 2010-2011)

Please feel free to contact any of the above for additional infromation or if you have any questions.

If you know you want to pursue a career in the health-professions, send your information to agodert@wells.edu. You will be put on the pre-health email list serve and receive updates about informational meetings and campus visits by professional school representatives.

Recommended Preparation
Your first step is to learn about the different health related professions. An excellent source of information is NEAAHP (Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions). Our links page has many other good sources.

Medical schools recommend an undergraduate preparation that combines

  • a thorough grounding in science,
  • breadth and depth of study in the liberal arts, and
  • a major that matches the interest and aptitude of the student.
Courses.  A program that meets medical and dental school admissions requirements and prepares students for nationally administered admissions examinations normally includes two semesters each of general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and English. These courses are listed in the Wells catalog as:
  • BIOL 126L Genetics
  • BIOL 130L The Biology of Organisms
  • CHEM 107L General Chemistry
  • CHEM 108L Chemical Analysis
  • CHEM 213L Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 214L Organic Chemistry II
  • PHYS 111L Fundamentals of Physics I (at Wells this requires Math 111)
  • PHYS 112L Fundamentals of Physics II (at Wells this requires Math 112)
  • Any two English courses, normally WLLS 101 and one English course.

We strongly recommend that you also take BIOL140L Cellular Biology in addition to the other biology courses listed above.

Pre-veterinary study includes the 10 courses above and a semester of microbiology and/or biochemistry. These courses are listed in the Wells catalog as:

  • BIOL 310L Microbiology
  • CHEM 323L Biochemistry
Other health professions schools (e.g. schools of optometry, osteopathy, and chiropractic) have similar requirements. Check requirements for specific schools and professions using the links on our links page.

Internships.  The academic program at Wells includes extensive internship and abundant research opportunities both on and off campus. Internships are developed via consultation among Career Services, the faculty internship sponsors, and the student.

Wells students may also participate in Cornell veterinary externships (research and/or practice), Pre-Veterinary Society events, and special advising.

Application
Each type of school has a different process and timetable. Use the links to get this information.

Letters of Recommendation.  Your letters of recommendation are important; please consider the following:
  • Select recommenders who have worked with you and think highly of your abilities, accomplishments, and motivation.
  • Give them supporting materials (e.g. transcript, your statement, resume).
  • Allow recommenders at least a month to write the letter.
  • If you need a committee letter, ask your recommenders to send their letter to the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Group. Allow an additional month for the Group to write the committee letter.
  • Unless letters will be sent by campus mail, include stamped, addressed envelopes.
Early Assurance.  Wells College students have participated in early assurance programs at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the College of Medicine of the Health Science Center at Syracuse. A student applies as a sophomore and, if accepted, is guaranteed entry to the medical school two years later.


This page belongs to Amy M. Godert, who is solely responsible for its contents. Information on Web Pages maintained by individuals reflects their own ideas; it does not implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of Wells College. Wells College claims no editorial control over material maintained by individual faculty, staff and students. The owner of the page assumed responsibility and liability for the content of his/her documents.