Thinking about majoring in the health sciences? Consider the following to see if you’ll be getting the most out of your academic experience at your college(s) of interest.
Related: Health and Medicine Majors and Potential Jobs
Reputation of program or department
Is this school well known for your intended program? How long have they offered it? Is the program or college accredited by the appropriate agency? Does the college have a strong medical school or partnerships with other well-regarded schools?
Faculty
Do professors have the highest degrees in their fields? Are faculty actively working in the field, conducting research, presenting at conferences, and/or publishing their work? Are any classes taught by just teaching assistants?
Academics and course work
What is the average class size for health lectures and other courses? When will you be able to dive into major-specific course work, labs, and clinicals? Are learning facilities and equipment up to date? Are there options for accelerated programs or automatic med school acceptance?
Related: How to Get Into Med School: Top Tips for Pre-med Students
Research and internship opportunities
Does the school fund student research? Are there opportunities to present your findings or get published in academic journals? What internship, job shadowing, or volunteer opportunities are available in your field of interest?
Graduate success
What are the graduation and career placement rates for students in your intended program? How many students are accepted to medical school or other professional programs? What schools do graduates attend, and where have they found jobs? What kind of med school/continuing education advising does the school offer?
Start searching for colleges with health and medicine programs on CollegeXpress.
