Frequently Asked Questions | Chapman University

Frequently Asked Questions | Chapman University
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about preparing for a medical career while an
undergraduate student.
If you can’t find the answer to your question below, feel free to email us at
prehealth@chapman.edu
!
Coursework questions
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What are the prerequisites for admission into a health professional school?
While there may be differences by program and specific schools, courses typically
include biology (with labs), chemistry (with labs), organic chemistry (with labs),
physics, calculus, statistics, and English composition.
You may also be required to take courses such as Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology,
Medical Spanish, and Medical Ethics, depending on the program.
For more specific details, visit our
Course Requirements section
.
Can I use AP courses to fulfill prerequisites?
The easiest answer is it depends.
While Chapman accepts AP credit for many courses, we do not recommend using that AP
credit for your science prerequisites, particularly biology or chemistry.
Can I take summer courses?
You can take some courses during the summer; however, be judicious about choosing
which courses.
Also, make sure to check with Chapman’s
Academic Advising
before you make this decision to ensure you can meet all transfer requirements.
Can I take online courses?
It really depends.
There may be some instances where online courses are accepted, but in general, it
is not recommended that you take any science prerequisite courses online. You run
the risk of that course being rejected during the application cycle.
Can I take classes at a community college?
In general, yes. However, as with other questions, be judicious.
Admissions committees still want to see that you can be successful in a rigorous science
curriculum. And, if you are taking these courses while enrolled at Chapman, check
to make sure what you are taking meets Chapman’s requirements and transferability.
Clinical experience questions
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What are the varying experiences needed for the health professions schools?
While this is program and school-specific, most want you to have clinical experiences,
community service, research, and various extracurricular activities that demonstrate
your leadership, ability to work with teams, and time management.
Why do I need to participate in clinical experiences?
Health professions schools expect prospective applicants to have developed a rich
set of experiences that have informed their understanding of health care, challenged
their intellect, demonstrated their commitment to others, and finally, demonstrated
their motivation for the profession.
How can I gain clinical experience?
There are many ways to gain clinical experience, including:
Shadowing:
Shadowing is usually the first of many experiences for many premedical students. This
experience is a great way to determine if medicine is potentially the path for you.
You should learn the “day in the life” and begin to help you draft some experiences
within your application. It also gives you an opportunity to learn about different
specialties.
The time you shadow is determined by your availability and the doctor’s availability.
It may be for a few hours in a day/week and it may be more long term, weeks or months.
Work with the physician to see what they have done in the past.
Dress professionally but comfortably. You will probably be on your feet for the day.
Bring a notebook and be prepared to ask questions between patients. You may also prepare
some questions in advance of the session.
The physician will introduce you to the patients and explain that you are a premedical
student, so you should expect to speak with patients. Whether or not you stay in the
room will depend on the patients’ levels of comfort; don’t be surprised if you’re
asked to leave the room. No matter whether or not you are in the patients’ rooms,
all information you hear, read, and discuss is confidential.
Learn more about shadowing a doctor here.
Volunteering in hospitals/clinics:
Contact your local hospital(s) to see if they have volunteer programs. This will
allow you to see some of the inner workings of a hospital and work with other allied
health professionals.
How do these other professionals interact with the physician? How do these other professionals
interact with the patients? Think about what you can learn from this type of experience.
Health Related Internships:
COPE Health Scholars Program, NIH, Summer Health Professions Education Program
AAMC Pre-Med Career and Experience Resources
Summer internship opportunities:
Many times, these are limited opportunities that will require you to apply. They may
be a few weeks, months, or a summer term. They may also require a specific time commitment.
Please be aware of their requirements as you apply to make sure you are able to fulfill
any potential requirements.
Summer programs database
UC Irvine Health College Volunteer Programs
UC Irvine Health Patient Experience Program
CHOC MI4 Summer Internship
Student-Run Clinics and Community Clinics:
Many schools, particularly medical schools, offer student-run clinics that allow
for 1-2 pre-med volunteers. Check to see what is available at your institution.
In addition, many urban areas, particularly those in low-income communities, have
community clinics that may be looking for volunteers.
If you speak another language, particularly one that is prevalent in the area of the
community clinic, you may consider becoming a translator.
Hospital/Physician’s Scribe:
A scribe is usually a paid position found in the Emergency Department and assists
the on-call physician with gathering information and making documentation.
This is a unique opportunity to partner with a provider in care delivery. You are
learning more about the physician/patient interaction and may have opportunities to
take initial histories, time to discuss the physician’s clinical reasoning with certain
patients, and opportunities to shadow.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT):
Serving as an EMT is a great way to gain hands-on experience as an entry-level healthcare
provider. This opportunity could come as a volunteer opportunity (at school games,
events, etc.) or as a paid opportunity on weekends.
EMTs provide a much-needed service in their communities and are exposed to various
medical conditions. You will hopefully become knowledgeable about the healthcare needs
of a variety of patients and various environments.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA):
Becoming a CNA is a great way to earn additional income and get hands-on practice
while spending time in a clinical environment.
CNA training programs vary in length, from four to sixteen weeks, and are offered
by local community colleges, vocational schools, and the Red Cross.
One benefit of working as a CNA is the flexible hours, so you may be able to work
an evening or weekend shift that does not conflict with your classes or other activities.
Hospice Volunteer:
Either in addition to or instead of, you may also find opportunities to volunteer
in hospice care. The AAMC cites that medical students dealing with the death of a
patient is a stressful time during their training.
If you have the opportunity to spend time as a hospice volunteer, it may help you
better understand the emotional toll of caring for a dying patient and see first-hand
how care providers interact with patients and their families at a time when they are
most vulnerable.
In addition, there are counselors on staff who may help you process your feelings
and experiences.
International Medical Service Events:
Check with your university to see if they have global volunteer opportunities to
allow you to offer medical service to international communities.
Other possible options:
Military corpsman/Combat medic
Registered Nurse
EEG or EKG technician
Emergency Room Technician
Physical Therapy Aide
Medical Assistant
Respiratory Therapist
Dietician
Phlebotomist
Medical Technologist
Dental Hygienist or Technologist
How many clinical hours should I have?
Instead of focusing on the number of hours, focus more on the learning. In general,
you want a set of experiences that demonstrate to an admissions committee that you
are committed to the profession. But, to help quantify, start and don’t stop. This
could be 2-4 hours per week, or it could be a job.
The exception to this is the number of hours needed for PA school. They do have a
minimum requirement of 1,000 hours of hands-on clinical experience with patients.
Beyond the minimum, they are accepting and matriculating students who have closer
to 2,500 hours.
What experiences count as community service?
When you think about community service, you should be focused on a commitment to “something
larger than yourself.” You want to commit to making meaningful contributions to a
community and do what you’re passionate about.
Service or non-profit organizations
Teach for America
City Year
Americorps
Habitat for Humanity
Crisis Text Line
Unhoused shelters
Missions
Community Centers
Food Banks
Immigration Services
Children’s Programs
Women’s Programs
Church, synagogue, mosque
Do I need to do research to get into health profession schools?
As with most answers, it is program-specific. It is beneficial since it shows students
the intricate connection between research and patient care, it enhances their ability
to read dense scientific texts/articles and puts them in a professional environment.
Students at Chapman have many opportunities to gain research on campus. Your first
point of contact should be any of your professors. You can ask them if they are accepting
undergraduate students in their lab.
Another excellent Chapman research opportunity is through the
Center for Undergraduate Excellence.
Medical school-specific questions
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Do I need to be in a specific major to apply to medical school?
No, medical schools accept students from a wide range of majors. The most important
thing is your competence in the sciences and completion of required coursework.
Pick the major you are most passionate about and work with your advisors to make sure
you have all the prerequisites you need to be ready.
What GPA do I need to be competitive?
First and foremost, always know the averages of the students who are matriculating
to medical school. Currently, it is around
3.6-3.7 for both science and overall GPA.
However, you really want to demonstrate your academic abilities. Generally, the preferred
GPA to apply is
3.4+
(without post-baccalaureate or special master’s degree enhancement).
If your GPA is at or below 3.4, schedule an appointment to discuss your overall situation
and plans. Remember, GPA is one of many metrics within your application.
When should I take the MCAT?
Since most medical schools have an expiration, it is advised that you test within
close proximity of your application. This means that it is advised you test within
the year you apply.
If you plan to apply with no gap year
(at the end of your junior year), you should consider the summer between your junior
and senior years or in
January - April of your spring semester
before the application is submitted.
Please remember that it takes a month for the score to post and you want to have your
score before applying. If you plan to retest, we encourage you to
schedule an advising appointment.
When should I start all of my activities, applications, etc.?
When you start at Chapman, you should think like a Pre-Health student. Please see
the
4-Year Plans page
for how to navigate your 4 years and incorporate the various extracurricular activities
needed to be competitive.
You should also work with the
Pre-Health Advising Office
to ensure your overall readiness. Think about what you’ve done, what gaps you may
have, your academics, and the overall timing and your goals. Based on that, we will
work together to determine your timeline.
Since the application opens in May, you should begin thinking about the exams and
readiness at least 1-2 years prior.
You should schedule your Application Profile meeting each semester 2 years before
to ensure your readiness aligns with your goals.
You should plan to submit within the first two weeks of June for the earliest turnaround
for verification. There is still room to submit later, but not too much. Check with
the advising office about your exact timing.
You should anticipate applying to at least 20 schools and depending on your goals
and profile, your financial resources, and geographic preferences, you may apply to
closer to 30 schools. You may also apply to a mix of MD and DO schools.
Dental school-specific questions
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When should I take the DAT?
You should plan to take the test within the year you are applying to dental school.
The application opens in late May, and you need a two-week buffer for the score to
post, so you should
test no later than late April/early May
to ensure you have a score before you apply.
How many dental schools should I apply to?
Depending on your goals, profile, financial resources, and geographic preferences,
along with finding the schools that are “right” for you, the numbers vary.
The average number of schools ranges from
8-15.
Physician assistant-specific questions
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Should I take a gap year as a pre-PA student?
Many PA programs require a significant number of direct patient care experience hours
as a minimum. The average number of PCE hours accrued by students being accepted to
PA school is
greater than 2,000
.
In order to meet this requirement,
the average number of gap years taken by PA students is two
, meaning they work for a full year after graduating and then apply while still working
full-time with patients.
When should I take the GRE?
You should plan to take the GRE within the year you apply to PA school.
How many schools should I apply to?
Depending on your goals, profile, financial resources, and geographic preferences,
along with finding the schools that are “right” for you, the numbers vary. The average
number of schools ranges from
8-15.
Pre Health
Competitive School Applicants
Science Course Requirements
Pre-Health 4-Year Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful Links
Pre-Health Professions Office
Pre-Health Clubs & Organizations
Contact your Pre-Health Advisor
Chapman's dedicated Pre-Health Advisor is Randy Zuniga. Randy is available to all
Chapman students and alumni interested in learning more about medical and professional
school.
Email:
prehealth@chapman.edu
Current student appointments
Alumni appointments
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