Natural and Mathematical Science

Pre-Professional and Pre-Graduate Advising Program

Timeline

During your four years at C-SC, you need to keep your graduate school and professional programs in mind so that you not only prepare academically but also keep on track for applying to the programs you want to enter. Here's a general timeline that you can follow:

Fall & Spring Freshman Year

• Meet with academic advisor and the pre-professional coordinator
• Attend workshop(s) on career exploration and post-graduation plans
• Introduce yourself to the Career Center Coordinator

Fall Sophomore Year

• Initiate the process of selecting an area of intended study for a graduate or professional education.
• Explore all of your options and seek the advice of your professors and advisors.
• Meet with the pre-professional coordinator
• Select and apply for an internship related to your undergraduate major and your future career interests.

Spring Sophomore Year

• Select and apply for an internship related to your undergraduate major and your future career interests
• Meet with the pre-professional coordinator
• Attend review sessions for standardized examinations (GRE, MCAT, PCAT, etc)

Summer after Sophomore Year

• Participate in a summer academic research program or an internship.
• Meet with the pre-professional coordinator
• Develop a resume (Career Services Center)

Fall Junior Year

• Determine your area of intended study; research your field and the job market
• Identify at least three graduate or professional schools where you may wish to study; research your selected schools for program information, accreditation, admission requirements, cost of education, and financial assistance; determine what standardized exam, if any, is required; and inquire about the median or preferred standardized test score needed for admission.
• Attend a pre-application workshop (Career Services Center)
• Select and apply for an internship or a research opportunity.

Spring Junior Year

• Select and apply for an internship or a research opportunity
• Register for the appropriate standardized examination. You should discuss your intentions with your major academic advisor. Search the registration booklet for the deadline date for regular registration. Additionally, review the registration booklet to determine if the test fee can be waived.
• GRE – Graduate Record Examination; usually for graduate school and veterinary school
• MCAT – Medical College Admission Test
• DAT – Dental Admission Test
• PCAT – Pharmacy College Admission Test
• Prepare for the exam. Participate in a professional course or purchase a study guide. You can find these study guides in your local bookstore or the C-SC library. Also, there are several online programs available in the library.
• Attend review sessions
• Do not take the test without sufficient preparation
• Take advantage of a simulated test to determine your performance level
• Remember to meet the deadline date for regular registration to avoid late fees
• Follow the directions outlined in the registration bulletin completely
• Understand the scoring method

Summer after Junior Year

• Request application materials from your selected schools
• Develop a personal statement; secure three letters of recommendation from faculty; forward official copies of your transcripts to your selected schools. (Remember: Well-developed writing skills are extremely important to a successful application.)
• Follow the instructions. Tailor your personal statement to the particular program or institution. Most admission officers are looking for your personality to be reflected in a personal statement. Your essay must be grammatically correct and coherent, including spelling and punctuation. Your application must be neat, intellectually honest, and typewritten on quality paper.
• Include your specific reasons for applying to the graduate or professional school and your interest in a particular program.
• Briefly describe your academic accomplishments, including internships, related work and leadership or research experience.
• Describe your specific career goals and explain how this degree will help you to accomplish them.
• Once you have completed a draft of your personal statement, please submit it to your advisor for review.
• When asking professors or employers for letters of recommendation, remember to provide them with at least a month's notice. Remember to provide them with your current resume and personal statement, as well as specific information about the program to which you are applying. And don't forget to provide the mailing address and the deadline
• Depending on each program's deadlines, complete and send your application materials, along with your admissions fee, to your selected schools.
• Take the GRE (veterinarian applicants)

Fall Senior Year

• Depending on each program's deadlines, complete and send your application materials, along with your admissions fee, to your selected schools.
• Have your standardized test score sent directly to your selected schools.
• Participate in mock admissions interviews (Career Services Center)

Spring Senior Year

• Track application progress
• Inform your major department and the NAMS pre-professional coordinator of your acceptance into a graduate or professional school for record keeping purposes.
• Congratulations!