To pursue graduate study in medical, dental, or veterinary school--or any of the health professions--students must have strong undergraduate backgrounds in science.

IWU's Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Advisory Committee gives students the help and support needed to enter the professional program of their choice.

Recent IWU graduates have been accepted into programs at Duke, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Yale, Washington University, the universities of Michigan and Chicago, and elsewhere.

As is the case at most universities, students cannot major in pre-medicine, pre-dental, or pre-veterinary medicine at IWU.

Students should major in a field of interest and a field that will offer courses required for admission to professional programs: two laboratory courses each in general biology, general physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry.

Pre-professional science majors also take courses in liberal arts disciplines outside of their major field, such as ethics, English, foreign language, and fine arts.

To gain practical experience, students may participate in IWU's Medical Extern Program. During May Term, students are paired with IWU alumni, including internists, pediatricians, gynecologists, neurosurgeons, and other specialists. Students follow mentors throughout their workday, observing everything from patient examinations to hospital committee meetings and surgery.

IWU's Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Advisory Committee assists students in applying to professional schools. Committee members, drawn from IWU's science and other departments, also discuss with students the nature of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and other graduate admissions tests. The committee also works with students concerning letters of recommendation, an important part of the professional school admission process.

IWU science program graduates have gone on to attend prestigious institutions such as Vanderbilt, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Washington University, Emory, Loyola, and the University of Illinois.

For more information, contact: Illinois Wesleyan University, P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, Ill. 61702-2900; telephone: 309/556-3031 or 1/800/332-2498