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Pre-Health Programs

Pre-Health Engagement Activities

Student Organizations

Professional health schools value applicants who demonstrate meaningful involvement and leadership in extracurricular activities. Admissions committees look for students who are not only academically strong but also engaged outside the classroom, particularly in clubs and organizations that reflect a genuine interest in healthcare or support long-term professional goals.

Taking on leadership roles shows initiative, responsibility, and the ability to manage multiple priorities (qualities essential for success in health professions). These experiences also help develop key interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.

At IWU, students have numerous opportunities to get involved, including science and healthcare-related organizations, athletics, music, service groups, and other campus clubs. Choose activities that you enjoy and that align with your interests, and seek opportunities to lead when possible. This balanced approach demonstrates both commitment and readiness for the demands of professional school.

Pre-Health Events

IWU offers a variety of opportunities to help students explore careers in healthcare. Through the Hart Career Center, the pre-health advisor organizes events such as panel discussions, networking luncheons, and mock interviews to support students preparing for professional school. These experiences allow students to engage directly with healthcare providers, gain insight into different career paths, and better understand what a future in healthcare may look like. Students are also encouraged to conduct informational interviews and pursue shadowing opportunities to observe healthcare professionals in real-world settings.

Volunteering

Volunteering is an important part of preparing for a career in healthcare. It reflects compassion, a commitment to service, and a willingness to engage with diverse communities. In addition to making a positive impact, volunteering allows students to develop new skills and strengthen existing ones.

Professional schools look for applicants with sustained involvement in a range of volunteer activities—both within and beyond healthcare. This ongoing commitment demonstrates that you are engaged locally, nationally, or even globally.

IWU maintains a strong relationship with the following organisations:

  • Schedule an appointment at the Career Center to find other opportunities

When Volunteering Please Remember:

  • Review the hospital and community partner sites to understand roles, requirements, and shift commitments.
  • Contact the IWU Hart Career Center for assistance with applications and placements.
  • Aim for regular shifts (e.g., 2–4 hours weekly) to build sustained experience.
  • Keep a record (hours, reflections, responsibilities), especially helpful for your professional school application.

Job Shadowing & Internships

Gaining clinical experience through shadowing and patient care roles is an essential step in preparing for a healthcare career. Shadowing healthcare professionals allows you to observe day-to-day responsibilities, explore various specialties, and gain insight into different healthcare settings. These experiences can help you clarify your career goals and provide strong examples to reference in your personal statement, application materials, and interviews.

Many shadowing opportunities are secured through personal or community connections. Start by reaching out to your own physicians or local healthcare providers. Hospitals and clinics often coordinate shadowing through their volunteer departments.

 At IWU, the Health and Science Career Counselor as well as the Career Advisors at Hart Career Center are available to assist you in navigating the process, including outreach strategies, professionalism expectations, and connecting with IWU alumni or partner practitioners.

If you are pursuing shadowing through IWU, be sure to review the Job Shadowing Guide and complete the Code of Conduct Agreement before being referred to a provider. Use our Professional School Planning Template to record your experiences and research programs. 

In addition to shadowing, many professional schools (particularly in medicine, physician assistant, and physical therapy) require applicants to document a minimum number of clinical or patient contact hours. These hours are best gained through direct experience in roles such as:

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
  • Medical Assistant (MA)
  • Phlebotomist
  • Patient Care Technician
  • Medical Scribe
  • Rehabilitation Aide

Some of these roles require prior certification or training, so it is important to plan ahead. Not all healthcare professions require paid clinical hours, but sustained and meaningful exposure to patient care is strongly encouraged across all fields.

Additional Resources to Gain Shadowing and Internship Opportunities:

Research

Research can be a valuable part of your preparation for professional school, but it is not required. Engaging in research helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent inquiry—skills that are highly relevant in clinical and academic settings. If you have a genuine interest in research, you are encouraged to seek out opportunities that align with your academic or professional goals.

Research experiences are available both on campus and nationally. Opportunities include:

  • Academic-Year Research at IWU – Work with faculty on ongoing projects in biology, chemistry, psychology, or related disciplines. Ask faculty about their ongoing research opportunities and what you need to do in order to join their team. 
  • John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference - The conference typically attracts more than 100 undergraduates, who showcase research projects from a variety of University departments and programs, including: psychology, economics, political science, biology, mathematics, chemistry, English, theatre, and history. 
  • IWU Research Honors -  Guided by a faculty mentor, qualified seniors may conduct an independent project leading to a scholarly/artistic product. Successful review by a faculty committee leads to Research Honors recognition at graduation.
  • Action Research Center -The IWU Action Research Center is dedicated to the relentless pursuit of innovative ideas that transform communities. Since 2003, ARC has connected the campus and the community in meaningful ways that create impactful change and address pressing social justice issues. If you have an idea, a challenge, an opportunity, or a road block, ARC is a place to explore solutions and action plans. 

Pursue research because you are curious and committed to discovery—not just to “check a box” on an application.

Study Abroad

Studying abroad demonstrates that you have interests beyond the sciences and you are actively pursuing those interests. It is increasingly important to improve your ability to listen and understand those dissimilar to us.

This concept is especially crucial in the field of healthcare where practitioners help people from all walks of life, and are likely to be working alongside team members from a variety of backgrounds. There are a number of options for study abroad, but one of the more popular IWU experiences with healthcare and/or research focus is Global Medical/Dental Brigades.