Health Professions

The Office of Preprofessional Advising works closely with students who are interested in careers in the health professions. We hope that the information in this site will help Columbia students and alumni prepare to make a successful application to a program in the health professions. Since a large majority of Columbia students who are interested in health professions apply to allopathic medical school, much of the information on this page is dedicated to this area. However, much of the information is pertinent to other health professions programs, as well.

Columbia offers an excellent academic preparation for a career in the health professions. Students receive assistance in selecting an appropriate path through the curriculum depending on their areas of interest. The Office of Preprofessional Advising, along with the Center for Student Advising is available to help undergraduates and alumni investigate their options in health care, and guides and supports candidates through the application process to graduate professional programs.

Working with your advisor

First-years and sophomores who intend to apply to medical school should work with their class deans to set forth a course of premedical studies. All students will be assigned departmental advisors upon declaring a major or concentration during the spring of sophomore year; students may consult their departmental advisors with concerns about major requirements. However, in addition to their departmental advisors, prospective medical school applicants should consult their class deans in the junior/senior center about premedical issues. The class deans work closely with the Office of Preprofessional Advising to guide students through the application process.

In fact, students who declare their intention to apply to a health professional school will register with the Office of Preprofessional Advising and consequently assigned an individual premedical advisor. This individual will work closely with them throughout the application year and write their Premedical Advisory Committee Letter of Evaluation

Prehealth Listserv

The Office of Preprofessional Advising maintains a listserv dedicated to communicating with students interested in professions in medicine and health. The listserv will provide students and alumni with information about upcoming on and off-campus events, scholarships, volunteer and research opportunities, summer programs, and other relevant information for those interested in the health professions.

To subscribe, send an e-mail to LISTSERV@cuvmc.ais.columbia.edu. Leave the subject line blank and delete signature lines. In the body of the text, type either "subscribe ccseas-pre-health Your Name" (no quotations or e-mail address)

Subscribers will receive a message requiring them to respond within 48 hours and type okay in the body of the text. That's it!

The Premedical Handbook offers a comprehensive discussion of curricula, activities, and application procedures for the health professions.