Many students majoring in neuroscience are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare such as medicine (MD/DO/NP/PA), physical therapy, dentistry, optometry, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and occupational therapy. An education in neuroscience can provide students with an excellent background for these careers but major classes alone are not enough to make yourself a good candidate. Professional programs have a number of pre-requisites which can be found on OSU's Pre-Professional Programs page. Sample 4-year plans for pre-health neuroscience majors can be found on our Curriculum page. Note that several courses in the neuroscience major overlap with pre-health requirements including General Genetics and Biochemistry.
Additionally, performing neuroscience research can count toward your major but also looks great on an application to professional school! Students in the Neuroscience Program are currently conducting research in departments such as neurology, neuro-oncology, psychiatry, neurosurgery, opthamology, dentistry, biomedical engineering, etc.
Becoming a Competitive Candidate
There are many things that you can do besides academics that will make you an excellent candidate for professional school in a healthcare field:
- Quality volunteer experience is crucial! Professional programs want to see that you are well-prepared for your intended career. These experiences should demonstrate:
- An ability to work with a variety of people
- Leadership
- Philanthropy
- Commitment
- Extensive exposure to your intended career (i.e. you know what you are getting into!)
- Clinician shadowing
- Extracurricular activities
- Personal letters of recommendation from faculty and/or professionals who know you well and can vouch for your strength of character and academic potential. Get to know potential letter writers early by standing out in class, attending office hours, and communicating regularly.
- Strong essays that demonstrate your individuality and indicate a passion for the profession.
- Research experience is helpful but volunteer experience is more important (unless you intend to pursue an MD/PhD or DDS/PhD in which case research is a must!)
Helpful Links
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How do I prepare for the 2015 MCAT?
What is a post-baccalaureate program?
AMCAS Classification of OSU Neuroscience Classes
Medical school math requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
What does my GPA need to be?
It depends on the program; their website should have admissions statistics. That being said, anything less than a 3.0, particularly in pre-requisite classes, will make it difficult to find a school that will seriously consider your application.
What do my test scores need to be?
It depends on the program; their website should have admissions statistics.
What classes count toward my science GPA?
Some programs ask for you to calculate your science GPA. Of course, general science courses like chemistry, physics, and biology are included in this as are most of your neuroscience classes. See the AAMC guide for more information.
When should I take the MCAT/PCAT/DAT/OAT/GRE?
The MCAT, PCAT, DAT, and OAT must be completed approximately 18 months before you intend to matriculate. For example, if you hope to begin dental school in Autumn 2018, you should take the DAT in Spring 2017.
The GRE should be taken at least 2 months before your applications are due. For example, if your application to OT school is due on March 4th, 2017, you should take the GRE no later than January 4th, 2017.
What is the new MCAT like?
The 2015 MCAT will add a social and behavioral sciences section, Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior, which recognizes the importance of socio-cultural and behavioral determinants of health and health outcomes. There is also a new Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section. See the AAMC site for more information.
How do I shadow a clinician? Is there some kind of program for which I can register?
Unfortunately, OSU does not have any set program for clinician shadowing. It is up to you to find a willing clinician. You can do so by contacting your own healthcare provider (such as your primary care physician) or a local clinic or hospital. It may be easier to find someone if you are already a volunteer at their place of work. See the AAMC guide for more information.
What do you mean by 'quality' volunteer experience?
Quality volunteer experience puts you into direct, personal contact with a variety of people. Not all of your volunteer experience needs to be strictly medical- for example, working at a homeless shelter where you interact daily with disadvantaged individuals would be far more valuable of an experience than directing visitors to different hospital departments. Click here for some additional ideas.
What kinds of extracurricular activities are best?
Anything that you are passionate about! Professional schools are interested in recruiting a diverse group of people with a variety of interests. OSU Medical School actually advertises the unique interests of their students- for example, their entering class of 2014 included a murder mystery play actress, Starbuck's barista, opera singer, and Medieval combat re-enactor!
I'm not sure if neuroscience is the right major for me. Would it look bad if I majored in [any major]?
No. Professional schools generally do not care what your undergraduate major is. OSU Medical School's entering class of 2014 included students majoring in neuroscience, finance, theology, and history.
Which specialization is best for pre-health?
It doesn't matter which specialization you choose- just pick the one that you like the best and that will inspire you to do well.
I have AP/EM/community college credit for [program prerequisite]. Is that ok?
Many professional programs, medical schools in particular, prefer that their pre-requisite courses are completed at a 4-year institution. Additionally, by using AP credit rather than taking the course at the college level, you are removing a course that could potentially boost your science GPA. Thus, we generally advise students with AP credit to re-take the course. You may choose to contact the admissions offices of some schools to ask about their policy. Of course, credit for GE's like history is perfectly acceptable and it is unnecessary to re-take them. See this spreadsheet (2015_Medical_School_Matriculation_HPA.xlsx) for more information.
Would it look bad if I took time off?
Absolutely not! Many professional schools look favorably on older applicants because they are generally more mature and have more extensive life and work experience. If you choose to take time off, however, make sure that you are still doing things to enhance your application (volunteering, etc.).
I don't think I want to pursue a career in healthcare anymore. What else can I do?
A degree in neuroscience provides you with broad scientific literacy that will prepare you for a variety of careers. Visit our Careers page for a list of other options.