Most health care programs require exposure to the career field before applying. The ability to observe and interact with a health care professional will assist you in making career choices and preparing for admissions interviews.

Ideas for Obtaining Experience:

Career Discovery Internship Program, sponsored by the Office of Career Services, is offered during February break. This program offers numerous opportunities to shadow physicians and other health professionals. Meetings for CDIP are held in the fall.

Ladd Internship Program, also coordinated through the OCS, offers full-time paid summer internships, some of which are in the health profession.

Shadowing and Volunteering Opportunities, list of area health professionals who have agreed to allow students to shadow them, intern with them, or simply speak with them.

Many people take a year or two after college to work in a hospital, do research, travel, or continue shadowing. If you are not 100% sure ( and even if you are) that you want to become a physician, this may be the best route to go.

The most important thing to think about is whether you will be happy practicing medicine for many years. It may be a cliche, but medicine is a life, not just a career! This kind of commitment should be addressed prior to entering medical school.

If you do choose a career in medicine, you will spend a minimum of 5 years in hospital settings (2 during medical school and 3 during residency). Later, unless you are a pathologist, radiologist, anesthesiologist, ER or critical care doctor, the remainder of your career will be spent in an office setting. Even surgeons spend a great deal of time in their offices.

Appointments for prehealth advising can be made by contacting the OCS at (207) 786-6233.