Loyola University Chicago

The Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Program is designed to provide post-baccalaureate students with the classes necessary to apply to medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry or most any other allied health professional school.

This program is tailored specifically for students who already have a bachelor's degree, but have not completed the science courses necessary for admission to medical or health professional schools. Having completed (or attempted) more than one of the traditional pre-requisite science courses for health professional school (i.e. inorganic chemistry, biology, physics, organic chemistry) may have a negative impact on a candidate's application.

• Science Classes (both lectures and labs) limited in size, to allow for more personalized academic attention. Most lectures are not larger than 60 students and lab/discussion sections are usually limited to no more than 30 students.
• Science Classes are available at times convenient for working students; during the daytime and occasionally in the evening and on the weekends.
• Early registration access.
• Individual career counseling offered by experienced professional advisors.
• Workshops, seminars and conferences covering various issues relevant to aspiring healthcare professionals.
• Individual assistance in preparing applications for admission to medical and other allied health professional schools.

Minimum requirements for admission to most medical and allied health professional schools include basic science courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. Basic science courses in the program are a semester long and consist of both a lecture and laboratory section. However, admission requirements vary among schools and specific programs. To ensure that students take the appropriate courses, they are advised to contact schools of interest prior to enrolling in the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health program.

We offer elective courses which are not required for the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical program, but that may be required for particular medical or allied health professional schools. In addition, these classes may be of interest to students who want to further their own educational interests. Many of these courses may be taken after specific entrance exams.

Since science course requirements vary for medical and health professional schools, students are encouraged to meet with a program advisor to discuss which courses should supplement the minimum requirements.

TYPICAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS*

* Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical students should take the Math Diagnotic Test before registering for any math, physics or chemistry courses (C or better in Calculus not older than 10 years from date you plan to apply will exempt MPT). Call our office at 773-508-3636 to make arrangements to take the test.

** Satisfactory score on Math Diagnostic Test is required. Before enrolling in General Chemistry, students need to have taken or be concurrently enrolled in Precalculus (MATH 118).

*** College Algebra (MATH 117), trigonometry and geometry are prerequisites.

POTENTIAL ELECTIVES

Course Load: The Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Program is designed for part-time students. Most students enrolled in the program take 4 - 11 credit hours per semester. Some students want to complete the program in one year. In certain cases, this is possible. Often times, it is beneficial for a student to spread the coursework out over two years. Among other benefits, this allows the student the opportunity to become familiar with the faculty and staff at Loyola. Furthermore, it enables us to get to know the student. Students may take courses on a full-time basis (12 credit hours or more), but we strongly suggest that they discuss this with a Pre-health advisor (773-508-3636). If a student in the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program does go full-time, he or she will pay a flat tuition rate, rather than per credit hour. Please visit the Office of the Bursar site for current tuition rates. Because of the tuition rate and the difficulty of taking 12 hours of science courses per semester, the Pre-health Office does not encourage students to take a full-time load.

Admissions Requirements

• An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
• A minimum 2.80 Cumulative GPA (on a 4.00 scale), but qualified candidates generally possess stronger academic records.
• One official transcript from each college and/or university attended. Completion of degree(s) must be verified on the transcript. If you have any transfer credits on your transcript(s), you must furnish transcripts of those prior credits in your application. 
• Your application must include a "Statement of Intent" in which you address the following:
  (a) What is pulling or pushing you toward the health professions?
  (b) What do you hope or expect to gain by matriculating in our program?
  Please limit the statement to one single-spaced page. This statement does not excuse the applicant from also submitting a letter--required below--about past dismissal, suspension, etc.  
• If you have previously attended Loyola University Chicago or any other college or university, you must have been in good academic standing at all institutions attended during the past academic year. Those not in good academic standing during the past academic year are not eligible for admission until one full academic year has elapsed.
• If you have ever been dismissed, suspended, separated, or placed on probation from any college or university attended for non-academic reasons (i.e. disciplinary, behavioral or criminal), then you must submit a signed letter of explanation to the Dean of Students (no e-mails or faxes) via Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management at the address below. Your application for admission will be reviewed only after being cleared to proceed by the Dean of Students. A hearing before the Student Conduct Board may be required.

Admissions Process and Instructions

Please note that the following dates are contingent upon the number of spots available for each academic year. Because admission to the Post-Baccalaureate Program occurs on a rolling basis, admissions may close prior to the posted dates due to the size of an incoming class. We encourage you to apply early. Please note that approval of the Program Director is necessary before an admission decision is rendered.

Notes:

• Application for the desired entry term by the Priority Deadline offers the applicant the broadest range of course enrollment options. Those who wait for Final Deadlines, as well as those enrolling in the Spring term, face limited course availability;
• If the above Deadline date falls on a weekend, the application must be received by the next Monday of business;
• Applications will of course be accepted in advance of applicable deadline dates.

Instructions
Complete the entire application form. Please print neatly or type, and do not abbreviate. Missing or incomplete information will stop the processing of the application. Applications will not be reviewed until all transcripts (including transfer credits) are received. Transcripts must verify conferment of degree. Attach the non-refundable $25 application fee. Make checks/money orders payable to "Loyola University Chicago." Please note that if you have previously paid an application fee to any school or division of Loyola, except the Summer Sessions, the application fee is waived.

Notes for International Applicants

Transcript Evaluation
International applicants, or U.S. applicants who completed a degree abroad, are required to submit non-U.S. transcripts to an outside credential evaluation service. Go to www.ece.org or www.wes.org for information on this service and to download an application. In addition, one set of transcripts/mark sheets must accompany this application and be mailed to Graduate Enrollment Management at Loyola University Chicago.

English Competency
International applicants for whom English is not the native language must submit the official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants residing in the Chicago area may take the Test for English for Loyola Admission (TELA), instead. Visit the TELA site for further information.

Student Visas
All international students needing student visas must submit the Declaration and Certification of Finances Form for international graduate and professional students. Questions about the I-20 should be directed to the Office of International Programs at 773-508-7706 or e-mail at intlcntr@luc.edu.

Sign and enclose your completed application with the fee and mail to:
Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management
Loyola University Chicago
Lewis Towers 800
820 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago IL 60611

For questions regarding your application status, call 312-915-8950 or e-mail SPSapp@luc.edu.

For questions regarding the academic nature of the Post-Bac program, contact Pam Deters at 773-508-3636 or pdeters@luc.edu.

For questions about financial aid, click here.

For tuition information, please see the Office of the Bursar.

For course and calendar information, click here.