Determine what programs interest you, help review for entrance exams and prepare for interviews.
Learn about different programs, admission requirements and how to prepare.
2026 Dates for Graduate and Professional School Fair:
Memorial Union Building
Features more than 30 graduate and professional school programs from across the country. .
You can learn about potential programs of interest in several ways:Ìý
Graduate School tabling events on-campus through the year
Online research of various programs
While some aspects of applying to an overseas program can be easier, you will need to spend more time researching funding, immigration requirements and living arrangements. Check Ìýfor more information.
Some countries offer degree programs that are shorter in duration, saving time and money.
While this should not be the motivating factor, it can be a benefit if the content of the program is right for you.
Some schools outside of the United States accept U.S. federal student aid.
A list of these schools can be found on the Ìýwebsite, but you should always inquire to verify this with overseas schools you are considering.
Seek faculty mentors
Take additional 300/400 level classes beyond the minimum
Complete an independent research, scholarly or artistic project
Many graduate programs require entrance exams as part of their admission process. Check with graduate programs you're interested in to find out if you need to take an entrance exam, and if so, which one.Ìý
The most common test is the GRE General Test. It's taken for admission to graduate, business, and other professional programs such as law. Check out more information on this .Ìý
Most MBA programs and other specialized business programs use the GMAT. Find out more through this
Test Preparation:
If you're interested in test preparation products—free products exist through the ÐÓ°ÉPro Libraries—. Use your ÐÓ°ÉPro login credentials and navigate to Academic Skills & Test Preparation -> College Students -> Graduate School.
Check our page for more free resources.
Additionally, ÐÓ°ÉPro and Kaplan test prep have an agreement offering ÐÓ°ÉPro students highly discounted test prep courses. If you're interested in pursuing Kaplan test prep, reach out to Graduate and Profession School Advisor, Dr. Colleen McCracken (colleenmccracken@depauw.edu) for more information.
The cost of an advanced degree and available funding varies widely across disciplines.
Applications are often accepted in late December or early January for the following fall semester, but some schools have a "rolling admission" process or different application cycles, so be sure to get the deadlines and instructions from each school.
The following are typical admission materials, but you should check with each graduate program before proceeding:
Pre-Health students are able to explore the full spectrum of the liberal arts while completing the necessary prerequisites for their desired healthcare profession. Students should be enrolled in at least 4 classes a semester, and be enrolled in one math or science course each semester (depending upon the healthcare profession).
For more detailed information about each healthcare profession’s requirements look at the . See the Health Professions prerequisite grid below the guides for the most common prerequisite courses. Pre-health students are encouraged to meet with our Pre-Health Advisor.
While different health professions schools will have slightly different requirements for admission (such as grade point average, application deadlines, and test scores), there will be a few consistencies that most health programs seek from applicants, like:
Centralized application service
Most health professions utilize a centralized application service for the "Primary Application." This CAS incorporates your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores, personal statement, resume, and other documents into a report that is sent to all of the schools to which you apply.Ìý
Admission test
Many health professions utilize a standardized test to discern applicants, and standardized folks from diverse academic backgrounds.Ìý
Personal Statement
You will provide biographical background information that will provide context to the admissions counselors about why you are applying for a health professions program. This personal statement typically includes information about your academic background, life experiences, and your personal and professional goals that you hope you will be attained by becoming a healthcare professional.Ìý
To learn more about application specifics, please visit our .
Get involved in pre-health student organizations such as Future Medical Professionals (FuMP) and the Minority Association of Pre-Med/Health Students (MAPS), which is open to all interested ÐÓ°ÉPro Students. You can also get involved in the Pre-Health Mentor Groups program, in which you can join a mentee group with an upperclassman pre-health mentor in your specialty.
To get involved with MAPS, reach out to them at MAPS@depauw.edu and on Instagram @maps.depauw.
To get involved with FuMP, reach out to FUMP@depauw.edu to get connected.
Are you a first or second year pre-health student? Join the Pre-Health Mentor Groups to be paired with upperclassmen mentors in your desired pre-health specialty.
Expect to be in a group with like-minded individuals who uplift and support each other in their pre-health goals! Mentors and leaders will provide resources and advice for pre-health pathways, applications processes, prerequisites, extracurriculars, summer activities, research, shadowing, internships, standardized tests, etc.
It is a relatively low time commitment, with one monthly meeting with your mentor group.
Examples of mentor groups include Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Physician's Assistant, Genetic Counseling, Public Health, Counseling/Social Work, Optometry, Speech-Language Pathology, and Undecided/Exploratory Pre-Health.
Email prehealth@depauw.edu for more information.
Pick a major that you find interesting, and will prepare you for a life of meaning and means (even if that’s not in healthcare). We’ve had students attend health professions programs from a broad variety of majors (Biochemistry to Philosophy).
Yes! Many of our pre-health students choose to study abroad, either for a short-term (Winter or May Term) or for a semester-long experience. Check out the for more information about study abroad programs. Tip: you can choose a pre-health program or another study concentration to narrow down your search.
Many students who are interested in healthcare do not have immediate access to a healthcare experience. Reach out to the Hubbard Center to get connected to a ÐÓ°ÉPro Alumnus, and find out about shadowing opportunities.
Yes! There are many opportunities for pre-health students to learn about careers in healthcare. Check out your local hospital for patient care technician jobs, positions as Home Healthcare Aids, , and feel free to swing by the Hubbard Center for an appointment to discuss your goals.Ìý
Reach out to the Hubbard Center to schedule a meeting with Dr. Colleen McCracken Renick. She can talk with you about your interests and coach you through the next steps.
Additional Resources
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Meet with the Health Professions Adviser:
Dr. Colleen McCracken Renick, UB 106
colleenmccracken@depauw.edu
Pre-Law students are able to explore the full spectrum of the liberal arts where our small class sizes and emphasis on writing throughout the curriculum will help students prepare for Law school.
Law school graduates have multiple career paths open up to them. With a law degree, you can work in non-profit management, health care, politics and public service. Additional career opportunities exist in industries where knowledge of the law is crucial to an organization’s operations and, ultimately, its success.
For more information on how to prepare for a career in law, please reach out to Dr. Colleen McCracken Renick, our Pre-Law advisor.Ìý
While different law schools will have slightly different requirements for Admission (such as grade point average, application deadlines, and LSAT scores), there will be a few consistencies that most law programs seek from applicants, like:
Offered by the , the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required by American Bar Association-approved law programs, as well as many other law schools. The CAS incorporates your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, evaluations and other documents into a report that is sent to all of the law schools to which you apply.
Every competitive law program will have an application that must be completed. There may be some differences, such as short answer questions that are asked.
The Law School Admission Test is a way that law programs can immediately begin to discern applicants, as well as determine placing in the coming class. Preparation for the LSAT should begin as soon as you think you would consider law school as an option following graduation.Ìý
LSAT test prep is available through free resources at the and through our partnership with Kaplan Test prep. Please reach out to Dr. McCracken Renick for more information.Ìý
You will provide biographical background information that will provide context to the admissions counselors about why you are applying for law school.Ìý This personal statement typically includes information about your academic background, life experiences, and your personal and professional goals that you hope will be attained by attending law school. You are encouraged to work with your faculty adviser to ensuring that it is as good as it can be when applying to law school.
For many law school programs, you also will need to submit your resume that conveys the experience you’ve had so far.Ìý You can take advantage of on-campus leadership opportunities, Extended Studies offerings including community service and off-campus study, and job shadowing to create a well-rounded ÐÓ°ÉPro experience which help prepare you for law school.
You will need to get letters of support from a faculty adviser and others who will be able to speak to your strengths, accomplishments, and skills that will make you an asset in law school. Always meet with faculty members in person to discuss your letters of reference. Provide them with a list of the schools you are applying to and a quick summary of what a particular law school is seeking in a letter of recommendation.
Reach out to Pre-Law@depauw.edu
Meet with our Pre-Law Advisor:
Dr. Colleen McCracken Renick, UB 106
colleenmccracken@depauw.edu
What should I major in?
Pick a major that you find interesting, and will prepare you for a life of meaning and means. While it's common for students to choose majors like Political Science, Philosophy, History, Classics, English Writing, or Sociology, we've has students attend Law programs from a variety of majors.Ìý
Can I study abroad as a pre-law student?
Yes! Many of our pre-law students choose to study abroad, either for a short-term (Winter or May term) or for a semester-long experience.
Check out the off-campus study portal for more information about study abroad programs.Ìý
Tip: you can choose a pre-law program or another study concentration to narrow down your search.
I am interested in the Legal professions, but I don't have any law professionals in my family. How do I find out if it's for me?
Many students who are interested in legal professions do not have immediate access to legal experience. Reach out to the Hubbard Center to get connected with ÐÓ°ÉPro Alumnus and find out about shadowing opportunities. You can also get connected to our Pre-Law and Public Affairs student group, where you can connect with Alumni speakers, and learn more about their work.
Can I do an internship as a pre-law student?
Yes! There are many opportunities for pre-law students to learn about law-related fields. Whether it's through volunteering at the Putnam Country Pro Bono Legal Clinic, working at a non-profit organization, participating in a political campaign, or searching on , you can get experience in a wide variety of ways. Feel free to swing by the Hubbard Center for an appointment to discuss your goals.
Assistant Director of Graduate and Professional School Advising, Pre-Health & Pre-Law Advisor