Health Sciences Programs

Health Sciences Advisory Committee

Many St. Mary's students consider a career in the health sciences, in fields such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and optometry. The College's pre-health sciences programs are designed to supplement a student's chosen major and to provide specific advice and important undergraduate opportunities in the health sciences.

The Health Sciences Advisory Committee helps students navigate the undergraduate curriculum in a way that best prepares them for a professional career. It is important for students to begin their pre-medical studies immediately upon entering St. Mary's. Most often, students interested in one of the health sciences will major in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or natural science; however, they may select any major as long as they complete a rigorous curriculum expected by medical schools. Many graduate programs also expect practical experience obtained through an internship or volunteer work, and are impressed with research experience.

Students interested in a career in a health science should contact the chair of the Health Sciences Advisory committee during the first semester of their sophomore year. The chair will establish a file for each student containing academic records and other materials gathered or provided by the student. During the spring semester of their junior year, students usually take the appropriate entrance examination for their specific field and supply the Health Sciences Advisory Committee with a personal statement explaining their specific interests. The committee will then interview each student and provide a recommendation for those who, in the judgment of the committee, meet the standards and fulfill the requirements for their chosen fields of study.

St. Mary's Advising Students in Health (SMASH)

St. Mary's helps you SMASH your way through the challenging path to a career in the health sciences. SMASH is a student-run club designed to make sense out of the often confusing and intimidating experience pursuing a career in the health sciences. The club helps students organize necessary information, obtain crucial opportunities that will help them to reach their goals, and make the whole process a little bit easier. The executive board of SMASH organizes activities that allow members to explore the diversity of internships, to visit institutions with strong ties to medical research such as the National Institutes of Health, and to gain experience and knowledge related to the health fields through programs such as CPR certification, pre-health colloquia, and several of St. Mary's Hospital's volunteer programs.

In addition, SMASH helps students prepare for the important benchmarks associated with the application process by offering MCAT preparation questions at each meeting, by scheduling MCAT practice tests, and by providing materials that outline yearly responsibilities each student must complete in order to apply by senior year.

Any St. Mary's student may join SMASH—just come to the meetings!

Where Have St. Mary's Students Continued their Education in the Health Sciences?

In the past few years, St. Mary's graduates have been admitted to an impressive array of medical schools and other graduate health programs, including those at the universities listed below. Since 2003, more than 90% of St. Mary's students who applied to medical school have been accepted, often into their first-choice school.