Pre-Health Professions
Arkansas Health Education Grant Program
The Arkansas Health Education Grant was created for Arkansas students seeking degrees in health and medical fields not
offered in the state. The grant covers the additional out-of-state tuition charged
to Arkansas students in Chiropractic Medicine, Dental Medicine, Optometry, Osteopathic
Medicine, Podiatric Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.
Pre-Medical
The University of Arkansas College of Medicine accepts AP credit for prematriculation requirements, but it does not accept CLEP credit, correspondence courses, or on-line courses for prematriculation
requirements. It requires two semesters each of biology, general chemistry, organic
chemistry, physics, English, and math. However, either Pre-calculus Math or Calculus
1 is accepted as the equivalent of two semesters of math. UAMS strongly recommends
developmental biology, histology, genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry. It also
recommends psychology, statistics, and a computer keyboarding class (Microcomputer
Applications).
MCAT
Students planning to apply for medical school must take the Medical College Admissions
Test (MCAT). The MCAT is scored in each of the following areas:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
A variety of sources is available to help students prepare for the MCAT. Enter MCAT help in a search engine to find such sites.
Application Process - Allopathic
The University of Arkansas College of Medicine and many other allopathic medical schools require students to apply for medical school
through AMCAS, the American Medical College Application Service. The Association of American Medical Colleges provides additional information for applicants. Specific medical schools will subsequently
send a supplemental application to students who apply through AMCAS. Deadlines for
AMCAS applications vary depending on the medical school. The deadline for the University
of Arkansas College of Medicine is Nov. 1. Click here for a list of AMCAS medical schools.
Non-AMCAS Medical Schools
The Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service is used for all applications to Texas medical schools.
- Yale University - School of Medicine
- Johns Hopkins University - School of Medicine
- University of Missouri - Kansas City - School of Medicine
- Columbia University - College of Physicians and Surgeons
- New York University - School of Medicine
- University of Rochester - School of Medicine and Dentistry
- University of North Dakota - School of Medicine
- Brown University - School of Medicine
- University of Tennessee, Memphis - College of Medicine
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Texas A&M University Health Science Center - College of Medicine
- Texas Tech University Health Science Center - School of Medicine
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas - School of Medicine
- University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston - School of Medicine
- University of Texas, Houston - Medical School
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Medical School
Application Process - Osteopathic
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) provides information for prospective applicants to osteopathic medical colleges.
Osteopathic medical colleges require students to apply through AACOM's application
service, AACOMAS. The application is available online at AACOM's site. Links to all
osteopathic medical colleges are also available at the site.
The Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service is used for all applications to Texas medical schools.
Physicians Assistant Programs
Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with
physician supervision. PAs employed by the federal government are credentialed to
practice. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams,
diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health
care, assist in surgery, and in most states can write prescriptions. The American
Academy of Physicians Assistants (AAPA) has information about physicians assistant programs.
Pre-Dental
DAT
Students planning to apply to dental school must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). The test covers four areas: Survey of the Natural Science (biology, chemistry,
organic chemistry), Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Sample tests and additional information are available at the DAT site.
Application Process
The application process varies among dental schools. Many dental schools use AADSAS, the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service. The AADSAS site
lists participating dental schools. The University of Tennessee - Memphis and Louisiana
State University do not use the service. Contact each dental school directly to check
their application procedure. The American Association of Dental Schools has changed
its name to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). Click here for a list of U. S. dental schools.
The Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service is used for all applications to Texas dental schools.
Pre-Vet
Standardized Exams
Veterinary medical schools typically require either the GRE or the MCAT. Check with each school for their requirements. Click here for links to colleges of veterinary medicine.
Application Process
Many veterinary medical schools require students to apply through VMCAS, the Veterinary Medical College Application Service. The VMCAS site lists participating
veterinary medical schools and the particular standardized tests required by those
schools. VMCAS is supported by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, AAVMC.
The Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service is used for all applications to Texas A&M Veterinary Medical School.
