New Students & Families

PreMed and PreHealth Advising exists to support undergraduate students and alumni from across the university’s global campus network, and students and alumni enrolled in the Northeastern University’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program, on their pathway to medical school, dental school, physician assistant school, podiatry school, optometry school, and veterinary school.

Before you get started on your PreMed or PreHealth track, students should review the relevant Pathway handout below to become familiar with the academic requirements and experiential preparation for their chosen health profession.

• Pre-Dental Pathway
• Pre-Med Pathway
• Pre-Optometry Pathway
• Pre-PA Pathway
• Pre-Podiatry Pathway
• Pre-Veterinary Pathway
• Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program Handouts

From academics, to experiential preparation, to the application process… being a PreHealth student can be overwhelming! Self-enroll into our PreMed and PreHealth Student Community Canvas course for assistance navigating the many wellness and support resources available to you throughout your PreHealth journey.

ENROLL HERE

Undergraduate students and alumni from all of Northeastern’s colleges across the global campus network, and students enrolled in the Northeastern University’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program, have the ability to engage with our program and advisors as they explore their professional interests in healthcare and medicine. PreMed and PreHealth Advising is not an academic program of study at Northeastern University.

Academic course requirements for health professional programs may be integrated into any major at Northeastern.

Students admitted to U.S. health professional programs come from ALL undergraduate majors. Medical schools appreciate academic diversity. Choose a major based on your interests. Undergraduate students should meet with both their Academic Advisor and PreHealth Advisor to determine the best way to successfully complete their required coursework.

A competitive GPA and entrance exam score are only a couple of the many factors considered by an admissions committee when making a decision about your application.

Admissions committees look beyond the numbers to holistically review an applicant’s candidacy for their program. In addition to academics, students should have well-rounded set of experiences that will support their application and provide context to their narrative towards medicine. Relevant experiences include, but are not limited to, community engagement and service, clinical work, research, co-op, and global opportunities. How each applicant gets these experiences will be unique to the individual.

Through experiential preparation applicants gain understanding of their desired profession, technical skills, and interpersonal and professional competencies.

You may be a few years away from your application year, meaning you have some time to explore a variety of healthcare careers in all fields of medicine.  It is important that you become knowledgeable about the many roles that healthcare professionals fill and how healthcare is provided in the United States. (Join us for Northeastern’s 2024 Health Professions Conference!).

Many undergraduates believe they must apply the year before graduating (i.e. as juniors) in order to be ready to begin their health professional studies directly after graduation.  However, your graduation year should not dictate when you begin your health professional program.  The best year to apply is the year in which you can be the most competitive applicant!

For many students (80% of Northeastern students), that year is later than their junior year of college, meaning that there is a “gap” of one year or more between graduating and entering your health professional program.

Schools do not have a preference for when you apply, only for strong applicants!

Undergraduate students and alumni from all of Northeastern’s colleges across the global campus network, and students enrolled in the Northeastern University’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program, have the ability to engage with our program and advisors as they explore their professional interests in healthcare and medicine. PreMed and PreHealth Advising is not an academic program of study at Northeastern University.

In order to indicate a PreMed or PreHealth Pathway at Northeastern University students must create a Medical Applicant Portal (MAP). Medical Applicant Portal (MAP) is an online resource for Northeastern undergraduate students and alumni, and students enrolled in our Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program, to declare a PreMed and PreHealth Pathway. Simply creating a MAP profile will subscribe you to our program’s communications, provide an ongoing space for you to develop a portfolio of PreMed/PreHealth experiences, and store application materials. New students are encouraged to utilize MAP throughout their PreMed/PreHealth journey, but are not expected to complete MAP until closer to application to their health professional program.

Through MAP, advisors help guide students along their journey to medicine and partner with applicants to ensure the most competitive application possible. MAP is for Northeastern use only; it is not your health professional school application, and it doesn’t commit you to apply. You may register for your MAP account via the resources page on Student Hub or directly at the following link: Medical Applicant Portal (New User Registration).

Communication

The MAP interface allows the PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program to be in touch with students and applicants. Make sure your information, including “Year Entering Health Program” and “Health Discipline” is up to date to ensure you’re receiving applicable email communications from the PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program.

Preparation

A lot of information will be required on your application. Use MAP to keep track of your activities and experiences at the end of each semester. By keeping track of information as you progress, you will be better prepared to complete your application.

Applying

Use MAP to gather and organize materials for your health professional school application so you are fully prepared before the centralized application opens. This helps to facilitate applying early, which is essential!

PRE-MED

• Pre-Med (Last Names A-D) – Courtney Martinez
• Pre-Med (Last Names E-K) – Emily Henderson (Hyde)
• Pre-Med (Last Names L-M) – Anna Pietrzak
• Pre-Med (Last Names N-S) – Tyler Rock
• Pre-Med (Last Names T-Z) – Ciara O’Donnell

PRE-PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

• Pre-PA (Last Names A-L) – Emily Henderson (Hyde)
• Pre-PA (Last Names M-Z) – Tyler Rock

OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONS

• Pre-Dental (All) – Ciara O’Donnell
• Pre-Optometry (All) – Anna Pietrzak
• Pre-Podiatry (All) – Ciara O’Donnell
• Pre-Veterinary (All) – Anna Pietrzak

Northeastern Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Students

• Pre-Med, Pre-PA, Pre-Dental, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Podiatry, Pre-Veterinary (All) – Courtney Martinez
  • Guide to Advising for Post-Bacc Pre-Health Students
  • Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate students may note, if you have received PreMed/PreHealth advising in the past through your undergraduate institution, you may wish to consider continuing that advisor/advisee relationship.

First Year Undergraduate Students:

At the start of your first year of undergraduate study (i.e., after courses commence), you may register for First-Year Drop-Ins. First-Year Drop-Ins are individual advising sessions, each lasting up to 10 minutes. Student may schedule drop-in appointments with any PreHealth Advisor, as these sessions are not caseload specific, up to one-week in advance. First Year Drop-Ins are virtual, and open to all first-year students within Northeastern’s Global Campus Network, including students on Global Pathways programs.

Before your initial drop-in appointment, it’s essential to view our First Year Foundation Workshop recording (COMING SOON!). This recorded session offers a comprehensive overview of the PreMed and PreHealth pathway at Northeastern. A link to the PowerPoint presentation, with embedded links, can be found here: First Year Foundation Workshop.pdf (access limited to individuals within Northeastern University). Please note that a program overview will NOT be provided during drop-ins. Come prepared with questions to ensure your session is productive. 

Register to attend a First Year Drop-In below! 

Register Here!

Transfer, Returning, and Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Students:

Are you beyond your first year of undergraduate study and/or new to PreMed and PreHealth Advising? We’re delighted to help you explore your health professional interests and guide you through your PreMed or PreHealth journey. It is never too late to embark on a PreMed or PreHealth Pathway!

In order to jumpstart your PreMed or PreHealth planning, transfer, returning, and/or Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate students will begin meeting with their assigned advisor in individualized, 1:1 appointments right away.

Book an appointment with your PreHealth Advisor below!

Register Here!