“Health care” means many things to many people. The links provided here will help you to determine what fields of study may interest you. This information will also help you develop and submit the applications that are the first steps in entering graduate study in any of these fields.

The process of choosing a career can be confusing, frustrating and, if done poorly, a waste of time and money. After you review the materials in this site, meeting(s) with your academic advisor can help you to clarify the questions that you still need to answer and help you to plot a path through the decision making and application process. Don't expect too much of the first meeting. Most students take months or years to define their career paths. Start early and stick with it. It is worth the effort. Above all, seek as much information from as many sources as you can.

Quick definitions of health care careers.

Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine- These doctors are the “physicians” that most people think of when they think of medicine and medical school. They diagnose and treat a wide variety of health conditions and can specialize in areas from general medicine to psychiatry. Allopathic Medicine      Osteopathic Medicine     Informal letter request

Chiropractic Medicine- Chiropractic is a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal manipulations.

Dentistry- Dentists are health care practitioners who specialize in caring for the teeth, gums and other tissues in the mouth. They diagnose and treat illnesses related to the mouth and jaws.

Medical Technology- Also known as clinical laboratory scientists, medical technologists perform a variety of diagnostic tests on body fluids such as blood, spinal fluid, etc. This information will assist the physician in the identification of disease, the competency of the treatment, or the overall health of the individual.

Nursing- Nurses are health professionals who tend people when they are ill. Nursing candidates must prepare by a rigorous course of training that includes a thorough grounding in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, the cause and treatment of disease, the intricacies of nutrition and diet, surgical skills, and a variety of techniques pertaining to patient care.

Nurse Practitioner- Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses with advanced education and training. They perform exams, make diagnoses, treat the sick, order and interpret laboratory studies, and can write prescriptions in most states. For those students who have completed college in a non-nursing major, most schools allow for nursing courses to be taken for at least the first year of the NP program.

Physical therapist- Physical therapists specialize in muscle development, motor coordination and injury rehabilitation. They plan exercise programs and give advice on sports and activities. The physical therapist may use ultrasound, water therapy, massage, or other methods to improve joints and muscles.

Physician Assistant- Physician Assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PA's conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and, in virtually all states, write prescriptions.

Podiatry- Podiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, care, treatment and prevention of diseases of the foot. They may also perform minor surgery and prescribe medicines or orthopedic devices.

Optometry- An optometrist can diagnose and treat non-surgically diseases of the eye, including visual problems treated with eyeglasses and contact lenses; diagnose and treat illnesses and injury to the globe of the eye; glaucoma testing, examination of the retina, dilated eye examinations. Certain other services are available under the scope of the optometrist's license in each individual state.

Veterinary medicine- Veterinarians are to animals what physicians are to humans. They treat all manner of illness in a wide variety of species. Many specialize in some area of animal health (surgery, large animal, small animal, exotic pets, etc.), while others are general practitioners.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are an important component in all applications for health sciences programs. Good letters of recommendation make you stand out from the rest of the applicants, focus the reviewers on your strengths and provide a mechanism to minimize your weaknesses. Really good letters of recommendation are essential. Because these letters are so vital, it is important for you to plan ahead to ensure that those writing letters for you know you well enough to write really good recommendations. Given below are some suggestions for how you might go about getting letters of recommendation.

1. Know what sort of letters are required for the schools you are interested in. There is no one type of letter that will fit all circumstances. For instance, medical schools usually request a committee letter that compiles input from multiple sources, which usually include a chemistry professor and a professor from outside the sciences (guidelines for pre-med and pre-dental school letters). Letters for graduate programs usually come from individual professors or employers.

2. Get to know your professors. Let them know that you are interested in an evaluation of your work. The department has developed a form letter to request this informal evaluation. Tailor this text to your needs and give a copy to any professor that you think might be a useful evaluator.

3. Get involved in projects in research and clinical settings. These non-classroom settings will allow you to develop your expertise in hands-on science and medicine. They also provide a great opportunity to distinguish yourself and develop a rapport with someone who can then write a very strong and knowledgeable letter.