Comments on: How to Work with Pre-Health Advisors and Committees

By: Emil Chuck

Emil Chuck — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:41:28 +0000

I need to check my comments more frequently. If you keep avoiding your advisors, you just extend the problem. It’s never too late to speak with your advisor, but make sure you have done a good amount of homework about how your advisor can help address your concerns. Now is always better than never.

By: Jessica Chang

Jessica Chang — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:11:54 +0000

I am already at the end of my junior year in college but I haven’t met with my health professions advisor at all. Do you think it is too late to speak with him? I don’t have any specific questions but I know it does look bad that I haven’t spoken to him. What would you advise me to do?

By: Emil Chuck

Emil Chuck — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:36:10 +0000

@Anthony: I can only speak about the system I have set up. The evaluation process I have requires the applicants to go through two interviews (one on one) with my committee members to cover potential problems as you have described.

Maybe this is just my own perception, but usually communications skills don’t drastically improve by the time I see the advisee as a preapplicant. A lot of the observations I had in preapplication interviews are very similar to feedback I get from some admissions committees who are doing followup on some of my applicants… despite the fact the interviews are spaced out by 6 or so months.

That said, given what you have as part of your evaluation process, you should absolutely approach your mock interview as a dress rehearsal for the real thing; that is to say, make absolutely sure that you have hit your stride with communications skills by the time you apply because it makes a huge difference. I point out to my advisees all the resources we have had to practice one’s interviewing skills (through our career services office at least, though some applicants who apply for Rhodes-like scholarships will get additional help). Most schools I know have multiple “practice interview” workshops for students which point out the fundamentals of interviewing. But the committee mock interview should be treated as if it were interviewing with a real admissions committee.

Strategic applicants will have asked the advisor very early on about how the committee interview will play a role in the final institutional evaluation. Most of them should have gotten a lot of practice with interviews, whether it’s for jobs or volunteer opportunities in the summers before the real application begins. It’s very easy for me to separate those who have done this from those who have not in both their written and their oral communications skills.

Whether it is for a real job or for this prof school application process, communications skills are commonly listed as a top or next-to-top skill that distinguishes successful from unsuccessful candidates, so there’s really little reason for anyone to disregard developing these skills seriously over your time as an advisee.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:49:24 +0000

One point in your article struck out at me. “Sometimes a committee’s evaluation process includes submission of written essays or mock interviews, so a committee can address communication, interpersonal, and professional skills and qualities in much greater depth than the professor who saw you sitting in the front row of a class asking questions.” So this could lead up to a bad evaluation letter as well? I thought mock interviews help you learn what you did wrong. For example, what if I had bad communication skills during the mock interview, but improved throughout the year. Our school only does one mock interview, so I wouldn’t have a chance to show my improvements and thus have a better evaluation. What if I didn’t get invited for an interview because of a bad evaluation from a pre-health adviser? It seems to me that you would only want an evaluation letter from a pre-health adviser knowing that you asked all the correct questions, acing the mock interview, etc. Could you please clarify my over analyzing comment? Great article – there are lots of good information!

By: Aldwin Soumare

Aldwin Soumare — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:47:58 +0000

Thanks for the info on pre-health advisors. I appreciate it. Hopefully my pre-health advisor will be as helpful as you have been

By: Emil Chuck

Emil Chuck — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:07:51 +0000

@Daryal: While I cannot really answer for most prehealth advisors, I know I often speak at high schools to talk about the overall process. There are a number of things you need to keep in mind when it comes to college selections, and the earlier you talk with vet school admissions individuals, the better. Programs like Cornell and Tufts often have opportunities for high school and college students to visit their schools and find out what it would take to be a competitive applicant.

@Susan: That’s really nice of you, and I don’t mind if it’s a card, chocolates, or something else. I’m sure most advisors appreciate thoughtful gifts.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:01:27 +0000

I was wondering how you feel about giving a prehealth advisor that has been very helpful a gift, like a box of chocolates or something for the holidays? or would it be better to give a thank you card?

By: Daryal Bond

Daryal Bond — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:45:55 +0000

I am a junior at the High School for Health Professions and Human Services. I’ve had the desire to become a veterinarian since I was two years old. In school I am thriving to become an excellent student so that one day I can apply to Cornell University and hopefully get accepted. How could I get a pre-health advisor for experience and recommendations?