Preprofessional Programs

Preprofessional programs are those in which a student completes college as a prerequisite for admission to a professional school.  Preprofessional programs are career choices, not majors. Examples include, but are not limited to pre-medical, pre-dentistry, physician's assistant, pre-health professions, etc. Most preprofessional course requirements can be met at any accredited college or university. However, preprofessional advising at Norwich University is one of the strengths of the Preprofessional Program. The university maintains a strong advising program for preprofessional students. The advisor and student will develop a list of appropriate electives along with the major curriculum map and extra-curricular activities.  The preprofessional advising program it is designed to enhance professional school admission opportunities and facilitate a student’s transfer into a professional school.

The Preprofessional Program implements structured curricula and specialized advising for numerous career areas. Each curriculum incorporates the courses required by the professional schools into the strong Norwich University liberal arts curriculum. These courses facilitate the development of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that provide the key to successful performance in professional schools and lifelong learning. Sound preprofessional advising, the accessibility of the individual advisers, and frequent contact with professional school representatives keep students well informed about the admission requirements and the application process for each program.

Selecting a Major

The majors that successful professional school applicants select are as diverse as the students themselves.  Very few professional schools require, or even necessarily prefer, that applicants come from any particular undergraduate major. However, the liberal arts education that students receive at Norwich is an asset to any professional school applicant.

Preprofessional students should major in a subject that they enjoy and are thus more likely to perform well academically. A wise choice of major should take into account (1) what field holds the most interesting career prospects in the event that professional school plans do not materialize, and (2) the fact that majoring in something one enjoys, rather than feels compelled to pursue, is likely to stimulate the superior academic performance that is of utmost importance in professional school admission.