Overview
This course helps students strengthen the key skills and experiences needed for a successful professional school application. Students will refine their professional communication and personal narrative writing, expand and reflect on their portfolio of experiences, update their timeline for professional school, and continue preparing for admissions exams and interviews. It is recommended to take NSC 107K the spring semester of your second year and requires prior completion of NSC 107J.
“The personal statement I wrote for this course truly helped me reflect and remember why I want to pursue a career in the medical field.”
Module 1: Presenting your Professional Identity
- Explore the key characteristics and skills needed for success in healthcare professions.
- Learn how to present yourself professionally throughout your pre-health journey.
- Develop an understanding of qualities such as communication, responsibility, leadership, and professionalism.
- Gain insight into what admissions committees look for in strong applicants.
- Hear from Dr. Judianne Kellaway, Associate Dean of Admissions at the Long School of Medicine, about her experience in health professions admissions and applicant evaluation.
Module 2: Building your Network
- Understand the importance of building a strong professional network throughout your pre-health journey.
- Learn how to prepare for and maximize opportunities such as the Health Professions Fair.
- Develop skills in giving, receiving, and applying feedback for personal and professional growth.
- Explore the role of feedback agility in professional school and healthcare careers.
- Hear from Dr. Katie Sanders, Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing, about strategies for improving feedback agility and professional development.
Module 3: Determining your Path
- Reflect on past experiences and how they influence future healthcare goals.
- Begin developing a semester-by-semester plan for your pre-health journey.
- Understand how academics, experiences, and personal growth contribute to long-term success.
- Learn the foundations of personal narrative writing.
- Explore how to communicate your unique journey and motivation for pursuing a healthcare career.
Module 4: Defining your Values
- Explore core values and how they shape responses to stress, challenges, and personal growth.
- Reflect on resilience throughout the pre-health journey.
- Continue developing and refining personal narrative writing.
- Engage in peer review activities to strengthen feedback skills.
- Practice giving, receiving, and applying constructive feedback to support growth.
Module 5: Owning your Uncertainty
- Explore resilience, personal values, and ethical decision-making in the context of a pre-health journey.
- Reflect on how challenging experiences contribute to personal and professional growth.
- Examine how values and decisions shape character development.
- Consider the role of ethics in becoming a future healthcare professional
Module 6: Sharing your Story
- Synthesize skills and insights developed throughout the semester to begin shaping a personal story.
- Reflect on the purpose and audience of future personal statements.
- Use writing and feedback to develop a cohesive personal narrative.
- Revisit and strengthen interview skills.
- Practice confidently discussing personal experiences and professional goals.
To gain the most benefit, students are encouraged to take all three seminars in sequence as outlined. Students pursuing the Pre-Health Professionals Certificate are required to take two of the seminars.