Graduate and Professional School

You can learn about potential programs of interest in several ways: 

• Graduate School tabling events on-campus through the year

• Online research of various programs

• Speak with professors in your area of interest

• Meet with a Hubbard Center adviser

While some aspects of applying to an overseas program can be easier, you will need to spend more time researching funding, immigration requirements and living arrangements. Check Going Global for more information.

Some countries offer degree programs that are shorter in duration, saving time and money.

While this should not be the motivating factor, it can be a benefit if the content of the program is right for you.

Some schools outside of the United States accept U.S. federal student aid.

A list of these schools can be found on the www.studentaid.gov website, but you should always inquire to verify this with overseas schools you are considering.

• Seek faculty mentors

• Take additional 300/400 level classes beyond the minimum

• Complete an independent research, scholarly or artistic project

The cost of an advanced degree and available funding varies widely across disciplines.

• Investigate financial support opportunities. Examples: assistantships, fellowships, grants and other graduate student appointments.
• Once admitted, inquire about additional funding. You can work to negotiate a better financial package, fellowship or teaching position. If you have multiple acceptances, you can leverage that in negotiations. 
• Some competitive fellowships and awards fund graduate study. Review ones that may be relevant to your proposed area of study.

Applications are often accepted in late December or early January for the following fall semester, but some schools have a "rolling admission" process or different application cycles, so be sure to get the deadlines and instructions from each school.

The following are typical admission materials, but you should check with each graduate program before proceeding:

• Application(s)- Complete and submit the application and all required materials on time. You can always ask questions directly of the graduate program. Be aware that you may be asked to pay an application fee.  If that is a hardship, there may be scholarships or waivers available, so check with the graduate program admissions staff.
• Official transcripts- Request all transcripts from all universities attended. To request your DePauw transcript, visit the DePauw Registrar's Office.
• Statement of purpose- Sometimes referred to as a personal statement, you should begin writing early and ask for lots of feedback on your writing. This is a critical piece of your application, so spending time to work on multiple drafts is necessary. Ask peers, faculty or other advisers to provide feedback. Reach out to the Hubbard Center for personal statement support.
• Entrance exam scores- Take the appropriate graduate entrance exams well in advance (e.g., GRE, MCAT, LSAT). Request that your scores be sent to your schools of choice.
• Letters of recommendation- Request letters from faculty members who know you well enough to discuss your work and potential in detail. Ask them if they are willing to write you a strong letter of recommendation. General statements about you doing well in a class or general references to your GPA are not helpful.
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume- You will also need to submit your resume or CV that conveys the experience you’ve had so far. You can take advantage of on-campus leadership opportunities, Extended Studies offerings including community service and, and job shadowing to create a well-rounded DePauw experience.
• TA/fellowship application- You can apply for teaching assistantships or other available fellowship programs. There is usually a separate application for financial support opportunities.
• For domestic students - complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Pre-Health students are able to explore the full spectrum of the liberal arts while completing the necessary prerequisites for their desired healthcare profession. Students should be enrolled in at least 4 classes a semester, and be enrolled in one math or science course each semester (depending upon the healthcare profession).

For more detailed information about each healthcare profession’s requirements look at the Pre-Health Guides. See the Health Professions prerequisite grid below the guides for the most common prerequisite courses. Pre-health students are encouraged to meet with Dr. Colleen McCracken Renick, our Pre-Health Advisor.

What should I major in?

Pick a major that you find interesting, and will prepare you for a life of meaning and means (even if that’s not in healthcare). We’ve had students attend health professions programs from a broad variety of majors (Biochemistry to Philosophy).

Can I study abroad as a pre-health student?

Yes! Many of our pre-health students choose to study abroad, either for a short-term (Winter or May Term) or for a semester-long experience. Check out the off-campus study portal for more information about study abroad programs. Tip: you can choose a pre-health program or another study concentration to narrow down your search.

How can I meet other pre-health students?

Get involved in pre-health student organizations such as Future Medical Professionals (FuMP) and the Minority Association of Pre-Med/Health Students (MAPS), which is open to all interested DePauw students. You can also get involved in the Pre-Health Mentor Groups program, in which you can join a mentee group with an upperclassmen pre-health mentor in your specialty.

To get involved with MAPS reach out to them at MAPS@depauw.edu and on Instagram @maps.depauw

To get involved with FuMP, reach out to FUMP@depauw.edu to get connected.

What is the Pre-health Mentor Groups program?

A program that seeks to connect underclassmen pre-health students with upperclassmen mentors in their desired pre-health specialty. Expect to be in a group with like-minded individuals who uplift and support each other in their pre-health goals! Mentors and leaders will provide resources and advice for pre-health pathways, application processes, prerequisites, extracurriculars, summer activities, research, shadowing, internships, standardized tests, etc. It is a relatively low time commitment, with monthly meetings with mentor groups. Examples of mentor groups include Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Physician’s Assistant, Genetic Counseling, Public Health, Counseling/ Social Work, Optometry, Speech-Language Pathology, and Undecided/ Exploratory Pre-Health.

Contact Information: Pre-Health Mentor Groups: email prehealth@depauw.edu

I want to go into the healthcare field, but I don’t have any healthcare professionals in my family. How do I find out if it’s for me?

Many students who are interested in healthcare do not have immediate access to a healthcare experience. Reach out to the Hubbard Center to get connected to a DePauw Alumnus, and find out about shadowing opportunities.

Can I do an internship as a pre-health student?

Yes! There are many opportunities for pre-health students to learn about careers in healthcare. Check out Handshake, the Internships tab on the Hubbard Center Webpage, and the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP.org) for more information.

I'm not sure which health profession I'm interested in, what can I do?

Reach out to the Hubbard Center to schedule a meeting with Dr. McCracken Renick. She can talk with you about your interests and coach you through the next steps.

Additional Resources

• Pathways to Science

• Explore Health Careers

Meet with the Health Professions Adviser:
Dr. Colleen McCracken Renick, UB 106
colleenmccracken@depauw.edu

Advising on course selection, LSAT preparation and application completion.

Law school graduates have multiple career paths open up to them. With a law degree, you can work in non-profit management, health care, politics and public service. Additional career opportunities exist in industries where knowledge of the law is crucial to an organization’s operations and, ultimately, its success.

While different law schools will have slightly different requirements for Admission (such as grade point average, application deadlines, and LSAT scores), there will be a few consistencies that most law programs seek from applicants, like:

Credential Assembly Service

Offered by the Law School Admission Council, the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required by American Bar Association-approved law programs, as well as many other law schools. The CAS incorporates your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, evaluations and other documents into a report that is sent to all of the law schools to which you apply.

Law School Application

Every competitive law program will have an application that must be completed. There may be some differences, such as short answer questions that are asked.

LSAT

The Law School Admission Test is a way that law programs can immediately begin to discern applicants, as well as determine placing in the coming class. Preparation for the LSAT should begin as soon as you think you would consider law school as an option following graduation. 

LSAT test prep is available through free resources at the DePauw Library and through our partnership with Kaplan Test prep. Please reach out to Dr. McCracken Renick for more information. 

Personal Statement

You will provide biographical background information that will provide context to the admissions counselors about why you are applying for law school.  This personal statement typically includes information about your academic background, life experiences, and your personal and professional goals that you hope will be attained by attending law school. You are encouraged to work with your faculty adviser to ensuring that it is as good as it can be when applying to law school.

Resume

For many law school programs, you also will need to submit your resume that conveys the experience you’ve had so far.  You can take advantage of on-campus leadership opportunities, Extended Studies offerings including community service and off-campus study, and job shadowing to create a well-rounded DePauw experience which help prepare you for law school.

Letters of Recommendation

You will need to get letters of support from a faculty adviser and others who will be able to speak to your strengths, accomplishments, and skills that will make you an asset in law school. Always meet with faculty members in person to discuss your letters of reference. Provide them with a list of the schools you are applying to and a quick summary of what a particular law school is seeking in a letter of recommendation.

Reach out to Pre-Law@depauw.edu

Meet with our Pre-Law Advisor:
Dr. Colleen McCracken Renick, UB 106
colleenmccracken@depauw.edu