How to Make a (More) Transparent Holistic Admissions Process
Introduction If you applied to medical, dental, or veterinary school, raise your hand if you ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated May 5, 2026 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Pre Health
Pre-health refers to preparation for health professions education before entering a professional program.
Topic Collection
Keep exploring Pre Health
Review this collection of 84 articles, then explore these SDN Review hubs to extend your knowledge:
Pre-DentalPre-HealthPre-MedicalPre-Occupational TherapyPre-OptometryPre-PharmacyPre-Physical TherapyPre-PodiatryPre-PsychologyPre-Veterinary
Practical Perspectives for Navigating the Admissions Process
The admissions process can feel overwhelming. Applications, with personal statements, letters of recommendation, deadlines, interviews, ... Read more
Heidi Fuchs
Updated May 5, 2026 by Heidi Fuchs
Questions Admitted Students Should Ask Before Committing to Enroll
Abstract: New student programs, such as Second Look, Welcome Days, or Admitted Student Visits, offer ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated April 14, 2026 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Admissions Committees: The Art of the Decision
Abstract: Faculty serve three to four year terms on admissions committees, so they can vary ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated May 5, 2026 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Debunking Prehealth Application Myths: What Really Matters When You Apply
As thousands of aspiring health professional students seek credible advice about crafting their best possible ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated July 23, 2025 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Getting to Know You with the Big Five Personality Traits
Have you ever been asked, “How would you describe yourself?” or, “What unique personality traits ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated July 16, 2025 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Debunking Prehealth Preparation Myths: What Really Matters in Your Undergraduate Years
Applicants have many assumptions about how health professions admissions processes work. While the community of ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated June 25, 2025 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Mind the Gap: How First-Generation and International Students Navigate Prehealth Pathways
The path to health professions is challenging for all students, but for immigrants and first-generation ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated April 23, 2025 by Emil Chuck, PhD
How to Manage Transcripts for Your Application
Transcripts are essential for graduate or professional school applications, and their delivery determines how smoothly ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated April 17, 2025 by Emil Chuck, PhD
MDpas Pathway: African Traditions in Prehealth at CSLA
We willingly chose the Black coat to remind us that our approach to medicine and ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated February 12, 2025 by Emil Chuck, PhD
The Time is Right: Prehealth Application Timelines
Research data on optimal health professional application timelines, including application prep, entrance exam timing, and secondary submission strategies.
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated June 2, 2025 by Emil Chuck, PhD
SDN Turns 25: Launches Scholarship and Member Discounts
On December 1, 1999, the Student Doctor Network (SDN) launched as a grassroots, donor-supported platform ... Read more
Laura Turner
Published December 2, 2024 by Laura Turner
The Meaning of Life: Finding Insights in the Humanities
Generally, most health professionals thrive on being problem-solvers. When meeting patients, many professionals take on ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated December 5, 2024 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Supporting Prehealth Athlete Applicants: A Conversation with 2024 Advisor of the Year James Wasco, MD
College athletics have been in the spotlight over the last decade. Athletes can now financially ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated May 5, 2026 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Building a Prehealth Foundation at Small Colleges: A Conversation with Dr. Chloe Lash
Prehealth advising offices are a hybrid of academic advising, career and student services, and scientific ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated September 25, 2024 by Emil Chuck, PhD
How Are You Using AI?
Results from a SDN survey on generative AI use by prehealth and health professions students ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated September 17, 2024 by Emil Chuck, PhD
How to Engineer a Health Professional Career
NOTE: In this article, “engineering” can refer to quantitative analytical subjects like physics, mathematics, computer ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated September 11, 2024 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Don’t Look for Trouble: How Freshman Year Mistakes Could Doom Your Path to Medical School
Welcome to the new academic year and first-year orientation! As a new freshman resident of ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated August 7, 2024 by Emil Chuck, PhD
Emote Control: “Inside Out” for Prehealth and Professional Development
The 2024 summer blockbuster film Inside Out 2 explores the complex emotions that first hit ... Read more
Emil Chuck, PhD
Updated July 9, 2024 by Emil Chuck, PhD
