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Pre-Health
"I feel better prepared than many of my classmates who are from big name schools like Harvard and Stanford! I'm very impressed with how well the material I was taught at Dordt corresponds to the material that I am learning now. I have an excellent knowledge base to draw from and to build upon." Paul De Jong, '02 
Medical school, pharmaceutical, dentistry, optometry, or veterinary school. If your goal is admittance into a professional school after graduation, the liberal arts training provided at Dordt College can pave the way. Professional schools seek to train leaders, not just technicians in a solitary area. To be accepted into professional programs, students must demonstrate sensitivity to social issues, relationships, and community involvement--characteristics best developed at a liberal arts institution where a core curriculum is an integral part of the program. Dordt's general education courses and reformational perspective will give you a framework and a solid knowledge base for pre-professional study. Taking courses in history, English, communication, philosophy, psychology, the arts and science--all taught in the light of God's Word--will help you see how you can honor God in almost any profession you choose. The knowledge gained through such courses will open your eyes and heart to the needs and concerns of others. Dordt's Advantages
The Christian foundation offered at Dordt College helps students learn to treat the whole person, not just one's injuries. Students establish a foundation for thinking, pushing them to see more clearly the ethical dimension of their work. Good grades are crucial for acceptance into professional programs, but grades alone are not enough. Applicants need to be able to demonstrate involvement and commitment. Involvement can be in journalism, theater, athletics, music, volunteering, or student government. Dordt is large enough to offer a wide variety of such activities and small enough to make them easily accessible. Other factors also contribute to the success of Dordt pre-professional students. Regular personal attention and close working relationships with faculty will allow you to develop greater expertise in your field. Professors will expect you to work hard. But for students who have difficulty, they will be right there to help examine study habits and identify problem areas. Dordt's individual studies major is a good option for many pre-professional students, allowing the flexibility to pick courses from diverse areas for a well-rounded education. Getting In
Each professional school has its own specific course requirements for its program, all of which can be fulfilled at Dordt College. Our students have been very successful in gaining admission to professional schools. "We have been pleased with the quality and background of the pre-veterinary students that attend Dordt College," says Donald Draper, associate dean at Iowa State University. "Their knowledge and experience in agricultural and biological based sciences is evident." Donald Draper Over the past 15 years, 80 percent of medical school applicants from Dordt gained admission, compared with a national average of about 40 percent. Graduates have been accepted at medical schools such as the University of Iowa, University of Minnesota (Twin Cities and Duluth), Des Moines University, and Loma Linda University. Only two people who have graduated from our pre-physical therapy program in the last 15 years have not been admitted into a physical therapy graduate program. One of our graduates, Troy Vander Molen ('94), was named the outstanding physical therapy student by the faculty of the University of Iowa physical therapy school. Most graduates of Dordt's pre-veterinarian program have earned a spot in the vet school of their choice based on their strong science background and hands-on experience. Dordt's location means an abundance of opportunities for pre-veterinary students, from riding along with a local vet to doing an individual study at an internationally known embryo transplant center or veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturer. Students in our pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry, and pre-nursing programs have had similar success in gaining admission to professional schools. Alumni Spotlight
After graduating from Dordt College in 2002, Paul De Jong went on to attend the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he ranked in the top 4 percent of the class of 2006. "The education I received at Dordt College prepared me exceptionally well for medical school," said De Jong. "The process of applying and being accepted to medical school is complicated and competitive. Dordt College does an outstanding job of preparing students to take the MCAT, teaching them how to write an exceptional personal statement, and coaching them how to perform well in medical school entrance interviews. Dordt College gave me the extra edge I needed to get accepted to not one but three medical schools including my first choice, the University of Illinois." In a note to the HPER department, Tammy (Groen) Mechaelsen ('88), director of physical therapy at Hamilton County Public Hospital, wrote, "I strongly believe that if I hadn't gone to Dordt, I wouldn't have been accepted into the [U. of M.] program." She cites individual attention at Dordt with leading to her successful career today. |
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