About Pre-Health Studies at WPI


What Majors Are Available to Pre-Health Students?

Students wishing to enter the medical professions may major in any academic area offered by WPI. In fact, experience has shown that majors in engineering, technology, and science, which give students exposure to complex technical concepts and a practical approach to problem solving, can be especially good preparation for medical practice. Many pre-health students at WPI choose to major in one of the following areas:

Biology and Biotechnology: For students interested in the use of technological research tools to address questions about living organisms. Focus areas in the biological sciences range from cells and macromolecules to the interactions of organisms and their environments. Biologists need exposure to other sciences and mathematics in order to process data, solve problems, and understand the chemical and physical rules that govern biological systems. Biology and Biotechnology majors may select general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, calculus, or statistics to round out their undergraduate program. These choices are easily tailored to fulfill the requirements for professional school admission.

Biomedical Engineering: For students who are interested in applying engineering techniques and tools to problems in the life sciences. Working at the intersection of engineering and medicine, biomedical engineers develop interesting and useful technology in such areas as medical imaging, surgery, and medical monitoring systems.

Biochemistry: For students who wish to combine the interests of the chemist and the biologist. Biochemistry examines how macromolecules like proteins and DNA combine to create organisms, how molecular abnormalities can lead to disease, and how new biochemical compounds can be developed to treat medical problems.

Chemistry: For students interested in observing and measuring how materials change. Chemistry students desiring medical careers will become proficient at using sophisticated analytical equipment to measure minute amounts of medically significant compounds and small changes in the levels of various compounds in the body, skills vital to medical practice and research.

How Does WPI’s Unique Curriculum Work for Pre-Health Students?

Once you’ve narrowed your focus, you can explore your chosen area of interest in depth through the WPI Plan, the university’s unique project-enriched approach to education. The Plan and WPI’s term system make it possible for you to spend one or more seven-week periods working on a major project [link to list of project examples—see below] at an off-campus site like the UMass Medical School or a health care or biotechnology-related business.

When you’ve completed your project work, you’ll have a lot more than courses to list on your professional school application. You’ll have practical exposure to medical careers and substantial experience conducting important, professional-level work in a health setting. No other undergraduate medical preparation program can offer you this type of in-depth work in a medical environment.

Many students are considering careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry; fewer are absolutely committed to such careers. If you’re among those who are sure of your career path, consider the advantages of admission to WPI.

Recent Medically Related WPI Student Projects

Low Level Radiation Health Effects Data
Evaluation of the Asthma Epidemic
Measuring Quality on the Fringes of Healthcare
Healthcare Delivery in a Pre-Hospital Setting
Wellness on the Web
Analysis of Public Health Messages for HIV and Breast Cancer
Farrier Services at U.S. Veterinary Schools
Evaluation and Redesign of a Dental Device for Root Canal Surgery
Quality of Patient Care in American Hospitals
Ethical Issues in Transgenic Animal Research
Environmental Enrichment for Big Cats
Evaluation of the Avian Flu Outbreaks in Hong Kong
Development of a Dengue Virus Detection Assay
Evaluation of Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Coronary Artery Bypass Patients

What Professional Schools Have Accepted WPI Graduates?

Medical Schools:

Boston University School of Medicine
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Harvard University Medical School
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School
New York Medical College
Tufts University School of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine

Veterinary Schools:

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine

Dental Schools:

Boston University School of Dental Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

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Last modified: February 08, 2008 09:05:01