Overview

More and more, professional schools are using a problem-based approach to train health professionals. Learning by doing helps knowledge sink in. That’s something WPI students already know well, since our innovative curriculum requires all students to complete two significant projects that ask them to use what they learn in the classroom to solve real-world problems.

You’ll thrive in fast-paced environments.

Graduate education in the health professions is fast-paced, so professional schools look for students who can hit the ground running. WPI’s seven-week academic terms teach students to manage their time and to be comfortable moving quickly from one subject to the next. Plus, completing their major academic project gives students practical, hands-on experience while meeting real-life deadlines.

You’ll know how to work well with people

Health professionals need to know how to understand and work with people. WPI students complete projects, large and small, in teams, learning to motivate each other, to communicate, and to work through interpersonal problems. And they learn what it means to be accountable—to their teammates, their project sponsors, and themselves.

You’ll see your work in a broader context

The medical professions today are complex. Physicians, veterinarians, and dentists must be skillful at navigating the many social, cultural, and policy issues and challenges that affect their work. Through WPI’s unique Interactive Project, students tackle challenging social issues and concerns and learn to use their knowledge and skills to make the world a better place. Our Global Perspective Program and language instruction help students understand and thrive in other cultures.

You’ll create something all your own

Professional schools seek applicants with solid academic records, of course. But they also look for individuals who bring something interesting and unique to their education and future professions. Your project work will give you knowledge, perspective, and achievements that are yours alone. And when you go into that medical school interview, you’ll have a solid and substantial accomplishment to talk about—a powerful way of saying, “Here’s what I can do.”

A nationally-known center for the medical industry

As a center for the medical and health care industries and for research in biomedicine and biotechnology, Worcester is an exceptional setting for students interested in pursuing careers in the medical professions. A number of hospitals are located in Worcester County; the city itself is home to the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the Worcester Medical Center, and UMass-Memorial Health Care, which, with eight hospitals and more than 1,500 physicians, is the second-largest health care delivery system in Massachusetts. Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine is in nearby Grafton, and Boston—under an hour away—is home to some of the nation’s top medical and dental schools.

The Boston-Worcester corridor is at the frontier of the biotechnology and biomedical industries, with dozens of companies engaged in research, development, and manufacturing in the areas of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. WPI, itself, has made a major commitment to the growth of life sciences-based research and industry by partnering with the City of Worcester to develop an 11-acre site near the downtown area into Gateway Park, a life sciences-based campus. The park’s first building, the WPI Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center, a 124,600-square-foot facility, will be the nucleus for up to one million square feet of new construction devoted to cutting-edge research programs.

This concentration of medically related companies and institutions affords students a wealth of opportunities for academic projects, co-ops, internships, volunteer and community service opportunities, and other means to get practical, clinical experience and exposure to the state of the art in the health professions. These experiences, along with letters of recommendation students may receive from physicians, veterinarians, dentists, and other health professionals, are invaluable additions to a professional school application.

WPI Early Admission Option to Tufts Vet School

WPI has forged an agreement with the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in nearby Grafton, Mass., that enables students to apply for and receive admission to the vet school in the spring of their sophomore year. Students who receive early admission to Tufts do not need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). For more information, contact the WPI Office of Admissions at admissions@wpi.edu or 508-831-5286.

WPI: Your partner on the road to the health professions

WPI’s traditionally strong academic programs and unique project-enriched curriculum are outstanding building blocks for students looking ahead to a career in the health professions. The university recognizes that even the best students can benefit from expert guidance and special support programs geared to those pursuing pre-health studies.

Unlike similar programs at other colleges, WPI’s Pre-Health Advising Program is open to all students considering applying to medical, veterinary, or dental school. No application to the program is required, and no students are turned away. The program provides special opportunities for an enhanced college experience and an advantage in the competition for admission to the best professional schools:

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Last modified: July 31, 2007 08:16:34