PURSUE YOUR MEDICAL PASSION
Future doctors. Veterinarians. Physical therapists. Pharmacists. From the moment you step foot on campus, Ripon College will support you on your path toward a career in medicine and health sciences. Not only do our courses lay the groundwork for further education, but the Ripon experience will also shape you into the well-rounded individual that medical schools look for. A leader. A critical thinker. Someone who is caring and giving of their time. Become the graduate school candidate and health professional you are meant to be.
Focus your studies to prepare for a future in:
● Medicine
● Dentistry
● Veterinary medicine
● Optometry
● Podiatry
● Physical therapy
● Pharmacy
● Nursing
● Chiropractic medicine
● Sports medicine
Faculty
Clark, Jacqueline
Professor of Sociology, Helen Swift Neilson Professor of Cultural Studies and Chair of Sociology and Anthropology (Fall 24Semester)
Followay, Brittany
Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Chair of Exercise Science, Graduate Program Director
The specific admission requirements vary from school to school, and a student should plan carefully to ensure that education and work experiences enhance the chances for admission. The following guidelines should be kept in mind when planning an undergraduate curriculum: general biology or zoology (with lab), 4 credit hours (BIO 123 Molecules, Cells and Genes); advanced biology or zoology (with lab), 4 credit hours (BIO 211 Human Anatomy and Physiology I: Support, Movement and Integration, 216 Vertebrate Zoology or 219 Genetics for example); general chemistry (with lab), 8 credit hours (CHM 112 Structure and Reactivity and 211 Analytical Chemistry: Equilibrium and Quantitative Analysis); organic chemistry (with lab), 8 credit hours (CHM 111 Organic Chemistry I and 214 Organic Chemistry II); biochemistry, 4 credit hours (CHM 422 Biochemistry); physics (with lab), 8 credit hours (PHY 131 General Physics: Mechanics-152/172 General Physics I & II: Electricity, Magnetism and Waves); English, 6 credit hours; statistics (MTH 120 Elementary Statistics or PSC 211 Research Design and Statistics) for most schools and calculus (MTH 201 Calculus I) for some schools. Courses such as human anatomy and physiology, vertebrate zoology, genetics, microbiology, cell biology, psychology and sociology also are helpful when preparing for medical school and the MCAT.
Career Tracks
You take your professional goals seriously, and so do we. Every Ripon student is assigned a faculty advisor to help you plan your academic program. Better yet, they are genuinely interested in you and your career goals. That’s the benefit of being at a smaller school.
When it’s time to prepare for a career in health, Ripon’s Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) will be your guide. They organize programs of interest, help with standardized tests, hold mock interviews, and ensure you are on track to achieve your goals.
Unique Opportunities
Being at Ripon as a pre-med and health sciences student has its perks. Here are some opportunities past and current students have embraced:
- Working as a part-time emergency medical technician (EMT) for the city of Ripon
- Volunteering or shadowing at the Ripon Medical Center or other area medical facilities
- Applying for the early acceptance program with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
80%
Acceptance rate to medical school for Ripon graduates*
85%
Acceptance rate to other health-related programs for Ripon graduates
*The national average is approximately 40%
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Ready to apply to medical, dental, veterinary, or other health professional schools? The Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) will coordinate the letters of evaluation and provide a committee letter for your applications. Be sure to follow the process below—and plan ahead! This will take about a month to complete.
You should request letters from at least three people. Be sure to follow any specific instructions and use the forms provided by the schools you’re applying to. Your evaluators can either use the forms or submit a letter on their own, depending on their preference.
Do not send the letters of evaluation directly to the schools. They should be returned to the Chair of HPAC, Dr. Barbara Sisson, Department of Biology.
This letter will be based on the letters of evaluation received, the committee’s knowledge of the applicant, and an interview.
Please provide the HPAC with a list of schools (with addresses) to which you are applying, the names of your evaluators, an updated resume, and the application deadlines.
Advising
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.
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Become the extraordinary individual you are meant to be at Ripon.