What its like to be a Pre-Health Student at LC!!

 When I was considering attending LC, I was really intrigued by what it would be like to be not only a STEM major but also a Pre-Health student at a small liberal arts college. Since beginning school here at LC I have realized just how many unique and important opportunities that I have access to as a pre-health student.
If you’re considering pre-health as a student already attending Lewis and Clark or as a prospective student considering Lewis and Clark, then there are lots of things to consider. 


Small schools are sometimes viewed poorly in terms of research opportunities and resources for pre-health students. Lewis and Clark and most other liberal arts colleges do not have a specified pre-health track nor do they have a pre-health major. However, Lewis and Clark has an excellent Pre-Health professions club that is incredibly useful in terms of providing guidance, resources, and opportunities for students.


The club is open to anyone and meets every other week. The club is an excellent avenue for pre-health students to get to know each other and provides an opportunity for younger students to learn from the experiences and advice of upperclassmen who have become more involved in pre-health opportunities. Additionally, the club is incredibly useful for making connections and staying on track to meet all the requirements before applying to medical school or any other types of health professions after graduation.


Additionally, Lewis and Clark has an incredible advisor duo for pre-health students. Advisors are very knowledgeable and can help students organize and explore potential health paths. The Center for Community and Global Health, advised by Jerusha Detweiler-Bedell is a strong resource for students planning to pursue a career in Public Health.


Lewis and Clark also now offers a Health Studies Minor which attracts a wide array of majors and can also be a valuable minor for students interested in health in general.


The pre-health advisor, Carolyn Zook, also is a wonderful resource. She supports pre-health students and helps them to plan and meet their goals in terms of health professional schooling after graduation.


Lewis and Clark also offer most if not all of the major classes required or suggested by Medical Schools. Not to mention that the prestige associated with Lewis and Clark, as well as the dynamic liberal arts education and the ability of many students to study abroad all are aspects that help pre-health students stand apart from other applicants in the pre-health application process.


Lewis and Clark also has many opportunities for institutional research. Students have the opportunity to work in various research labs on campus which can give them a taste of other potential career avenues after graduation and provide them unique opportunities to stand out.


In terms of course rigor, pre-health can be rather demanding just solely due to the challenge of having to take so many STEM courses. However, the small class sizes at Lewis and Clark allow students to build stronger connections with faculty members and get more support in order to best stay caught up and successful in courses. Lewis and Clark’s SAAB tutoring allows students to get one-on-one tutoring in various subject areas. Additionally, Lewis and Clark has the Symbolic and Quantitative Reasoning Center (SQRC) where students can go to get homework help or study help in STEM courses. 


Overall, while Lewis and Clark is of course a small liberal arts college, this is in many ways advantageous for pre-health students. There are many resources at Lewis and Clark to help students navigate all that pre-health entails.


Here are some fun pictures of campus and friends (during study breaks as we were all studying for a Biology exam...yay women in STEM!)





Thanks for reading!
-Priyanka