Events & Opportunities

Pre-Health Events & Learning Opportunities*

Pre-Health Professions advising include large group informational sessions, small group advising, one-on-one advising, and discipline specific guest speakers. The goal is to provide an opportunity for pre-health professional students to become more knowledgeable and to collaborate with one another on their path to a successful career in healthcare.

   What’s happening this semester?

    • Check out our Fall 2023 (brief) Newsletter of events.

    • To get event details via the most recent Newsletter and be eligible for program specific opportunities and scholarships…

      • Join the Pre-Health Professions email listserv <http://bit.ly/AHP_Updates> and receive a welcome email with the full newsletter.
        • You can also follow “prehealthclub_unca” on Instagram & add “prehealthclub@unca.edu” to your calendar!

    • Pre-Health Professions Program Participants “TO DO” List

      1. Join the listserv!
      2. Come to a Pre-Health Professions Program/Aspiring Healthcare Professionals Student Group event.
      3. Volunteer to help at an Aspiring Healthcare Professionals Student Group event.
      4. Take advantage of professor office hours and the *free* support at UNC Asheville to stay successful in your academic courses.
      5. Start doing community service and volunteering (the pre-health student group is an excellent option!).
      6. Attend a “ Pre-Health Advising & Intro to Pre-Health Professions Program” event!
      7. Attend the other group advising events for the Pre-Health Professionals Program. Remember, it’s important to plan ahead so you can stay organized and up to date!
      8. Students who have earned (or “completed”) 40+ credit hours and are planning to apply to medical or dental school need to meet with Dr. Maxwell, the Director of Pre-Health Professions. These students should also attend the Fall 2023 events related to the next 18 months of their academic career. Individual advising appointments will begin on 10/23. More details will be shared via the listserv.

Aspiring Healthcare Professionals + ‘Be The Match’ Student Group

  • The Aspiring Healthcare Professionals (AHP) & ‘Be The Match’ (BTM) Student Group collaborate to host multiple events and open meetings throughout the year. They also work closely with the Director of Pre-Health Professions at UNC Asheville to host events, gain healthcare-related experience, build leadership skills, and gain valuable insight that supports their career goals.
    • Participating with this student group will keep you up to date about helpful resources and opportunities available to you as a UNC Asheville student. After participating as a member you may be able to step into a leadership role which can be a valuable step toward a successful health professional school application and career! Your first step is to sign up for the email list below and check back here for more information.
      • The Pre-Health Professions email listserv link above (http://bit.ly/AHP_Updates) provides updates from the Director of Pre-Health Professions about upcoming events, special opportunities, AHP/BTM student group updates, and follow the AHP/BTM Student Group on Instagram at <prehealthclub_unca>.

  EVENTS CALENDAR (link)

         Event times/locations are also listed in the newsletter which is available through our listserv link above.

 

   Additional Pre-Health Professions Support & Resources at UNC Asheville

  • UNC Asheville Student Organizations and Clubs 
    • Follow your interest and join any number of student organizations which adds your email to notifications about fun and educational events on campus. Your engagement can range from just seeing the email, to participation, to volunteering and leadership. Engaging with a student organization is a great first step in building an well-rounded and competitive application for graduate health programs.
  • UNC Asheville Key Center for Community Engaged Learning
    • The Key Center supports students by coordinating and supporting service experiences, community based research, service learning, cultural events, and educational programs including the opportunity to be recognized as a Community Engaged Scholar upon graduation.
  • Undergraduate Research Program (URP) at UNC Asheville
    • Students usually earn academic credit for performing undergraduate research, either through a research-based course in their major or through the 499 designation. Students who meet certain criteria may also apply to receive Distinction as a University Research Scholar upon graduation. Students interested in URP are encouraged to discuss possible opportunities with the faculty in their major department and check the URP calendar of events and deadlines.
  • AHEC Scholars Program 
    • The AHEC Scholars Program at MAHEC is designed for health professions students interested in supplementing their education by gaining additional knowledge and experience in rural and/or underserved urban settings. This is a longitudinal program with interdisciplinary curricula that include a defined set of clinical, didactic, and community-based activities. Applications accepted now through June 11, 2021.
  • UNC Asheville Pre-Healthcare Professions Summer Internship at MAHEC
    • The University of North Carolina Asheville, WNC Bridge Foundation, and MAHEC’s Center for Health Professions Education have collaborated to create an undergraduate internship experience for UNC Asheville students interested in pursuing a clinical health professions degree. This 8-week paid summer internship provides 20 hours per week of clinical shadowing, didactics, and direct engagement in a community-based research project.
      • Applications are no longer being accepted for summer 2021 but plan ahead for summer 2022.
  • MCAT Review Course Grants and Discounts
    • Live online course with Princeton Review offered each spring for free for 10 applicants or at >50% discount to UNCA students and alum. Sign up for the pre-health newsletter to find out more (http://bit.ly/UNCA_Pre-Health_Newsletter).
  • UNC Gillings MPH Program in Asheville 
    • The mission of the UNC Gillings School’s MPH Program in Asheville is to foster thriving, healthy, and connected communities in Western North Carolina by equipping the next generation of public health advocates through place-based learning, community connection, justice-oriented relationships, and community-driven solutions that bridge the gap between research and practice.
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    • For the most up to date information, please go to the college, university or organization website. To see our UNC Asheville Pre-Health “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) primarily related to the coronavirus-impacted 2020 semesters and S*/W grading option, go to this link:  bit.ly/UNCA_Pre-Health_FAQs..
  • Individual Pre-Health Advising Meeting
    • Please plan to attend one or more of the “Overview” or “Introduction” events listed in the Newsletter above.
    • To schedule a Pre-Health Advising Appointment with Dr. Maxwell, Pre-Health Advisor and Committee Coordinator:
    • Fall 2023 Advising
      • Students with. <40 earned credit hours: Join the listserv + attend group sessions + check out the website  + talk to one of our Pre-Health Professions Committee Members
      • Students with >40 earned credit hours can schedule a meeting with Dr. Maxwell, Director of Pre-Health Professions Program, by using this Calendar link  (…Trouble accessing the calendar? Here are “How to” instructions.)
        • Before your meeting, make sure to open this link, follow the directions at the top, and get started on your unique “Multi-Semester Undergraduate Plan. Becoming familiar with the resources available on this document and adding any AP and/or college course credit that you already completed will help you maximize your advising time with Dr. Maxwell.
  • UNC Asheville Writing Center
    • The Writing Center supports writers through one-on-one consultations with student writing consultants for any writing project, regardless of where you are in your writing process including application documents such as personal statements and cover letters.
  • UNC Asheville Career Center
    • The Career Center supports current students and alumni through career coaching, internships, job fairs, job listings, cover letter and resume support.

 

Other Helpful Resources, Programs, Professional Associations, & Podcasts, etc.

  • What’s next?  
    •  NAAHP Facts Sheets on applications, gap years, reapplying, and ideas for pre-health students during a pandemic.
  • Post-Baccalaureate Programs
    • The term “post-baccalaureate” describes programs that begin after you’ve completed an undergraduate degree and are designed specifically to support the transition to a professional school, such as a medical school, as well as enhance an applicant’s competitiveness for admission. There are several types of programs which are designed to address a particular need, such as academic record enhancement, career change, MCAT® exam prep, as well as programs for underrepresented students (aamc.org).
  • Masters of Science
    • This is a good option for student who need to strengthen their science knowledge, improve your GPA, and become a more competitive applicant. Students can earn a degree and may be able to have it paid for by doing research or being a teaching assistant. For students who plan to use this as a stepping stone to healthcare, it is best to focus the MS education on a topic that relates to the kind of medicine you hope to practice. (There are too many to list here so it’s best to do a web search.)

Previous Presentations for Reference