Prepare for Professional School Acceptance
Law, medical schools and other highly competitive graduate programs expect you, as an applicant, to fulfill specific prerequisites and get involved in related activities outside of the classroom. In The University of Texas at Tyler’s pre-professional tracks, experienced advisors guide you through this complex process, ensuring you build a critical foundation during your undergraduate academic career and take all of the required courses for admission into the schools you’re targeting for the next stage of your educational journey.
Why Enter a Pre-Professional Track at UT Tyler?
UT Tyler’s pre-professional tracks put you on a path toward a challenging and rewarding career. Our pre-professional advisors provide support throughout, with the goal of presenting you as the strongest possible candidate for admission to the schools of your choice.
Advisors work with you to ensure you make strategic moves. Prepare to discuss majors, minors and extracurriculars in relation to prerequisite requirements and standing apart from other candidates. Gradually plan out the application process, including selecting schools, taking standardized tests and meeting key deadlines.
Pre-Professional Tracks Available
Overseen by UT Tyler’s College of Arts and Sciences, 12 tracks help students qualify for admission to professional schools.
Pre-Chiropractic
The pre-chiropractic track helps aspiring undergraduates outline the science courses and observation experiences critical for a career optimizing patients’ health and wellness through the nervous system.
Pre-Dental
Take the first step toward a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Dental Medicine by joining the UT Tyler Academy of Future Health Professionals. Students gain a solid academic foundation in the sciences related to teeth, gum and mouth health, have access to shadowing experiences and meet with their advisor to prepare to take the Dental Admission Test, a requirement for all bachelor’s degree-holding candidates considering dental school.
Pre-Law
Law schools value strong researchers, critical thinkers and communicators well-versed in history and politics. In the pre-law track, prepare to talk about classes, workshops and internships with your advisor, and explore ways you can gain additional exposure to the legal field, including attending career seminars featuring lawyers and current law school students.
Pre-Medical
In entering this track and participating in the UT Tyler Academy of Future Health Professionals, students work closely with an advisor to discuss related majors and minors, class selection and cocurricular activities to fulfill medical school prerequisite requirements and prepare for the demanding and competitive application process.
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Get ready for a career helping patients gain or maintain their independence following an injury or in response to a disability or age-related changes. Through the guidance of their advisors, pre-occupational therapy students take a prescribed course sequence in preparation for a two-to-four-year program awarding them a Master of Occupational Therapy or doctoral degree. Pre-OT students can major in any field as long as they complete all prerequisites and take the Graduate Record Exam for OT schools that require it.
Pre-Optometry
For a detailed understanding of the eye’s workings, pre-optometry students pursue courses designed for science and health professions majors. Schools additionally require high scores on the Optometry Admission Test and in-person observation experiences.
Pre-Pharmacy
Intending to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy in Texas? As each of the state’s eight pharmacy schools has slightly different prerequisites, plan to discuss these specific requirements with your UT Tyler Academy of Future Health Professionals advisor and take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test.
Pre-Physical Therapy
Thinking about a career focusing on the body’s movements to aid patients' recovery? Earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and passing a state licensure exam get you closer to this goal. DPT programs typically last three years and have no specific bachelor’s degree requirements — although relevant majors like biology, kinesiology, psychology and health sciences help you meet prerequisites and introduce you to related subject areas.
Pre-Physician Assistant
In many rural and underserved parts of the United States, physician assistants directly oversee patient care and deliver key medical services. UT Tyler’s track meets the admission requirements of the state’s seven physician assistant programs, as well as others across the country.
As PA program admission requirements vary substantially, students plan specific subjects with their UT Tyler Academy of Future Health Professionals advisor to ensure they’re qualified to apply when the time comes. In Texas, common prerequisite subjects include general biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, genetics, immunology, physiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, statistics and general psychology. Programs outside of Texas may list additional courses.
Pre-Podiatric Medicine
According to the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, more than 97% of students who enter podiatric medical school have a bachelor’s degree. Many have completed some graduate study. Podiatric medical schools prefer candidates with strong science preparation and a demonstrated record of community service. The United States has 11 schools and colleges of podiatric medicine. Successful completion of one of these programs leads to a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. Texas does not have a podiatric medical school.
Pre-Theology
Although the Association of Theological Schools does not recommend any single major for incoming students, a strong liberal arts program refines a candidate’s critical thinking, writing, oral communication, close reading, research and organizational skills. To strengthen your application, we suggest you combine your chosen major with a minor in philosophy and select extracurricular activities that enhance your citizenship, leadership and service qualities.
Pre-Veterinary
While veterinary programs specify no single undergraduate major, according to the American Association of Veterinary Colleges, many applicants center their studies around a science-focused subject. Popular majors for UT Tyler’s pre-veterinary students include biochemistry, biology and chemistry.
To get hands-on experience working with animals, consider participating in 4-H animal projects, humane societies or kennel work, or volunteering at a zoo or livestock farm. Talk about these extracurriculars with your UT Tyler Academy of Future Health Professionals advisor to make sure you’re ready to apply to the veterinary schools in which you are interested.
Career Preparation
Admissions committees at professional schools base their decisions primarily on grades, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities that demonstrate maturity, service and leadership. To increase your chances of acceptance into the program of your choice, be sure your application focuses on these areas.
Plan to take any required standardized test (e.g., MCAT, DAT, PCAT, LSAT) by the spring semester of your junior year. Accordingly, complete the courses most likely to help you do well on these tests before then.
You typically need three letters of recommendation to apply to law, medical or another professional school. You’re more likely to have a quality letter of recommendation if your professors know you well. To improve your recommendations, consider completing an independent study project or conducting research in a professor’s lab. Additionally, working or volunteering with a professional in the field you hope to pursue enhances your qualifications and shows your commitment to this career path.
