Next Steps in the 2023-2024 Health Profession Cycle
Start requesting supporting letters of evaluation that will accompany your committee letter. This is what will hold most students up at the end of this process. The Center will only put your file in the que to have your committee letter written after you have notified the office that all of your letters of eval have been turned & a PDF copy of your AMCAS application has been received.
Attention Letter Writers!
We have changed the letter of evaluation form this year! You no longer need the additional form. The Center is just requesting your letter for that particular student. Thank you for taking the time to write a letter for Health Profession students!
Websites for Health Sciences Advising and Preprofessional Studies!
Advising for students in any major or college who are planning to enter a health profession is available through this site.
If you are looking for information about undergraduate majors offered through the Department of Preprofessional Studies find it at preprofessionalstudies.nd.edu.
How Should I Be Preparing?
First Year
Students will be assigned a first year advisor within their respective college. First Year students planning to apply to medical school can meet with Kristi Lax-Walker. We have recommended readings for your first year to prepare you on your Health Professions journey.
Sophomores
Students officially declare majors. Sophomores will meet with advisors to make sure they are on track with grades, research, service hours, etc. Will often want to talk about summer experiences and opportunities. In addition, students accepted into various study abroad programs will make appointments to ensure that they are meeting requirements for Pre Health and their major during their semester away. Sophomore 2022 Presentation
Juniors & Seniors
Students will decide between attempting to enter a Health Professions school immediately after graduation, or if they will be taking a gap year. Advising meetings are typically scheduled with either Fr. Foster or Dr. Kolberg. Those who intend to matriculate immediately after graduation will initiate the process during their second semester of junior year, and will apply during the summer before senior year. Those taking one or multiple gap years will complete this process a year later, as seniors.
Graduate & Alumni
Graduate students and ND alumni can also utilize the advising services in our office. Those not located at ND can schedule phone interviews with our advisors and conduct the process remotely.
Jessica Igiede
Accepted into Rush Medical College '26
During my time at Notre Dame, the advisors at the Center for Health Sciences Advising were extremely helpful and supportive in assisting me to apply to medical school. From my sophomore year, the advisors were there to answer any questions I had as well as encourage me along the journey. Something that they emphasized to me early was to do things that I was passionate about and would allow me to grow, not just activities that I thought would look good on an application. This advice permitted me to enhance my application while allowing my pre-med journey to still be enjoyable. I appreciated how very available the advisors made themselves to me whether that was to assuage any concerns I had or to advise me on how I could continue to grow at each step of my journey. I am beyond grateful for their investment in my growth as an individual and success as a future physician.
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Jessica Igiede
Accepted into Rush Medical College '26
During my time at Notre Dame, the advisors at the Center for Health Sciences Advising were extremely helpful and supportive in assisting me to apply to medical school. From my sophomore year, the advisors were there to answer any questions I had as well as encourage me along the journey. Something that they emphasized to me early was to do things that I was passionate about and would allow me to grow, not just activities that I thought would look good on an application. This advice permitted me to enhance my application while allowing my pre-med journey to still be enjoyable. I appreciated how very available the advisors made themselves to me whether that was to assuage any concerns I had or to advise me on how I could continue to grow at each step of my journey. I am beyond grateful for their investment in my growth as an individual and success as a future physician.
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Emma Mazurek
Accepted into IU School of Medicine (Early Decision Program) '26
Throughout my undergraduate time at Notre Dame, the Center for Health Sciences Advising was there to answer any questions and alleviate anxieties about applying to medical school. As a science preprofessional studies major, I am thankful for the unique opportunity to have been in class with the advisors and benefit from getting to know them academically and personally. The advisors recognize and work to understand the uniqueness of each student. Moreover, the advisors have supported me throughout my gap year and continue to be an invaluable resource. The Center for Health Sciences Advising helps students achieve their collegiate and graduate goals with candor, compassion, and commitment. I am forever grateful to the Center for Health Sciences Advising for helping me achieve a lifelong goal of attending medical school.
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Quinn Retzloff
Accepted into the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine '26
Before I even attended Notre Dame, I asked an upperclassman his best advice for a future Pre-med. He said, “make the Center for Health Sciences Advising your second home under the Dome.” Do just that! Applying to medical school can seem daunting, but my help from the advising team eased that pressure. The Center’s faculty are accessible, knowledgeable and timely with how to prepare for any health profession. Perhaps most importantly, the advising team allowed me to highlight attributes that will serve me well in medicine: compassion, commitment to excellence, and service. For this help, I’m truly grateful.
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Kellen Round
Accepted into Thomas Jefferson Medical College '25
From the first day of Welcome Weekend to moments before I walked across the stage at graduation, the health professions counseling staff saw through my development as a person and future physician. With hundreds of health professions students matriculating from Notre Dame each year, I was both grateful and impressed by the level of individual attention I received across my four years. Most importantly, the advisors continuously emphasize the importance of becoming an appealing applicant through personal growth rather than simply checking the boxes – a demonstration of clear alignment with the values of our school.
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Derek Rubadeux
Accepted into the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine '26
While a student could try to navigate their pre-medical school journey without advising, I believe that the Center made the process significantly more straightforward and efficient. In this regard, the Center serves as a vital resource for any pre-medical student. The information I was provided throughout the admissions process enhanced my application and made this aspect of my journey to medical school much more pleasant.
Pre-Med Minute
Dr. Kathleen Kolberg, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the University of Notre Dame, shares her tips she gives as Adviser to students preparing for admission to health profession schools.