Pre-Health Tracks
Exploring the Health Professions
It is useful to explore different career options in the health professions to determine what would be best for what you would like to do and talk about the different possibilities with your HPAC advisor. You should also visit the Skidmore College Career Development Center Career Exploration page. Assistant Director Rachel Chase is the career advisor in the Career Development Center who is a member of HPAC and specializes in health and science careers. She can help with finding internships, shadowing and work opportunities, clinical experiences, and preparing your materials. Your HPAC advisor can provide feedback on your materials and discuss different opportunities. Schedule an appointment with the Career Development Center.
- Prerequisite Chart for Pre-Health Tracks - Summarizes the courses at Skidmore that fulfill the typical requirements of different pre-health tracks, including for medicine, denistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, physician assistant/associate, pharmacy, genetic counseling, nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
- Which Health Professions Career Fits You? YouTube video developed by the University of Texas College of Natural Sciences. Brief overview of careers as a medical doctor, dentist, physician assistant, pharmacist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, optometrist, podiatrist, and veterinarian.
- The Pre-Health RX Podcast by the Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office, University of Maryland - The Pre-Health RX helps you explore health care fields. Whether you’re thinking medical school, dental school, Pre-PA, exploring Occupational Therapy, or any other healthcare field, we have you covered.
- Student Resources of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions - The resources include links to information on:
- What’s an M.D., D.O., N.P., P.A., and M.A.? Basic overview of careers as a medical doctor (allopathic, M.D., or osteopathic, D.O.), nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and medical assistant.
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) vs Physician Assistant (PA) - Which role is Right for You?
- Doctor vs PA vs NP | Which is Right for You?
- Pharmacology vs. Pharmacy: What’s the Difference? - Difference between those who design and study medications, e.g., drug design, (Pharmacologist, M.S. or Ph.D.) and those who prepare and dispense medications (Pharmacist, PharmD).
- Why I Chose A DPM Degree Over The MD And DO Degrees - Discussion of why podiatry might be the health profession you are looking for.
- Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist: What’s the Difference?- Discusses differences and similarities between being an Opthalmologist (MD) and an Optometrist (OD)
- Difference Between an Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Optician
- What Is a Psychiatrist? And How Are They Different from Psychologists?- Psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.). To be a psychologist, you earn a Psy.D. or Ph.D.
- Mayo Clinic Full Listing of Careers in Health Care
- Is Dentistry Right for You?
- Why Dentistry
- DDS Vs DMD: What Is The Difference?
- Skidmore Pre-Dental Info- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Is Medical School Right for Me?
- Is a Career in Medicine Right for You?
- Why Choose Medicine as a Career
- M.D. vs. D.O. Allopathic and Osteopathic Medical School Comparison
- Specialities in Medicine
- Skidmore Pre-Medicine Info- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Comparing to Related Career Paths
- What Is a Psychiatrist? And How Are They Different from Psychologists?- Psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.). To be a psychologist, you earn a Psy.D. or Ph.D.
- Medical Model vs Nursing Model
- Doctor vs PA vs NP | Which is Right for You?
- What’s an M.D., D.O., N.P., P.A., and M.A.? Basic overview of careers as a medical doctor (allopathic, M.D., or osteopathic, D.O.), nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and medical assistant.
- Why I Chose A DPM Degree Over The MD And DO Degrees - Discussion of why podiatry might be the health profession you are looking for.
- Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist: What’s the Difference?- Discusses differences and similarities between being an Opthalmologist (MD) and an Optometrist (OD)
- Difference Between an Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Optician
- Nurse Practitioner - MSN or DNP after Skidmore; direct entry or after accelerated BSN
- Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care- MSN or DNP after Skidmore; direct entry or after accelerated BSN
- What is a Nurse Practitioner?- MSN or DNP after Skidmore; direct entry or after accelerated BSN
- In What States Can Nurse Practitioners Practice Independently?
- 7 Nurse Practitioner and Nurse-Midwife Statistics You Should Know
- Registered Nursing- Accelerated BSN after Skidmore
- What’s the Difference Between a Registered Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner?
- Should I Get an ABSN or MSN
- Accelerated BSN Vs Direct Entry MSN: What’s the Right Path for You?
- MSN vs. DNP - Which is Better?
- Nurse Anesthetist- Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, MSN or DPN; direct entry or after accelerated BSN
- Nurse Midwife- MSN or DPN; direct entry or after accelerated BSN
- Certified Nurse Midwife vs. Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner: What’s the Difference?
- CRNA vs. NP: Determining Your Ideal Nursing Career - Explores Difference in Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- PhD in Nursing vs DNP: What's the Difference?
- PhD Education In Nursing - Besides PhD in Nursing maybe Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS)
- Skidmore Pre-Nursing Information- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Comparing to Related Health Careers
- Medical Model vs Nursing Model
- Doctor vs PA vs NP | Which is Right for You?
- What’s an M.D., D.O., N.P., P.A., and M.A.? - Basic overview of careers as a medical doctor (allopathic, M.D., or osteopathic, D.O.), nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and medical assistant.
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) vs Physician Assistant (PA): Which Role is Right for You
- Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant: Key Differences
- What is a Doctor of Optometry?
- Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist: What’s the Difference?- Discusses differences and similarities between being an Opthalmologist (MD) and an Optometrist (OD)
- Difference Between an Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Optician
- Skidmore Pre-Optometry Information
- Physician Assistant
- What is a PA?
- Top 10 Reasons to Be a Physician Assistant
- In What States Can Physician Assistants (PAs) Practice Independently?
- Skidmore Pre-PA Info- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Comparing to Related Health Careers
- What’s an M.D., D.O., N.P., P.A., and M.A.? Basic overview of careers as a medical doctor (allopathic, M.D., or osteopathic, D.O.), nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and medical assistant.
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) vs Physician Assistant (PA): Which Role is Right for You?
- Doctor vs PA vs NP | Which is Right for You?
- Medical Model vs Nursing Model
- Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant: Key Differences
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy for Me
- How to Become a Pharmacist - 3 Steps
- Pharmacology vs. Pharmacy: What's the Difference?
- Skidmore Pre-Pharmacy Information- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Physical Therapist
- Why Choose a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree?
- Becoming a Physical Therapist
- Skidmore Pre-Physical Therapy Info- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Comparing to Related Health Careers
- What is a Podiatrist?
- Becoming a Podiatrist
- Why I Chose A DPM Degree Over The MD And DO Degrees - Discussion of why podiatry might be the health profession you are looking for.
- Skidmore Pre-Podiatry Info- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Occupational Therapist
- How to Become an Occupational Therapist
- Skidmore Pre-Occupational Therapy Info- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Comparing Related Health Careers
- A Career in Veterinary Medicine
- Becoming a Veterinarian
- Veterinary Specialities
- Skidmore Pre-Veterinary Medicine Info- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Genetic Counselor
- Becoming a Genetic Counselor
- About Genetic Counselors
- Skidmore Pre-Genetic Counseling Info- Includes a more detailed look at the courses typically required and the courses at Skidmore that will often fulfill those requirements.
- Physicians and Surgeons
- Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
- Registered Nurses
- Physician Assistants
- Dentists
- Veterinarians
- Podiatrists
- Pharmacists
- Optometrists
- Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Genetic Counselors
- Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Chemists & Material Scientists
- Medical Scientists
- Microbiologists
- Biological Technicians
- Chemical Technicians
- Clinical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Assistants
Details on Pursing Particular Health Tracks Including Courses to Take
Dental | Medicine | Nursing | Optometry | Physician Assistant | Public Health | Physical Therapy | Occupational Therapy | Veterinary | Additional Professions | Articulation Agreements
Note
To be a clinical psychologist, please contact the Psychology Department. Note to be psychiatrist or a neurologist requires an M.D. or D.O. as they are medical specialties.
To be a social worker, please contact the Social Work Department.