Pre-Podiatry Program

Honors Program

Honors students complete an independent research project usually spanning their junior and senior years. Your research can take you just about anywhere - in the lab or library, in the community, or in the U.S. or abroad! Honors work can also be very practical. Prospective employers and graduate admissions committees often look carefully at an undergraduate record for evidence of extra initiative and genuine intellectual strength.

Learn more about the Honors Program

Pre-Podiatric Medicine internships and job shadowing

Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find internships and career opportunities. Students recently completed internships at the following locations: 

• Faith Regional Health Services (Norfolk, Neb.)
• Franciscan Healthcare (West Point, Neb.)
• MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center (Sioux City, Iowa)
• Providence Medical Center (Wayne, Neb.)
• Sidney Regional Medical Center (Sidney, Neb.)

Career services and internships

Topics covered in the Pre-Podiatry program

• Analytical, organic, and inorganic chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Chemical processes and materials
• Chemical experiment and design
• Human anatomy and dissection
• Molecular genetics
• Probability and statistics
• Advanced lab techniques and management
• University physics and experimentation
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Research, observation, and analysis of data

This 4-year timeline serves as a guide to help you plan for applying to podiatric medical schools.

Freshman year

1. Meet with your Pre-Podiatry program advisor to create a personalized plan and discuss what you'd like to accomplish during your summers (i.e. working, job shadowing, internship, or research). Your advisor and the WSC Career Services Office will help you achieve your goals.
2. Join the Health Science Club at WSC to engage in health-related activities and participate in networking events.
3. Begin researching medical schools and learn about their admission requirements. Be mindful of prerequisite course and GPA requirements, location, costs, program reputation, and entrance exams score requirements.
4. Study and practice for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
5. Take the free practice MCAT exam available at WSC each semester.
    

Sophomore year

1. Continue researching medical schools and their prerequisite course and GPA requirements, location, costs, program reputation, and entrance exams score requirements. Inquire with the professional school for any specific questions and guidance.
2. Investigate summer health opportunities with your advisor and WSC Career Services Office.
3. Study and practice for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
4. Take the free practice MCAT exam available at WSC each semester.
    

Junior year

Fall semester

1. Investigate where you can take the MCAT and register to take it in the spring.

Spring semester

1. Take the official Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) exam. If the desired score is not achieved, the MCAT exam should be able to be taken at least two more times prior to a college of medicine application deadline.
    

Senior year

Fall semester

1. Ask people if they would be willing to provide a letter of recommendation.  Letters of recommendation are statements from professors, supervisors, or other professionals that detail your academic abilities, interpersonal skills, and character. Medical schools typically require 2-4 letters and will sometimes ask that some be from professors. Check with each school to which you plan to apply for the number and type of letters they require, when those letters are due, and the process for how letters of recommendation are to be submitted.
2. Work on essays - Your personal statement or essay is an opportunity to expand upon unique experiences and events and adds a personal dimension to your application. Work with professors or advisors to have your statement reviewed.

Spring semester

1. Start the application process. Use the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS). This allows you to submit one application and send it to multiple programs. The application opens the first Wednesday in August each year for admission in fall of the following year.
2. Complete the application process
    
   • For priority consideration, apply by March 1. The final application deadline is June 30.
   • Some schools may also require a secondary application for their program. This application deadline will be after you submit your centralized application. Each school you apply to will let you know what steps you need to complete after you submit your centralized application.
      
3. Interview with podiatric medical schools if required for the application process. Make sure to practice by doing a mock interview.
4. Make admissions decisions - Admissions committees will review your application to decide on your admission to their program. Follow up with your Pre-Medicine advisor if you have questions about your admission status.

Graduates of the Pre-Podiatric Medicine program work in their field or continue their studies using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, medical schools and employers welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.

Recent grads are pursuing their medical degrees at the following schools:

• Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine at Midwestern University (Glendale, Ariz.)

 Career possibilities:

• Podiatrist
• Pediatric podiatrist
• Sports podiatrist
• Forensic podiatry
• Orthopedic surgeon
• Orthotics or prosthetics developer
• Podiatry educator
• Research

 

job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey