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Health Professions Advising

Career Services > Health Professions Advising > Advisees

 

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“Advisees” are students who have either indicated an interest in a health profession and are preparing towards this goal, or are still exploring such a career. Advisees may be in any academic level from freshman to senior.

 

Starting points for advisees:
• How to be successful in preparing for professional school (docx)
• Steps for advisees
• Info sessions for advisees
• Open | update e-Portfolio
• Undergraduate timeline
• Professionalism: Virginia Tech holds the same standards of professionalism expected of health professions advisees and applicants as explained in Professionalism on the GMU health professions advising web site.
• Admissions exams explained

Academic preparation:
Although the majority of health professions students major in a science field, it is not required.
• See Health professions undergraduate preparation, which includes undergraduate coursework requirements.
• Coursework for majors: your academic department.
• Undecided / major-undeclared students receive academic advising through University Academic Advising Center (UAAC).

Undergraduate and summer research & study opportunities:
These kinds of opportunities are strongly encouraged both to give you exposure to topics of interest and to strengthen your application.
• Opportunites at Virginia Tech and other institutions.

Extra-curricular preparation:
• Volunteering & service opportunities, local & international (docx)
• Shadowing health professionals (docx)

Academic assistance:
• Academic study skills assistance through the Cook Counseling Center at Virginia Tech
• Tutoring through the Center for Academic Enrichment & Excellence at Virginia Tech
• Math tutoring through the Department of Mathematics at Virginia Tech private tutoring and tutoring lab
• Writing guidance through the Writing Center at Virginia Tech

Steps for Advisees
1 Explore health care careers
 

Do this prior to attending an information session or opening an ePortfolio, and consult these resources as you have questions throughout your process of preparing for graduate professional school.

OHPA recommends these resources to learn about and prepare for health care careers:

  1. Explore Health Careers. org assists you in exploration about the wide variety of available health careers
  2. National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education > Life Works: explore health & medical science careers
  3. American Medical Association (AMA) > Education & Careers > Careers in Health Care
2 Read health professions undergraduate preparation

 

Do this prior to attending an information session or opening an ePortfolio, and consult these resources as you have questions throughout your process of preparing for graduate professional school.

OHPA has assembled this health professions undergraduate preparation covering the career field, professional education and admission, undergraduate coursework and other preparation.
3 Attend a Health Professions Advising information session
  Once prior to opening your OHPA ePortfolio.
  Time: 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
  Location: Smith Career Center, 2nd floor, Rm B
  Days/dates:
Days/dates for information sessions below.
Fall semester sessions offered almost every week.
Spring semester sessions for freshmen, sophs, new transfers prior to spring break only.
[After spring break, extensive time is devoted to HPEC committee interview schedules for remainder of spring semester].
  WEDNESDAYS: For freshmen, sophomores, new transfers:
FALL 2011: Aug. 31, Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 30.
SPRING 2012: Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 [all dates prior to spring break].
  FRIDAYS: For juniors, seniors:
FALL 2011: Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18, Dec. 2.
SPRING 2012: Juniors and seniors in applicant phase: professional school workshops and take advantage of other OHPA grad/prof prep events during spring semester.
  Sign-up | cancel
how to sign up explained here.
 Advance sign-up required on Hokies4Hire:
Complete your profile.
Select CAREER EVENTS from top tool bar > Select ORIENTATION from category menu
> Select SEARCH > Select desired session from list > Select REGISTER FOR EVENT.
If you cannot attend after signing up, cancel in H4H.
Space is limited; no-showing is inappropriate.
4 Open or update ePortfolio after attending a group information session.

 

Freshmen: Open your ePortfolio the first week of spring semester.
After freshman year: Update your ePortfolio at least once per semester.

  1. Read the OHPA information sheet (PDF) to determine documents you need to provide for the folder.
  2. Please note there is a $20 fee charged when your folder is opened; billed to your VT student account through the Bursar's Office.
  3. E-mail Ms. Rorrer with your Virginia Tech PID, student ID number, and permission to charge your student account a one-time fee of $20. You will receive an e-mail from Scholar to begin your ePortfolio.

OHPA walk-in DATES and HOURS for questions:
Advise front desk staff you wish to see Ms. Rorrer for OHPA.
Fall semester 2011: Aug. 22 - Dec. 9, 2011 (Effective 9/19/11): Mon - Fri: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Spring semester 2012: Jan. 17 - May 11, 2012: Mon - Fri: 2:00 - 4:00 pm

5 Schedule an appointment with the Health Professions Advising Director

 

Call 540-231-6241 to schedule:
- First meeting after opening your ePortfolio.
- Follow up meetings once each semester.

Appropriate attire is required for your meetings with the OHPA Director; please see guidelines for business casual attire.
6 Schedule appointment with your Academic Advisor in your academic major department.

 

Once per semester. Contact your advisor and schedule well in advance of course request, to insure you are on track to complete courses needed.
7 Complete your Self-evaluation form

 

Freshmen and Sophomores self-evaluation (pdf) complete at the end of each academic year.

Juniors and Seniors self-evaluation (pdf) complete by deadline for applicants (for your application cycle).