Learn About Careers in Life Sciences
A career in the life sciences can include a broad range of companies, organizations, and foundations concerned with the study of living organisms, including biological sciences, botany, zoology, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and a number of related subjects. Employers may include biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, healthcare organizations, foundations, and federal agencies. Most of the information on this page concerns non-patient facing options but there are opportunities to create career paths that merge patient and non-patient settings.
Entrance Exams (Preparing to Apply to Health Profession Schools)
Preparing for and taking your MCAT, DAT or GRE will be an important part of your application process. Successful students can expect to spend 300-400 hours over a period of 3-4 months preparing. This resource will help you to understand how to approach the exams.
Financial Planning (Applying to Health Profession Schools)
Application and medical/dental education will be expensive. This resource will help you understand the associated costs and direct you to resources.
Next Steps: managing acceptances, and what to do if you are not accepted to health profession schools
Health profession schools have varying timelines for notifying applicants about acceptances. Learn about managing applications, as well as what to do if you are not accepted.
Interviewing (Applying to Health Profession Schools)
The interview invitation has arrived! Time to celebrate and prepare.
Application Components & Process (Applying to Health Profession Schools)
This resource covers information you will need as you write and compile various elements of your application, including personal statements and transcripts.
The Medical Professions Advisory Committee (MPAC) & Letter Process
Whether you require an MPAC committee letter as part of your application or not, this resource will walk you through the process of requesting letters of recommendation.
Application Planning (Applying to Health Profession Schools)
Learn about components of application preparation including: the Wellesley College Applicant Portfolio, your personal statement, choosing your schools and dual degrees.
“At Wellesley, I explored my passions, both in the sciences and humanities; I never had to choose.”
“I’ve learned that at its core, medicine is all about creating an environment where relationships can be fostered and grown.”
“Under the Andean sun, we excavate the site that shows evidence of occupation for nearly 3,000 years.”
“I previously had dreams to be an author, but found myself called by the combination of logic, mystery, and truth in science.”
Exploring Careers in the Health Professions
Working in a health profession can provide you with an interesting, satisfying, and stimulating career that will allow you to help others.
Resources for Students & Alumnae of Distinct Populations (Preparing to Apply to Health Profession Schools)
A crucial topic in healthcare today is how to eliminate inequities in the quality and availability of medical care for ethnic, racial, social, and economic minorities. There is an urgent need to increase both the diversity and cultural competence of our health care workforce. Learn about resources for underrepresented students and alumnae across distinct populations.
Experiential Learning (Preparing to Apply to Health Profession Schools)
This resource is an overview of ways that you can gain:
We will also discuss finding summer opportunities.
“My advice to those applying to med school would be don’t limit yourself. Whether that be regionally or selectivity or what by whatever guidelines you have set for yourself. I had no idea I would be in Iowa for med school a year ago (I got in off the waitlist in May) and here I am.”
Waiting to Apply to Health Profession Schools
Trying to balance academics, clinical experiences, community service, research, other extracurricular activities, hobbies, and relationships? Not feeling ready to prepare for your standardized test for admission to health professions schools or to tackle the application process? Not absolutely sure of your career path? Learn more about taking a gap year (or more) before applying to health profession schools.
“Living in an exciting new city, being surrounded by peers with the same passion, and having myriad new opportunities be introduced to you constantly has been beyond wonderful — but most importantly, I feel truly prepared after Wellesley for everything to come in the busy but rewarding next 4 years. ”
“The first few days I felt imposter syndrome beginning to creep back in. I was worried that maybe I wasn't cut out for WashU. Wellesley was academically challenging for me and I thought if I struggled in undergrad, what would happen in medical school? But I realized that overcoming those challenges is exactly what prepared me for medical school. And having the honor of receiving my white coat made all the hard work worth it.”
Academics (Preparing to Apply to Health Profession Schools)
This resource covers academic considerations as you prepare to apply for health professions schools, including: