5 reasons to study pre-health at Carthage
Your career in pre-health is right around the corner! We have five reasons why Carthage is the perfect place for you to study pre-health.
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1. Receive individual support personalized to your needs
Carthage pre-health students are assigned a team of advisors and mentors dedicated to providing personalized support throughout your academic journey. Each student is given an academic faculty advisor specific to their major and a pre-health coordinator that further helps them prepare for healthcare professional school through career exploration, application planning and preparation, resource and experience connection, and interview preparation. The faculty advisors and pre-health coordinators work together to support students’ individual needs and ensure they are prepared to take the next step after graduation.
“The relationships I’ve built with faculty members have opened doors to research opportunities, mentorship, and a deeper understanding of my chosen fields. These connections have not only expanded my knowledge, but also provided me with a network of mentors who genuinely care about my success. Their encouragement has empowered me to pursue ambitious goals and to balance academic pursuits with extracurricular activities, work, and volunteering.” — Summer Zilisch ’26, neuroscience and psychology
2. Gain essential skills with coursework and workshops
At Carthage, pre-health students enter programs designed to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to succeed. In these programs, students are exposed to fundamental science courses such as biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, and physiology. By mastering these courses, students develop a strong foundation of knowledge that is essential for success in healthcare careers.
Beyond coursework, the program exposes students to opportunities that explore career options within healthcare and prepare students for professional schooling through workshops and alumni connections.
- TeamSTEPPS — This five-week series focuses on learning tools to increase patient safety in healthcare. This is a nationally recognized training.
- Shadowing Workshop — A session where underclassmen learn how to find shadowing opportunities and what to do during those experiences.
- Career Exploration Speaker Series — A seven-week series featuring alumni and community speakers discussing different career paths within healthcare.
- Interview Workshop — A session designed to help students prepare for interviews for professional school.
- Personal Statement Workshop — A month-long workshop where students get help developing their statement for professional school.
“My favorite class at Carthage so far has been Introduction to Psychology because I feel I have learned a lot about myself and how I can be a better athletic trainer during this course. The class teaches many diverse ideas, and I am excited to take other psychology classes in the future.” — Abigail Davidson ’25, allied health science
3. Participate in research and study abroad opportunities
At Carthage, pre-health students can enrich their education by conducting research or having the unique chance to study abroad.
Study Abroad
J-Term is a month-long period of study in January in which all academic departments offer innovative courses on campus and study tours in other countries. J-Term study tours allow pre-health students to study abroad without disrupting their rigorous academic schedules. Popular J-Term study tours for pre-health students include Global Perspectives in Healthcare: Service Learning in Honduras and Biology and Geography of Nicaragua.
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, or SURE, offers Carthage students the opportunity to work one-on-one with a professor during the summer doing real research work. Students receive a stipend, room and board, and a small research budget. All students and faculty participating in SURE meet weekly for lunch and discussion.
“One of the biggest opportunities I’ve had so far as a freshman is working in undergraduate research in the abnormal psych CAPs lab. I have learned and analyzed studies, found ways this connects to personal research goals, and will be heading to the MPA to present on research as a group.” — Lin Sensenbrenner ’26, psychology and neuroscience
4. Acquire shadowing and volunteering experience
Pre-health students participate in shadowing opportunities, volunteering experiences, internships, and clinical rotations to gain practical experience in the healthcare field. These experiences allow students to apply the knowledge they learn in the classroom to real-world settings, gain exposure to different healthcare environments, and develop essential clinical skills. They also strengthen students’ resumes and demonstrate their commitment to the profession and their ability to thrive in clinical environments.
Students shadow at most surrounding hospitals in Kenosha, such as Froedtert South, Aurora, Children’s Wisconsin, and others.
Students also volunteer at the following local institutions: Hospice Alliance, Advocate Aurora Hospital, Feed my Starving Children, Boys and Girls Club, Girls on the Run, Special Olympics, Shalom Center, Children’s Wisconsin, The Sharing Center, Kenosha Community Health Center, and HALO.
“I gained an internship at OrthoIllinois and the Sudden Cardiac-Death Awareness Research Foundation (S.C.A.R.F. ) for the summer. At OrthoIllinois, I am fortunate to be able to shadow Dr. Michael Harvey in both a clinical and surgical setting. I aspire to become a surgeon, so this internship will help me gain more experience in the operating room and observe all necessary precautions.” — Emily Chong ’27, biology
5. Get help preparing for healthcare professional school
Carthage has a 92% medical school acceptance rate among pre-health students compared to the national average of 41%. Our pre-health programs are focused on preparing students for the admissions process for healthcare professional schools through guidance on standardized exams like the MCAT or DAT, assistance with crafting personal statements and application essays, and support with securing strong letters of recommendation.