Pre-Med – College Admission at Loyola

Pre Med Biology Major

By | February 8, 2016

Upon talking to a lot of administrators, staff, and advisers, it is very popular that students start off as being a biology major and on the pre-medical track. I can vouch for that- I am trying to be the same.

It is understandable that most students would initially assume that Biology is the entire ‘jist’ of what medicine is all about. Throughout elementary and high school life, Biology has been the topic where most things health-related are found in.

One thing I am trying to do is explore other majors and minors that be of more interest. Biology is a lot to take in; for me, there is a tremendous amount of conceptual thinking. I am more of a visual learner, so it is harder to put a biological picture in my head, especially at the molecular/cellular level. Although biology can be challenging, I am still very interested in subject because I gain a better understand of mother nature and why things happen- ecologically, anatomically, conceptually, etc. It’s really satisfying when you get the ‘ah ha!’ moment!

Anyways, it is common that students have their ‘epiphany’ moment for a desire to do a different major or minor, especially at the freshman or sophomore level when they take the introductory classes; it is completely natural. From there, they get a better idea of what they want to further study.

How to Choose the Right High School Classes

By Lindsy Fagerstrom | July 8, 2015

Everyone wants to know the secret recipe of high school classes to earn admission at Loyola, and while there is not one right combination of classes to choose, I am going to share some of my personal advice for making these decisions:

How are Honors, AP, or IB Classes perceived by Loyola?

It’s always nice to see students challenging themselves by taking some of these high level courses. However, it’s not a good move to stack your schedule with these classes if you’re not going to be successful in them. A transcript full of failed AP courses is not going to impress an admission counselor, so talk to your teachers and counselors to find the level that is really the best fit for you. It’s also important to know that you can be admitted without taking these classes, so don’t feel the need to force yourself into one of these classes that might be too much for you.

So is it better to take an honors class and get a B or take the standard level and get an A?

In my opinion, take the AP class and get a B. We accept weight GPA’s so if your school weights AP, IB, or Honors classes, you’ll still benefit in regard to your GPA (but keep in mind, your GPA isn’t everything… all aspects of the application are used to make decisions).

Should I take AP or IB exams?

Definitely. If you score high enough, you can earn class credit at Loyola. Click here to see AP score requirements for academic credit. Click here to see IB score requirements. Click here to see CLEP score requirements.

Speaking of exams, should I take the SAT subjects tests?

Loyola doesn’t look at these scores at all during the admission and scholarship review process, so no. However, make sure you know the requirements of others colleges you might be applying to in the fall.

Should I take the writing portion of the ACT or SAT?

While we don’t look at this section for admission and scholarship purposes, other schools might. If you’re interested in doing the Dual-Acceptance Pharmacy Program with Midwestern and Loyola, Midwestern will want to see the writing portion to make their admission decision.

Will I get transfer credit from Loyola for Dual-Enrollment Courses with other Colleges or Community Colleges? And is there a limit to how much credit I can receive?

Yes, Loyola usually awards transfer credit for high school dual-enrollment courses. Click here to enter the college and course name of your dual-enrollment class to see if it has an equivalent at Loyola. There is a limit to the number of courses you can transfer, so click here to see the Transfer Credit Policy.

If I want to go into the following major or advising track, what classes should I take?

Nursing – Definitely focus on taking higher level and elective classes in the maths and sciences.
Engineering – Physics and Calculus are must-haves and then solid results in your other math and science classes.
Pre-Med – Again, focus on the maths and sciences.
Pre-Pharmacy – Maths and sciences are key again, specifically Chemistry.

Do I need 4 years of a foreign language?

Not necessarily. Loyola will be content with less as long as you still meet your high school’s graduation requirements. This goes for other subject areas, as well.

Good Luck!

Loyola’s Pre-Med Track

By | February 6, 2015

One of the reasons why I chose to attend Loyola was because of its good reputation on everything science-related. Since I aspire to become a doctor, I knew I was going down the right path when I was put into the Pre-Med (Pre-Health) track. This track requires students to enroll in specific courses to help them get into medical school and so on and so forth. These classes include: Biology, Organic Chemistry, Statistics, Psychology, Sociology, Physics, etc. Yes, these might seem like difficult, challenging classes (and yes, to me, some of them are hard), but they really help you prepare for the MCAT and ultimately allow you to develop a doctor-like mindset with medical terminology and talents.

If you are indecisive on what career to choose (with your Pre-med track), fear not! Loyola has a wonderful service in the Career Development Center that have a group of people solely dedicated to Pre-Health counseling. They can help guide you down your dream career by narrowing down your interests and abilities. Personally, I have met with them numerous times and they have successfully helped me out!

I understand that going down the medical field may be long, challenging, and tiring, it is truly worth it in the end. You simply must have the will-power and strength to carry yourself onward.