Pre-Health Professions Advising

The mission of Messiah University is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society. We incorporate our shared Christian faith in the classroom, through residence life, at chapel, on sports teams, through the arts and in clubs and organizations. Our motto, " Christ Preeminent," shapes every experience you'll have as a student here.

You'll flourish under the guidance of both an academic major advisor and our pre-health professions advisor. In addition, meetings with your pre-health professions advisor can begin as early as your first year. You'll receive individualized attention to create your personalized career pathway.

Messiah University offers some accelerated programs in applied health science as well as early assurance options for MOT or DPT. Additionally, Messiah has partnerships with some of the top graduate healthcare programs in the nation. This means you’ll receive early provisional assurance or guaranteed admission interviews to these schools. These programs help you to streamline your education and prepare you for seamless entry into the next stage of your healthcare career.

View Partner Programs 

Service is an important component of Christian character, and it communicates a well-rounded applicant when applying to medical schools. Messiah is committed to equipping you for a life of service, and there are plenty of opportunities to hone your passion for service during your time here. The University’s Agapé Center for Local and Global Engagement is the coordinating hub for service organizations and opportunities both on and off campus.

At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real-world contexts—such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.

• Travel to Zambia to study international public health, explore healthcare disparities, and shadow physicians at the Macha Mission Hospital. Experience rural African culture, build relationships, see Victoria Falls, and go on safari too!
• Take rigorous academic courses that incorporate practical experience through a cadaver lab and through the use of advanced laboratory equipment and state-of-the-art three-dimensional modeling programs.
• Actively participate in the School of Science, Engineering and Health as a lab assistant, tutor, and supplementary instruction leader. Students can learn “on the job” through positions as a microbiology prep assistant and as the animal care lab assistant.
• Participate in directed health-related research, both credit-bearing and/or paid in a variety of settings locally, nationally and around the world. Students can present their research at the school’s annual Spring Research Symposium and at state and national conferences such as the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences and the American Chemical Society meetings.

Messiah has an excellent record of preparing students for successful acceptance into medical or allied health care schools, as well as for lives of service and leadership in the health professions.

This preparation and support includes:

• Pre-Health Professions Advising Committee is comprised of faculty from Biology, Chemistry, Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science as well as our graduate programs. The committee supports students in the application process through hosting Mock Interviews and contributing to the committee letter writing process.
• Pre-Med Council is comprised primarily of alumni of Messiah who have graduated from allopathic or osteopathic medical school and are committed to the mission of Messiah and its connections within the field of medicine. The council meets several times each year to engage in work that benefits the University and its students and alumni.

• Career and Professional Development Center supports pre-health students in their search for internships, resume writing, planning for graduate school and interview preparation.