Pre-Health Advising at Iona
prepare for Health Professional School at Iona
Preparing for health professional schools begins early on in your undergraduate career. At Iona, we have a dedicated health professions advisor for those pursing a Pre-Med, Pre-Dental, Pre-Physician Assistant or other Pre-Health profession track. Over 80 percent of recommended Iona students are accepted into health professional programs.
Most professional schools do not require a specific undergraduate major. We’ve found Iona University students who have been most successful getting into medical, dental, and other health professions programs majored in Biology, Biochemistry or Chemistry.
To be a successful medical, dental and health professional school applicant, consider the following:
- Required and recommended coursework; start with Biology 101 and Chemistry 109 your first semester and see below for profession-specific checklists.
- High GPA; professional schools will look at your overall and your science GPA. A GPA of 3.6 or above is recommended for competitive programs.
- Good standardized test scores; you’ll want to make sure you prepare for the required exam, which may be the MCAT, DAT, GRE, OAT or PCAT, depending on your program.
- Field experience; Some professional schools often require hours of direct patient contact, while others may recommend shadowing experiences and/or that students perform scientific research.
- Excellent recommendations; Medical and dental schools usually require, if possible, a committee recommendation letter instead of individual letters, as PA and PT programs do. At Iona, the Health Professions Recommendations Committee is comprised of various science faculty and is chaired by your health professions advisor, Dr. Kang.
We have recommended coursework checklists for the following health professions programs:
- Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, and Pre-Podiatry
- Pre-Physician Assistant and Pre-Physical Therapy
- Pre-Veterinary
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Optometry
See Recommended Coursework checklists
NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences
Interested in exploring additional health-profession programs at Iona, including Nursing and Occupational Therapy? Visit NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences today!
I feel like in my major and hopeful career field of a veterinarian, I will be able to truly make an impact on people's and animals' lives alike by giving them the opportunity to be themselves again.
-Shakinah Silverberg '24, Biology Major, Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration
Learn more about Shakinah
Careers & Outcomes
After pursuing their healthcare-related degree, Iona University students are well-prepared to become compassionate professionals working in a variety of settings.
Speak with Dr. Yourha Kang, Iona's Pre-Health Profession advisor, today about the many advantages of an Iona education.
Early Acceptance Programs
Iona University students can secure spots in health professional schools early. Learn more about our partnerships with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York College of Podiatric Medicine and New York Chiropractic College.
Health Professions Tracks Include:
- Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, and Pre-Podiatry
- Pre-Physician Assistant and Pre-Physical Therapy
- Pre-Veterinary
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Optometry
Our alumni have attended competitive health professional programs such as:
How can you best prepare for Dental School?
In this video, Gabriele Thornton ’22 discusses how Iona prepared her for dental school.
“In my four years at Iona, I learned all the material I needed for the DAT exam, and so when it came time to study for it, it was pretty easy.”
Learn more about how Gabriele’s professors and the Iona curriculum helped her make it into dental school.
Early Acceptance Programs
Iona University students can secure spots in health professional schools early. Learn more about our partnerships with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York College of Podiatric Medicine and New York Chiropractic College.
How do you get into Optometry School?
Julia Thomas ’23 was a biology major who knew she wanted to enter into optometry school. Hear from Julia as she describes her time at Iona and offers tips for others who would like to follow in her path.
“When I came on my campus tour, I really liked what Iona’s biology department had to offer, including the many different research opportunities. Additionally, the campus is so beautiful and close to New York City, there are just so many things I love about Iona!”
Iona is a great place to complete your undergraduate degree if you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine. The class sizes in the sciences were small and intimate which allowed for excellent personal interactions with professors.
Bill Pientka '08, Chief of Hand Surgery and Director of Hand Surgery Education, John Peter Smith Hospital
Learn More About Bill Pientka
What is the process of getting into a physical therapy graduate program?
Mikayla Cullen ’20 discusses the steps she took to get accepted into a physical therapy graduate program. In addition to taking the GRE, her school required reference letters, a certain number of experience hours within the field and more.
Learn More About Iona’s Health Professions Programs
Iona University offers a variety of healthcare-related degrees that guide students to excel in allied health careers, nursing and the medical field. Select from a variety of undergraduate majors and graduate programs that prepare you to join in-demand health professions.
Find Out what an Iona Education Can Do For You
Visit Campus
Our scenic campuses, located just 20 miles from midtown Manhattan, truly do offer the best of both worlds.
Let us show you around, answer your questions and give you a feel of our tight-knit community.
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If you're considering applying to Iona, you're not alone! Since 2019, our new-student enrollment is up nearly 40%. Additionally, 99% of our first-year students receive institutional scholarships or grant aid.
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