Contact Us
We're here to help you begin your path to a career in healthcare.
Our Office
Pre-Health Career Advising is available for all Cal Poly students interested in health professions, regardless of their major.
Email us at: prehealth@calpoly.edu
- Instagram: @cp.prehealth
"Should I Meet With a Peer Advisor or a Staff Advisor?"
Reasons to Drop-In With a Pre-Health Peer Advisor
- You are exploring or currently unsure of which health career is right for you
- You are a prospective, first-year, or newly enrolled student interested in a career in healthcare
- Registration/course scheduling assistance (primarily for prerequisite coursework)
- Find out how to get health-related, leadership, community service, and/or research experience
- Entrance exam preparation and information
- Admissions requirements for particular programs and schools
Reasons to Schedule an Appointment With a Staff Advisor
- Personal statement assistance and review
- Application assistance and review
- Grades/GPA concerns for health professional schools
- Post-baccalaureate programs and gap year options
Pre-Health Peer Advising (Drop-in Only)
Peer advisors are upper-division, pre-health students who can assist you with planning health profession prerequisites, finding and choosing experiences on campus and in SLO, and connect you with resources for test preparation. Having been in your shoes before, they are a great resource for all first-year, second-year, or newly interested pre-health students. They are available on a drop-in basis (15-20 minutes) during the hours listed below.
Peer Advising is available only during weeks 1-10 of fall, winter and spring quarters.
Pre-Health Drop-In Hours (In-Person and Virtual Options)
Each peer advisor is well-equipped to advise students from any major on any of the health professions. You do NOT have to meet with an advisor that has the same major or career interest as you.
- Drop-in hours are fluid and may change from week to week. Check the below grid at the beginning of each week to confirm when the peer advisors are available.
- The hours below marked with *two asterisks around them* and bolded in red are virtual.
- Hours without asterisks, and without the red color are in person only.
SPRING QUARTER DROP-IN HOURS (subject to change)
| Peer Advisor | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Emily Joyce Public Health, Pre-PA |
1-2PM | 2-4PM | N/A | 2-4PM |
N/A
|
|
Julian Ahlstrom Biology, Pre-Med |
9:30-11AM | N/A |
N/A |
10-11AM | 10-11:30AM |
|
Sarah Ternus Biology, Pre-Med |
N/A | N/A |
3-4PM & **4-5PM** |
11-12PM & **12-1PM** |
N/A
|
|
Sherry Lin Public Health, Pre-PA |
N/A | 9-12PM | N/A | 1-2PM | N/A |
PLEASE only use the Zoom during hours highlighted in red and with asterisks! Zoom Meeting ID: 858 7839 1994 (https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/85878391994)
Staff Advising (Planned Appointments Only)
These appointments are best suited for students who are about to start the process of applying to health professional school(s). Appointments last 30 minutes and are scheduled Monday-Friday. Appointments are more limited during academic breaks.
-
You may schedule up to two weeks out. Please check back regularly (i.e., tomorrow) if there are currently no appointments available.
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Because appointments often fill up, it is best to plan three weeks in advance. Keep in mind important deadlines!
Application Appointments
It is important to plan to meet with a staff advisor the quarter before you are applying to schools. Schedule an appointment up to 2 weeks in advance with one of our staff advisors to discuss test preparation, interviews, financing applications, choosing schools, and more. You may also visit us at our virtual drop-ins if you are unable to find an appointment time that works.
Personal Statement Appointments
It is important to plan to meet with a staff advisor the quarter before you are applying to schools. If you would like to have a staff advisor look over and review your personal statement, or even just brainstorm ideas for a statement, please schedule an appointment here or visit us at virtual drop-ins. Email anything you have written and would like reviewed by your advisor, at least 24 hours in advance of your appointment.
Appointment Cancellation
As a courtesy to our office and your peers, if you need to cancel or reschedule your advising appointment, use the link in your confirmation email or give us a call.
We prefer at least 24 hours advance notice, but we know that last-minute things may come up and that's okay.
