UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL
ACCEPTANCE RATES SOAR
AT AUBURN
Students in the College of Sciences and
Mathematics at Auburn University are consistently
accepted to medical school at a rate that is more
than 30 percent higher than the national average.
Additionally, acceptance rates of Auburn students
to optometry and dental schools are at 85 to
100 percent almost every year. The reason for
these long-standing statistics has much to do
with Beverley Childress, COSAM’s pre-health
professions director. For more than 19 years,
Childress has mentored, guided, and established
programs for COSAM and other Auburn students
who have a desire for a career in healthcare.
A Solid Foundation - Where it all begins:
Long before a student is ready to apply for health
professional school, the College of Sciences and
Mathematics offers tools to assist undergraduates
along the way. Guidance begins during a student’s
freshman year with the Pre-Health Orientation
Course. The Pre-Health Orientation Course,
as well as mandatory academic advising, equip
students with information for maneuvering
through their undergraduate degree programs in a
timely manner; they receive relevant advice about
free tutoring and other academic support programs
if struggling with a class or grades. In addition to
general resources, the class features guest speakers
such as dental, medical, and other admissions
deans, who inform students about how to become
competitive applicants. Doctors, dentists, and
healthcare providers also talk to the classes, giving
students behind-the-scenes information about the
day-to-day lives of various healthcare professionals.
College of Sciences and Mathematics
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