The MBA & Other Management Degrees

If you are planning a career in business, you may be interested in earning a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), a Master in Management (MM), or a similar professional degree. The purpose of an MBA education is to provide training in the theory and practice of business management. Professional management programs are based on the premise that people can learn to manage all types of business situations more effectively.

Agreement with Case Western University, Master of Science in Management: Denison has a signed agreement with Case Western's Weatherhead School of Management to allow students to enroll in the Master of Science in Management degree following graduation from Denison. This one year Master's program provides business related coursework for liberal arts graduates.

You WILL need to take either the GRE or GMAT.

• You will need to complete an application
• Provide an academic transcript
• Have a personal interview
• Selected candidates will receive a $5,000 scholarship

Liberal Arts & Business/Management
As a liberal arts graduate you may find that you lack the administrative skills for immediate on-the-job application. Earning an MBA (or MM, MPA, etc.) may help you to acquire these skills. A liberal arts degree provides an excellent background for most graduate study, including that leading to an MBA.

As a manager of people, money, natural resources, non-profit institutions or businesses, you will find that the skills you have acquired in a liberal arts curriculum will serve as an excellent foundation for future professional training. Most professional business schools will provide the training necessary to develop a career in accounting, finance, human-resource management, management consulting, management information systems, manufacturing, marketing, operations management, entrepreneurial ventures, small business, and even careers outside business: government, education, health care, arts management, and not-for-profit agencies.

Pre-Requisites for Business School
People from all fields earn the MBA degree. In 1999-05 nearly half of those taking the Graduate Management Admissions Test across the country were majors in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

While no major is specified for business school admissions, an ability to deal effectively with MATHEMATICS is essential in most MBA programs. Most professional schools of business or management offer quantitative courses, which often require a background in calculus. In addition, statistics and operations research courses may be offered or required.

When to go to Business School
Most business schools advise the graduating senior to enter the work force immediately to gain experience before going to business school. The advantages are that you will have had at least one entry-level experience in a business/management environment which will give you more clear focus on your goals within the broad range of special management fields. As well, you will both contribute more to and gain more from the Case-Study Method which is widely used in B-schools.

Employer Funding of the Part-Time MBA
Many employers will provide tuition remission (80-100%) if you are willing to continue working for them while you work part-time on an MBA. Most MBA programs can be completed 1-2 years full-time or 3-4 years part-time. The advantage for part-timers is that you gain valuable work experience with no interruption in income and will incur little debt if you are supported by your employer. Obviously, working full-time while you are simultaneously working toward a degree requires excellent time-management and commitment.

The Graduate Management Admisssion Test
Graduate Management Admissions Test(GMAT) is required for admission to business school. Test dates (and regular registration deadlines) are offered year-round in hundreds of locations by appointment. Call a test center to schedule a test date.

Call 1-800-GMAT-NOW for the nearest computer-based testing site, or 1-609-771-7780 if you need testing for an accomodation.

The four-hour test measures general cognitive skills and abilities, not content areas. The various sections are:

• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Reasoning
• Data Sufficiency
• Problem Solving
• Sentence Correction
• Analytical Writing

Preparation for the GMATDenison has a new resource through the Ohio link library and the new website has three free, timed practice exams for the LSAT, GRE, GMAT and MCAT. The website is www.learningexpresslibrary.com and you need to create a free account and be logged in at Denison's webpage. With LearnATest.com's practice tests, you'll get:

• An online practice test in the various categories, just like the offical exams
• Instant online score and detailed answer explanations
• A personalized analysis that identifies your strengths and weaknesses so you'll know how to prepare.

Self-Study guides published by the Graduate Management Admission Council as well as by commercial groups are available for you to use in preparing for the GMAT. In addition, commercial test preparation groups such as KAPLAN and The Princeton Review offer GMAT Prep Courses. Click Here for a free online GMAT practice test. For information about KAPLAN call 1-800-KAP-TEST for details.

Visit KAPLAN and The Princeton Review websites for more information about GMAT preparation cources.

The Application Process
To apply to business school, you will need to complete on-line applications or send away for applications for individual schools, since there is not a general application service for business schools. Applications ask for demographic information, academic transcripts, GMAT scores, and statement of intent. Additionally, applications request confidential letters of recommendation from faculty and previous employers. Career Services offers a Credential Service to assist you in gathering and keeping such letters on file for 5 years and will distribute them to business schools at your request.

MBA Catalogues & Other Resources To learn more about MBA programs across the country, come to Career Services Resource Library and peruse The Official Guide to MBA Programs published by the Graduate Management Admission Council. You might find a booklet called "MBA: Q & A" to be particularly helpful.

Alumni are also wonderful resources of information. Ask Pam to help you get in touch with alumni through the Denison Alumni Network who are willing to share information about various business schools and advice about their careers in business and management.

Graduate & Professional School Fair - Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m in Slayter Union.

Career EXPO - Thursday, October 29, 2008 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Slayter Union.

Business Schools Matriculating Denison Graduates

Classes of 1980-2009

• American Graduate School of International Management, Thunderbird
• American University, Kogod College of Business Administration
• Babson College, Graduate School of Business
• Baruch College, School of Business and Public Administration
• Bradley University, College of Business Administration
• Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management
• Central American Institute of Business
• Columbia University, Columbia Business School
• Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management
• Dartmouth College, Amos Tuck School of Business Administration
• Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business
• Fordham University, Graduate School of Business Administration
• George Washington University, School of Business and Public Management
• Harvard University, Graduate School of Business Administration
• Loyola University Chicago, School of Business
• New York University, Stern School of Business
• Northeastern University, Graduate School of Business Administration
• Northwestern University, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management
• Ohio State University, Max M. Fisher College of Business
• Rollins College, Crummer Graduate School of Business
• University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business
• University of Dayton, School of Business Administration
• University of Denver, Graduate School of Business
• University of Florida, Graduate School of Business
• University of Illinois, College of Commerce and Business Administration
• University of Leuven (Belgium)
• University of Maryland, College of Business and Management
• University of Miami, School of Business Administration
• University of New Hampshire, Whittemore School of Business and Economics
• University of Notre Dame, College of Business Administration
• University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School (Graduate Division)
• University of Pittsburgh , Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
• University of San Francisco, McLaren College of Business
• University of South Carolina, College of Business Administration
• University of Virginia, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration
• University of Washington, Graduate School of Business Administration
• Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management
• Wake Forest University, Babcock Graduate School of Management
• Xavier University, College of Business Administration

Source: Alumni Survey of Classes of 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, and individual class surveys 1996 - 2009

The Role of the Faculty Advisor

If you are considering applying to graduate school, it is important that you begin talking with your faculty advisor or other faculty members in your discipline during your junior year or very early in your senior year. From teaching faculty you can gain valuable information about various specialties within your academic discipline and sound advice about how to choose graduate schools as well as specific suggestions of schools you should consider.  Further, your faculty will be able to advise you regarding graduate school fellowships and teaching or research assistantships.

Once you have decided to apply to graduate school either immediately following your Denison degree or in the near future, Career Services can help you work through the application process by providing several services and resources.

Be sure to attend Denison's 17th Annual Graduate/Professional School Fair, Wednesday, October 28, 2008, 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in Slayter Union.  

Graduate Record Examination

Registration booklets for the graduate record examination are available in Career Services, 306 Burton D. Morgan Center.

For further questions regarding the GRE, see or email Pam Allen, Director of Career Services in 306 Burton D. Morgan Center. Click here to go to the GRE website. Click Here for some useful graduate school resources for students.

General GRE

Nearly all graduate programs require general graduate exam recordscores.The General GRE (4-hours) measures skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Sections comprise the test. The analytical section is comprised of two essays (not multiple-choice).

The computer-based general GRE can be scheduled at your convenience by individual appointment at testing centers across the country, including two in the Columbus, OH, area. Advantages of the computer test are that you can schedule it at your convenience, you will know your scores immediately, and score reports are sent to schools within a two-week time frame. Register early to get your preferred test date and to avoid the crowded testing period of November through January. Computer General GRE Fee: $150.00. Call (614) 451-4652 or (614)457-0105  to schedule the computer-based test in the Columbus,OH area.  Call 1 (800) GRE-CALL for general information regarding computer-based testing.

Subject GRE
Many graduate school programs also require subject graduate record exam scores. Subject tests are measures of achievement in particular fields of study. Each subject test assumes either an undergraduate major or extensive background in the specific field. Subject Tests are available in 8 subject areas. Check the Peterson's Guide to determine whether or not programs to which you are applying require the Subject GRE. Paper/Pencil Subject GRE fee: $150. GRE Subject Tests are not available on computer-based testing.

2009-2010 GRE Subject Test Dates

GRE SUBJECT TEST DATES:		RECEIPT DATES AT ETS:
October 10		November 9, 2009
November 7		December 7, 2009
April 10		May 10, 2010

Preparation for the Computer-Based GRE

Denison has a new resource through the Ohio link library and the new website has three free, timed practice exams for the LSAT, GRE, GMAT and MCAT. The website is www.learningexpresslibrary.com and you need to create a free account and be logged in at Denison's webpage. With LearnATest.com's practice tests, you'll get:

• An online practice test in the various categories, just like the official exams
• Instant online score and detailed answer explanations
• A personalized analysis that identifies your strengths and weaknesses so you'll know how to prepare.

Preparation for the computer-based GRE is an individual matter. When you register for a GRE test, you can access prep material at www.gre.org/pracmats.html. The Career Resource Library has both General and Subject study guides which you may use in Career Services or check out for weekend use.

GRE Prep Courses are offered throughout the year by KAPLAN and The Princeton Review

Peterson's Guides

Use  Peterson's guides to graduate progams, available in the Career Resource Library to secure names, addresses, phone numbers, deadlines, pre-requisites, and other helpful information regarding individual graduate programs. Click here. Most graduate programs have extensive home pages on the web which you will find extremely helpful.  Many web sites allow you to request detailed program descriptions/catalogues, an application and financial aid information.
www.gradschools.com is another website to review graduate programs.

Denison's Career Network

Through Denison's Career Network you can contact alumni who earned graduate degrees and have offered to share their insights and advice with you about their graduate school experience. Access the website at http://alumniconnections.com.

Credential File

Request letters of recommendation from faculty directly or establish a credential file of faculty recommendations through Career Services. Some faculty and departments prefer to prepare and send individual letters of recommendation to each of the programs to which you are applying, while others prefer to use Career Services service of soliciting, collecting, and retaining letters to be sent out to schools on your behalf. At your request, Career Services can help you establish your confidential credential file which will be kept by Denison for 5 years. The credential service is especially helpful for you if you are not applying immediately to graduate school. You'll find it to be an efficient system for helping you to complete your graduate school applications.

In order for faculty and staff to write a letter of recommendation for you, it is highly encouraged that you follow the guidelines from this pdf file: Recommendations [pdf] [pdf]

Financial Aid Information
The Career Resource Library has some financial aid information on graduate school fellowships, assistantships, grants and other awards for funding graduate school education. Be sure to ask each graduate program to send you information on their fellowships and assistantships. Talk with your faculty advisor about teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships.

Scholarship/Fellowship Opportunities
Click here to use FastWeb's internet site for free scholarship searches.
Click Here for the Career Services internet site for a listing of scholarships and fellowships or stop by Career Services in the Burton D. Morgan Center, Rm. 306 for more information on any of these Fellowships/Scholarships. Information regarding other post-Denison fellowships/scholarships are on the Honors Program website.

Health Services Administration

Career Description:

Health Services Administration is a career in which one can directly affect healthcare on an organizational and system-wide basis. The Master's degree in Health Services Administration is interdisciplinary and guides students in acquiring a common body of knowledge and skills for positions in health care management, planning, consulting, and policy making. The primary areas of emphasis are leadership development, organizational studies, economics and finance, clinical evaluation and quality management, and policy analysis.

MHA graduates hold leadership roles in hospitals, physician groups, practices, nursing homes, outpatient care centers and home health agencies. Positions are also available with insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, consulting firms and, increasingly, health policy positions within the government. Health services professionals receive competitive salaries and many opportunities for advancement.

Some Master degree programs require at least one to two years of work experience before admission to the MHA program. Other graduate programs will allow students to gain admission following matriculation from an undergraduate program. Students can select any academic major at Denison in order to prepare for the MHA program.

For more information contact Pam Allen, Pre-Professional Advisor, at x6521 or in Career Services, 306 Burton Morgan Center.

Forensic Pathologist

Career Description:

Forensic Pathology is a subspecialty of Pathology. Either M.D.s or D.O.s can enter Pathology residencies and, once finished with the last 3 years, enter a 1-year Forensic Pathology fellowship. Their professional lives consist of doing autopsies, including the supervision of toxicology labs if they have one in-house. They spend an abundance of time testifying in court.

There are 41 accredited programs. Recently, there were only 33 trainees (45% women, 18% international grads), showing that many fewer people actually go into it than are enthralled by the TV shows.

To get a better idea read the book entitled, "Death to Dust: What Happens to Dead Bodies?" 2nd ed. (www.galenpress.com/004b.html). In an easy question-answer style (i.e., not written in "doctorese"), it has detailed information on autopsies, such as in the chapter "The Autopsy: My Body and the Pathologist," as well as organ and tissue donation (an important subject for forensic pathologists, since they have to know when to release bodies for the donations and how to do autopsies so as not to damage vital transplantable tissues), and detailed information on every other type of body disposition, some common and some not so pleasant.

Medical Technologist

Career Description:

Medical Technology is an allied health profession that is central to the operation of hospitals today. In fact, the practice of modern medicine would be impossible without laboratory professionals. Medical technologists, also known as a clinical laboratory scientist, are part of the medical team of specialists that work together to determine the presence, extent or absence of disease.

Medical technologists perform laboratory tests using sophisticated, state of the art instrumentation and combine that expertise with their specialized knowledge of the physiology of diseases to provide information to all health professionals. You will analyze, evaluate and validate laboratory data in the five major areas of the clinical laboratory: Chemistry, Immunology, Hematology, Transfusion Medicine, and Microbiology.

This exciting and rewarding health career is constantly changing and evolving producing an increased demand for well-educated and highly motivated professionals. Whether uncovering diseases such as diabetes, hepatitis, and cancer or working in a forensic laboratory, management or marketing, as a medical technologist, you will provide critical information in all areas of health and medicine.

Denison offers the basic courses needed to enter a professional program in medical technology. Pam Allen in Career Services can help you make arrangements to take part in accredited programs, such as the one at the Rochester General Hospital. Normally, you enter the professional program at the end of your junior year. After successfully completing the training program at the cooperative university or hospital, you will receive a Denison bachelor's degree and be eligible for the registry examination given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Nursing
Career Description:

Professional nursing is dedicated to the promotion and maintenance of health, recovery from illness, and care and support of people who are terminally ill. Nurses assist individuals and families when illness impairs their ability to cope with daily life.

Professional nursing responsibilities have changed considerably. Nurses today are highly respected and valued members of the healthcare team who bring their own body of knowledge to the process of health care. Nurses work in collaboration with physicians and members of other healthcare disciplines. Nurses' roles range from direct patient care and case management to establishing nursing practice standards, developing quality assurance procedures, directing complex nursing care systems, conducting clinical research, teaching in nursing programs, as well as practicing in many other invigorating settings.

Nurses have many responsibilities, and many times several roles coincide. Some of the challenging and rewarding roles assumed by nurses include care provider, teacher/counselor, patient advocate, leader/manager, consultant, and researcher.

Masters in Nursing Program:(Direct Entry Programs) After completing a Bachelor's degree in any discipline along with pre-requisite coursework, Denison students can enter into a Masters in Nursing Program. Most of the masters programs are two-three years in duration. During the masters program you will also earn your Registered Nurse Licensure.

Denison offers a 3 plus 3 program toward the Master of Science in Nursing degree with Case Western's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. Denison students complete the first three years of a liberal arts curriculum along with science pre-requisite coursework. Students transfer to Case Western for the fourth year and complete the pre-licensure requirements for Nursing. These credits transfer back to Denison to complete the Bachelor's degree. Students passing the licensure exam can begin working as a nurse. Students would have two years remaining to complete the Master of Science in Nursing degree from Case Western and would select a specialty track in Nursing at that time. For more information, please contact pre-professional advisor, Pam Allen in Career Services.

What They Earn: A study by Allied Physicians Inc., a global network of healthcare providers, indicates that staff registered nurses working in the United States average a median base salary of $41,642. Half of all US RNs are expected to earn between $38,792 and $44,869. For masters-or doctorate-prepared nurses, salaries range between $50,000 and $100,000 or more.

The Job Market Today Job opportunities are expected to be very good. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2010, and because the occupation is very large, many new jobs will result. Thousands of job openings also will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation, especially as the median age of the registered nurse population continues to rise. Opportunities should be excellent, particularly for nurses with advanced education and training.

Occupational Therapist

Career Description:

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They also help them to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Occupational therapists not only help clients improve basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also compensate for permanent loss of function. Their goal is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives. Occupational therapists assist clients in performing activities of all types, ranging from using a computer, to caring for daily needs such as dressing, cooking, and eating. Physical exercises may be used to increase strength and dexterity, while paper and pencil exercises may be chosen to improve visual acuity and the ability to discern patterns.

Denison offers a "3-2" program in cooperation with Washington University (St. Louis). For students with equivalent admission criteria, those who satisfactorily complete Denison's three-year Pre-Occupational Therapy prerequisite courses and receive three favorable recommendations will be given preferred consideration over the non "3-2" student for admission to the master's degree program.

Denison students who meet pre-requisites may also apply on a competitive basis to other schools of Occupational Therapy. Students interested in Occupational Therapy and/or either of the above programs should contact pre-professional adviser: Pam Allen, Career Services, 306 Burton D. Morgan Center.

What They Earn: Average annual salary is approximately $51,990.

Physical Therapist

Career Description:

Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy. Therapists examine patients' medical histories, then test and measure their strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. They also determine patients' ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness. Next, they develop treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose, and anticipated outcome.

Treatment procedures include many forms of exercise, heat, cold, electricity, ultrasound, and massage. Mechanical and assistive devices also may be used. In administering treatment, physical therapists may be assisted by supportive personnel who work under their supervision. They may also teach the patient, family members, or other person specific procedures important in continuing the treatment at home.

Opportunities for employment are varied. Persons are needed to fill the many available positions in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, special education schools, public health agencies, home health care, industrial clinics and other health care facilities. In addition to this need for clinical physical therapists, there is a demand for experienced people to assume positions with primary responsibility in administration, consultation, teaching, and research.

Academic Requirements: Students at Denison can complete the pre-requisite courses for Master level or Doctorate level (DPT) programs. Please contact pre-professional advisor, Pam Allen for more information.

Working Conditions: Most full-time physical therapists work a 40-hour week which includes some evenings and weekends. The work can be physically demanding because therapists often kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists move heavy equipment or help them turn, stand, or walk.

What They Earn: Average annual salary is approximately $57,330.

Physician Assistant

Career Description:

PAs are health care professionals with a license to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. Much like physicians, PAs can perform many of the usual steps in a physical examination, including taking medical histories, examining and treating patients, ordering and interpreting x-rays and laboratory tests, and making diagnoses. They are also licensed to counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and (in 47 states) can write prescriptions. As the Occupational Outlook Handbook says, "physician assistants can relieve physicians of routine duties and procedures." Graduation from an accredited physicians assistant program and passage of the national certifying exam are required for state licensure.

Academic Requirements:Denison students can complete pre-requisite coursework in the sciences in preparation for the graduate program.

What they Earn: In a recent survey conducted by the AAPA, the mean total income from primary employers for PAs who aren't self employed and work at least 32 hours a week for their primary employer is $72,241 (a 1.7 percent increase from last year). The comparable mean for PAs who have been in clinical practice for less than one year is $63,168 (a 5.3 percent increase).

The AAPA estimates that at the beginning of 2003 there were approximately 46,200 people in clinical practice as physician assistants, with 10,000 students currently enrolled in PA programs across the country.

The Job Market Today: The field of physician assistant has shown impressive growth. As a profession, physician assistant is among the fastest growing in the United States. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of physician assistant jobs will increase by 53 percent between 2000 and 2010.

Public Health

Career Description:

People who work in the field of Public Health contribute to the health and well-being of the communities in which they live and work. The various functions which Public Health professionals serve are numerous. They work at health departments, government agencies, nonprofits, research agencies, or academic institutions. In a health department setting, they ensure that the environment is safe and help enforce food and sanitary health codes.

They also may lead educational programs about health issues, and, in some communities, provide basic health services for children. Working within government agencies, public health professionals often collect and manage data that is used to make decisions regarding public health issues. They also provide administrative support to health programs that meet the needs of states and local municipalities.

Public Health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or reoccurring through implementing educational programs, developing policies, administering services and conducting research.

Academic Requirements: A Master's degree in Public Health is offered at several universities. Pre-requisite courses including science coursework as well as other liberal arts classes can be completed at Denison.

What They Earn:Graduates earn between $35,000-$55,000. The average salary in Biostatistics was $54,500; Environmental Health Sciences $52,083; Epidemiology, $41,400; Health Behavior and Health Education, $40,937; Health Management & Policy, $50,000. Generally, Public Health job opportunities and salaries vary from discipline to discipline.

Related Careers to Public Health include the following list: air pollution engineer, bacteriologist, biochemist, biostatistician, drug and alcohol rehabilitation specialist, entomologist, epidemiologist, microbiologist, vital statistics director. Careers in the field of Public Health are as intriguing as they are varied.

Speech Language Pathologist

Career Description:

Speech-language pathologists assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent speech, language, cognitive, communication, voice, swallowing, fluency, and other related disorders; audiologists identify, assess, and manage auditory, balance, and other neural systems. Speech-language pathologists work with people who cannot make speech sounds, or cannot make them clearly; those with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering; people with voice quality problems, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice; those with problems understanding and producing language; those who wish to improve their communication skills by modifying an accent; and those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem solving disorders. They also work with people who have oral motor problems causing eating and swallowing difficulties.

Academic Requirements:Denison students can complete pre-requisite coursework and enter into a Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology offered at several universities.

What They Earn: Average annual salary is approximately $49,450.

Source: 

Explore Health Careers

Helpful links: 

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing

American Physical Therapy Association 

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy  

American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine 

American Association of Colleges of Optometry 

Why Law?

  Before launching into the law school application process, spend some time examining your motivation to develop a career in law. Self-assessment is an important first step. Ask yourself questions like:

What is it about the practice of law that attracts me?

What skills do I have that would make me a good attorney?

What are my values and ideals and how will they relate to a legal career?

What, in fact, do lawyers do?

Is that really what I want to spend my life doing?

Are there other careers which would be more appropriate for my skills, interests, attitudes, and values?

Talk with Denison alumni or attorneys in your community who are practicing law. Ask them what it is about the legal profession that they find satisfying and unsatisfying. Get in touch with J.D.'s who are using their legal degree outside the more traditional law firm environment. Talk with those who have left the practice of law for other career fields, and ask them why they have taken another direction. Read books and articles about careers in law. Find out about the job market and salary ranges of attorneys. Consider how you will finance your legal education.

Explore the field of law by completing a Denison Internship or spending a full summer working in a law firm or another legal environment. See if you like thinking and writing as a lawyer. Find out if you feel comfortable in a legal setting.

Law school--and the legal profession-- is for people who like debating, assembling and developing facts, expressing ideas clearly, probing issues and problems to basic premises or solutions, conducting interviews to obtain information, and the art of negotiating. If you enjoy reading and studying, analyzing logically and precisely, disputing and arguing, and both speaking and writing, then you will probably enjoy the rigorous study of law as well as a career in the practice of law.

Preparation for Law School

While the American Bar Association does not recommend nor do law schools require certain majors, graduates of liberal arts institutions are well prepared for the study of law. A recent statement by the ABA identifies important skills and values as well as significant bodies of knowledge that are thought to provide a solid pre-legal education. It is significant that these skills and values are the hallmark of a liberal education.

Denison graduates who have chosen the legal profession represent a broad array of majors: chemistry, English, philosophy, religion, political science, history, psychology, sociology/anthropology, economics, Black Studies, and Women's Studies.

Among the core skills and values considered by the ABA to be essential for competent lawyering are the following:

analytic and problem-solving skills
critical reading abilities
writing skills
oral communication and listening abilities
general research skills
task organization and management skills
the value of serving others and promoting justice

Denison's general education requirements and academic majors, minors, and concentrations all help the pre-law student to develop these skills as well as some of the following basic areas of knowledge deemed important as preparation for law school:

-- a broad understanding of history, particularly American history, and the various factors (social political, economic and cultural) that have influenced the development of the pluralistic society that presently exists in the United States;

-- a fundamental understanding of political thought and theory, and of the contemporary American political system;

-- a basic understanding of ethical theory and theories of justice;

-- a grounding in economics, particularly elementary micro-economic theory, and an understanding of the interaction between economic theory and public policy;

-- some basic mathematical and financial skills, such as an understanding of basic pre-calculus mathematics and an ability to analyze financial data;

-- a basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction; and

-- an understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, on international institutions and issues, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world.

If you are interested in the complete statement on Preparation for Legal Education approved by the ABA secton of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, visit the ABA Home Page

In addition to academic course work, it is recommended that the pre-law student explore the legal profession by completing an internship in a law firm or a legally-related environment. Denison's Internship Program provides opportunities for students to apply for legal internships or to design their own. A three-week or summer-long internship may help to confirm your career direction and even to define your focus on a particular application of the law.

The Application Process
Junior briefings are held during the spring semester to encourage you to consider sitting for the June Law School Admission Test and get an early start on the application process.

Senior briefings are held the first day of fall classes in the fall semester. The briefing provides basic information about the entire law school application process and makes available a variety of resources.

Law School admissions test (LSAT) will be administered at Denison on September 26, 2009 and at other locations in December, February and June. Registration booklets for the LSAT are available in Career Services. While it is highly recommended to take the June test prior to the senior year, you may sit for the September test, with scores being released in late October. December test takers receive their scores in early January and need to be particularly aware of early application deadlines. Details regarding the LSAT are available through the Law School Admission Council Law School Admissions Counselor

Preparation for the LSAT
New Denison Resource Website: Three, free, timed practice exams!

Denison has a new resource through the Ohio link library and the new website has three free, timed practice exams for the LSAT, GRE, GMAT and MCAT. The website is www.learningexpresslibrary.com/ and you need to create a free account and be logged in at Denison's webpage. With LearnATest.com's practice tests, you'll get:

• An online practice test in the various categories, just like the official exams
• Instant online score and detailed answer explanations
• A personalized analysis that identifies your strengths and weaknesses so you'll know how to prepare.

Preparation for the LSAT is an individual matter. The Triple Prep Test Plus publication of the Law School Admisions Council is an excellent resource for self-study. You may secure this book and other practice tests with your LSAT registration or borrow copies from the Career Resource Library. A practice LSAT will be administered at Denison on September 19, 2009. Contact pre-law advisor, Pam Allen for information.

An additional option is to enroll in the Kaplan Test Preparation course or the Princeton Review course offered at centers across the country throughout the year. Both also offer courses during the Fall semester at Denison. Call 1-800-KAP-TEST for details. Information for the Princeton Review courses is at http://www.princetonreview.com/.

Subscribe to the LAW SCHOOL DATA ASSEMBLY SERVICE (LSDAS) a service which forwards your LSAT scores and your transcript analysis to the schools to which you are applying. Details on the LSDAS subscription are available through the Law Schools Admission Council.

Arrange an individual appointment with Pam Allen to discuss the entire application process including the decision regarding where to file applications. Call x6656 to make an appointment or x6521 to talk directly to Pam.

For selection of law schools appropriate for you, use resources in the career resource library.

Financial Aid Info for Pre-Law Students
Several institutions and private loan companies have developed websites to address the concerns and questions students have about securing financial aid. The following is a list of financial aid resources:

Law School Admissions Counsel
The SmartStudentTM Guide to Financial Aid
The Access Group
LawLoans/SallieMae
Scholarship Research Network
Fast Web for Student Services, Inc
Cost of Living Site

Selecting Law Schools
The official guide to US law schools provides a fairly comprehensive two-page narrative profile of all 192 ABA-approved U.S. law schools, usually including a grid reporting previous year's acceptance profiles. Searchable links of over 192 ABA approved U.S. Law Schools and applications for all law schools is available through the Law School Admissions council website at www.lsac.org

MAPLA profiles print version, an alphabetical listing of all 192 ABA-approved schools with details on median grade point averages, median LSAT scores, fees, deadlines, special programs, joint degrees and other variables.

Home pages of ABA-Approved law schoolsLaw School Admissions Council, providing current information on curriculum, admissions, financial aid, placement and other details of importance to you in selecting law schools for your application process.

Boston College On-line Law School Locator uses MAPLA Profiles data for an interactive search for law schools in relationship to your grades and score profile.

Denison's Career Network Denison's Career Network - Network with Denison alumni who are graduates of law schools across the country and who may have volunteered to offer advice about their law school to talk with representatives of law schools.

Denison's annual Graduate/Professional school fair: October 30, 2008, Slayter Union!

Law school day - Contact Career Services for date (usually end of September). The Ohio State University Union on High Street will host a number of law school representatives. Take time to visit tables of those schools to which you are most interested in applying. Pick-up application materials and other law school publications.

Complete applications and personal statements well ahead of the stated deadlines. Most schools consider applications as they are completed, so it is advantageous to get yours in earlier than the stated deadline. See Pam for selected resources on writing the Personal Statement.

Use the career services credential service to develop a file of confidential faculty letters of evaluation which can be sent to law schools in support of your application. Begin by asking faculty to write letters on your behalf, then register their names with the Pam Allen, Pre-Law Advisor. She can also help you secure Dean's letters for those schools which require them. If your faculty prefer, they may send their letters directly to the school; in this case it is your full responsibility to make certain that those letters have been received by the schools.

Websites for Prospective Law Students

Pre-Law page of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP)

NALP is a nonprofit educational association established in 1971 to meet the needs of the participants in the legal employment process which includes legal employers, law schools, law students, and graduates for information, coordination, and standards. NALP's membership includes virtually every ABA-accredited law school and more than 800 of the nation's largest legal employers. NALP is committed to providing leadership in the areas of legal career planning, recruitment and hiring, and research related to the employment market for law graduates.Education Resource page of the American Bar Association (ABA)

ABA approved law schools; frequently asked questions about law school accreditation; preparation for a legal education; admission to the bar; careers in the legal profession.

Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO)

The Council on Legal Education Opportunity ("CLEO") was founded in 1968 as a non-profit project of the American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education to expand opportunities for minorities and low-income students to attend law school and become members of the legal profession by providing pre-law recruitment, counseling, placement assistance and training.

Pre-Law page of the Internet Legal Resource Guide

The Internet Legal Resource Guide (ILRG) purports to be a comprehensive resource to the information available on the Internet concerning law and the legal profession. The link above will take you its prelaw page, where you will find numerous links to information on law schools, LSAT preparation, application strategies, rankings, and pre-law guides from various colleges.

Pre-Law page of Hieros Gamos

Hieros Gamos is an even more comprehensive legal research web site than the ILRG, with links to sites for law schools, law firms, bar associations, legal journals and much, much more. The link above will take you to their pre-law page, where you will find links similar to those on the Internet Legal Resource Guide.

Admissions page of Jurist

JURIST is the Internet's legal education portal, the university-based academic gateway to authoritative legal instruction, information and scholarship online. JURIST is edited by a team of Net-literate law professors from law schools across the United States and around the world. It's designed for people learning, teaching or researching law - legal scholars, law students, law librarians, lawyers and judges, journalists, and interested citizens.

Welcome to the Legal Division (LGD) of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

Comprised of 25 attorneys and 3 administrative support personnel, the LGD is responsible for delivering professional, comprehensive legal training to over 70 federal law enforcement agencies, including the United States Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service, among others.

Paralegal Opportunities

The American Bar Asociation (ABA) defines paralegals as:

"persons who, although not members of the legal profession, are qualified through education, training or work experience, are employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity in a capacity or function which involves the performance, under the direction and supervision of an attorney, of specifically delegated substantive legal work, which work, for the most part, requires a sufficient knowledge of legal concepts, such that, absent that legal assistant, the attorney would perform the task."

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) in 1987 defined the paralegal as:

"a person qualified through education, training, or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer."

No matter what the definition, paralegal or legal assistant career opportunities continue to be popular. If you are interested in learning more about paralegal opportunities, come to the Career Resources Library where you will find two extremely helpful books:

Paralegal: An Insider's Guide to One of the Fastest-Growing Occupations of the 1990s(Second Edition), Barbara Bernardo, Peterson's Guides, Princeton, NJ, 1993

How to Land Your First Paralegal Job, Andrea Wagner, Estrin Publishing, Santa Monica, CA, 1992

Students with an undergraduate degree can apply directly to law firms and other agencies and organizations seeking paralegals, in which case in-house training is offered. A second option is to complete a formal Paralegal Training Program. For an extensive listing of paralegal training programs, visit the web-site noted in the Index. National Federation of Paralegal Associates

To help you through the process of preparing for medical, dental, or veterinary school, as well as for other health professions, meet with Pam Allen, Pre-Professional Advisor in Career Services. She can advise you regarding requirements and expectations for entering each of these professional schools, put you in touch with current resources, and assist you in the entire application process.

Health professional schools across the country don't require a specific major, though there is for each profession a core of courses which serve as pre-requisites. The following information applies most directly to medical, dental and veterinary school admission; minor differences apply to preparation for the other health professions.

Pre-Requisites 

Required for medical and dental school:

Biology:
Introduction to Biology (BIOL 150)
Molecular Biology with lab (Biology 201)
Chemistry:
General Chemistry, 2 semesters with lab (Chemistry 121 & 122)
Organic Chemistry, 2 semesters with lab (Chemistry 223 & 224)
Mathematics [Note:  Many medical schools require a year of mathematics. A few schools require a full year of Calculus.]
Essentials of Calculus (Math 121) or Calculus I (Math 123) serve as a pre-requisite for General Physics.
To complete a year of Calculus students would need to take Calculus I (Math 123) and Calculus II (Math 124).

Other math courses which can count toward the 1 year math requirement:
Statistics (Math 102) or Computer Science (CS171) may be allowable by some med schools as the second math course.
Physics:
General Physics, 2 semesters with lab (Physics 121 & 122)
English: (1 year)
Words & Ideas (FYS 101)
Literature or a second writing course

Other courses highly recommended by medical schools:
(optional if you have availability in your schedule)

• Biochemistry (Chemistry 302) (highly recommended!)
• Genetics (Biology 325)
• Developmental Biology (Biology 324)

Additional requirements for Ohio State's Dental School:

• Biochemistry (Chemistry 302)
• Microbiology (Biology 315)
• Anatomy (PHED 204)
• Human Physiology (Biology 335)
  

Additional requirements for most veterinary schools:

• Biochemistry (Chemistry 302)
• Microbiology (Biology 315)
• Genetics (Biology 325)

If you are planning on applying for admission to medical/dental/veterinary school for the fall following your college graduation, you should plan to complete all of the science pre-requisites by the Spring Semester of your junior year.

Admissions Tests

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) should be taken after completing all of the above requirements. If you are planning on going to medical school immediately following graduation, you should take the MCAT in May of your junior year. You may repeat it (or take it for the first time) in June, July, or August preceding your senior year.

Dental Admissions Test (DAT) should be taken after completing the above requirements. If you are planning on going to dental school immediately following graduation, you should take the DAT in spring/early summer of your junior year. You may take it more than once.

For Veterinary School: The GRE is required for all Vet schools and should be taken in June of your junior year or early fall of your senior year. Some schools accept scores from the MCAT.

Preparation for the MCAT, DAT, GRE, LSAT

New Denison Resource Website: Three, free, timed practice exams!

Denison has a new resource through the Ohio link library and the new website has three free, timed practice exams for the LSAT, GRE, GMAT and MCAT. The website is www.learningexpresslibrary.com/ and you need to create a free account and be logged in at Denison's webpage. With LearnATest.com's practice tests, you'll get:

Research Experience 

While not required for admission to most health professional programs, research experience certainly is highly recommended and regarded.  Most pre-health professions students choose to do a Denison Internship or summer research either on campus with science faculty or at other colleges, universities, or medical schools across the country. Doing a senior research project is also highly recommended and is particularly helpful if you are also considering the option of applying to graduate school. Letters of evaluation from research supervisors are highly valued by professional and graduate school Admissions Committees.

Alpha Epsilon Delta
Student with a 3.2 cumulative GPA and 3.2 GPA in the sciences can apply for election into Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-health professions honorary. Informal meetings and activities are held during the year to keep pre-health professions students aware of the health professions. An AED Spring Ceremony Banquet with guest speakers is sponsored to welcome initiates into the society.

Career & Graduate/Professional School Fairs and Campus Visits

Medical/dental/veterinary and other health professional schools are invited to participate in Denison's fall semester GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR on Thursday, October 30, 2008 from 1:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. in Slayter Union. This fair will provide an opportunity for students to meet and talk with representatives about their programs and admissions procedures. In addition, other health professional school representatives visit campus for evening presentations and programs.

Denison Alumni Network

In working with the Pre-Med Advisor, you can network with Denison alumni who are practicing physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and other health professionals. From them you can gain advice and information as well as a possible internship or mentorship.

Pre-Professional Advising

You are encouraged to meet with Pam Allen, the Pre-Professional Advisor, from your first year through the entire application process culminating in spring of your senior year. Advising, assistance with the application, selecting schools to apply to, preparing for the interview, general advice about financing professional education, selecting the school to attend--all of these are available in working with the advisor. The Career Resource library also has a number of catalog's and program descriptions of medical, dental, and veterinary schools as well as resources on all other major health and allied health professions.

How many applicants from Denison are actually accepted into medical school?

Qualified Denison applicants are very successful. While numbers depend on the specific pool of applicants each year, roughly 65-85% of the qualified students and alumni who apply are accepted to medical school each year. Acceptance rates to other health professions schools, such as dental, veterinary, optometry, physician assistant, physical therapy, pharmacy, nursing etc., are generally even higher.

Denison University provides a strong premedical preparation for its pre-health professions students including the requisite coursework, internship opportunities, premedical honor society, heath professions pre-professional advising and support in the application process. Students who are accepted to medical school need to take full advantage of the resources available to them.

Of course, not every Denison applicant is accepted. Why? Acceptance into medical or any health professions school is dependent on the qualifications of the student applying. Students who are accepted to medical school have performed at a high level academically (usually at a 3.5 g.p.a. or better), have done well on the MCATs (composite score usually about 30), have demonstrated a working knowledge of the health professions (by taking advantage of volunteer positions or shadowing opportunities), and a commitment to service.

MEDICAL, DENTAL, & VETERINARY SCHOOLS MATRICULATING DENISON GRADUATES

Medical Schools Accepting Denison University Graduates
1990-2009

Boston University School of Medicine	University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Darmouth Medical School of Medicine	University of Missouri
Duke University School of Medicine
Eastern Virginia Medical School	Wright State University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine	Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine	George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University	Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine	Medical College of Ohio
Marshall University School of Medicine	Northeast Ohio University College of Medicine
Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine	Ohio State University College of Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine	Rush Medical College of Rush University
University of Chicago College of Medicine	University of Connecticut School of Medicine
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine	University of Kentucky College of Medicine
University of Iowa College of Medicine	University of New Mexico School of Medicine
University of Louisville School of Medicine	Pittsburgh University School of Medicine
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine	West Virginia University School of Medicine
University of North Dakota School of Medicine	Yale University School of Medicine
University of Michigan	University of Virginia
University of Tennessee-Memphis	University of Minnesota
University of Kansas School of Medicine

DENTAL SCHOOLS MATRICULATING DENISON UNIVERSITY GRADUATES 1985-2009

Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry	Indiana University School of Dentistry
Marquette University School of Dentistry	New York University College of Dentistry
Ohio State University College of Dentistry	Temple University School of Dentistry
University of Florida College of Dentistry	University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry	University of Louisville School of Dentistry
University of Michigan School of Dentistry	University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine	SUNY at Buffalo
Pittsburgh University School of Dentistry

VETERINARY SCHOOLS MATRICULATING DENISON UNIVERSITY GRADUATES 1990-2009

Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine	Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine	Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine	University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Sources: American Association of Medical Schools, American Association of Dental Schools, and Association of American Veterinary Colleges.

Major Health Professions Websites

Visit the following Web Sites for information on various health professions, individual schools, required admissions tests, application services and financial aid:

Association of American Medical Colleges
AspiringDocs.org
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
American Association of Dental Schools
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Physical Therapy Association
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry