Pre-Health

In 2018, 100 percent of the students who applied to dental school from St. Olaf were accepted to one or more programs. Among them were (from left) Nicole Nothongkham ’18, Annika Johnson ’18, and Simon Broccard ’18.

The Piper Center supports all pre-health students and graduates on a variety of career paths as they develop into future healthcare professionals. We work holistically with students at all stages of their career exploration, encouraging self-reflection and stressing the importance of intellectual development, personal integrity, and professionalism. Through individual coaching appointments, workshops, and opportunities to explore interests, skills, and goals, Oles build a strong foundation for a competitive application and a meaningful future career.

77%

Acceptance rate to medical schools (MD & DO) in the past 3 years (2017-2019)

91%

Overall acceptance rate to dental schools in the past two years (2018-2019)

MD and DO schools where Oles matriculated in the past two years (2018-2019)

Pre-Health Preparation

Application Process

Health Professions Committee

2019 Mayo — The 2019 Health Scholars at Mayo Clinic.

Rockswold Health Scholars
Health Scholars at Mayo Clinic
The Physician in Clinical and Hospital Healthcare
Undergraduate Training Program in Biomedical Research
Consultative Health and Medicine
TRIA Orthopaedic Interim Internship
Wieber Physical Therapy Interim Internship
Clinical Healthcare Interim Internship
Northfield Hospital Rehabilitation Services Interim Internship
Pathways to Healthcare
Mayo Innovation Scholars
Norway Innovation Scholars
CURI

National Institutes of Health
Mayo Clinic SURF Program
Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)
National Science Foundation (NSF) – Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Database
Society for Public Health Education Internship
Unite for Sight
AAMC Database of Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
Summer Opportunities for Pre-Health Students
Pre-Health and STEM Summer Internships/Research Opportunities

For those considering medical experience abroad, please consider preparing for the experience by going through this Global Ambassadors for Patient Safety training prior to leaving.

Learn more about internships, research opportunities, and fellowships or review the St. Olaf Internship Database to see where Oles have interned over the past five years.

Allina Hospitals & Clinics
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Fairview Hospital System
Mayo Clinic
Doctors Without Borders
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Health Corps
Regions Hospital
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Nursing Jobs

Seek out opportunities to explore your interests, gain valuable professional experience, and develop new skills through Student Employment.

What types of roles are there for students?

Check out the Student Employment Guide to learn about roles students currently or have previously held at St. Olaf. There are a wide variety of opportunities!

Here are a few examples:

Peer support and leadership roles including Junior Counselor/Resident Assistant positions in Residence Life, Peer Educator in the Wellness Center, Peer Advisor in the Piper Center, TRIO Upward Bound summer staff, various roles in Admissions
Community Work Study positions with local nonprofit organizations, including opportunities at the Greenvale Park Community School, the Middle School Youth Center, and the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI)
Program assistant roles with Admissions, Alumni & Parent Relations, Athletics, Theater, the Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion, Camps, Conferences and Events, and various other departments.

Student Employment Resources

Student Employment Job Board – this is the best resource for identifying current openings on campus. Occasionally, departments will also share opportunities on Handshake.

Student Employment Guide – this guide includes many of the positions that students currently or have previously held at St. Olaf. If you see a position you are interested in, but do not see it posted as a current opportunity on the Job Board you may wish to reach out via email or by stopping in to the office to learn more about the role and hiring process.

Association of American Medical Colleges
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
American Dental Education Association
Physician Assistant Education Association Program Directory
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health

Learn about additional health careers at explorehealthcareers.org.

Nursing at St. Olaf

The St. Olaf College Nursing Program takes a holistic approach to the field of nursing; integrating development of the whole person, a commitment to lifelong learning, and service to others. Ole nurses are well prepared for professional practice and/or graduate school to earn advanced degrees.

After four years of study, students are eligible to complete the RN licensure examination offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at St. Olaf College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

(Image on the right) Ole nursing majors using the new nursing department simulation for class.

Learn More

Coaching and Resources

St. Olaf has a range of pre-health internships from structured shadowing during interim to cohort summer internships at hospitals. The Piper Center has collaborated with organizations from a small private business to a destination medical center to encourage students to explore a range of medical settings.

Please stop by the Piper Center anytime during business hours to have an initial conversation with a Peer Advisor. When you are ready to go further and meet with our Pre-Health career coach, Dana Rechtzigel, please schedule an appointment through Handshake. To meet with Kevin Crisp, Chair of Health Professions Committee, please schedule an appointment through Handshake on Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. and Fridays from 10-12 a.m. in the Piper Center.

Piper Center Events

Handshake

How-To Guides Resumes • Cover Letters • Interviewing • Networking • LinkedIn • Personal Statements

Where Can I Find Funding?

Dana L Rechtzigel (she, her, hers)

Associate Director, Career Development and Coaching, Pre-Health and Pre-Law

Erechtz1@stolaf.edu

Office Hours: Office Hours: M-F by appointment in Handshake; Drop-In Hours: Tuesdays & Fridays, 3-5pm

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Piper Center for Vocation and Career

Kevin Crisp

Professor of Biology; Chair of Health Professions Committee

Regents Hall (Natural Science) 220

P507-786-3981

Ecrisp@stolaf.edu

Office Hours: Piper Center (appts) W1-3,F10-12; RNS 220 (drop-in) M9:30-10:30, Tu3-4, W11-12

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PainManagersStilesPeterFettersBen1200x1100

The Pain Managers — Read More

The Pain Managers

The patient was a young man, an assistant at a school for troubled youth. One day, a situation at the school got out of hand. A student attacked him, crushing his left hand and breaking his fingers.

A perfect place to prepare for dental school — Explore

A perfect place to prepare for dental school

Annika Johnson ’18 came to St. Olaf College knowing that with just 66 schools of dentistry in the nation, the application process is extremely competitive — even more so, in many ways, than medical school.

Explore

Opportunities That Have A Real Impact: Rockswold Health Scholars Program — Watch Now

Opportunities That Have A Real Impact: Rockswold Health Scholars Program

Neurosurgeon Gaylan Rockswold ’62 created a program that gives current St. Olaf students hands-on medical and research experience — and an incredible mentor.

Watch Now

St. Olaf announces 2018 Alumni Award winners — Watch Now

St. Olaf announces 2018 Alumni Award winners

St. Olaf College recently announced its 2018 Alumni Award winners: Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Wendy Helgemo ’91, Alumni Achievement Award recipient Craig Hella Johnson ’84, and Outstanding Service Award recipient Jon Hallberg ’88. Jon Hallberg ’88 is the medical director of the University of Minnesota Physicians Mill City Clinic and associate professor of family medicine and community health. He recently ended a 21-year tenure as medical director of the Minnesota Twins Employee Assistance Program and has been the regular medical commentator on Minnesota Public Radio’s regional “All Things Considered” since 2003.

Watch Now