At A Glance

Interested in a health career? Carthage has a 91% medical school acceptance rate among our pre-health students, compared to a national average acceptance rate of 41%! Carthage’s rigorous classes will equip you with a thorough knowledge of the basic sciences and the ability to think on your feet. Plus, you’ll have chances to tackle health issues head-on in communities near or far. We’ll help you find the right path for your skills and ambitions.

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The health fields are changing rapidly, with new therapies and models of care always on the horizon. The best-prepared medical practitioners are adaptable and have a comprehensive education.

  • <div class="text-with-stat__stat"><div class="text-with-stat__stat-inner"><strong class="text-with-stat__stat-number">91%</strong><span class="text-with-stat__stat-text"><p> medical school acceptance rate among Carthage pre-health students. <em>* National average: 41%</em></p></span></div></div>

To prepare for advanced study in the health fields, you will develop a broad knowledge of the sciences and the ability to think on your feet. Those who declare a pre-health concentration can choose any major — popular options include allied health science, biology, chemistry, exercise and sport science, neuroscience, and psychology.


Undergraduate Research

Research is built into the Carthage experience through lab and field experiments, the required senior thesis, and options such as the paid Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE). Mentored by faculty in the sciences, you can take on projects in genomics, wildlife ecology, physiology, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other research areas.


Beyond the Classroom

There is an active community of supportive student organizations that organize activities for students in health-related fields, mentor them through exam preparation, and provide networking opportunities. You are encouraged to participate in the Pre-Health Club, Pre-Physician Assistant Club, major associated societies, and other organizations.

Pre-health students engage in various workshops on career exploration, interviewing, personal statement, and interpersonal skill development. These workshops are designed to aid pre-health students in their journey to healthcare graduate programs or careers.

Like many Carthage students considering careers in health, you can participate in the medical-focused J-Term study tours, like the medical mission to Nicaragua. During this course, you can contribute to addressing public health in the clinical setting and developing clean water resources.

See more opportunities for pre-health students

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,140,2133,2272/37385_7219_163701665847155.rev.1679757025.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,140,2133,2272/37385_7219_163701665847155.rev.1679757025.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,140,2133,2272/37385_7219_163701665847155.rev.1679757025.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,140,2133,2272/37385_7219_163701665847155.rev.1679757025.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,140,2133,2272/37385_7219_163701665847155.rev.1679757025.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,140,2133,2272/37385_7219_163701665847155.rev.1679757025.jpg" alt="Connor Wiseman" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,140,2133,2272/37385_7219_163701665847155.rev.1679757025.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,140,2133,2272/37385_7219_163701665847155.rev.1679757025.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2133" data-max-h="2132" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Carthage felt like a place where I could succeed and maximize my potential.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2349-">Connor Wiseman</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,633,845/38668_10644_163701665847155.rev.1698110157.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,633,845/38668_10644_163701665847155.rev.1698110157.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,633,845/38668_10644_163701665847155.rev.1698110157.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,633,845/38668_10644_163701665847155.rev.1698110157.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,633,845/38668_10644_163701665847155.rev.1698110157.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,633,845/38668_10644_163701665847155.rev.1698110157.jpg" alt="Savita Chandarana" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,633,845/38668_10644_163701665847155.rev.1698110157.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,633,845/38668_10644_163701665847155.rev.1698110157.jpg 3x" data-max-w="633" data-max-h="845" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Carthage has something for everyone, allowing you to make friends with similar interests and share your passions with others.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2551-">Savita Chandarana</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1186,2108/37323_7092_163701665847155.rev.1679516404.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1186,2108/37323_7092_163701665847155.rev.1679516404.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1186,2108/37323_7092_163701665847155.rev.1679516404.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1186,2108/37323_7092_163701665847155.rev.1679516404.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1186,2108/37323_7092_163701665847155.rev.1679516404.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1186,2108/37323_7092_163701665847155.rev.1679516404.jpg" alt="Zahra Rognstad" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1186,2108/37323_7092_163701665847155.rev.1679516404.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1186,2108/37323_7092_163701665847155.rev.1679516404.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1186" data-max-h="2108" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The allied health science major is  a diverse major with students who want to be chiropractors, PAs, athletic trainers, and more. It allows me to meet and have potential opportunities in all different fields.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2339-">Zahra Rognstad</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1290,1614/39059_Brett_Westbrook_27.rev.1706826068.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1290,1614/39059_Brett_Westbrook_27.rev.1706826068.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1290,1614/39059_Brett_Westbrook_27.rev.1706826068.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1290,1614/39059_Brett_Westbrook_27.rev.1706826068.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1290,1614/39059_Brett_Westbrook_27.rev.1706826068.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1290,1614/39059_Brett_Westbrook_27.rev.1706826068.jpg" alt="Brett Westbrook ?27" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1290,1614/39059_Brett_Westbrook_27.rev.1706826068.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/17/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1290,1614/39059_Brett_Westbrook_27.rev.1706826068.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1290" data-max-h="1614" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Allied health science is a very diverse program and ultimately prepares you to be the best provider you can be in the field.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2538-">Brett Westbrook</a> ’27</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,409,2134,2540/37299_7043_163701665847155.rev.1679342272.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,409,2134,2540/37299_7043_163701665847155.rev.1679342272.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,409,2134,2540/37299_7043_163701665847155.rev.1679342272.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,409,2134,2540/37299_7043_163701665847155.rev.1679342272.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,409,2134,2540/37299_7043_163701665847155.rev.1679342272.JPG 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,409,2134,2540/37299_7043_163701665847155.rev.1679342272.JPG" alt="Natalie Vitek" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,409,2134,2540/37299_7043_163701665847155.rev.1679342272.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,409,2134,2540/37299_7043_163701665847155.rev.1679342272.JPG 3x" data-max-w="2134" data-max-h="2131" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage because of its reputable pre-health program, small class sizes, and personable professors. The view of Lake Michigan is a significant bonus!”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2328-">Natalie Vitek</a> ’25</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Read Our Monthly Newsletter

On the first Wednesday of each month, the Pre-Health newsletter will be published through email and The Bridge. The newsletter updates students on upcoming events and healthcare news, tips, and tricks on applications. The Carthage community may send submissions for the newsletter to Ashley Greenwood, co-chair of the pre-health program, at agreenwood@carthage.edu. Submissions should be of general interest to pre-health undergraduate students.

Read the latest newsletter on the Pre-Health News page