Pre-Professional

Program Summary 

Pre-professional programs at Purdue provide a strong foundation to pursue careers in fields such as medicine, health, veterinary medicine, law and more. While not standalone majors, pre-professional advising guides students to complete common prerequisite courses required by most professional schools. These pathways complement your chosen major, giving you the flexibility to explore different academic interests while still preparing you to apply to professional school.

Professional schools — like medical, dental and law programs — accept students from a wide range of undergraduate majors. What matters most is your academic performance, your involvement in experiences related to your field — like jobs, internships, volunteering or student organizations — and having strong relationships with faculty who can speak to your abilities in letters of recommendation. Completing any prerequisite courses required for your chosen program is also essential.

Choose from more than 200 majors to match your academic strengths and personal interests. Health and professional schools value strong grades, rigorous coursework and a well-rounded curriculum far more than any specific major.

That’s why we encourage you to pursue a major you truly enjoy. When you’re passionate about what you’re studying, you’re more likely to thrive — and that success will carry you forward, no matter which professional path you choose.

Purdue Pre-Professional Programs

Unsure of where to start? Visit Purdue’s Pre-Professional Advising website for answers to some of their most frequently asked questions.

When considering an undergraduate major, be sure to select one that provides a viable, parallel career plan in case your professional school goals shift. 

Purdue students who plan to pursue professional health programs such as medical or dental school most often choose undergraduate majors within one of the following colleges: 

• College of Agriculture
• College of Engineering
• College of Health and Human Sciences 
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Pharmacy
• College of Science

At Purdue, pre-professional students (pre-medicine, pre-law, pre-veterinary medicine, etc.) have access to an academic advisor for their specific undergraduate major as well as to the Pre-Professional Advising in the Center for Career Opportunities, which helps students achieve their professional school goals through services and resources including: 

• Career guidance 
• Individual advising 
• Group workshops 
• Guidance in preparing to become a competitive professional school applicant 
• Assistance with professional school applications