VCU hosts events for prospective medical students, advisers

By Michala Smith
University News Services

Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine Admissions Office recently hosted an open house for prospective students as well as a pre-health adviser’s conference.

“We think it's great to have these two groups on campus,” said Agnes Mack, director of admissions for the VCU School of Medicine. “This will offer them chances to meet deans from each school, faculty and administration.”

More than 200 pre-medical students attended this year’s open house, which highlighted research advancements and academic opportunities for students. The VCU pre-health adviser’s conference had approximately 50 attendees and was hosted in partnership with the schools of Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Administration and Public Health.

According to Michelle Whitehurst-Cook, M.D., associate dean for admissions in the School of Medicine and associate professor of family medicine, potential students received insight on what VCU has to offer by seeing the facilities and meeting the students.

Adviser’s had the opportunity to hear about field advancements, participate in
question-and-answer sessions and to tour the school.

 “We hope the pre-health advisers appreciate the diversity of opportunities for health careers on our campus and appreciate how important they are in helping develop future medical school classes,” said Whitehurst-Cook. “We hope that both groups now understand the supportive environment that our students enjoy and could see visibly how happy our medical students are with their choice of VCU for medical school.”

The VCU School of Medicine offers 22 graduate degree programs and receives more than 4,000 applications a year. Each year the admissions office accepts 184 students into the program. For more information about VCU’s School of Medicine, visit www.medschool.vcu.edu/.