Last modified: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Annual IU Bloomington Health Programs Fair to take place March 3
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 23, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Students will have an opportunity to learn about the wide variety of career opportunities in health care on March 3 (Wednesday) at the 2010 Indiana University Bloomington Health Programs Fair. The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union.
The fair -- which is free and open to the public -- will feature representatives of more than 100 schools, programs and organizations who will meet with students and answer questions about educational and career opportunities. Health care fields represented will range from podiatry and medical physics to respiratory therapy and public health and will include professions in direct patient care, laboratory work, administration, information technology and other areas.
"Our office encourages students to consider all the career possibilities available to them, including health fields that are not as well-known," said Rachel Tolen, assistant director of the IU Bloomington Health Professions and Prelaw Center, "Students should think carefully about their individual abilities and interests in making career decisions."
More than 700 students typically turn out for the annual Health Programs Fair, and large crowds are expected again this year. Attending the fair can give students a competitive edge in admission and open their eyes to the variety of healthcare careers available.
"The fair provides a learning opportunity that most college students in the country simply cannot experience right on their own campuses," Tolen said. "IU Bloomington is able to attract a large number of health professions schools because our students have the reputation of showing up and actively engaging the representatives with good questions about their programs."
At the Health Programs Fair, students can get a clear understanding of how to prepare themselves for careers in health care -- for example, they can learn what medical schools look for in an applicant or find out what it takes to become a physical therapist. The fair provides the opportunity for students to speak one-on-one with admissions representatives from medical schools and other health professions programs. Students can talk with representatives about program offerings and get information to help enhance their chances for admission.
Some health professions require just an undergraduate degree, while others may require extensive graduate-level study. Representatives from IU academic departments will be on hand to discuss majors and courses that can help prepare students for medicine and other health fields.
"While many other areas of the economy have shown decline, health care jobs are expected to continue to grow. However, students should be aware that there is intense competition for admission to educational programs related to health care, so it is important that they plan carefully," Tolen said.
For some health professions, students need to obtain volunteer experience with community organizations to be competitive program applicants. At the Health Programs Fair, students can find information on health-related clubs, community organizations and volunteer opportunities in the Bloomington area.
The fair is organized by the Health Professions and Prelaw Center, a unit of the Office of the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education and University Division, and is co-sponsored by the IU departments of Applied Health Science, Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Kinesiology, Nursing, Physics, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Sociology and Speech and Hearing Sciences.
For more information on the Health Programs Fair, including lists of professions and of schools and programs that will be represented, see https://www.hpplc.indiana.edu/medicine/med-hpf.shtml. For questions, contact HPPLC at 812-855-1873 or hpplc@indiana.edu.
