Last modified: Thursday, February 28, 2013
IU Bloomington Health Programs Fair introduces students to health care career options
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 28, 2013
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University students will have an opportunity to explore their possibilities in a wide variety of health care careers next week at the 11th annual IU Bloomington Health Programs Fair.
The fair, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in the Frangipani Room and other locations in the Indiana Memorial Union. The event gives students an opportunity to meet with representatives of medical schools and health professions programs and learn about the admissions process.
Representatives of more than 100 schools, programs and organizations will be available to meet with students and answer questions about educational and career opportunities. Information will be available on careers in direct patient care, laboratory work, administration, information technology and other areas.
At the fair, students can engage in informal networking with schools before submitting applications, which can help them gain a competitive edge in admission. Medical school representatives will answer fair attendees' questions and discuss what the schools are seeking in order to prepare prospective applicants.
"Indiana University attracts many students who are interested in careers in health care," said Rachel Tolen, assistant director of the IU Bloomington Health Professions and Prelaw Center. "Of last fall's entering class of new undergraduate students, more than 1,900 had indicated an interest in medical school alone. Some of these students initially have a narrow focus on becoming a physician, but the fair not only allows them to meet with representatives from medical schools but to learn about many other interesting programs."
Amid widespread reports that jobs in the health care sector will continue to grow, student interest in such careers remains high. Up to 900 students usually attend the Health Programs Fair, and large crowds are expected again this year.
IU academic departments will send representatives to the fair to discuss majors and courses that help prepare students for medicine and other health fields. Students will also be able to speak with representatives of health-related student organizations and volunteer agencies from the Bloomington area.
The fair is organized by the Health Professions and Prelaw Center, a program of the Office of the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education, 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.
A list of professions and of schools and programs that will be represented at the fair is available online. For more information, contact the Health Professions and Prelaw Center at 812-855-1873 or hpplc@indiana.edu.
The Health Professions and Prelaw Center provides advising and other services for students who want to pursue careers in law, medicine and other health professions. The center works closely with IU students throughout their undergraduate years, and with IU alumni, to help them become thoughtful, well-prepared, competitive applicants to professional programs.
