Safe And Clean Neighborhoods Program Essay - 1400 Words

In the 1970’s a program named the â€Å"Safe and Clean Neighborhoods Program† was implemented in twenty-eight cities across the state of New Jersey. By taking police officers out of their patrol cars and into the neighborhoods, walking the beat, the program aimed to improve the wellbeing of communities as a whole. The effects of this program gave groundbreaking insight to the role law enforcement plays in providing the conformity necessary for a community to feel a sense of pride and security. The program also gave way to new understandings of how a community’s aesthetics can either discourage or entice criminal behavior. Ultimately, research following the enactment of the program provided a comprehensive look into the degression of a community’s safety as it becomes increasingly less respected by it’s inhabitants. This program received much ridicule from law enforcement professionals as it decreased, in their eyes, the versatility of their service to the community. It seemed as that in removing officers from their patrol vehicles, it would not allow them to respond quickly to other calls and better protect their patrolled communities. As they came to find, it actually gave the people in those communities a greater sense of security and pride in their home turf. II. INTRODUCTION and PROBLEM STATEMENT In relation to the advantages of officers walking the beat, James Q. Wilson and George L Kelling found in their article titled Broken Windows, that police presence would yield aShow MoreRelatedCrime Prevention in New Orleans729 Words   |  3 Pagesopportunities, and rebuilding neighborhoods also helped the crime rate. These initiatives are a way to get younger people off the streets by mentoring and educating at risk youth. The government inaugurated a new approach for reducing crime by creating an organization called â€Å"NOLA for Life.† It was established to provide crime prevention strategies for determining the causes of the problem and involves a strengthening in the Law Enforcement with Intervention Programs that have been proven effectiveRead MoreLow Income Areas Lack For Unhealthy Meals Essay903 Words   |  4 Pagesthat cannot be purchased. No access to healthcare means that they have no one to help them cope with or treat their illnesses. (frac.org, 2014) There may be fewer opportunities for low income children and adults to get physical exercise. Unsafe neighborhoods prevent children from playing outside whether it is because of crime or high traffic and no open space to play outside. Parks and sidewalks are not well maintained, if they exist in the first place. Low income children are less likely to participateRead MoreThe Keep Indianapolis Beautiful : A Great Appreciation For Art, Nature And Sense Of Community1023 Words   |  5 Pagesrelocate to in America for better careers and quality of life. However, back in the 1940’s Indianapolis was referred to as a â€Å"raw, dirty and unkept city†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , a city people should avoid. Gangs, drugs, loitering and other illegal acts surfaced many neighborhoods and communities during that time. Considering where Indianapolis is today, one would never believe this city used to be ins such despair. Thanks to many civic leaders, devoted women and passionate residents, Indianapolis went from a trashy, neglectedRead MoreDisorderly Youth in Communities783 Words   |  3 PagesCity Attorney Delgadillo and formulated an anti-gang plan that has incorporated prevention, interdiction and suppression using numerous programs. These programs include: L.A. SAVES, Kid Watch L.A., Anti-Truancy Program, Operation Bright Future, Safe Homes, No Secrets, Project PARENT, Homeboy Industries, Dispute Resolution Program, and First Chance. These programs do things such as identify and arrest wanted violent offenders, use volunteers to watch over kids to and from school, educate parents onRead MoreThe Ensuing Information Will Be A Detailed Explanation1747 Words   |  7 PagesThe ensuing information will be a detailed explanation of a graffiti clean-up program for the City of Billings in Billings, Montana. This program was a long-standing idea of the Billing Crime Prevention Center. Previously, no one was available to implement the graffiti clean-up project. The Billings Cri me Prevention Center (CPC) is a division of the Billings Police Department. This organization staffs a paid coordinator, a police officer, and a different police secretary who floats in and outRead MoreRace And Gentrification. Is Gentrification Causing Segregation1351 Words   |  6 Pagesthat gentrification is making the city more modern, safe, and appealing to other people. However, these people in their naivety fail to comprehend the hidden consequences and impact of gentrification on various ethnic groups and low-income families. Gentrification is a master of disguise that hides itself with assumed correlations to everyday people. One such assumption is that gentrification will increase the socioeconomic diversity of a neighborhood. Lance Freeman stated â€Å"socioeconomic diversity isRead MoreHomeless And Have Hiv / Aids1617 Words   |  7 Pageschallenge mostly overcome. Despite that our country and its leaders were woefully slow to acknowledge the seriousness of the AIDS epidemic and take immediate steps when it was discovered last century, non-governmental agencies and federal and state programs and policies along with grassroots organizing has made a huge difference for those seeking shelter but carrying â€Å"extra baggage† as it might be politely and lovingly called. Dealing with the homeless among the HIV/AIDS population has been challengingRead MoreEssay about Designated Smoking Areas Needed for College Campus1209 Words   |  5 PagesCollege campus’s are in need of an area for those who smoke to do so in a safe environment. Right now the only place for us to go is the unsafe streets surrounding the campus. Although smokers choose an unsafe habit, it is their right to do so in a safe area. It is the college’s duty to provide this safe place. It is estimated that 28.5 % of college students are smokers (uri.edu). There has been an increase in colleges and other corporations to have smoking bans, it is their belief that facultyRead MoreBrooklyn, New York, Where A Lot Of Stars Were Born Or Raised?1473 Words   |  6 PagesBrooklyn, New York, where a lot of stars were born or raised, from Christopher George Latore Wallace (Biggie Smalls) to Harvey Keitel. Brooklyn is the neighborhood I grew up in, since the year 1994 till now Brooklyn has had a drastic change. Brooklyn was one of the most dangerous boroughs In New York City, but over the years that has changed. It went from seeing drugs use and lots of violence on the street, to a calmer community with different ethnicity and cultures. Even-though there still existRead MoreAir Pollution And Its Effects On The Environment1210 Words   |  5 Pagesorganization called, The Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), helps communities fight for social justice so they can improve the quality of life for residents and help advocate for environmental justice. The EHC is notable for the work that they do in neighborhoods with a significantly large percentage of pollution. They address it by urging residents to speak up for their basic rights. Human and Environmental health are important for the future of our planet. Areas like Barrio Logan and City Heights have

Leadership Strategies For Leadership Development - 1336 Words

CM3100-Week Four-Coaching â€Å"The environment has changed—it is more complex, volatile, and unpredictable. The skills needed for leadership have also changed—more complex and adaptive thinking abilities are needed. The methods being used to develop leaders have not changed (much). The majority of managers are developed from on-the-job experiences, training, and coaching/ mentoring; while these are all still important, leaders are no longer developing fast enough or in the right ways to match the new environment† (Future Trends, 2014, p. 5). In Mr. Petrie’s review â€Å"Future Trends in Leadership Development,† he looks at four leadership trends he has identified through his research on the subject. Those four trends have been identified as (1)†¦show more content†¦10). The horizontal development calls for improving skills, abilities, and behaviors. It is training which involves listening to experts, and training seminars that are content-heavy. The training calls for a lot of book learning and exams. Horizontal development is identified as an approach that is most useful in solving problems. Situations arise, and techniques are learned for solving them. Mr. Petrie in his interviews asked the question, â€Å"What do you think needs to be stopped or phased out from the way leadership development is currently done?† (Petrie, 2014, p. 10). They answered, â€Å"Competencies: they become either overwhelming in number or incredibly generic. If you have nothing in place, they are okay, but their use nearly always comes to a bad end.† (Petrie, 2014, p. 10). The horizontal development is associated with a competency model for the development of a leader. The vertical development consists of stages of development that people mature and progress, and grow as they interact with and make sense of their world. Mr. Petrie uses an analogy of pouring water into a glass and wrote, â€Å"In metaphorical terms, horizontal development is like pouring water into an empty glass. The vessel fills up with new content (you learn more leadership techniques). In contrast, vertical development aims to expand the glassShow MoreRelatedLeadership Development Strategy And Succession Plan1297 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership development is the key to success in the United States Army as it continues to operate in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex environment. After more than a decade of continuous combat deployments, leadership development lost its significance and became a low priority within most units army-wide. Over time, it resulted in a cultural effect that operational mission requirements take priority over leader development. The intent o f this paper is to examine the existing leader developmentRead MoreEffetiveness of Leadership and Management Development Is Dependent on the Organizational Strategy3055 Words   |  12 Pagesuse key elements of the management development cycle to evaluate critically the claim that the effectiveness of leadership and management development is dependent on the organisational strategy. In this case, the report provides a clear discourse on the reasons the effectiveness of leadership and management development must be aligned to organisational strategy. Therefore, the primary objective of this report is to argue that for leadership and management development to be effective, they must be alignedRead MoreLeadership Strategy : A Critical Activity For Growth And Success Of An Organization834 Words   |  4 Pagesthat a well-defined business strategy is a critical activity for growth and success of an organization. Many also know that without strong leadership that is collectively working together to achieve goals throughout the organization even the best and boldest strategies will fall short of their fullest potential (Pasmore, 2014). Leadership Strategy provides the roadmap for the development of leadership talent and culture. Having skilled leaders to carry out business strategy is crucial to success, butRead MoreAssignment 4: Southern Company Case Study Essay1647 Words   |  7 PagesCompany brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Historically, Southern Company hired at the entry level and promoted individuals internally to fill leadership positions. The company typically had a very low turnover rate which resulted in an older and more tenured workforce. Over the years, Southern Company developed a group of leaders that possessed a profound level of business knowledge and alignedRead MoreEstablishing A Leadership Development Program1227 Words   |  5 PagesThis is a major problem inside of the fleet department at Entergy and will need to be addressed by the creation of an adequate leadership development plan. This paper will talk about establishing a leadership development program its strategies and objectives as well as the participants who will participate in the program. Leadership development program Leadership development is a way of teaching others through social learning processes how to interact appropriately with others, create relationshipsRead MoreGap Analysis Essay926 Words   |  4 Pages Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.1 Equity Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.2 Distributed Leadership Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.3 Effective Governance Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.4 Learning Community Leadership Gap Analysis:Read MoreLeadership Development : Developing Leaders For The Success Of An Organization1175 Words   |  5 Pagesgood chance at this success, leadership development should be a significant area of interest. â€Å"Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal† (Northouse, 2010). So the question becomes, is leadership development, effective when it comes to developing leaders for the success of an organization? This is probably a question that has been asked many times. It is known throughout cooperate world by many, that leadership affects various areas of anRead MoreStrategic Management and Leadership Skills1089 Words   |  5 PagesStrategic Management and Leadership skills Assignment: Tutor: Date Set: Date of Submission: Instructions: Mr Tayo Tewogbade March 2011 17th April, 2011 Answer all questions Learning outcomes and criteria covered by this assignment 1. Understand the relationship between strategic management and leadership 2. Be able to apply management and leadership theory to support organisational direction 3. Be able to assess leadership requirements 4. Be able to plan the development of leadership skills AssessmentRead MoreEssay Strategic Leadership1068 Words   |  5 PagesStrategic Leadership The only thing harder than being a strategic leader is trying to define the entire scope of strategic leadership a broad, difficult concept. We cannot always define it or describe it in every detail, but we recognize it in action. This type of leadership involves microscopic perceptions and macroscopic expectations. Volumes have been written on the subject, which may in fact contribute to the difficulty of grasping the concept. One finds confusing and sometimes conflictingRead MoreA Competency Model Of Leadership1366 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership Competency Model A competency model of leadership is a simple concept, â€Å"it describes the behaviors and skill managers need to exhibit if an organization is to be successful† (Hughes, Ginnett Curohy, 2015, p. 251). Within organizations there is an importance for the development of leaders in today’s society to meet the needs for their organization. While the leader needs to display unique leadership for their organizations, there are certain attributes and quality which are needed for

Stopping by woods on a snowy evening free essay sample

â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening† written by Robert Frost, was on of his most famous works. Robert Frost was an American poet but most of his poems were written while he was in England, and they were published there. â€Å"Stopping by Woods† is a great poem because it is easy to understand, but when you read it again there is something more to it. One begins ask is the author trying to say something else. Thus the reader has two ways to analyze this poem, the surface analysis and the deeper analysis. The reader is also able to learn that this poem has two main themes; choices and isolation. The first stanza of the poem says â€Å"Whose woods these are I think I know/His house is in the village though/ He will not see me stopping here/ To watch his woods fill up with snow. † On the surface of the poem the reader understands that this man is traveling in the woods and he sees a house that makes him remember whose woods those are that he is traveling in. The speaker of the poem also says that he is not planning on staying in the woods. On a deeper level the reader beings to question why is he not going to stay in the woods. Is the traveler afraid of the owner of the woods, does he need to be somewhere, if so, where is it that he needs to be? Is one of his loved ones extremely sick that he needs to get there quickly; maybe he just really wants to get home. Another analysis for this stanza is that the traveler knows that those belong to Gods and he knows that God is watching him. But the traveler does not mind, he is enjoying the view. The second stanza states â€Å"My little horse must think it queer/ To stop without a farmhouse near/ Between the frozen lake/ The darkest evening of the year. † The surface analysis of this stanza is that the traveler is simply appreciating the woods on darkest evening of the year, and his horse thinks it is unusual that they have stopped in the middle of the woods. The deeper analysis of this stanza could be that the things that his horse is thinking could really be the traveler’s conscience. He is really the one who thinks it is weird that they have stopped in the middle of nowhere. Being between â€Å"the woods and frozen lake† could also be a symbol about his eccentric feelings that he is not able to unravel. Why is he feeling that way? He cannot figure that out. â€Å"The darkest evening of the year† could be a metaphor that the traveler has hit rock bottom. He is extremely depressed and the reader when analyzing this poem deeply is able to see that. But why is he depressed? The reader begins to wonder about his past and what brought him to those woods. The third stanza of the poem â€Å"He gives his harness bells a shake/ To ask if there is some mistake/ The only other sound’s the sweep/ Of easy wind and downy flake. † The surface analysis of this stanza is that his horse shakes his head because he does not think they should be in the woods, and the traveler can hear the horse’s bells shaking as he enjoys the wind and the falling snow. The deeper analysis is that the horse’s bells could actually be the traveler’s conscience making him feel bewildered and conflicted about something. Perhaps he is confused about what to do in a certain situation, or perhaps he is thinking about a decision he made that he is not happy with, or something he should of done but did not do it. The fact that he can hear the wind and nothing else shows the reader that he is lonely. Maybe his loneliness is what is causing his depression. Maybe the thing he cannot decipher is why he is all alone with no one at his side but his horse. The last stanza of the poem states â€Å"The woods are lovely, dark and deep/ But I have promises to keep/ And miles to go before I sleep/ And miles to go before I sleep. † The surface analysis is simple, the traveler really enjoys the woods but he needs to get going because he needs sleep, and he has a long way to go before he can sleep. A deeper analysis could be that the traveler has enjoyed the woods but being there alone has made him depressed. When he says that he has promises to keep, one can assume that either he has figured out what was making him upset and he has a solution so he must go; or perhaps he has finally realized that although there are some things in his life he is not happy about but there is always time to make things right and he must go do that. The last two lines of the poem are very powerful, the traveler is saying that before he dies he has a lot of living to do; he repeats that line as to emphasize that to the readers and to himself. The themes of this poem, isolation and choices, are seen throughout the poem. The author is isolated from other humans because is in the woods by himself with only his horse. The author has a lot of choices to make, whether he should stay in the woods or not. These two themes tie in well with the deeper context of the poem. For example the traveler is isolated because he is depressed, he wants to be alone with his thoughts. The traveler’s choice to continue his journey rather then stay in the woods ties in with the analysis that before he dies he has a lot of living to do. He made the choice to continue the journey of life. Robert Frost’s â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening† is a great poem to encourage others. The deeper meaning of this poem is that although life gets hard sometimes, and although it would be much easier to give up and stay in the woods enjoying the snow and the wind, we must move on and continue our journey of life because there are great things ahead for everyone and we all have a lot of living to do before we die.

The Ladder I Climb free essay sample

I walk into my first accounting class: the teacher stands in front of the door, and says, â€Å"Welcome to accounting. You will learn a lot and have fun over the next year.† We are handed a textbook and start the first lesson. I look around the room. Kids listen intently. It then dawns on me that I’m not the only person who doesn’t know much about the class. I’m not alone. I wasn’t always comfortable, though. I had to climb a ladder to get to that point. And it started at my first baseball game. Instead of watching the players, I added numbers on the video board. And my passion for numbers emerged. As I got older, I collected baseball cards. And I studied their stats: how many homeruns they hit, the player’s total hits, their career batting average, and the pitcher’s earned run average. We will write a custom essay sample on The Ladder I Climb or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page And I memorized it all. Analyzing stats became my new fixation. By age 13, my obsession with statistics developed from admiring numbers to examining patterns. Then I began predicting stats players would produce by the end of their season and career. In middle school, I improved in math because I was adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing numbers while scrutinizing baseball stats. I started appreciating math, as much as I valued analyzing baseball stats. One of my favorite math experiences was playing math 24—a game were I had to manipulate numbers to get an end result of 24. It was similar to the math I was doing while studying stats. Like most kids, I had a dream job. I wanted to become the general manager of a baseball team. But the older I got, the more I understood that dream served more as a fantasy. I didn’t want to give up on my dream, but the chance of it happening was small. I needed to think of a plan B—a career more obtainable. I wanted a job involving math, but I didn’t know what I wanted to be. But then I came across accounting. At first, I hesitated. What do accountants do? How much do they make? Will the job be in demand in the year 2018? Though I didn’t have much knowledge, my curiosity and interests helped me select the course for my sophomore schedule. Finishing my first accounting class, I see my teacher. He gestures to me to talk to him. â€Å"You seem like a smart kid, Austin. It’s going to be a good year.† I grab my books and watch my peers gather their things and walk out. I look down at my accounting book, look up at the board, and think to myself, â€Å"This is what I’m going to do one day.†

Sins of the Father essays

Sins of the Father essays This film is based on the true story of a relationship between Tom Cherry and his father Bobby Frank Cherry, who was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Bobby Cherry was charged for being apart in one of the most biggest crimes in US history. This horrible tragedy happened in1963, the bombing of the Baptist Church in Birmingham that killed four young girls: Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley. This film impressively recreated this event and put you in the perspective of some of the people who lived through this. It was filled with a lot of flashbacks from Toms perspective as well showing some of the things that people had to deal with at that time. The most impressive thing on the film was how at first you dont really know what is going on and why, but once you see all the flashbacks Tom thinks about you piece it all The character that impressed me most was Tom Cherry. Tom grew up living with his family and trying to make his father proud. When Tom had to do something bad in order to gain his fathers approval, you would see him hesitate at first knowing what hes is bad but still does it anyway. Such a situation happened when Tom, his brother Bobby jr. and their father were walking down a street and bump into a black man. The black man recognized that the father was from the KKK and started a fight with the father. The father took this metal rod that the black man was holding and whacked him on the head. While the black man was on the ground bleeding, the father gave Tom the rod so he could whack him. At first you see Tom hesitate knowing that it wasnt the right thing to do, but under the pressure of his father watching him he goes and whacks the black man anyway. This is when you first see that Tom really is a good person, he only does bad ...

What Is Pre-Med Key Requirements for Medical School

What Is Pre-Med Key Requirements for Medical School SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What is pre-med? When people say that they’re pre-med, what does that actually mean? If you’re planning to attend med school and become a doctor, it’s important that you understand the definition of pre-med and what you should be doing as a pre-med student. Read on to learn what it really means to be a pre-med, what you should be focusing on to get into med school, and what the best majors for pre-meds are and why. What Does Pre-Med Mean? "Pre-med" is the term people use to show that they want to go to med school and are taking the classes they need to get there. It’s primarily used by college students. There isn’t actually a major called "pre-med;" pre-med is just a term to let people know you have plans to be a doctor. You can be a biology major and a pre-med, a Spanish major and a pre-med, etc. Students say that they’re pre-med to let others know about their career goals and to make sure they’re taking the correct classes to get into med school. If you tell your advisor that you’re a biology major, she’ll focus on making sure you get all the requirements for that major completed, but if you let her know that you’re a biology major and also pre-med, she’ll work with you to also ensure you take all the classes needed to apply to med school. Similarly, if you’re applying to jobs or volunteer positions and state that you’re a pre-med, the people looking at applications will know that you plan on becoming a doctor, and they may be more likely to offer you a position that’s related to the medical field. What Do You Need to Get Into Med School? Once you’ve decided to be pre-med, your main focus will be preparing yourself to get into med school. Med schools are infamous for being competitive and only accepting the best, so you’ll want to be well prepared. In this section we’ll discuss all key things you need to get into med school. Classes As a pre-med, one of your most important responsibilities will be making sure you take all the prerequisite coursework required for med school. Each med school has slightly different requirements, so you should absolutely make sure you research each med school you’re interested in early on as a college student to make sure you’re on track to meet all their requirements. In general though, most med schools expect you to have taken the following classes: One year of biology with lab One year of general chemistry with lab One year of organic chemistry with lab One year of physics with lab At least one semester of biochemistry A math requirement (some schools require calculus, some require statistics, some require both) One year of English Remember, these are just the bare minimum of classes you need to meet basic requirements for med schools. You’ll likely need to take significantly more classes to meet the requirements for your major and fulfill the requirements/recommendations of all the med schools you’re applying to. Also remember that because med schools are so competitive, you never want to stop at just the bare minimum. You want to show med schools that you’re motivated to learn as much about the health field as you can and that you’ll be entering med school with a strong knowledge in a variety of subjects. Expect to take several science classes each semester in order to be fully prepared for med school. Examples of other classes you might take include genetics, public health, ethics, microbiology, human physiology, psychology, sociology, writing classes, and foreign language classes, to name a few. Test Scores The MCAT is the exam pre-meds take. Much like you did with the SAT/ACT, you’ll send your MCAT scores to med schools to show them your mastery of different subject areas. The MCAT is a 7.5 hour test that includes four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. The average score on the MCAT is 500 (out of a total of 528 points), and the average score for students accepted into med school is around a 509, so you should aim for at least that. Health-Related Extracurriculars Almost every med school will expect you to have some sort of scientific research experience and/or experience volunteering at a hospital or other medical setting. This shows them you’re committed to becoming a doctor and have the skills it takes to succeed as one. Letters of Recommendation You may have needed letters of recommendation when you applied to college, and they’re important for med school too. You’ll likely need at least three letters of rec when you apply, often two from science teachers and one from a non-science teacher. What Are the Best Pre-Med Majors? There are a small number of colleges who offer actual pre-med majors, but those programs tend to not be very strong (no major university offers an actual major called "pre-med"), and med schools aren't particularly impressed by these degrees since, as mentioned above, any major can be pre-med as long as you take the classes required to go to med school. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, just a little over half of all students applying to med school majored in the biological sciences. The others majored in a variety of areas, including humanities, math, social sciences, and physical sciences. Additionally, med school applicants who majored in biological sciences, on average, didn’t score any higher on the MCAT than students who majored in other areas. So what you major in doesn’t necessarily determine how well you’ll do on the MCAT. So if you’re pre-med and wondering what to major in, the best advice is to choose a major that you’re interested in and think you can do well in while completing all the pre-med requirements. However, there are some majors that are much more popular among pre-med students than others. Below are five of the best pre-med majors. Each of them will help give you the skills needed to succeed in med school and as a doctor. We consider these the best because they match the closest with pre-med requirements. This makes it easier for you to meet all your pre-med requirements and ensures you get a solid background in subjects doctors need to be masters in. Majoring in a different area, say, Russian Literature, isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but you may find it difficult to complete both your Russian Literature major requirements and pre-med requirements in four years. Human Biology If there was one major that you’d call the unofficial pre-med major, it’d be human biology. At many schools it’s the most common major for pre-meds to take because it focuses heavily on many of the subjects you’ll study as a med student. You’ll take classes in a variety of subjects, but the focus will be on the human body and human health. You may take classes in genetics, human physiology, and neurobiology, among other areas. Biology Biology is another solid choice for pre-meds, especially if your school doesn’t offer a Human Biology major and/or you want more a general biology background rather than focusing more specifically on human bodies. You’ll learn plenty about human health as a biology major, but you’ll also likely take classes in other areas such as ecology, evolution and/or microbiology. Psychology Many pre-meds major in psychology, especially those planning on becoming psychiatrists. However, psychology is a useful major regardless of what type of doctor you want to be since every medical professional can benefit from studying how humans think, make decisions, and react to different situations. Chemistry/Biochemistry The biological sciences are most popular with pre-meds, but you’ll also need to know a lot of chemistry as a pre-med and a med student. There’s an entire chemistry section on the MCAT, so it’s definitely an important subject to know. Philosophy Although it’s not a hard science, a strong knowledge of philosophy can be very helpful to pre-meds. You’ll learn about ethics and how to think critically, both of which are important for people in the medical field. Philosophy is a good choice if you want to be prepared for medical school but also get more of a liberal arts education. Summary What is pre-med? "Pre-med" is a term college students use to show that they plan on attending med school and are taking the right classes to do that. There are no official pre-med majors; instead students who are pre-med can major in whatever subject they want and just take the classes needed to apply to med school. There are multiple pre-med requirements needed to get into med school. The most important of these are the classes you take. Each med school has its own requirements, but you can expect to take at least one year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), along with biochemistry, math, and English classes. There is really no "best" pre-med majors, but there are some majors that are more popular with pre-med students and make it easier for you to reach pre-med requirements. These include human biology, psychology, biology, and chemistry. What's Next? Want to know what you should be doing right now to prepare for pre-med programs? Check out our complete guide on how to prepare for pre-med in high school. We also recommend the 7 books every pre-med student should read in this article. If you’re still figuring out whether a career as a physician is right for you, think about getting some hands-on experience. You may not think there’s much you can do as a high school student, but there is! Start by shadowing a physician, and check out our guide to 59 great med programs for students in high school. What's after med school? Check out our guide on the seven steps to becoming a doctor to see what you'll need to do once you're a pre-med. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

What Is Pre-Med Key Requirements for Medical School

What Is Pre-Med Key Requirements for Medical School SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What is pre-med? When people say that they’re pre-med, what does that actually mean? If you’re planning to attend med school and become a doctor, it’s important that you understand the definition of pre-med and what you should be doing as a pre-med student. Read on to learn what it really means to be a pre-med, what you should be focusing on to get into med school, and what the best majors for pre-meds are and why. What Does Pre-Med Mean? "Pre-med" is the term people use to show that they want to go to med school and are taking the classes they need to get there. It’s primarily used by college students. There isn’t actually a major called "pre-med;" pre-med is just a term to let people know you have plans to be a doctor. You can be a biology major and a pre-med, a Spanish major and a pre-med, etc. Students say that they’re pre-med to let others know about their career goals and to make sure they’re taking the correct classes to get into med school. If you tell your advisor that you’re a biology major, she’ll focus on making sure you get all the requirements for that major completed, but if you let her know that you’re a biology major and also pre-med, she’ll work with you to also ensure you take all the classes needed to apply to med school. Similarly, if you’re applying to jobs or volunteer positions and state that you’re a pre-med, the people looking at applications will know that you plan on becoming a doctor, and they may be more likely to offer you a position that’s related to the medical field. What Do You Need to Get Into Med School? Once you’ve decided to be pre-med, your main focus will be preparing yourself to get into med school. Med schools are infamous for being competitive and only accepting the best, so you’ll want to be well prepared. In this section we’ll discuss all key things you need to get into med school. Classes As a pre-med, one of your most important responsibilities will be making sure you take all the prerequisite coursework required for med school. Each med school has slightly different requirements, so you should absolutely make sure you research each med school you’re interested in early on as a college student to make sure you’re on track to meet all their requirements. In general though, most med schools expect you to have taken the following classes: One year of biology with lab One year of general chemistry with lab One year of organic chemistry with lab One year of physics with lab At least one semester of biochemistry A math requirement (some schools require calculus, some require statistics, some require both) One year of English Remember, these are just the bare minimum of classes you need to meet basic requirements for med schools. You’ll likely need to take significantly more classes to meet the requirements for your major and fulfill the requirements/recommendations of all the med schools you’re applying to. Also remember that because med schools are so competitive, you never want to stop at just the bare minimum. You want to show med schools that you’re motivated to learn as much about the health field as you can and that you’ll be entering med school with a strong knowledge in a variety of subjects. Expect to take several science classes each semester in order to be fully prepared for med school. Examples of other classes you might take include genetics, public health, ethics, microbiology, human physiology, psychology, sociology, writing classes, and foreign language classes, to name a few. Test Scores The MCAT is the exam pre-meds take. Much like you did with the SAT/ACT, you’ll send your MCAT scores to med schools to show them your mastery of different subject areas. The MCAT is a 7.5 hour test that includes four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. The average score on the MCAT is 500 (out of a total of 528 points), and the average score for students accepted into med school is around a 509, so you should aim for at least that. Health-Related Extracurriculars Almost every med school will expect you to have some sort of scientific research experience and/or experience volunteering at a hospital or other medical setting. This shows them you’re committed to becoming a doctor and have the skills it takes to succeed as one. Letters of Recommendation You may have needed letters of recommendation when you applied to college, and they’re important for med school too. You’ll likely need at least three letters of rec when you apply, often two from science teachers and one from a non-science teacher. What Are the Best Pre-Med Majors? There are a small number of colleges who offer actual pre-med majors, but those programs tend to not be very strong (no major university offers an actual major called "pre-med"), and med schools aren't particularly impressed by these degrees since, as mentioned above, any major can be pre-med as long as you take the classes required to go to med school. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, just a little over half of all students applying to med school majored in the biological sciences. The others majored in a variety of areas, including humanities, math, social sciences, and physical sciences. Additionally, med school applicants who majored in biological sciences, on average, didn’t score any higher on the MCAT than students who majored in other areas. So what you major in doesn’t necessarily determine how well you’ll do on the MCAT. So if you’re pre-med and wondering what to major in, the best advice is to choose a major that you’re interested in and think you can do well in while completing all the pre-med requirements. However, there are some majors that are much more popular among pre-med students than others. Below are five of the best pre-med majors. Each of them will help give you the skills needed to succeed in med school and as a doctor. We consider these the best because they match the closest with pre-med requirements. This makes it easier for you to meet all your pre-med requirements and ensures you get a solid background in subjects doctors need to be masters in. Majoring in a different area, say, Russian Literature, isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but you may find it difficult to complete both your Russian Literature major requirements and pre-med requirements in four years. Human Biology If there was one major that you’d call the unofficial pre-med major, it’d be human biology. At many schools it’s the most common major for pre-meds to take because it focuses heavily on many of the subjects you’ll study as a med student. You’ll take classes in a variety of subjects, but the focus will be on the human body and human health. You may take classes in genetics, human physiology, and neurobiology, among other areas. Biology Biology is another solid choice for pre-meds, especially if your school doesn’t offer a Human Biology major and/or you want more a general biology background rather than focusing more specifically on human bodies. You’ll learn plenty about human health as a biology major, but you’ll also likely take classes in other areas such as ecology, evolution and/or microbiology. Psychology Many pre-meds major in psychology, especially those planning on becoming psychiatrists. However, psychology is a useful major regardless of what type of doctor you want to be since every medical professional can benefit from studying how humans think, make decisions, and react to different situations. Chemistry/Biochemistry The biological sciences are most popular with pre-meds, but you’ll also need to know a lot of chemistry as a pre-med and a med student. There’s an entire chemistry section on the MCAT, so it’s definitely an important subject to know. Philosophy Although it’s not a hard science, a strong knowledge of philosophy can be very helpful to pre-meds. You’ll learn about ethics and how to think critically, both of which are important for people in the medical field. Philosophy is a good choice if you want to be prepared for medical school but also get more of a liberal arts education. Summary What is pre-med? "Pre-med" is a term college students use to show that they plan on attending med school and are taking the right classes to do that. There are no official pre-med majors; instead students who are pre-med can major in whatever subject they want and just take the classes needed to apply to med school. There are multiple pre-med requirements needed to get into med school. The most important of these are the classes you take. Each med school has its own requirements, but you can expect to take at least one year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), along with biochemistry, math, and English classes. There is really no "best" pre-med majors, but there are some majors that are more popular with pre-med students and make it easier for you to reach pre-med requirements. These include human biology, psychology, biology, and chemistry. What's Next? Want to know what you should be doing right now to prepare for pre-med programs? Check out our complete guide on how to prepare for pre-med in high school. We also recommend the 7 books every pre-med student should read in this article. If you’re still figuring out whether a career as a physician is right for you, think about getting some hands-on experience. You may not think there’s much you can do as a high school student, but there is! Start by shadowing a physician, and check out our guide to 59 great med programs for students in high school. What's after med school? Check out our guide on the seven steps to becoming a doctor to see what you'll need to do once you're a pre-med. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: