Yes, The McCollough Pre-Medical Program is a living learning community. Living in the Ridgecrest South LLC is a program requirement when the student enters the program. The Ridgecrest South LLC offers residents fully furnished living spaces consisting of 2- or 4-bedroom suites consisting of a living room, kitchenette, and private bathrooms in each suite. The hall is located near on-campus dining options, UA Student Center, Lakeside Dining, and Lakeside Market. Residents have access to 1st and 2nd floor community areas and 2nd and 4th floor community kitchens and laundry rooms. Students are responsible for providing their own trash receptacles, cookware, eating utensils, toilet paper and cleaning supplies. Living with McCollough Pre-Medical Scholar peers enables students to study together, be mentored by senior participants in the program, and live with students who share similar interest.
Yes, The University of Alabama’s Barefield College of Arts & Sciences offers the McCollough Pre-Medical Scholars Program which is designed for students aspiring to attend medical school. This program focuses on the art of medicine and helps students develop the complex skill set required to practice medicine well. For a list of disciplines, please visit the Barefield College’s degree programs page.
Given the number of students interested in the program, the McCollough Pre-Medical Scholars Program must adhere to the requirements as outline Apply – McCollough Scholars (ua.edu).
Admission decisions are based on the application as a whole, with particular emphasis on the essay and uploaded video presentation. We look for students who are not only academically strong but who also demonstrate intellectual curiosity, reflection on the meaning and practice of medicine, and a genuine interest in serving others.
While the application is holistic, standardized test scores remain an important factor, since testing skills play a key role in success within the pre-med curriculum. For context, successful applicants typically present strong academic records and test scores within or above the competitive range for UA Honors students.
To make an advising appointment SARS·GRID On-line Appointment System (ua.edu). All first-year students will be advised by their College or Pre-Professional Advisor. If you would like to speak to or schedule a visit with the McCollough Scholars Program fill out the appointment form https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b9Dt8h99HnNGUxE.
The McCollough Program has affiliations with regional hospitals to gain experience.
In addition, McCollough Scholars participate in small, discussion-based seminars, receive mentoring and pre-medical advising, and have access to unique events such as the annual McCollough Forum on Medical Ethics. Many students also engage in undergraduate research, shadowing, and study abroad opportunities supported through the program.
There are not any specifically within the program, but the Merit scholarships provided by UA are available to students.
McCollough scholars are automatically in the Honors College, so they will receive priority registration.
The required IDMD 100 course will introduce you to scholars working around the university (and beyond). This is a great opportunity for you to see what research opportunities exist. Many of the first year scholars end up working in one of the research labs around campus.
- What is the McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars and why is it important?The McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars is an honors interdisciplinary living learning community focused on the practice of medicine with a special emphasis on the history and philosophy of medicine. Aspiring medical professionals learn where medicine has been, where it is now, and likely future directions. The program also trains future medical professionals how to be a phenomenal physician by focusing on skills that are not captured by traditional pre-medical curriculum. For example, Mr. Joe Zasa, author of Financial Wisdom for Physicians, teaches this book to the McCollough Scholars. The scholars learn sound principles of financial planning and management.
- How rare is this program compared to other American colleges? Over the past twenty years, medical humanities programs have developed in response to the growing awareness that the art of medicine encompasses much more than the science of medicine. The McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars program is unique in its interdisciplinary approach focusing not only on the history of medicine but the practice of medicine. The Institute is also unique in focusing on developing phenomenal future medical professionals. We incorporate discussions on the history of medicine as a way to make for a better medical practice.
- Why should a student join McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars? A student should join the McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars if he or she is interested in participating in a living learning community of aspiring medical professionals focused on the big picture questions of medicine. A student will come away with the ability to discuss how Hippocrates’s understanding of health and disease continue to shape contemporary attitudes about health and disease. The student will be able to identify solutions to the crisis of inadequate healthcare in underserved communities.
- What is unique about this program? In addition to the above answers, specifically 2, students work closely with the director of pre-health advising in the Barefield College of Arts & Sciences, students are exposed in the first semester to research opportunities around UA, and students have in person conversations with medical practitioners and researchers. Additionally, the program offers monthly activities for students in the program to get to know one another, work in teams, and develop their critical thinking skills. The yearly murder mystery party has students pretend to be a character in a murder drama. Students then work together to solve the murder while trying to achieve their character assigned goals. Other previous activities have included a movie night, where students watch a movie and have a philosophical discussion about the themes in the movie, and a field day, where students worked in teams to overcome mental and physical obstacles.