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University of Richmond

Health, Science, and Law

Preparing for acceptance and entrance into graduate school in health, science, or law often begins early in the college years. If you are among the students with interest in these areas, you might be wondering:

  • What’s the best major for medical school or law school?
  • Is a law degree, an MD, or a PhD really what you need to do the work you find most interesting?
  • What courses should you take if you’re planning to apply to medical school?

Because questions like these are challenging and the answers can vary from person to person, seeking the advice of a professional advisor in addition to your faculty advisor can be helpful.

The University of Richmond has both pre-law and pre-health professions advisors to help you answer your questions and navigate through your options. These advisors can give you valuable suggestions about top programs, schools with specialties that may interest you, and even ways to improve your chances for admission.

Law

For questions about careers in law and law school: Contact Dr. Mark McGarvie, Director of Pre-Law Advising, at mmcgarvi@richmond.edu or (804) 287-6845.

Health

To find out more about medical professions and education: Contact Dr. John Vaughan at jvaugha2@richmond.edu or (804) 287-6484.

Science

Students considering a major in the health professions, biology, chemistry, and/or physics should contact Dr. John Vaughan (jvaugha2@richmond.edu, (804) 287-6484) this summer for assistance with registration. The courses required for the science majors are taught in sequence, so those considering a science major will want to begin with the right courses to avoid registration difficulties later.

If science courses are closed, particularly those in biology, potential science majors can contact the chair of the appropriate department to see if additional room in a given section is available, or to hear when the course will be offered again.

Students who will not be majoring in the sciences can wait until a future semester to take science courses if the ones they prefer are closed, but those intending to major will want to get started on the sequential courses as soon as possible.