This document is one in a series designed to provide basic information about mainline health professions and the Premedical Office at Xavier University of Louisiana.
In the typical American high school, students go to one person (a counselor) for advice regarding scheduling courses, financial aid, information regarding career options, etc. In most American colleges, however, students go to different persons for different types of assistance or advice. The following is a brief overview of the types of "advisers" of most interest to freshmen premedical students at Xavier.
Academic Adviser: Every student at Xavier is assigned an "academic adviser" within his/her major department when he/she enrolls for the first time at Xavier. This individual helps the student 1) schedule courses and 2) monitors his/her progress to make certain that a student is taking courses in the proper sequence and is making progress toward obtaining a degree in that department. In Biology, Chemistry-Premed, and Psychology-Premed, a student's academic adviser is normally assigned the first week of a student's enrollment at the University. In Biology and Chemistry, students normally keep the same academic adviser from year to year. Academic advisers receive copies of each advisee's mid-term and final grades. When the list of academic advisers is posted in your MAJOR department (not the Premedical Office), students should look at the floor directories to find out where his/her academic adviser's office is located. Note: Xavier does not offer a "Premedicine" degree because such a degree would have little value if the student did not get into medical school. Instead, Xavier offers degrees in Biology, Chemistry, or Psychology organized so that a student has both the courses needed to apply to medicine school and those needed to function as a biologist, chemist, or psychologist. Therefore, while we on campus refer to one of these programs as a "Biology-Premed major," when talking off-campus you should just say "Biology major" since that is really what the program is. Similarly, you should refer to "Chemistry-Premed" as "Chemistry" when talking to off-campus folks and "Psychology-Premed" as "Psychology."
Premedical Adviser: Xavier's Premedical Advisers provide information about mainline health professions (Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Optometry, Podiatry, and Public Health = "MODVOP+PH") and assist students to prepare for and gain entry into such schools. The Premedical Office is located in Room 108 of the NCF Science Building. Note: While students interested in medical school at Xavier major in Biology-Premed, Chemistry-Premed or Psychology-Premed, they obtain degrees in Biology or Chemistry or Psychology. Xavier does not award a degree in "premedicine" (it would be worthless anyway since it isn't tied to a discipline).
Financial Aid Counselor: Xavier's Financial Aid Office has a number of individuals who work full-time processing financial aid applications and assisting students to obtain the financial aid needed to complete college. Every student at Xavier who receives financial aid is assigned to one of those counselors. They are located on the 3rd Floor of Xavier South. Note: All scholarships for students currently enrolled at Xavier are awarded by the Vice-President for Academic Affairs. Specifically, XU's Premedical Office currently has no funds for scholarships.
General Counselor: Xavier has a general Counseling Center for students who need their academic skills developed, have emotional problems, etc. The Counseling Center is located in the small building between Katharine Drexel and St. Joseph's Dormitories.
Office of Graduate Placement: Xavier's Office of Graduate Placement assists students who are interested in applying to graduate, law, business, etc. school. Go to http://www.xula.edu/gradstar/ for information regarding application assistance, undergraduate research opportunities, etc.
Other: Students with personal problems or problems which seem to be too severe to be handled adequately by any of the above should contact the University's Religious Center (first floor of the Administration Building) or Student Services (third floor of the University Center) for assistance.
