At Northern, we understand that what you do outside the classroom is just as important as what you do inside the classroom in gaining acceptance to any professional school. That’s why we provide our pre-professional students with the opportunity to assist in research projects, discussions and observations—both in the classroom and in a real-world setting.

We offer a different kind of mentoring program that’s not available at most schools. Through our preceptorship program, juniors and seniors (and sometimes even sophomores) get a glimpse into your chosen field from a professional perspective. We’ll pair you with a physician or dentist with whom you’ll work on a regular basis. You’ll observe your mentor during hospital rounds, office visits and surgery. This type of mentoring experience is critical to your successful application to professional school. Who knows? Your preceptorship experience may even turn into an internship.

Medical School Visits

Every other year, we take sophomores and juniors to visit Michigan medical schools so our students become familiar with the facilities before they apply.

Clinical Conferences

As a pre-professional student at NMU, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the best. Every week, select preprofessional students are invited to attend a clinical conference at the local hospital to listen to various presentations by medical experts.

Pre-medical and Pre-dental Clubs

Learn with your peers instead of competing against them. These student organizations will provide you with an invaluable peer support network while you work through your program. Join the fun as you participate in various volunteer activities throughout the year.

student and professor in a Clinical lab

Guidance in the Classroom

Your success is our first priority. The faculty in the physics, chemistry, and biology departments are some of the most respected in the scientific community, and while each member of our faculty is involved in research, their primary focus is on students and teaching.

students in a mock surgery

Guidance Beyond the Classroom

The pre-medical, pre-dental and pre-chiropractic programs are directed by an advisory board comprised of NMU faculty members and local physicians, dentists and chiropractors. In addition to providing professional guidance, when you apply to professional school you may request that your advisory board conduct a personal interview with you. Based on that interview, the board will prepare an evaluation letter, which they’ll send to the professional school or schools of your choice.

Study in Style

Pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-physician’s assistant and pre-chiropractic students must take certain courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. NMU has outstanding teaching facilities in all of these areas. The Seaborg Science Complex is one of the premier university science facilities in the Midwest. The complex is the largest academic facility on NMU’s campus. It consists of the New Science Facility, opened in 2001, and the completely renovated Luther S. West Science Building and features state-of-the-art instructional equipment and technology including more than a dozen different types of scientific laboratories.

Get Involved in Research

We offer our students opportunities to participate in high-level faculty research projects —another activity that is highly regarded by professional schools. You might become involved in cancer or genetics research or you might help research particles and fields theory, create lenses that mimic the gravity that bends light around planets or uncover the mysteries of the aurora borealis.

Student Success

Our placement rates are phenomenal. Approximately 80 percent of our premedical students who apply to medical school are accepted, and nearly 100 percent of our predental students who apply to dental school are accepted. Our graduates have gone on to successful medical and dental careers at many locations including the following:

  • Cleveland Clinic
  • Ohio State University
  • Marshfield Clinic
  • Medical University of South Carolina
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Florida
  • University of Utah
  • UP Health System - Bell Hospital