The University of Arizona Health Expo is Tuesday, Feb. 19, and will be in the Student Union Memorial Center Grand Ballroom from noon to 4 p.m. The ballroom will be filled with booths for recruitment, student-run clubs, programs and other opportunities like various stress-relief and self-care activities.
The exposition is part of Health Professions Week, which is put on by the Colleges of Letters, Arts & Sciences Pre-Health Professions Advising Center in partnership with the Health Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
“I highly believe students should go — anyone who is thinking about a health profession or any type of health career — simply because it’s a great place to just gain more information,” said Lorri Leong, an advisor in the Pre-Health Professions Advising Center.
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Throughout the day, there will be a discussion on the Medical College Admission Test, admissions representatives who will read students’ personal statements and an out-of-state admissions panel.
After the expo at 5 p.m., a presentation called “Do What You Love” will be in the Kiva Auditorium with free pizza.
One of the booths that will be at the expo is hosted by the College of Public Health to recruit for graduate degree and certificate programs. They will have brochures and giveaways. Students can also talk to representatives to have any questions answered.
“We’ll be talking to students about opportunities for graduate school in all of the disciplines of public health,” said Amy Glicken, the director of admissions in the Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs in the College of Public Health.
Stress-relief activities at the exposition will include Counseling and Psych Services’ Mindful Ambassadors, who will talk about mindfulness; coloring books; the Stress Busters and therapy dogs right outside the event.
“Obviously, being a pre-health student can be kind of stressful, given the competitiveness of the field, so we really want students to also take time for themselves to really promote self-care activities,” Leong said. “It is so important to not get burnt out, especially at this stage in their life when it is so critical and almost a priority for students to kind of have that pressure. There’s always that pressure for them to be on their game, and you know, it’s okay to just take a breath.”
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Part of the stress students experience is preparing for the MCAT. Think Tank will help by hosting informative workshops and, at 1 p.m., a discussion about the MCAT course and exam.
“The goal of [these resources] is for students to get familiar with the content of the MCAT, maybe some study tips on how to begin studying and preparing to study,” said Marco Ortiz, the co-director of Think Tank and director of strategy and operations and the test-preparation program.
The MCAT course instructor will facilitate a discussion and go over the best practices for taking the MCAT.
“My hope is just that students gain more information,” Leong said. “Obviously if we can just reach one student and have them really become more informed and just feel better and less stressed about this whole application process, I would call the event a success.”
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