Pre-Podiatry

If you are a prospective student, you can contact the Office of Admissions & Scholarships, 785-864-3911, www.admissions.ku.edu, to schedule a tour and information meetings.

If you are currently a KU student, you can schedule a meeting with Paul Crosby by calling 864-3500.

For a career description, including nature of the work, education, job outlook & earnings, see the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos075.htm. For additional information, see www.apma.org.

Interview podiatrists to find out what they do, what they like and dislike about their jobs, and what advice they have for people preparing to enter the profession.

The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine has recently started a mentoring program to connect interested students with people in the profession. For information, see www.aacpm.org/contactpod/program.asp.

Paul Goodman, a KU graduate who attended the William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Illinois, has offered to answer questions about podiatry. His e-mail address is Gooody@aol.com.

Although most of the requirements are science courses, you can choose any major. The following KU courses meet minimum requirements at most podiatric medical schools:

2 semesters of English, e.g., ENGL101 Composition and ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing

2 semesters of chemistry w/labs, e.g., CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I and CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II

2 semesters of organic chemistry w/labs, e.g., CHEM 624 Organic I & 625 Lab and CHEM 626 Organic II & 627 Lab

2 semesters of physics w/labs, e.g., PHSX 114 College Physics I and PHSX 115 College Physics II

2 semesters of biology w/labs, e.g., BIOL 150 Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology and BIOL 152 Principles of Organismal Biology 

It is helpful to have some additional biology courses, including BIOL 240 Human Anatomy & 241 Observation Lab or 242 Dissection Lab, BIOL 400 Microbiology, BIOL 416 Cell Structure & Function, BIOL 600 Biochemistry, and BIOL 646 Mammalian Physiology and 647 Lab.

There are many ways of sequencing courses. Here is one possibility:

Admissions. You can register for the MCAT online at www.aamc.org/students/mcat/registration.htm, and there is some preparation information at www.medadvising.ku.edu/medicine/medMCAT.shtml. You can apply to podiatric medical schools through the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine's application service at www.aacpm.org/apply/apply.asp.