- What are the minimum requirements for acceptance into an
allied health
major?
Incoming first year students must have a minimum composite ACT of
23 while
transfer students must have a minimum GPA of 3.25. If you do not meet these
requirements then after you have been a student at Lewis University
for one
year, you may petition for acceptance into the Biology Department. In order
to be considered for admission into an allied health major, you need to have
taken mathematics courses through Calculus I (minimum grade of C) and have
maintained a minimum composite GPA of 3.25. All of the coursework must be
above the100 level and taken at Lewis University.
-
Am I guaranteed acceptance into the clinical programs at either
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, College of DuPage, or Rush University
Medical Center?
No. All of these institutions have selection committees who review
the applications and interview qualified applicants from each
of the affiliated institutions as well as outside applicants.
Those students
who are pursuing the B.S. NMT program through Northwestern
Memorial Hospital will receive
additional points in the application process compared to those applicants
who
are pursuing just the certificate. No such distinction is made by the College
of DuPage since the program offered with Lewis University is a B.S. Biology
with a Certificate in Nuclear Medicine Technology. Rush University Medical
Center
has affiliated only with Lewis University but does accept other applications.
The
definitive answer is that placement in all of these programs is competitive
and no
guarantees can be made.
-
Can I get done in four years?
Yes and No. If you are seeking either the B.S. NMT or B.S. RT (Northwestern
Memorial Hospital), the B.S. Biology with Certificate in Nuclear Medicine
Technology (College of Du Page), or the Vascular Ultrasound Technology
(VU) degree at Rush University Medical Center, you will be able to complete
the program within four years (assuming that you are making appropriate
academic progress). You will need to take some general education courses
during the summer, however, in order to complete all of the graduation
requirements within the first two (VU) or three (NMT, RT) years of coursework
at Lewis University.
If you are applying for the B.S. DMS at Northwestern Memorial Hospital,
then the answer is no. The clinical portion of this degree requires 3
semesters so the entire program would take 4.5 years
-
What if I want the B.S. in Biology and a B.S. in NMT, RT, DMS,
or VU?
Double majors are possible. The disadvantage would be that
it will take longer and therefore be more expensive. The advantage
would be that
if you decide to pursue graduate school or apply to a professional
school in the future, you would not have to go back to school
to complete a
B.S. in Biology first. (You should
consult the individual school or program’s requirement as well as the
profiles of successful applicants for that program).
-
What if I want a B.S. in Biology and a certificate in NMT,
RT, DMS or VU?
This is possible for the NMT, RT, or DMS programs – however,
the student must realize that points will be lost in the application
process if the student is pursuing the certificate as opposed to a Bachelors
degree in that field. This may make the difference in being accepted
or not.
The VU program is only offered as a bachelors degree.
Another issue that can impact a student’s decision as to seek
the B.S. or certificate program is the availability of financial aid. Students need to realize that
once they have earned an undergraduate degree, many forms of financial aid are no longer
available. It is also true, however, that even undergraduate students can become
ineligible for some forms of financial aid once they have earned a certain
number of credit hours. It is always wise to consult the Financial Aid department
for the most current guidelines when considering different options.
-
What happens if I don’t get accepted into the program?
The paradigm for each of these programs has been designed so
that if students
are not accepted into a particular program, they will still be
able to complete a
B.S. in Biology at Lewis University within the typical 4 year time
frame. The student can, if they wish, reapply to the program either
on a double major
basis, or if possible, as a certificate only program.
-
If I transfer to Lewis University, when can I apply to Northwestern
Memorial Hospital, College of DuPage, or Rush University
Medical Center?
The policy is that students must complete three semesters at
Lewis University before they can apply for admission to an allied
health program.
These institutions
have contracted with Lewis University and have approved our curriculum – not
the curriculum of other schools.
If I transfer to Lewis University and am accepted into an allied
health program,
how long will it take me to complete my degree?
The length of time that it will take to complete your degree
will depend upon what courses are accepted in the transcript
evaluation process.
We do not accept
science classes that are general education courses – any course
that is accepted must be considered equivalent to the corresponding Lewis
University class. We do not accept any major courses from the City Colleges
of Chicago.
-
Are there any requirements for admission into these
programs beyond successful
completion of the coursework?
All allied health admission committees value clinical experience
as an indication of a student’s awareness of the realities
of a medical career. Northwestern Memorial Hospital requires
students to shadow a
member of the appropriate profession before applying
to a program. This shadowing may occur at Northwestern Memorial
Hospital or elsewhere. A
form is available from Northwestern Memorial
Hospital for students to have completed by the institution where
the shadowing occurred.
