Pre-Health Advisor

Who We Are

The Office of Pre-Health Advising (OPHA) at CU Boulder invites applications for a Pre-Health Advisor position! This role provides comprehensive pre-health advising to CU Boulder undergraduate students and recent alumni. The role reports to the Director of Pre-Health Advising in the College of Arts and Sciences and provides robust individual health professions advising with students by individual appointment and drop-in, and via small and large group sessions to assist in guiding students in identifying their health professions related career goals, evaluating students’ progress in pre-health related coursework, navigating graduate school application systems, and assessing students in engaging comprehensive enrichment and internship experiences that aid in their application to professional schools. These roles work with students in group educational settings via workshops, presentations, campus events, and other activities. These positions educate students through a tailored, developmental, and student-focused approach.

The Office of Pre-Health Advising serves all CU Boulder degree-seeking undergraduate students and undergraduate alumni who intend to enroll in a variety of health professional schools, provides counsel on how to prepare to become a strong applicant for health-related professional schools, and helps students to navigate the professional school application process.


Pre-Health Student Advising/Interactions

• Develop supportive relationships with currently enrolled and recently graduated undergraduate pre-health students, applying a student-focused developmental approach.
• Ensure a comprehensive and integrated health professions advising and career development experience that focuses on exploration, discovery, goal setting, and networking in partnership with a student’s academic advisor, academic coach, career services advisor, faculty, and other student success professionals.
• Conduct individual and group pre-health advising, addressing topics including:
• Exploration of various healthcare careers, which may include providing guidance on using career exploration resources, conducting informational interviews, connecting with other pre-health oriented students, community networking within the health professions field, and using campus resources.
• Evaluate individual students’ experiential skills and career goals to make recommendations related to career paths and graduate/professional school, and support students in personalizing their pre-health path(s) at CU Boulder.
• Identify and educate students on applicable field-specific prerequisite course requirements based on career interest, academic history, and goals.
• Offer assistance and advice on preparation for professional school application processes, including: preparing for standardized entrance exams, collecting effective letters of recommendation, selecting a strategic list of schools, navigating the application process (timing, logistics, etc.), communicating effectively with programs, and writing application essays (including personal statements, experience descriptions, and supplemental application essays), as well as proper etiquette for interviews and practice in conducting successful professional school interviews, using group workshops and individual mock interviews with personalized feedback.
• Provide mentorship and search strategies for relevant co-curricular experiences, such as research or health-related field experiences, clinical and non-clinical experience, service experience, research, etc.
• Refer students to appropriate student support services, such as academic advising, academic coaching, career services, financial aid, disability services, counseling, etc.
• Lead small groups, workshops, events, programs, and seminars for pre-health career exploration; developing academic success strategies, skill-building, professional school application preparation, etc.
• Proactively track, contact and work with special student populations (i.e., high-risk, first generation, students who have not been seen for an appointment, students in academic difficulty, high-achieving students, etc.).
• Be an informed resource for students and make referrals when appropriate.
• Maintain email contact with advisees; respond to student inquiries; plan appropriate outreach to students in academic difficulty; provide targeted information to students, etc.
• Maintain accurate and professional records of advising contacts.
• Monitor dashboards, tracking key student success achievements and perform outreach/intervention when students are off track.
• Effectively connect with faculty and other administrators in support of individual student’s planning process.
• Provide advising and mentoring to prospective students and their families.
• Provide ad hoc coverage for other Pre-Health Advisors.

Office of Pre-Health Advising Program Planning, Outreach & Administration

• Work closely with the Director to develop and implement OPHA materials, programming, initiative and events to support student success.
• Support the development and implementation of procedures, processes, and training to achieve OPHA team goals.
• Work with Director and team to identify and implement advising strategies that intentionally aim to retain the number of students from underrepresented, underserved populations (e.g., first-generation and students of color) who potentially apply to health-specific professional schools.
• Collaborate and create cross-campus relationships with faculty, advisors, administrators, and student support professionals on campus and liaise with advisors across campus, building and maintaining vital relationships.
• Develop and deliver health professions related content for New Student Welcome programming and other key recruitment experiences and college engagement events.
• Liaise regularly with staff and faculty to ensure understanding of curricula, departmental goals and career/research opportunities.
• Participate in ongoing group and individual trainings and professional development to stay abreast of emerging trends related to application systems and processes, careers, and industry changes.
• May be asked to lead trainings or presentations for staff.
• May become point of contact/liaison for assigned schools, majors, and collaborators.
• Work with and/or supervise student workers, pre-health ambassadors, and other mentor-type opportunities that promote successful engagement and interactions between students.
• Participate in the OPHA, college, and/or campus-wide committees, tasks forces, and working groups.
• Represent OPHA at various campus events/presentations.

What You Should Know

This position may work in a hybrid work schedule, including a minimum of 3 days/week on campus. This is subject to change based on business needs. This role is expected to attend all required in-person events and commitments and may need to be on campus up to 5 days/week during the initial training period. This role may require some schedule flexibility, including occasional evening or weekend work to accommodate presentations, activities, and events.

Salary range for Professional 1 Level: $49,900-$54,100
Salary range for Professional 2 Level: $55,100-$60,000

Professional 1 Level Qualifications: Completed bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
Professional 2 Level Qualifications: Completed bachelor's degree and 1 year of related professional academic advising, coaching, or related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.