It is true, most schools prefer in-person coursework. However, during this unique pandemic time, schools are saying they will accept online courses from regionally accredited institutions. Yes, UC online/remote classes will be accepted by professional schools during our time of social distancing rules.

Most schools are reporting that they strongly advise students to keep the traditional grading format (A,B,C) if they have the option. P-grades represent a C grade (or possibly lower) and are not helpful to an applicant. Some schools will take P-grades if the student can verify they had no option. This is still a fluid process that is evolving. Linked below are several voluntary surveys from professional schools and their responses.

• US MD Schools - COVID-19 P/F Policies
• US DO Schools - COVID-19 P/F Policies
  
• US Dental Schools - COVID-19 P/F Policies
• US Optometry Schools - COVID-19 P/F Policies
• US Physician Assistant Schools - COVID-19 P/F Policies
• US Veterinary Schools - COVID-19 P/F Policies
• US Pharmacy Schools - COVID-19 P/F Policies
• US Law Schools - Coronavinus and the LSAC: The Law School Admission Council

• Yes, follow this link to NAAHP Health Professions COVID-19 updates. Each health profession has a separate link that shares more detailed information. In addition, Liaison Application Service also has an update site, along with AMCAS and MCAT.

• Yes, connect with the LSAC for more details. Since law schools normally don’t have prerequisite courses, this portion is less of a dilemma. However, all professional schools look at how well students can adapt to changing situations and this is your opportunity to show your strengths. Dig into your classes, find ways to volunteer or work remotely.  How are you giving back to your community in this time of need?

• Shadowing is essential to understand and feel what the medical field is really about. But with Covid 19 still preventing us from getting inside of facilities safely, we are having to adapt and find other ways to learn about the medical field. 
• Below are some links to “virtual shadowing and health care interviews”. This is not the same as in-person shadowing and due to privacy issues (think HIPPA) it cannot be the same. However, we in PPAC do encourage you to use these resources as a spring board to explore the medical field deeply and professional schools tell us they see it as insight to how you are willing and able to adapt. 
• Hopefully in-person shadowing can return safely but until that time – think outside the box and explore.  Please share other resources you might find with your PPAC advisor, and remember to always think critically about the principals of bioethics for patient rights and confidentiality. Also look at ways you can reflect on your pre-professional competencies and grow yourself. 

• Explore these videos and blogs:
  • Blog post: A 4th Year Medical Student’s Response to COVID-19
  • Blog post: A Current Physician’s Response to COVID-19 & A Reminder to Future Physicians
  • Law:Fully Law School Admissions Council Blog - Law School Admission in the Time of COVID-19: Top 10 Questions About the LSAT-Flex
  • "Making Rounds” documentary from Mt. Sinai in New York – 2015
  • Suggested readings, podcasts and more!
• Consider these online opportunities:
  • Colorado University Department of Emergency Medicine Virtual Shadowing Nano Course
  • Pre-Health Shadowing .COM – interviews & discussion made by students for students  
  • Virtual Shadowing .COM – weekly interviews and specialty discussions 
  • E-shadowing with MedSchool-HQ - for Pre-PA and Pre-Med students
  • Digital Smithsonian Museum volunteers: transcription.si.edu
  • Online tutoring with disadvantaged students: upchieve.org/volunteer
  • Human rights volunteers: decoders.amnesty.org
  • People powered research program: zooniverse.org
  • Crisis Text Line (Requires 30 hours of training): crisistextline.org/become-a-volunteer
  • Digitizing Cultural Works: gutenberg.org/wiki/Category:Volunteering
  • DO Something.org: www.dosomething.org/us
  • Operation Warm: 25 volunteer jobs to do from home
  • Paper Airplanes: online tutoring opportunities
• Consider these learning opportunities:
  • "Lessons from Ebola: Preventing the Next Pandemic" from Harvard 
    
  • "Community Change in Public Health" from Johns Hopkins 
  • "Essentials of Global Health" from Yale
  • “An Examination of Coronavirus-COVID-19”  from St George’s University
  • NIH Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences COVID-19 related courses
  • Ivy League free courses list via freecodecamp.org
  • Medical School Headquarters YouTube: premed.tv
  • Georgetown offers free MOOCS including Bioethics, Biomedical Big Data, Globalization, or Genomic Medicine.
  • Linkedin Learning, Coursera

• Yes, PPAC is open for phone and online appointments (through TEAMS- we will send you an easy invite once you have the appointment). To make an appointment you can e-mail our front desk at preproadv@uc.edu.

Please visit these sites for more UC Health and FAQ/Resourcesdetails.