Pre-Professional C.O.R.D.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Common Questions
- What if my GPA is below a 3.0?
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Any pre-professional student, regardless of GPA, is welcome to participate and work towards the Pre-Professional C.O.R.D.
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However, to receive the C.O.R.D. your overall GPA must be ≥ a 3.0 when you submit your application.
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If you have completed all the other requirements and are below a 3.0, continue working on your academics and wait to submit your completed application until your overall GPA is ≥ a 3.0.
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- When and how is my GPA calculated
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GPA is calculated when you submit your completed C.O.R.D. application.
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Your GPA includes all college coursework (OSU, transfer/ concurrent work).
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In Self-Service you may view your unofficial transcript at any time. At the bottom of your transcript, right above "Course(s) in Progress" look for "Transcript Totals." We use your overall GPA (see example).
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- How do I connect at least twice with OSU's Pre-Professional office?
There are three options to connect with us:
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Make and attend a pre-scheduled appointment.
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Attend a Pre-Professional Open House (hosted the first week each fall semester).
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Attend a Pre-Professional Cowboy Welcome Info Session (pre-health, pre-law, or pre-vet) hosted each fall the week before school begins.
*you may attend different options or the same opportunity multiple times
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- How do I track my progress?
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The C.O.R.D. application is always live in OSU's CampusLink system.
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To start the process for the first time, click here.
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To re-open your current application, click here.
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Under "Action" click the eyeball to view and continue your application.
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You may input and track your progress towards any requirement at any time. The form auto saves as you go. Just don't hit the "final submission" until you've completed all requirements and are ready for us to review your application.
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- Can an experience count for more than one category?
No, if the experience/activity is used, it cannot be used to complete a second activity.
- What is Field Related Community Service & Advocacy?
Active unpaid volunteer experiences within your community or active participation with local, state, national, or international legal organizations. You may, but do not have to, complete 100 hours with the same entity.
Community Engagement
Active volunteer engagement based on self-reflection to broaden your:
- Understanding of needs and challenges within communities you wish to serve as a future healthcare provider, legal professional or veterinarian.
- Exposure to lived experiences different from your own upbringing.
- Knowledge of resources or where there are gaps in services.
- Insight into underlying issues with current structures and systems relevant to areas you're considering as part of your healthcare, legal, or veterinary practices.
Profession-Related Community Access, Equity & Promotion
Active volunteer focused on the enhancement of access to healthcare services, such as:
- Improve access: lessen community barriers.
- Improve equity: community education (resources, rights, access, etc.).
- Improve promotion: promote publicly available veterinary-related, legal-related, or health-related services (Oklahoma/local region/underserved/rural areas highly recommended).
Profession-Related Community Advocacy
Active volunteer within a health, law or veterinary related industry, association, organization, agency (non-profit/public/private) to support community-based policy reform, advocacy campaigns, community organizing or needs/cause(s) at a local/state/national/international level.
Profession Exposure FAQ's
- What are "Profession Related" clubs or memberships?
Profession related clubs or memberships (at OSU or in the community) may be:
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Organizations specific to the medical or healthcare fields
- (e.g. AMSA, HOSA, Pre-Nursing, Pre-PT, Pre-SOMA, Sports Medicine Club, etc.
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Organizations specific to the legal field
- (e.g. Pre-Law Club, SLIP, OIL, LSAT study group, etc.)
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Organizations specific to the veterinary field
- (e.g. Pre-Vet Club, HOSA, AVMA, etc.)
OR
Organizations that are related to fields you'd like to work in after professional school or that help you build skills or networks that support your long term goals
- Health/Med - (e.g. Global Medical Brigades, Nonprofit Club, American Red Cross, Stillwater Life Center, Lions Club, etc.)
- Law - (e.g. CASA, Sports Management, Anti-trafficking Association, NAACP, political party organizations, non-profits, OSU's Brand Squad, FFA, Environmental Science Club, etc.)
- Vet - (e.g. Block & Bridle, Beekeeping Club, 4H, Dairy Club, Herpetology Society, oSTEM, etc.)
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- What is a "year" of membership?
A year of membership is one academic year of active participation in an organization.
E.g. if you participated in something your entire sophomore year (OSU or community related) or if you started something at the beginning of the spring semester and continued to actively participate through the end of the fall.
- What is "Industry Literature"?
Any book from the Pre-Professional Library. If you have a book or journal article you'd like to recommend we add to our collection, please let us know here.
Profession Experience FAQ's
- What counts as shadowing, interning or working?
Any medical-related experiences (direct or indirect patient care) may be used to fulfill this requirement. This might include multiple experiences or just one if you are working during the school year or over the summer.
E.g.
- filling prescriptions
- performing clerical work in a clinic
- cleaning patients and/or their rooms
- taking vitals
- serving as a language translator with patient/provider
- work as a scribe, CNA, tech., phlebotomist, EMT, etc.
You will be asked to share and reflect on your experience(s).
- What counts as shadowing, interning or working?
Annual cost of attendance (2017-2018)
Pre-Health/Med
Any medical-related experiences (direct or indirect patient care) may be used to fulfill this requirement. This might include multiple experiences or just one if you are working during the school year or over the summer.
E.g.
- filling prescriptions
- performing clerical work in a clinic
- cleaning patients and/or their rooms
- taking vitals
- serving as a language translator with patient/provider
- work as a scribe, CNA, tech., phlebotomist, EMT, etc.
You will be asked to share and reflect on your experience(s).
Pre-Law
Any experiences under the supervision of a licensed attorney may be used to fulfill this requirement. This might include multiple experiences or just one if you are working during the school year or over the summer.
You will be asked to share and reflect on your experience(s).
Tip: most "internships" posted are usually looking for 2nd or 3rd year law students, but consider looking for experiences filing, answering phones, running documents to the courthouse, etc. Or consider volunteering with legal aid.
Pre-Vet
Any veterinary-related experiences may be used to fulfill this requirement. This might include multiple experiences or just one if you are working during the school year or over the summer.
E.g.
- shadowing a vet
- working as a vet/animal tech. or assistant
- serving as an lab animal caretaker
You will be asked to share and reflect on your experience(s).
Professional Skills & Competencies
- What are examples of communciation?
Anything that is not part of an academic course that gives you an opportunity to practice speaking in front of others.
Pre-Health/Med Examples:
- participating in an oral competition such as OSU's Ethics Bowl
- presenting research at scholars day or a local/regional/national conference
- leading a lesson/workshop to teach others about something you're passionate about
- join and participate in Toastmasters
Pre-Law Examples:
- participating in an oral competition with Students of Law in Practice (SLIP) or OSU's Ethics Club,
- a moot court competition with OIL
- presenting research at scholars day or a local/regional/national conference
- leading a lesson/workshop to teach others about something you're passionate about
- train to become a mediator
Pre-Vet Examples:
- participating in an oral competition such as OSU's Ethics Bowl
- presenting research at scholars day or a local/regional/national conference
- leading a lesson/workshop to teach others about something you're passionate about
- join and participate in Toastmasters
- What are immersion experiences?
Immersion experiences help you understand the world from a new perspective.
E.g.
- academic study abroad experience of at least a week outside the US
- any program offered through the National Student Exchange (outside of a program in your home state)
- Immersion trips
- 1 week winter break/spring break trip that are focused on a specific topic (e.g. Strategic Sports Management in Boston)
- community experience
- mission trip outside your home city
- Global Medical Brigades trip
- What are examples of teamwork or collaboration?
Experiences outside of class where you work with others toward common goals.
E.g.
- a research team competition
- event planning - this could be student organization events or planning an annual fundraiser
- coaching/assistant coaching youth sports
- volunteering with a mediation program
- working as part of a team at a restaurant, retail store, etc.
Professional School Readiness
- I'm already admitted to OSU's BSN Program. How can I earn points in this category?
- Consider this category "profession/career readiness"
- Not every point opportunity will apply, but 4 of 6 can be used as you progress towards your entry into the nursing field..
E.g.
- Factors Before Applying - this worksheet can be used to weigh rotation/job opportunities.
- Professional School Prep - are you planning to take an exam prep course for the NCLEX? That would count here.
- Practice/Mock Interview - you'll need to practice interviews for rotation locations and post graduation careers.
- Financial Literacy/Paying for Professional School - do you have a plan to pay for your education? If not, take some time to explore your options.
- When do you offer Personal Statement workshops?
Personal Statement workshops are offered once a semester and will be announced through our email newsletter and Instagram accounts.
- Fall = November
- Spring = Health, Vet and Law Week (Feb/March)
- What is a "class profile" and how do I find it? (PRE-LAW ONLY)
All accredited law schools are required to share information about their programs, which includes information about students who were admitted and matriculated into their program.
A class profile is the term to describe the breakdown of test scores (LSAT/GRE) and undergraduate GPA (UGPA) of students in a law school's first year class.
This can be found a couple of ways:
- ABA Standard Disclosure List
- Google 509 report (name of law school)
- Law school website