UVA Career Center

Pre-Health Summer Courses FAQ's

Navigating whether or not to take a class over the summer as a pre-health student can be a complicated and confusing decision. We are breaking down a few frequently asked questions below:

1. Should I take a class over the summer? 

• You can. However, when you take summer courses, you often have fewer responsibilities than during the school year. This may lead an admissions committee to ask, "Would this student have received this grade if they were also managing the responsibilities of a full course load?" Or if taken at another institution, “Did this student take this course at another institution because there was less competition or less material covered? Would they have received the same grade at their home institution?” If an admissions committee needs to ask these questions about a significant amount of your coursework, it can become a concern. Our general advice is to take all your pre-requisite courses during the academic year at UVA. 
• We understand that every student’s past coursework and timeline is different, so some students may feel that they need to take summer courses. If this is the case, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with a Pre-Health Advisor to discuss your specific course plan. 
• Additionally, it is important to consider the fact that summer courses are extremely condensed in terms of content. This could mean that you are in class and/or doing homework all day, every day over a summer term. Many students find this approach to be a challenging pace, so you should consider if this will be a benefit or detriment to you. 
• Summer is also a time that can be used to gain clinical experience, study for an entrance exam, or work, so it is important to use this time in the wisest way for you.  

2. Can I take an online class?  

• It is not suggested to take any online classes over the summer if the course(s) is required by a health professions program or your UVA academic program.  
• Many health professions programs do not accept pre-requisite courses taken online, so it is important to check with specific programs if this is a concern for you. 
• There is a special concern over lab courses taken online as many health professions programs do not accept online labs in addition to UVA not accepting online lab courses from different institutions. 

3. Can I take classes outside of UVA over the summer? 

• You need to consider the following if taking classes at a different institution over the summer 
  • If you need the class for a major/minor, you need to check with your academic department to ensure the class meets their requirements 
  • If you do not need the class for your major/minor, you can take a course outside of UVA. But again, you need to consider what this will signal to health professions programs about your threshold for academic rigor.  
  • To check if a class will transfer to UVA, please use the following resources: 
    • Arts & Sciences Transfer Credit Analyzer 
    • UVA Directors of Undergraduate Programs 
      • You can use the contact information on this page to reach an academic department for questions about meeting requirements through transfer credit 
    • Transferring Credits from Other Institutions FAQ Page 

4. What about Physics over the summer? 

• If your degree program requires Physics and you want to take it at UVA over the summer: Please refer to Question #1 regarding health professions programs' perception of summer classes as well as your personal motivations.
• If your degree program requires Physics and you want to take it elsewhere over the summer: Please refer to Question #1 as well Question #3 regarding transferring credit back to UVA. 
• If your degree program does not require Physics but you need it for a health professions program: You can take it elsewhere or at UVA over the summer, but again you will want to consider what this may signal to health professions programs in terms of your readiness for their program's rigor as well as if you will be successful with the condensed format. 
• Physics over the summer can be a good fit for some students, but you need to consider whether or not it is required for your UVA degree as well as the condensed format. Additionally, please keep in mind that online lab courses are not usually accepted by health professions programs. 

5. Can I take classes at a community college over the summer?  

• Most health professions programs prefer to see classes taken at another four-year institution if taken outside of your home institution.  

If you still have questions, please visit Pre-Health Drop-In Advising on the 2nd Floor of Clemons Library, Monday-Thursday, 1:30pm-4:30pm.