5 Things Every Pre-Health Transfer Student at K-State Needs to Know

Written by Ashley Whaley, Academic Program Specialist, Pre-Professional and Exploratory Advising Center

Whether you're transferring to Kansas State University from another college or coming in with AP credits, starting fresh can feel overwhelming. But don’t stress—we’ve got your back. From making sure your credits count to building your support network, here’s what you need to know to thrive as a pre-health transfer student at K-State.

1. Don’t Let Your Credits Go to Waste – Check Them Early

Transferring schools is hard enough—don’t make it harder by losing credits you’ve already earned.

K-State makes this easier with two super-helpful tools:

- Transfer Equivalency Tool – lets you look up how your specific courses will transfer. Perfect if you're checking things one-by-one.
- Transfer Pathways Tool – gives a big-picture view of how your courses fit into a full degree program. Ideal for planning your whole academic journey.
- Transferology - a web-based network that shows how courses you have taken or plan to take transfer to another college or university for credit.

Heads-up:
If a course doesn’t appear in the transfer tools or wasn’t accepted right away, it might still be eligible – you can request a formal review after meeting with an advisor. You will need to submit a Transfer Course Evaluation Request Form and a copy of the course syllabus in order to begin the evaluation process.

Your appeal will be reviewed by the Dean’s Office of the K-State college that oversees the course subject, and then they will notify you of their decision in writing.

This process also applies to high school Advanced Placement (AP) credits — so be sure to review those, too.

2. Get to Know Your Pre-Health Advisor (Before You Really Need Them)

Transferring is a journey—you shouldn't do it alone. Your pre-health advisor is your guide, and the earlier you connect, the better.

- - Ideally, meet with your advisor before classes start.
  - If not, schedule a meeting within the first three weeks of the semester to map out your academic plan.

Planning ahead is important—but so is thinking long-term. When it comes time to apply to health programs, you'll likely need letters of recommendation from advisors or professors. Build strong relationships now so those letters are meaningful later.

Tip: Go to office hours, even when you don’t “need” help. It’s a great way to build trust and connection with your professors.

3. Know What Health Graduate Programs Expect (Before It’s Crunch Time)

Each professional health program—like medical, dental, or veterinary school—has its own set of requirements. These often go beyond just taking science courses. Think: entrance exams, clinical or shadowing hours, letters of recommendation, and more.

It’s your responsibility to know what your target programs require—and when they expect you to complete them.

Start with these resources:

- - Pre-Health Program Guides – Start with our program guides to learn about your pre-health designation, but keep in mind that different schools may have additional requirements. Go directly to the website of any professional school program you are interested in (e.g., KSU Veterinary Medicine, KSU PA Program, KU School of Medicine). These are the most accurate sources for up-to-date admissions requirements.
  - Centralized application services –These sites often list general guidelines and links to individual schools.
  - AMCAS — American Medical College Application Service (allopathic MD schools)
  - AACOMAS — American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (DO schools)
  - TMDSAS — Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (public medical, dental, veterinary & related schools in Texas)
  - AADSAS — ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (dental schools)
  - PharmCAS — Pharmacy College Application Service (Doctor of Pharmacy programs)
  - CASPA — Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (PA programs)
  - PTCAS — Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (DPT programs)
  - OTCAS — Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OT programs)
  - OptomCAS — Optometry Centralized Application Service (OD programs)
  - VMCAS — Veterinary Medical College Application Service (DVM programs)
  - K-State Health Professions Advisors – They can help you interpret program requirements, recommend timelines, and make sure you're not missing anything.

Tip: Some schools have recommended (not required) experiences—like research, volunteering, or internships—that can strengthen your application. Your advisor can help you prioritize based on your goals.

Planning early = less stress later.

4. Use Your Campus Resources—All of Them

College hits differently than high school. The classes are more rigorous, the deadlines come faster, and the expectations are higher. But you don’t have to do it alone—K-State offers tons of support.

Here’s what’s available to you:

- - Academic Help – Tutoring, writing assistance, study support
  - Career Advising – Help with job searches, resumes, interview prep
  - Financial Guidance – Through both advisors and peer financial counselors
  - Student Well-being – For students facing academic, personal, or social challenges
  - Student Access Center – Accommodations and services for students with temporary and/or permanent disabilities
  - Student Health Center – Medical services and wellness resources

Use these early and often. They're here for a reason.

5. Find Your People – It Makes All the Difference

Let’s be real—transferring can feel isolating at first. It might seem like everyone else already knows each other. But trust this: You’re not the only one starting fresh.

Finding a community is crucial for:

- - Emotional well-being
  - Academic success
  - Personal growth
  - Professional networking

One of the best ways to get connected? Join a group that aligns with your interests—especially if it's pre-health related. K-State has plenty of Pre-Health clubs and organizations that are a perfect match for your goals.

Students who get involved tend to thrive both socially and academically. Show up, participate, and give yourself permission to start over with confidence.

TL;DR

- Check your credits as soon as possible – did your credits transfer as expected?
- Meet with your advisor early (ideally before the semester starts)
- Know your target program’s requirements early
- Take full advantage of campus resources
- Build your social and academic support network

Need help finding resources, clubs, or your advisor? Start at K-State’s transfer student page or reach out to the advising office in your college.

You've got this, Wildcat.

**Special thanks to Amanda Reichenberger from the Pre-Professional and Exploratory Advising Center and Andrew Wimp from the Office of Recruitment and Admissions for contributing to this blog.