The beginning of the calendar year gives us a good snapshot of our admissions cycle for summer and fall 2007 enrollment. For our Physician Assistant Programs, Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, and Colleges of Pharmacy, the deadlines for our centralized applications (CASPA, AACOMAS, and PharmCAS) have passed, as has the deadline for our Glendale Nurse Anesthesia Program. Our recommended date for Downers Grove Physical Therapy applications was last week, and our Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program will accept applications through June. Our other College of Health Science programs (Occupational Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Biomedical Sciences, and Cardiovascular/Perfusion) are on a "rolling" admissions cycle, which means there is no hard deadline for receiving applications. For all of our programs, the best advice I can give you is this: APPLY EARLY! This is the best way to ensure that your application file gets full and complete consideration in the process, and that you will be as competitive as possible for admission.

Overall, the number of applications received by all of our programs continues to increase. For osteopathic medicine nationwide, the applicant pool increased by 18% over last year. The number of completed applications at CCOM and AZCOM increased by several hundred over last year, making the pool that much more competitive. The same is true of our pharmacy colleges and our PA programs. In Downers Grove, our Physical Therapy Program has seen a major increase in interest, as has Occupational Therapy. In Glendale, our Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program has more than tripled the number of applications from two years ago and is well ahead of last year's very strong numbers. Interest in Clinical Psychology and Biomedical Sciences at both campuses remains high, and applications are still being accepted for both of these programs.

So, what does this mean for you? Regardless of your profession of interest, this is a great time to embark on a career in health care. Demographics work in your favor, as the aging "baby boom" generation will need more and more care in the next ten to twenty years. Jobs and opportunities are plentiful. Health care professionals continue to earn high incomes while enjoying the rewards of helping patients and being respected in society. By the same token, competition to get into professional health programs is high. MWU has seen steady increases in applications for about the past five or six years, after a slight dip in interest in the late 1990s due to a shift toward more computer and technology jobs. The credentials of our applicants, in terms of GPAs and test scores, continue to inch upward year after year.

For those of you still in the process of this year's cycle, I wish you good luck and perseverance. For those of you applying for next year, again, I encourage you to get your materials to us as soon as possible. I often hear from alumni that their decision to apply to professional school literally changed their lives. It may well be one of the most important things you can accomplish thus far in your life. Take it seriously, plan ahead, and good luck!