Pre-Health Advisor

The Office of Pre-Health Advising (OPHA) at CU Boulder invites applications for a Pre-Health Advisor position. This role provides comprehensive pre-health advising to CU Boulder undergraduate students and recent alumni, guiding them in identifying health professions career goals, evaluating progress in pre-health coursework, navigating graduate school applications, and engaging in enrichment and internship experiences.

About the Office

The Office of Pre-Health Advising (OPHA) is a newly established office in the College of Arts and Sciences. OPHA serves all CU Boulder degree-seeking undergraduate students and alumni intending to enroll in health professional schools, offering counsel on preparation for health-related professional schools and assistance with the application process.

Responsibilities

• Develop supportive relationships with currently enrolled and recently graduated undergraduate pre-health students using a student-focused developmental approach.
• Ensure a comprehensive and integrated health professions advising and career development experience in partnership with academic advisors, coaches, career services, faculty, and other student success professionals.
• Conduct individual and group pre-health advising on topics including:
  • Exploration of healthcare careers, including guidance on career resources, informational interviews, networking, and campus resources.
  • Evaluation of students’ experiential skills and career goals to recommend career paths and graduate/professional school options.
  • Identification of field-specific prerequisite course requirements based on career interest, academic history, and goals.
  • Assistance with professional school application processes, such as standardized entrance exams, letters of recommendation, school selection, application logistics, essay writing (personal statements, experience descriptions, supplemental essays), interview preparation, and mock interviews with feedback.
  • Mentorship and search strategies for co-curricular experiences, including research, clinical and non-clinical experience, and service opportunities.
• Refer students to appropriate support services, such as academic advising, coaching, career services, financial aid, disability services, and counseling.
• Lead small groups, workshops, events, programs, and seminars for pre-health career exploration, academic success strategies, skill-building, and professional school application preparation.
• Proactively track, contact, and work with special student populations (e.g., high-risk, first-generation, students in academic difficulty, high-achieving students).
• Maintain email contact with advisees, respond to student inquiries, and perform targeted outreach.
• Maintain accurate and professional records of advising contacts.
• Monitor dashboards and track key student success achievements, performing outreach or intervention when students are off track.
• Connect with faculty and administrators to support individual student planning.
• Provide advising and mentoring to prospective students and their families.
• Provide ad hoc coverage for other Pre-Health Advisors.
• Work closely with the Director to develop and implement OPHA materials, programming, initiatives, and events to support student success.
• Support the development and implementation of procedures, processes, and training to achieve OPHA team goals.
• Identify and implement advising strategies to retain students from underrepresented and underserved populations (e.g., first-generation, students of color) applying to health-specific professional schools.
• Collaborate and build cross-campus relationships with faculty, advisors, administrators, and student support professionals.
• Develop and deliver health professions-related content for New Student Welcome programming and other recruitment and engagement events.
• Liaise with staff and faculty to ensure understanding of curricula, departmental goals, and career/research opportunities.
• Participate in ongoing training and professional development to stay current on application systems, careers, and industry trends.
• May lead trainings or presentations for staff.
• May serve as a point of contact/liaison for assigned schools, majors, and collaborators.
• Work with and/or supervise student workers, pre-health ambassadors, and other mentor-type opportunities.
• Participate in OPHA, college, and/or campus-wide committees, task forces, and working groups.
• Represent OPHA at various campus events and presentations.

Schedule

This position may work in a hybrid schedule, including a minimum of 3 days per week on campus, subject to change based on business needs. The role requires attendance at all in-person events and commitments and may require up to 5 days per week on campus during the initial training period. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to accommodate presentations, activities, and events.

Pay

Salary range for Professional 1 Level: $49,900–$54,100.
Salary range for Professional 2 Level: $55,100–$60,000.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and retirement plans.
• Generous paid time off.
• Tuition assistance for employees and dependents.
• ECO Pass for local transit.
• Access to world-class outdoor recreation and additional perks through the CU Advantage program.

Requirements

Professional 1 Level Qualifications: Completed bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

Professional 2 Level Qualifications: Completed bachelor’s degree and 1 year of related professional academic advising, coaching, or equivalent experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

Skills

• Advising, communication, and situation-management skills to interact with students professionally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Understanding of diverse curricula and their relationship to pre-health career goals and requirements.
• Proven commitment to advancing diversity and creating an inclusive environment.
• Strong group facilitation, presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and professional schools.
• Excellent customer service and social skills.
• Experience working with students from diverse backgrounds in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work as part of a team in a collaborative environment.
• Exceptional organizational, planning, analytical, and technical skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple projects, and operate in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for working with students from entry to graduation in a high-volume setting.
• Knowledge or willingness to rapidly acquire knowledge of communication and educational technologies (e.g., Zoom, Teams).

Preferred Qualifications

• A graduate degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, neuroscience, psychology, sociology, higher education, counseling, or a health professions graduate program.
• Working knowledge of graduate admission processes, health profession entrance exams, and pre-health resources for students.