Pre-Professional Advising
Whether you are considering a career in law, medicine, or health, OU has academic advisors for each area. The Pre-Law Advisor can offer suggestions for helpful classes, whereas the medical and health advisors can provide you with information on specific courses, prerequisites, and general information about respective programs. The Pre-Professional Advisors will not advise you regarding specific classes that you need to take for a specific major but will offer information about application to a professional school, the admission process, writing personal statements, etc. For semester-to-semester advising, students need to visit with the academic advisor in their degree-granting college.
Pre-Law Advising
WHAT IS PRE-LAW?
- Pre-Law is a pre-professional designation for students who are interested in attending law school following their undergraduate degree.
- Pre-Law is open to students with any major. Law schools do not require a specific bachelor's degree.
- Pre-Law helps students identify their interest areas.
PRE-LAW MISPERCEPTIONS
- Pre-Law is NOT a Major
- Pre-Law is NOT a Minor
- Pre-Law is NOT Law School
WHAT DO LAWYERS DO?
- "Lawyers affect our everyday lives in countless ways. They are involved in everything from buying a home, to writing a will, to prosecuting and defending criminals. They counsel, strategize, problem solve, write, advocate, negotiate--the list is endless." The National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
- "Lawyers work just about everwhere--law firms, private business, government, public interest organizations, the judiciary and academia." The National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU GET ON CAMPUS:
- Visit with Lori DeKalb, the pre-law advisor (call 325-1596 to schedule appointment)
- Declare Pre-Law Studies as a professional code
- Join the Pre-Law Society
- Visit the Canvas Pre-Law Advising site for information (access provided by Ms. DeKalb)
- Follow OU Pre-Law Advising on Facebook for recent court decisions, LSAT study tips and other pre-law information.
IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR ADMISSION:
- Undergraduate Grade Point Average
- LSAT Score
- Resume
- Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statement
FOCUS
- Select a major you will enjoy and be happy with, even if you do not go to law school or in case there is a gap between college and law school.
- Be bold in choosing your major. There is no one-size-fits-all major for law school.
- Discuss your interests with the pre-law advisor.
FUTURE SOONERS
- Students who are not admitted to OU may contact OU Admissions & Recruitment or call that office at 405-325-2151 to schedule a prospective student visit with Lori DeKalb, the pre-law advisor.
RESOURCES
PRE-LAW SOCIETY
Membership in Pre-law Society is open to any student with an interest in pre-law studies. Information about club meetings can be found on the Pre-law Advising Canvas page. You can also view meetings and other information by following Pre-Law Society on social media:
Pre-Law Advisor Contact Information
Lori DeKalb, J.D.
Academic Advising Resouce Center
308 Cate Drive, Room 418
Phone: 405-325-1596
Email: loridekalb@ou.edu
Pre-Law Advisor Biography
Lori DeKalb is a proud alum of the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She earned her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University, where she received a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and a minor in Accounting. Upon graduation from law school, she worked for a downtown Oklahoma City law firm for several years. In 1999, Lori was appointed as the Chapter 12 Standing Trustee for the Western District of Oklahoma, where she served for more than 15 years. Desiring a change of scenery (so to speak), she accepted the position as Pre-law Advisor with the University of Oklahoma Academic Advising Resource Center in October of 2014. With the goal of being accessible to all pre-law students, Lori is available to assist with course recommendations and the law school admissions process as well as to answer questions about law school in general. Lori also serves as the Pre-law Society advisor. For those students who have designated the pre-law studies professional code as part of their academic record, appointments with Lori may be scheduled through iAdvise. Students also may schedule an appointment by contacting the Academic Advising Resource Center at 325-1596.
Medical, Dental, Optometry, Podiatry, Physician Associate Advising
| Advisors | Title | Programs | Office | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Demastus | Pre-Medical Professions Advisor | Medicine (MD & DO), Dental, Optometry, Physician Assistant/Associate, Podiatry | Cate 1, Room 418 | amber@ou.edu |
| Sarah Olinghouse-Rockwell | Pre-Medical Professions Advisor | Medicine (MD & DO), Dental, Optometry, Physician Assistant/Associate, Podiatry | Cate 1,Room 418 | sarah.olinghouse-rockwell@ou.edu |
Appointments
Students may schedule an appointment with the appropriate advisor listed above through the iAdvise appointment system or by calling 405-325-1596. Advising is in Cate 1, Room 418, and students must check in with the receptionist.
Declaring a pre-professional program
Students must tell the academic advising center in the college of their major that they want the "pre-" code listed on their academic record. Otherwise, the "pre-" advisor has no way to include students in notices of meetings, deadlines, etc. The college advising office will ensure that the code is added to the student's record.
The pre-med office maintains Canvas sites with a wealth of information for students interested in their specified professional programs.
Future Sooners may contact OU Admissions & Recruitment at 405-325-2151, for an appointment with an OU pre-medical professions advisor.
Veterinary Medicine
Amber Demastus and Sarah Olinghouse-Rockwell serve as our Pre-Veterinary advisors in the Pre-Medical Professions Advising office, Cate 1, Room 418
Veterinary medicine advising is available to guide pre-veterinary students through their preparatory studies, admissions examinations, and the veterinary school application process.
Pre-vet advising is offered by scheduled appointments through iAdvise.ou.edu or call 405-325-1596 for general questions you may have.
Health Professions
University College, 100 Wagner Hall, 325-3521
Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Nutritional Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and the Radiologic Technologies advising is available from any of the advisors in University College. The assistance of an academic counselor is especially important to the pre-health profession student who wants to complete his/her admission requirements while maintaining a competitive grade point average for admission to the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Most pre-health students will also have a specific major they are pursuing. While a student in University College, you will be advised on both your major requirements and pre-health requirements. However, once you move into your degree-granting college, you will need to see your college or department advisor for semester-to-semester advising; in addition, though, you will see your pre-health advisor for information about requirements for your chosen health field.
