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Most Objectivist thinkers are ‘little known’ outside of Objectivist circles so I will post a list of the ones I know.Objectivist Intellectual’s Biographies (85) last updated 10/14/18 (not complete)Amesh AdaljaMD, 2002, American University of the CaribbeanDr. Adalja, a board-certified physician in infectious disease, critical care medicine, emergency medicine and internal medicine, specializes in the intersection of national security with catastrophic health events. He publishes and lectures on bio-terrorism, pandemic preparedness and emerging infectious diseases. He has been a guest on national radio and television programs.John AllisonMBA, Management, 1974, Duke UniversityMr. Allison is president and CEO of the Cato Institute. He was previously chairman and CEO of BB&T Corporation, the 10th-largest financial services holding company headquartered in the United States. During Allison’s tenure as CEO from 1989 to 2008, BB&T grew from $4.5 billion to $152 billion in assets.Carl BarneyCarl Barney is a businessman who, among other business activities, owns and manages several private business colleges.Rituparna BasuBS, Biology, 2010, Pennsylvania State UniversityMs. Basu is a health care policy analyst at ARI. Her work has appeared in publications such as Forbes and The Daily Caller, and she has been interviewed on radio and TV programs, internationally. Ms. Basu has briefed congressional staffers and speaks regularly at university campuses, including Georgetown, Emory and Temple.Ben BayerPhD, Philosophy, 2007, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDr. Bayer teaches philosophy at Loyola University New Orleans. His research focuses primarily on questions about the foundations of knowledge and the freedom of the will.Robert BegleyRobert Begley is a writer for The Objective Standard. He is the founder and president of the NY Heroes Society, an organization dedicated to promoting heroism in the culture. Robert is also a judge in Anthem, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged essay contests. He was the host and producer for the Manhattan Cable TV program, The Voice of Reason. Robert is currently writing a book about the history of New York heroes.Michael S. BerlinerPhD, Philosophy, 1970, Boston UniversityDr. Berliner is the founding executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute and served as co-chairman of ARI’s board of directors. He is editor of "Letters of Ayn Rand", "Understanding Objectivism" and a recent biography of operetta composer Emmerich Kálmán. Dr. Berliner taught philosophy and philosophy of education for many years at California State University, Northridge.ANDREW BERNSTEINPhD, Philosophy, 1986, City University of New YorkAndrew Bernstein holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Graduate School of the City University of New York. He has taught at Hunter College, the New School for Social Research, Pace University and Marymount College, where he was chosen Outstanding Faculty Member for 1995. He currently teaches at the State University of New York at Purchase, where he was selected Outstanding Faculty Member for 2004.Dr. Bernstein has lectured at universities across the United States, including at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, the United States Military Academy at West Point and many others; and at philosophical conferences both in America and abroad. He is the author of The Capitalist Manifesto: The Historic, Economic and Philosophic Case for Laissez-Faire, to be published in the spring of 2005 by University Press of America. His first novel, Heart of a Pagan, was released in 2002. He is currently writing Objectivism in One Lesson, an introduction to the philosophy of Ayn Rand. His website is Andrew Bernstein | Philosopher and TeacherDr. Bernstein is the author of "The Capitalist Manifesto" (2005), "Objectivism in One Lesson" (2008), "Capitalism Unbound" (2010), "Capitalist Solutions" (2011), and of numerous essays. He is currently writing “Heroes and Hero Worship” for the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism. Dr. Bernstein lectures widely on Ayn Rand’s novels and Objectivism.DAVID BERRYD.M.A., Composition, 2002, University of South CarolinaDavid Berry is an associate professor of music. He teaches courses across a wide range of historical and theoretical musical subjects including film music. He is a recorded and published (BMI) composer with performances of his music in America and Europe in both fine art and popular music genres.CRAIG BIDDLEB.A., Fine Arts, 1988, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityCraig Biddle is the author of Loving Life: The Morality of Self-Interest and the Facts That Support It and is currently writing another book, Good Thinking for Good Living: The Science of Being Selfish. In addition to writing, he lectures on the Objectivist ethics and teaches workshops on thinking in principles. Editor and Publisher of “The Objective Standard”Specialties: Ethics, ObjectivismHARRY BINSWANGERPh.D., Philosophy, 1973, Columbia UniversityDr. Binswanger is the author of The Biological Basis of Teleological Concepts, the editor of The Ayn Rand Lexicon and co-editor of the second edition of Ayn Rand’s Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology. Dr. Binswanger is a professor of philosophy at the Ayn Rand Institute’s Objectivist Academic Center and is a member of ARI’s board of directors. He is currently working on a book on the nature of consciousness.Dr. Binswanger is the author of "How We Know" and "The Biological Basis of Teleological Concepts", the editor of "The Ayn Rand Lexicon" and co-editor of the second edition of Ayn Rand’s "Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology". He is an instructor of philosophy at the Ayn Rand Institute’s Objectivist Academic Center and a member of ARI’s board of directors.TORE BOECKMANNWriterMr. Boeckmann has written and lectured extensively on Ayn Rand’s fiction and philosophy of esthetics. He edited for publication Rand’s The Art of Fiction. His own fiction has been published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. He is currently writing a book on Romantic literature.Thomas A. BowdenSpecialties: Legal issues, physician-assisted suicide, abortion rights, mandatory community service.Mr. Bowden, an attorney in private practice in Baltimore, Maryland, taught at the University Of Baltimore School Of Law from 1988 to 1994. Author of a booklet against multiculturalism, “The Enemies of Christopher Columbus,” he has also published op-eds in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Philadelphia Inquirer, Portland Oregonian, Los Angeles Daily News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Charlotte Observer. He is a former member of the board of directors of The Association for Objective Law, a non-profit group whose purpose is to advance Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, as the basis of a proper legal system. In that connection, Mr. Bowden has filed amicus curiae briefs in the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal for the Second and Third Circuits, challenging mandatory community service for high school students on legal and moral grounds.YARON BROOKPh.D., Finance, 1994, University of Texas at AustinDr. Brook is president and executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. A former finance professor, he has published in academic as well as popular publications, and is frequently interviewed in the media. He has appeared on CNN, Fox News Channel and PBS among others. On college campuses across America and in the boardrooms of large corporations, he has lectured on Objectivism, business ethics and foreign policy.Dr. Brook is executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller “Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government” and a contributing author to both “Neoconservatism: An Obituary for an Idea” and “Winning the Unwinnable War: America’s Self-Crippled Response to Islamic Totalitarianism.”ANDY CLARKSONMBA University of MarylandMr. Clarkson is a decades-long Objectivist He has focused on researching the history of ideas and published The Impact of Aristotle Upon Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Cultures : A Compilation of Notes and Quotes From A Variety of Sources Plus Commentary, published in December 2016.PAT CORVINIPh.D., Electrical Engineering, 1995, University of California at Santa BarbaraDr. Corvini recently left a twenty-year career in semiconductor optoelectronics to work full time in the history of science and mathematics. She lectured on Archimedes at the 2003 Objectivist Summer Conference.SUSAN CRAWFORDB.S.N, Nursing, 1982, Marymount College, VirginiaSusan Crawford is a registered nurse. She has given two parenting courses and wrote the pamphlet “The Reading Habit/Money Management.” Susan is married to Jack Crawford and the mother of two sons, Jason and DavidERIC DANIELSPh.D., American History, 2001, University of WisconsinDr. Daniels is a visiting assistant professor of history at Duke University’s Program on Values and Ethics in the Marketplace. He has lectured at summer conferences and to numerous Objectivist community groups. He is an alumnus of ARI’s Objectivist Graduate Center (precursor to the Objectivist Academic Center). A contributor to the Oxford Companion to United States History, he is currently working on a book about American politics andDr. Daniels works at LePort Schools, teaching science and history, and as a curriculum developer. Previously, he was a professor at Clemson, Duke and Georgetown Universities. Dr. Daniels has published book chapters and articles on antitrust, individualism and economic freedom.John DennisPhD, Psychology, 2010, University of Texas at AustinDr. Dennis teaches at Catholic University in Milan, University of Perugia and University of Alberta. His research on motivation is funded by the EU and Templeton Foundation. He is a licensed psychologist trained in CBT. In 2013 Dr. Dennis started Melioravit, a scientific communication company that helps researchers get funded, published and cited.Robert van DortmondMSc in Applied Physics, Delft University of Technology; Executive Program, Stanford Graduate SchoolMr. van Dortmond teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Amsterdam/The Amsterdam Centre for Entrepreneurship. He is an active mentor, shareholder and board member of various startups. He speaks on Ayn Rand’s ideas and is an advisory board member of ARI Europe of which he was one of the initiators.Dianne DuranteSpecialties: Esthetics, painting, sculpture, homeschooling.Dr. Durante is a freelance writer on art and current events. She has lectured on painting and sculpture at Objectivist conferences; several of these lectures are available on tape from the Ayn Rand Bookstore. She has also just finished a book on New York sculpture, Forgotten Delights: The Producers. Dr. Durante and her husband homeschool their daughter in Brooklyn, NY.Alex EpsteinSpecialties: Current Affairs, racism, and moral defense of businessmen.Alex Epstein is an Objectivist speaker and writer living in Richmond, VA. His Op-Eds have been published in dozens of newspapers around the country, including The Houston Chronicle, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Miami Herald, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Washington Times. He is also a regular contributor to The Intellectual Activist, a monthly magazine analyzing political and cultural issues from an Objectivist perspective. Mr. Epstein holds a BA in philosophy from Duke University, where he was editor and publisher of The Duke Review for two years.STUART MARK FELDMANM.A., Art, 1975, Rowan University, New JerseyStuart Feldman works in bronze, stone and wood, creating sculptures of the human figure expressing man’s most noble and inspiring qualities. A former instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, he is cofounder of the Schuylkill Academy of Fine Art, in Philadelphia. His sculptures are held in private collections, and he has created a number of commissioned pieces.ROBERT GARMONGPh.D., Philosophy, 2002; University of Texas at AustinDr. Garmong is a graduate of the Objectivist Graduate Center, and has lectured on philosophy at many Objectivist conferences. He is the author of “J.S. Mill’s Re-Conceptualization of Liberty,” currently under submission to publishers. Dr. Garmong teaches philosophy at Texas A&M University and at Texas State University.MARILYN (GEORGE) GRAYB.S., Child Development, 1961, Iowa State UniversityMarilyn George is a retired Montessori teacher, school owner and administrator. She holds teaching certificates from both the American Montessori Society and the International Association of Progressive Montessorians and was a Montessori teacher for twenty-five years. She owned, administered and taught for ten years in her own school, which had an international reputation for excellence. She taught Montessori courses at Seattle University for more than ten years and has consulted for schools nationwide. Marilyn has been ballroom dancing since she met Ted Gray at a conference in 1989, at her first lesson, and today they compete at the Silver level.Debi GhateLLB, Law, University of Calgary, 1995Ms. Ghate is vice president of Education and Research at the Ayn Rand Institute, where she heads up a variety of educational and policy-related programs. She is also director of the Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship, an organization that supports academic scholarship based on Ayn Rand’s work.Onkar GhatePhD, Philosophy, 1996, University of CalgaryDr. Ghate is senior fellow and chief content officer at the Ayn Rand Institute. He specializes in Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism, and is ARI’s senior instructor and editor. He publishes and lectures on Rand’s philosophy and fiction, including application of Objectivism in the culture, and has been a guest on national radio and television programs.GENA GORLINPhD, Clinical Psychology, 2012, University of VirginiaMs. Gorlin has two years of experience conducting individual psychotherapy with anxious and depressed young adults. Her research has been published in highly regarded academic journals. She is also a graduate of the Objectivist Academic Center and a former board member of The Undercurrent, a national campus publication.Allan Gotthelf (deceased)Specialties: Love, self-esteem, happiness, Objectivism, AristotleAllan Gotthelf is emeritus professor of philosophy at The College of New Jersey. He is an internationally recognized authority on the philosophy of Aristotle, with many scholarly publications. He has lectured on Objectivism and Aristotle — including their views on love and sex, self-esteem, and individual happiness — throughout North America and in Europe and Japan. He has been a visiting professor at Swarthmore College, Georgetown University, Oxford University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, and most recently, the University of Texas at Austin. In 1987, Dr. Gotthelf was one of the founders of the Ayn Rand Society; a professional organization affiliated with the American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, and has headed it since 1990. He enters his second year as Visiting Professor of Historyand Philosophy of Science (HPS) at the University of Pittsburgh. Prof. Gotthelf holds the Pitt Fellowship for the Study of Objectivism, funded by the Anthem Foundation and he will be working throughout the year on various projects in connection with his Fellowship. He is the author of On Ayn Rand (Wadsworth Publishing, 2000), the best-selling book in the Wadsworth Philosophers Series.4-19-2007 from his website:Visiting Professor, under the university's new Fellowship for the Study of Objectivism (Member: Classics, Philosophy and Ancient Science Program). A specialist on Aristotle's biology and philosophy, and on the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Gotthelf is emeritus professor of philosophy at The College of New Jersey, and has taught on a visiting basis at Swarthmore, Oxford, Georgetown, Tokyo Metropolitan, and the University of Texas at Austin. He is a life member of Clare Hall Cambridge, and was a visiting member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. Gotthelf is author of On Ayn Rand (Wadsworth Philosophers Series, 2000); co-editor of Philosophical Issues in Aristotle's Biology (Cambridge 1987); editor of Aristotle on Nature and Living Things (Pittsburgh 1985); and has prepared for publication D.M. Balme's posthumous editions of Aristotle's Historia Animalium (Cambridge 2002, Cambridge MA 1991). His collected Aristotle papers will by published next year by Oxford University Press, under the title: Teleology, Scientific Method, and Substance: Essays on Aristotle's Biological Enterprise. He is currently working on several Aristotle projects and an extended study of Rand's theory of concepts, essences, and objectivity.TED GRAYB.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1965, Northeastern University;M.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1971, Brooklyn Polytechnic InstituteTed Gray, an engineer, has been dancing since his teens. They both consider dancing primarily a social and romantic activity. Occasionally, they enter amateur dance competitions. As a couple they have given many formal and informal group lessons—at home, at conferences and on a cruise ship. Ted is a mechanical engineer with forty years experience in design and analysis of structures, and prevention of vibration. He is an amateur student of history, enjoying especially the biographies of great Americans and the history of technology. He has been a student of Objectivism for thirty-eight years.Hannes HackerSpecialties: history and politics of the space program, science and technology.Mr. Hacker graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BS degree in aerospace engineering in May 1988. He earned a MS degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Austin December 1990. He has eleven years of space-flight operations experience including work on the space shuttle, international space station and commercial communications satellites.DAVID HARRIMANB.S., Physics, 1979, University of California at Berkeley;M.S., Physics, 1982, University of Maryland;M.A., Philosophy, 1995, Claremont Graduate University, CaliforniaDavid Harriman is the editor of Journals of Ayn Rand and a senior writer for the Ayn Rand Institute. He has lectured extensively on the history and philosophy of physics. He is currently developing the physical science curriculum at VanDamme Academy and working on two books: one demonstrating the influence of philosophy on modern physics (The Anti-Copernican Revolution) and the other presenting Leonard Peikoff’s theory of induction (Induction in Physics and Philosophy).David HolcbergSpecialties: Environmentalism, science, capitalism. David Holcberg holds a degree in civil engineering and is a senior writer for the Ayn Rand Institute.JONATHAN HOENIGCommunications and Philosophy, 1999, Northwestern UniversityMr. Hoenig manages Capitalistpig Hedge Fund, LLC. A former floor trader, his first book, Greed Is Good, was published by HarperCollins. Mr. Hoenig has written for publications including The Wall Street Journal, Wired andMarketWatch: Stock Market News - Financial News. He was named one of Crain’s Forty Under Forty and appears regularly on Fox News Channel.Gary HullSpecialties: Philosophy, multiculturalism, business ethics, education.Dr. Hull is director of the Program on Values and Ethics in the Marketplace at Duke University. His op-eds have been published in numerous newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Orange County Register, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Chicago Tribune. He has made numerous television and radio appearances to discuss Ayn Rand’s philosophy, multiculturalism, affirmative action, the Elian Gonzalez affair, sex, ethics, politics. He has lectured on Ayn Rand’s philosophy at conferences around the world and, as a member of the Ayn Rand Institute’s Speakers Bureau, has spoken at universities across the country, including Harvard, Michigan at Ann Arbor, Wisconsin at Madison, Texas at Austin. Dr. Hull is the author of A Study Guide to Leonard Peikoff’s book Objectivism: the Philosophy of Ayn Rand, and is co-editor of The Ayn Rand Reader (Penguin/Plume, 1999), a collection of fiction and non-fiction writings by Ayn Rand.MARTIN F JOHANSENMS, Computer Science, 2009, University of OsloMr. Johansen is a PhD research fellow at SINTEF, the largest independent research institute in Scandinavia. He is currently completing his PhD studies at the University of Oslo as part of an international research project on software testing.Elan JournoBA, Philosophy, 1997, King's College, LondonMr. Journo, director of policy research at ARI, is completing a book on American policy toward the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. His 2009 book, “Winning the Unwinnable War,” analyzes post-9/11 U.S. foreign policy. His writing has appeared in “Foreign Policy,” “Journal of International Security Affairs” and “Middle East Quarterly.”ELLEN KENNERPh.D., Clinical Psychology, 1992, University of Rhode IslandDr. Kenner, a clinical psychologist, has taught university courses in introductory psychology, abnormal psychology and theories of personality. She gives talks on romance, self-improvement, psychological self-defense, parenting and communication skills. She is in her eighth year as host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show The Rational Basis of Happiness®.Ryan KrausePhD, Strategic Management and Organization Theory, 2013, Indiana UniversityDr. Krause is an assistant professor at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business. He researches corporate governance and has published in “Academy of Management Journal,” “Strategic Management Journal” and “Journal of Management.” His research has been covered by the “Wall Street Journal,” “USA Today,” “Businessweek” and Fox Business Network.Andrew LaymanAndrew Layman is a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft where he works on Internet and database technologies. Prior to joining Microsoft in 1992, he was a Vice President of Symantec Corporation and original author of the Time Line project management program.Peter LePort, M.D.Specialties: Medicine, free market reform of healthcare, medical savings accountsDr. LePort, a full-time surgeon, lectures nationwide on free market reform in healthcare, particularly on the benefits of medical savings accounts. He is a member of the board of directors of Americans for Free Choice in Medicine. He co-wrote a healthcare reform proposal that discusses voluntary, tax-free medical savings accounts and high-deductible personal health insurance and which includes a method to privatize Medicare. He earned his medical degree from Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, and is a former assistant professor of surgery at that institution. He is a member of the Faculty of the American College of Surgeons and of the Orange County Surgical Society.Andrew LewisPostgraduate Diploma of Philosophy, 1994, University of Melbourne, AustraliaMr. Lewis has studied philosophy at the Objectivist Academic Center, the University of Melbourne and the University of Southern California. He worked with Leonard Peikoff on his radio show, has lectured at Objectivist conferences, and is principal at VanDamme Academy, where he teaches a three-year history curriculum covering ancient, European and American history.JOHN LEWIS (deceased)Ph.D., Classics, 2001, University of CambridgeDr. Lewis is assistant professor of history at Ashland University, where he holds an Anthem Fellowship for Objectivist Scholarship. He is Assistant Professor of History in the Department of History and Political Science. He has published in several professional journals, and has been a visiting scholar at Rice University and Bowling Green State UniversityEDWIN A. LOCKEPh.D., Industrial Organizational Psychology, 1964, Cornell University.Dr. Locke is Dean’s Professor of Leadership and Motivation (Emeritus) at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is internationally known for his research and writings on work motivation, leadership and related topics, including the application of Objectivism to psychology and management. He is a senior writer for the Ayn Rand Institute and has published numerous op-eds.Keith LockitchPhD, Physics, 1999, University of Wisconsin at MilwaukeeDr. Lockitch is an ARI fellow and director of advanced training. In addition to speaking and writing for ARI on issues related to energy, climate and environmentalism, he teaches writing for the OAC and has developed courses on Ayn Rand’s ideas and novels for a variety of audiences.ROBERT MAYHEWPh.D., Philosophy, 1991, Georgetown UniversityDr. Mayhew is associate professor of philosophy at Seton Hall University. He is the author of Aristotle’s Criticism of Plato’s Republic and The Female in Aristotle’s Biology and the editor of Ayn Rand’s Marginalia, Ayn Rand’s The Art of Nonfiction, Essays on Ayn Rand’s “We the Living” and (forthcoming) Ayn Rand’s Q & A. He has completed a book on Ayn Rand’s HUAC testimony and is preparing for publication a collection of essays on Ayn Rand’s Anthem.Arline MannArline Mann is an attorney. She is vice president and associate general counsel of Goldman, Sachs & Co.John P. McCaskey, Ph.D. in history, is the founder and chairman of the Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship. He spent twenty years in the computer business, most recently as founder of Epiphany, Inc., before returning to academia in 2001. He studies and teaches history and philosophy of science at Stanford University.Scott McConnellSpecialties: Volunteerism, Communism in America, Ayn Rand's life. Mr. McConnell is a former literature teacher and high school English teacher. He has a BA in behavioral sciences and worked in Hollywood as a script reader. He has given several lectures on Ayn Rand's life.Shoshana MilgramPhD, Comparative Literature, 1978, Stanford UniversityDr. Milgram, associate professor of English at Virginia Tech, specializes in narrative fiction and film. She has lectured on Ayn Rand at Objectivist and academic conferences and has published on Ayn Rand, Hugo and Dostoevsky. Dr. Milgram is editing the draft of her book-length study of Ayn Rand’s life (to 1957).Ken Moelis. Mr. Moelis is founder and chief executive officer of Moelis & Company, a global investment bank that provides financial advisory, capital raising and asset management services to a broad client base including corporations, institutions and governments. Mr. Moelis has over thirty years of investment banking experience. Prior to founding Moelis & Company, he worked at UBS from 2001 to 2007, where he was most recently president of UBS Investment Bank and, previously, Joint Global Head of Investment Banking. Mr. Moelis serves on the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, the Wharton Board of Overseers, the Board of the Tourette Syndrome Association, and the Board of Governors of Cedars Sinai Hospital.Jean MoroneyCertificate, 1996, Objectivist Graduate Center, Ayn Rand Institute;MS, Psychology, 1994, Carnegie Mellon University;MS, Electrical Engineering, 1986, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMs. Moroney is president of Thinking Directions, a business that develops and teaches methods in applied psycho-epistemology. She has given her flagship course, Thinking Tactics, to corporate and public audiences across North America. She is writing a book titled “Smarter: How to Achieve Your Goals When Nothing Goes as Planned.”Adam Mossoff is Professor of Law at George Mason University School of Law. He is also Co-Director of Academic Programs and a Senior Scholar at the Center for the Protection of Intellectual Property at George Mason, which he co-founded in 2012. He teaches and writes in the areas of patent law, trade secrets, trademark law, property law, and internet law. He has published extensively on the theory and history of how patents and other intellectual property rights are fundamental property rights. His article on the very first patent war, the Sewing Machine War of the 1850s, has been widely cited in today's public policy debates concerning patent litigation, patent licensing, and patent pools. He has testified before the Senate, and he has spoken at numerous congressional staff briefings, professional association conferences, and academic conferences, as well as at the PTO, the FTC, the DOJ, and the Smithsonian Institution. He is Co-Chairman of the Intellectual Property Committee of the IEEE-USA, and he is a member of the Amicus Committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Public Policy Committee of the Licensing Executives Society, and the Academic Advisory Board of the Copyright Alliance. ADAM MOSSOFF is an expert in patent law and property theory. He has published numerous law review articles and book reviews on topics in legal philosophy, patent law, and property law, including in law reviews at the University of Arizona and UC-Hastings, and in the interdisciplinary law journal, the University of Chicago Law School Roundtable. He was a visiting lecturer and John M. Olin Fellow in Law at Northwestern University School of Law, where he taught a seminar on property theory. Immediately prior to coming to MSU College of Law, he clerked for the Hon. Jacques L. Wiener, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Professor Mossoff graduated from the University of Chicago Law School with honors in 2001. He has a M.A. in philosophy from Columbia University, where he specialized in legal and political philosophy, and a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Michigan, where he graduated magna cum laude and with high honors in philosophy. Hi is now an Associate Professor of Law at George Mason University School of LawSpecialties: Philosophy of Law, Constitutional Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Patent RightsJ. PATRICK MULLINS is a doctoral candidate in the history department of the University of Kentucky. He is in the last stages of writing his doctoral dissertation with the help of a generous grant from the Ayn Rand Institute.Travis NorsenSpecialties: Physics, science, history and philosophy of science, science education.Mr. Norsen is a physics and philosophy double-major at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA. He is currently attending his final year of a PhD program in physics at the University of Washington in Seattle. Mr. Norsen is also a former adjunct instructor of physics at DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, WA.JOHN E. OPFER, who still tops the list of Amazon Reviewers on the CyberNet Scoreboard, is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Ohio State University where he specializes in cognitive and developmental psychology. Nowadays he's too busy reviewing his research findings to review books. His work at OSU's Concepts and Learning Lab explores how young children form and change their concepts, such as concepts of living things and number. His website is at <Department of Psychology - John Opfer> where you will find links to several of his fascinating papers.Michael PaxtonMFA, 1984, New York UniversityMr. Paxton directed the world premiere of Ayn Rand’s Ideal (1989) and adapted and directed a dramatic presentation of Anthem (1991). His documentary, Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life, won an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Satellite Award for Best Feature Documentary. He teaches production design and film history at the Art Institute in Hollywood.Lee PiersonPhD, 1982, Psychology, Cornell UniversityDr. Pierson, director of the Thinking Skills Institute at Fairleigh Dickinson University, teaches students and business professionals how to keep any thought process moving toward its goal by activating the right knowledge as needed. He has a long-standing interest in and recently participated in life-extension research.AMY PEIKOFFJ.D., 1998, University of California, Los Angeles School of Law;Ph.D., Philosophy, 2003, University of Southern CaliforniaDr. Amy Peikoff is an Anthem fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is teaching undergraduate courses in ethics and epistemology. Her writings on legal and philosophical issues have appeared in academic journals and leading newspapers. She has taught for the Objectivist Academic Center and lectured for Objectivist organizations and at conferences. Visiting Fellow at Chapman University’s Law School.Leonard PeikoffPh .D., Philosophy, 1964 New York UniversityFrom 1957 until 1973, Peikoff taught philosophy at Hunter College, Long Island University, New York University, the University of Denver and the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.After that, he worked full-time on The Ominous Parallels (published 1982) and gave lectures across the country. He gave courses on Ayn Rand's philosophy regularly in New York City, which were taped and played to groups in some 100 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. In addition, he spoke frequently before investment and financial conferences on the philosophic basis of capitalism.Dr. Peikoff, who is a naturalized American citizen, was born in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1933. His father was a surgeon and his mother, before marriage, was a band leader in Western Canada. He has been a contributor to Barron's and an associate editor, with Ayn Rand, of The Objectivist (1968-71) and The Ayn Rand Letter (1971-76).He is author of Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (Dutton, 1991), the definitive statement of Objectivism.Steve PlafkerJ.D., 1973 USCPh.D., Math, 1966 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISBS, MATH, MIT, 1961Dr. Plafker is a retired Los Angeles County deputy district attorney. His teaching experience includes teaching law to law students and to undergraduates. Before becoming a lawyer, he taught mathematics at Tulane University. He is a founder and member of the Board of Directors of The Association For Objective Law (TAFOL).Richard RalstonSpecialties: Ayn Rand’s life, Objectivism (General), Projects of the Ayn Rand Institute, Volunteerism, Foreign Policy, Journalism and MediaAfter serving seven years in the U.S. Army, Mr. Ralston completed an M.A. in International Relations at the University of Southern California in 1977. He then began a career in newspaper publishing and direct marketing. He has been the circulation director and publisher of The Christian Science Monitor, a radio producer, a national television news business manager, and a book publisher. As an independent direct marketing consultant, his clients included IBM, British Airways, CNN, and the Los Angeles Times. His book Communism: Its Rise and Fall in the 20th Century was published in 1991. Mr. Ralston is now Managing Director for the Ayn Rand Institute.JOHN RIDPATHPh.D., Economics, 1974, University of VirginiaDr. Ridpath (York University, retired) writes and speaks in defense of capitalism, and on the impact throughout Western history—including the American Founding era—of the ideas of the major philosophers. A recipient of numerous teaching awards, and nominee for Canadian Professor of the Year, he continues to lecture throughout Europe and North America.Jonathan Paul Rosman, MDSpecialties: Medicine, psychiatry.Dr. Rosman is a board certified psychiatrist, with additional qualifications in the subspecialties of addiction psychiatry and forensic psychiatry. Prior to entering full-time private practice in California in 1989 he was an assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. For several years, Dr. Rosman has been a psychiatric consultant to the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, and is the psychiatric consultant to the Sleep Disorders Center at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California. He is also medical director for the Eating Disorder Center of California, a private, intensive outpatient clinic in Brentwood, California, devoted to the treatment of patients with anorexia and bulimia.Dr. Rosman is a published writer and lecturer on various aspects of psychiatry. Dr. Rosman's theoretical orientation is broad-based, drawing on and integrating aspects of cognitive-behavioral, short-term psychodynamic and biologic theories with Objectivist epistemological principles. He practices as both a psychotherapist and a psychopharmacologist.GREG SALMIERIB.A., Philosophy, 2001, The College of New JerseyPhD, Philosophy, 2008, University of PittsburghDr. Salmieri is a philosophy fellow at the Anthem Foundation and co-secretary of the Ayn Rand Society (a professional group affiliated with the American Philosophical Association). He teaches at Rutgers University. He has published and lectured on Aristotle and Ayn Rand and is co-editor of forthcoming books on both thinkers.Richard M. SalsmanSpecialties: Banking, free market economics, economic forecasting, capitalism, investmentsRichard M. Salsman is president and chief market strategist of InterMarket Forecasting, which provides quantitative research and forecasts of stocks, bonds, and currencies to guide the asset allocation decisions of institutional investment managers, mutual funds, and pension plans. He is the author of numerous books and articles on economics, banking, and forecasting from a free-market perspective, including Breaking the Banks: Central Banking Problems and Free Banking Solutions (American Institute for Economic Research, 1990) and Gold and Liberty (American Institute for Economic Research, 1995). Mr. Salsman’s work has appeared in The Intellectual Activist, the New York Times, Investor’s Business Daily, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Barron’s. From 1993 to 1999, he was a senior vice president and senior economist at H. C. Wainwright & Co. Economics. Prior to that he was a banker at Citibank and the Bank of New York. Mr. Salsman is an adjunct fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research and the founder of The Association of Objectivist Businessmen.Lee Sandstead received his B.A. Philosophy/B.S. Mass Communication from Middle Tennessee State University in December 1996, when he was awarded the prestigious award for “Outstanding Magazine Journalism Graduate.” He has studied art history at the University of Memphis’ graduate program, and most recently, the art history doctoral program at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York City. He is a popular writer/photographer/lecturer of art-historical subjects. He has delivered almost 50 keynote lecture-addresses to such prestigious institutions as: Yale, Duke, University of Michigan, Penn State, NYU and the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto. Articles of his have been published in numerous journals, and his photography has been seen in publications such as: The New York Times, Fortune, and Ms. Magazine. He currently teaches art history at Montclair State University and is author of the forthcoming book on American master-sculptor Evelyn Beatrice Longman (1874-1954DINA SCHEIN FEDERMAN (deceased) is completing her article on "Integrity in The Fountainhead_" for ROBERT MAYHEW's upcoming collection of essays. She will also be delivering two lectures at the European Objectivist conference in London this month. Her writing projects include severalarticles on Virtue Ethics, a movement in academic ethics.DANIEL SCHWARTZBA, Liberal Arts, 2006, St. John’s CollegeMr. Schwartz is a doctoral candidate in philosophy at UC San Diego, where he is working on a dissertation titled “Baconian Foundationalism and the Problem of Certainty.” He specializes in early modern philosophy and the history of the philosophy of science.PETER SCHWARTZM.A., Journalism, 1972, Syracuse UniversityPeter Schwartz is the founding editor and publisher of The Intellectual Activist. He is the editor and contributing author of Ayn Rand’s Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution, and is chairman of the board of directors of the Ayn Rand Institute.Thomas ShoebothamMM, Orchestral Conducting, 1996, University of New MexicoMM, Cello Performance, 1992, Eastman School of MusicMr. Shoebotham is music director of the Palo Alto Philharmonic. Previous conducting engagements have included Berkeley Opera, Opera San José, Peninsula Symphony Orchestra and many other groups. He has lectured on music, taught in school music programs and performed numerous recitals as a cellist and pianist over the last twenty years.Stephen SiekPhD, Musicology, 1991, University of CincinnatiDr. Siek, professor emeritus at Wittenberg University, has recently publishedEngland’s Piano Sage: The Life and Teachings of Tobias Matthay. For many years he has lectured and written about the early work of Frank Lloyd Wright, including a scholarly study of Wright’s 1909 home for Burton Westcott in Springfield, Ohio.BRIAN P. SIMPSONPhD, Economics, 2000, George Mason UniversityDr. Simpson is a professor at National University in San Diego. He is author of the book Markets Don’t Fail! and he has a number of papers published in academic journals. He is currently working on another book titled “Money, Banking, and the Business Cycle,” which he hopes to publish soon.Steve SimpsonJD, 1994, New York Law SchoolMr. Simpson is director of legal studies at the Ayn Rand Institute. A former constitutional lawyer for the Institute for Justice, he writes and speaks on a wide variety of legal and constitutional issues, including free speech and campaign finance law, cronyism and government corruption, and the rule of law.Aaron SmithPhD, Philosophy, 2010, Johns Hopkins UniversityDr. Smith is an instructor at the Ayn Rand Institute where he teaches in the Objectivist Academic Center and the Summer Internship program. He lectures for ARI and develops educational content for the Institute’s e-learning programs.Tara SmithPhD, Philosophy, 1989, Johns Hopkins UniversityDr. Smith, professor of philosophy at the University of Texas, holds the BB&T Chair for the Study of Objectivism and the Anthem Foundation Fellowship. She has published books on values, virtues, and individual rights. Her latest, “Judicial Review in an Objective Legal System,” is forthcoming in fall 2015 (Cambridge University Press).MARY ANN SURESM.A., Art History, 1966, Hunter College, New YorkMary Ann Sures taught art history at Washington Square College of N.Y.U. and at Hunter College. She applied Objectivist esthetics to painting and sculpture in a ten-lecture course, “Esthetics of the Visual Arts,” which was written in consultation with Ayn Rand. Her philosophical approach to art history is presented in “Metaphysics in Marble” (The Objectivist, February/March, 1969). She is co-author with her (late) husband Charles of Facets of Ayn Rand (published by the Ayn Rand Institute), memoirs of their longtime friendship with Ayn Rand and her husband Frank O’Connor.C. BRADLEY THOMPSONPh.D., History, 1993, Brown UniversityC. Bradley Thompson is the BB&T Research Professor at Clemson University and the Executive Director of the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism. He has also been a visiting fellow at Princeton and Harvard universities and at the University of London.Professor Thompson is the author of Neoconservatism: An Obituary for an Idea and the prize-winning book John Adams and the Spirit of Liberty. He has also edited The Revolutionary Writings of John Adams, Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860: A Reader, co-edited Freedom and School Choice in American Education, and was an associate editor of the four-volume Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment. His current book project is on the ideological origins of American constitutionalism.Dr. Thompson is also an occasional writer for The Times Literary Supplement of London. He has lectured around the country on education reform and the American Revolution, and his op-ed essays have appeared in scores of newspapers around the country and abroad. Dr. Thompson's lectures on the political thought of John Adams have twice appeared on C-SPAN television.LISA VANDAMMEB.A., Philosophy, 1994, University of Texas at AustinLisa VanDamme is the owner and director of VanDamme Academy, a private elementary and junior high school in Laguna Hills, California. She specializes in the application of Objectivism to educational theory. Her previous lectures on homeschooling, hierarchy and the teaching of values will be included in a forthcoming education anthology featuring Leonard Peikoff’s “Philosophy of Education.”Don WatkinsBA, Business Administration, 2005, Strayer UniversityMr. Watkins is a fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute. He is the author of “RooseveltCare: How Social Security Is Sabotaging the Land of Self-Reliance” and coauthor, along with Yaron Brook, of the national best-seller “Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government.”KEITH WEINERPh.D., Economics, 2012, New Austrian School of Economics (non-accredited)Dr. Weiner is the founder and CEO of Monetary Metals, a company on a mission to pay interest on gold, and the president of the Gold Standard Institute USA.He makes the economic arguments, as well as the moral, for a free market in money and credit. There has never been an unadulterated gold standard in history, as all governments (including the U.S.) have regulated and interfered with banking, even when other enterprises were unshackled. Today our monetary system is failing, and Keith describes the mechanics in detail, why making the passionate case for gold as the money of free markets.He is also the founder of DiamondWare, a software company sold to Nortel in 2008.Glenn WoiceshynSpecialties: Education, ethics, environmentalism, science, politics.Mr. Woiceshyn is currently developing curriculum and teaching materials for grades 4 to 6 based on his understanding of Objectivism and his experience in "homeschooling" his son and other children. As a freelance writer, Mr. Woiceshyn's op-eds have appeared in numerous newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald.JAANA WOICESHYNM.B.A., 1983, Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration; Ph.D., Organization and Strategy, 1988, University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School)Dr. Woiceshyn is an associate professor at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary. She has taught business ethics and strategic management to undergraduate, MBA and executive MBA students and to various business audiences since 1987.BARRY WOODPh.D., History of Art and Architecture, 2002, Harvard UniversityDr. Wood is curator of the Islamic Gallery Project at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. He has lectured and published on subjects ranging from Persian poetry to Web design.Darryl WrightSpecialties: Ethics, political philosophy, ObjectivismDarryl Wright is associate professor of philosophy at Harvey Mudd College, a member of the Claremont Colleges consortium. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Michigan in 1991, and his A.B. in philosophy from Princeton University in 1985. Dr. Wright has published scholarly articles and/or lectured on the history of ethics, early twentieth-century philosophy, value theory, coercion, and other topics in philosophy.

Q. What is the best school for premed: Cornell, Duke, Northwestern or Dartmouth?A. Why rankings are meaningless, followed by rankings. All four schools you listed are outstanding, highly regarded and have excellent record of sending well-prepared (well credentialed) successful applicants/matriculants to medical schools. And you stand a better chance of getting admitted into their own highly ranked medical schools (except Cornell’s is in NYC, not Ithaca). Choose one that fits you.Undergraduate medical school acceptance rate stats are meaninglessCM’s Top 10 Universities for Pre-Med Students (College Magazine)Top Premed Colleges (college.lovetoknow.com)by MCAT and GPAby Student ApplicationsBest Universities for Pre-Med Students: List of Top Schools (Student.com)Colleges That Produce the Most DoctorsPre-Med Choice of Undergraduate College Does Affect Med School Chances: What to ConsiderTop 20 Pre-Med Schools in America - Education AmericaUndergraduate medical school acceptance rate stats are meaninglessMany parents of aspiring doctors have asked me how they can choose the optimal college for medical school acceptance. The answer is simple -- there is no answer.By David Thomas, Photo by Damon SacksRecently, the mom of a high school student asked me if I could, as an educational consultant, supply her with a list of colleges and universities that had high rates of acceptance to medical school. She had found a number of them via Colleges That Change Lives. She stumbled onto others via internet searches.In my capacity as both a college and medical school admissions consultant, I have been asked to supply lists like these many times. The problem is always the same; it's impossible.Why? Many colleges boast high medical acceptance rates that are practically meaningless, since each school uses its own methodology to calculate the statistics, creating wildly misleading results.Some colleges only calculate the number of students who were accepted to medical school using the college's officially sanctioned Pre-Med Committee. So if 100 students declare freshman year that they are applying to medical school, 50 drop out after not doing well on prerequisites, 20 get a high-enough GPA to qualify for a Committee Letter, and 18 of those 20 get into medical school. So the school claims a 90% acceptance rate, but could as easily claim a rate of 18%. Cornell is a great example of a school like this.But wait, it gets more complicated. Some of the students apply without a committee letter -- let's say 30. And 10 of those get in, meaning out of the ACTUAL APPLICANTS to medical school, 28 out of 50 got in, which yields a 56% acceptance rate. So depending on how you look at it, 18%, 56% or 90% of Cornell applicants get into medical school.And of course, some colleges do not have a Pre-Med Committee. In those cases, schools usually publish simple acceptance rates. Because of the statistical gamesmanship, these schools can appear to have worse rates of acceptance but actually have BETTER rates!The sad truth is this; MED SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE STATS ARE UTTERLY MEANINGLESS. Medical school admissions usually starts with a computer-screening process, and computers don’t weight GPAs differently (at least, not yet). In other words, a 3.9 GPA from Fresno State will always trump a 3.5 from Cornell in this process. Once the Secondary Essays are received, and humans begin to get involved in the screening process, then the subjective factors are considered (as in all admissions).So what is important? DO WELL AS AN UNDERGRAD—wherever you are. How well you do in college is more important than where you went to college. And the existence of a premed committee doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll get better advising there. In fact, the advantages and disadvantages of a premed committee can balance each other out.Medical school admissions is incredibly nuanced and tricky, and I've just barely given the tiniest example of its complexities. But first and foremost? Ignore the acceptance-rate stats. They are meaningless.CM’s Top 10 Universities for Pre-Med Students - College MagazineBy Alyssa Aguero |March 21, 2016As exciting (and scandalous) as Grey’s Anatomy may be, becoming a doctor is no walk in the park. But before you even begin thinking about what medical schoolyou want to go to, you’ll have to survive undergrad first. While pre-med isn’t exactly a major, many universities offer a track that’ll prepare you for med school. Pre-med clubs, shadowing opportunities and special programs should be considered when you’re deciding how you want to begin your medical career. College Magazine took some of the load off your shoulders (you guys have a lot of work ahead of you) and ranked the top universities for pre-med students.1. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILLNinety percent of UNC’s students who apply to medical school get in…let that sink in for a second. One of this university’s gems is their 9-week Medical Education Development (MED) summer program. This rigorous program allows students to shadow physicians and participate in lectures and seminars for professional development. MED also mirrors a first-year medical student curriculum—it’s like getting a little taste of med school. Although there is no specific pre-med track at UNC, these students still receive a lot of guidance. “I think that the way all pre-med students, regardless of their declared majors, are accommodated and assisted throughout the process is [unique],” said Danielle Jamieson, a psychology and Hispanic linguistics senior.2. GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITYThe pre-med students at GWU aren’t limited to studying within the U.S. The university offers a study abroad program in the United Kingdom where students are given the option to either study at Kings College University of London or Oxford University. GWU also offers an all-in-one program where students can earn their bachelor’s degree and medical degree. However, this is a selective program. Only students who have demonstrated leadership and academic excellence, and have healthcare experience are permitted in this program. These lucky students get their MCAT waived and are admitted into GWU’s Medical School at a fixed tuition (big emphasis on lucky students).GWU offers an all in one program that leads to BA/MD. Program is based on academic excellence, healthcare experience, community service and demonstrated leadership. Incoming freshman are admitted into George Washington Medical at a fixed tuition rate; MCAT is waived.3. HARVARD UNIVERSITYEver wish you had a mentor who was also a doctor and always available for you? Well, Harvard does for their pre-med students. “At Harvard, we have three separate pre-medical advisers, one of whom is a doctor, available at any time, in addition to a pre-medical advisor who lives in the same dorm as you once you get to sophomore year, which is not common at other colleges,” said Bryan Peaker, a freshman studying human developmental and regenerative biology. And the advising doesn’t stop there. Harvard has a handbook for students on the pre-med track that tells them what classes they need to take, when to take them and how to get into medical school.4. BOSTON UNIVERSITYRemember when Charlie got a golden ticket to get into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? This is a similar case for the students at BU, except instead of a chocolate factory it’s med school. With their Early Assurance Program, students are guaranteed a ticket (provisional admission) into BU’s Medical School. This university also offers a duel liberal arts and medical degree path that gives students the chance to earn both their Bachelor of Arts and medical degree in seven years, as apposed to eight. To get into their accelerated program (different from the early assurance one) you need to complete the SAT or ACT plus Writing and SAT Subject Tests in Chemistry Math 2 and, if you’re feeling brave, Foreign Language. This place keeps sounding more and more like a chocolate factory.5. GEORGETOWNImagine finding out you got into medical school during your sophomore year of college—that’s what we call a stress reliever. The pre-med students at Georgetown get this privilege with the university’s Early Assurance Program. This program is for students who want to attend Georgetown’s School of Medicine and have excelled in their studies and have completed four semesters and classes in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry. These brainiacs can apply at the end of their sophomore year if they have completed four semesters at Georgetown and have taken four pre-med courses. Another plus from this program is that the students’ MCAT is waived. Georgetown also has a few pre-med clubs like the Pre-Medical Society and the Pre-Dental Society. The Pre-Medical society not only provides advising for pre-med students, but also sponsors mock interviews and brings in guest speakers from the medical field to talk to the student members.Georgetown allows undergraduate students to gain the training needed to meet medical school criteria; program is part of the degree curriculum. A Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical program is also available for bachelor degree holders who lack core Pre-Med Science courses.6. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITYSome say the best learning happens outside of the classroom, and that’s the case at Johns Hopkins University. Occasionally the professors let their students into their labs for research. The students here can get even more outside learning by taking a 15-minute shuttle ride to Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, where they can shadow doctors and conduct research. With all these opportunities, the pre-med students here don’t feel the need to compete with each other. “As undergrads, we encourage and assist each other in all of our coursework. [It’s] definitely not a cut-throat, competitive environment like some say,” said George Bugarinovic, a public health and natural sciences senior.JHU offers a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med program for all medical specializations. Program is offered on the undergraduate campus, School of Medicine and at the School of Public Health; students are able to carve out their own area of study.7. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAIf you’re in no rush to start med school, you’ve stumbled upon the perfect university. U Penn doesn’t believe in giving their pre-med students a fast track path into medical school. They want their students to complete their degree in four years so they can take additional classes that will make them more prepared for med school and beyond. U Penn is also located near several large medical institutes, like the Pennsylvania Hospital, which provide them with opportunities to shadow doctors and volunteer at hospitals. Clearly, this university knows what it’s doing since 76 percent of U Penn students get into medical school.U Penn offers a few Post Baccalaureate programs, two are relevant to the study of medicine; these include the Pre Health Core Studies and the Pre Health Specialized Studies. Both programs are very selective and pave way for further medical studies.8. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONAs one of the top medical schools in the nation, it’s no surprise that the University of Washington has one of the best pre-med tracks in the nation as well. With a large number of premedical clubs (Alpha Epsilon Delta is a big one) and numerous shadowing opportunities, these students will be wearing white coats in no time. “The shadowing opportunities and your ability to get into research your freshman year is unreal, it’s [one] you can’t get everywhere. My winter quarter of my freshman year I got to shadow a mitral valve replacement [surgeon],” said Alec Sullivan, a competitive history of ideas sophomore.9. CORNELL UNIVERSITYHere’s a shocker: another Ivy landed on our list. With its two-year pre-med track program, Cornell prepares students by offering courses—introductory biology and chemistry courses to name a few—on sciences that are related to medicine. Students also have the chance to volunteer at the Cayuga Medical Center—a non-profit hospital right by the university. One of Cornell’s greatest resources is their PATCH club—a student-run organization that brings together pre-med and pre-health students. PATCH welcomes all pre-health students and offers a supportive environment and beneficial opportunities for its members such as bringing in guest speakers to talk about their experience in the health care field.10. NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYThe pre-med track is not an easy one, and Northwestern University gets that. Its pre-med peer mentor program (NU PPMP) selects upperclassmen with a strong academic standing to guide and support underclassmen on the pre-med track. This university is also big on research. Students are allowed to conduct their own independent study.“I joined a lab for two years and was able to take a really active role in research and actually got a Nature publication out of my time there,” said Jane Wang, biology major and 2014 graduate.NWU offers study abroad programs in the United Kingdom; students may elect to study at Kings College University of London or Oxford University. A Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is also offered to those hoping to complete the course work required for medical school.Top Premed CollegesBy Joe ThomasTop premed colleges can be ranked several ways, but the title of best academic program is indicative of the overall quality of medical students that a premed college produces. There are several ways to rank top premed colleges, such as MCAT and GPA, United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores or applications received, but the fact remains that you should find a school that is a good fit for your personality and in a location you would enjoy attending. Some feel that for many students, their success, or lack of it, might be largely unrelated to the individual medical school.Using Student Scores and GPAWhen you consider MCAT scores that are greater than 31.5 and GPAs of greater than 3.5, the list gets narrower and can give you a better indication of competitive med schools that turn out the highest achievers and therefore, get more prestigious academic acknowledgement. The average USMLE scores are better statistics to consider than USMLE pass rates, but med schools don't publish board scores for confidentiality reasons. There are some premed colleges that have high pass rates, but lower average USMLE scores. It is a combination of several factors that make up the top premed colleges on this listing of colleges.The Ten Top Premed Colleges by MCAT and GPAWashington University St. Louis: 1 Children's Place, #4S20, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, Phone (314) 454-6120, http://www.medschool.wustl.eduHarvard Medical School: 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, Phone (617) 432-1000, http://www.hms.harvard.edu/hmsJohn Hopkins University School of Medicine: 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, Phone (410) 955-5000, Home | Johns Hopkins UniversityVanderbilt School of Medicine: 215 Light Hall, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, Phone (615) 322-2145 Vanderbilt University School of MedicineYale School of Medicine: 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, Phone (203-785-2696), Yale School of MedicineDuke University School of Medicine: DUMC 3710, Durham, North Carolina 27710, Phone (919) 684-2985, Office of M.D. AdmissionsStanford School of Medicine: 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94305, Phone (650) 723-4000, Stanford MedicineMayo Medical School: 200 First Street S.W., Rochester Minnesota 55905, Phone (507) 284-2316, Mayo ClinicNew York University: 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, Phone (212) 263-7300, Education and TrainingUniversity of Pennsylvania: Suite 100, Stemmler Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, Phone (215)898-8001, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaRankings of Premed Colleges by Student ApplicationsThe number of student applications gives an indication of the most popular choices made by premed students, but a larger portion of students will not be admitted due to admissions limits. Harvard and Stanford also make this listing, but the other eight choices are not in the top ten that are ranked by MCAT and GPA scores.University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine: 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90095, Phone (310) 825-4321, University of CaliforniaUniversity of California: 110 Sproul Hall, #5800, Berkeley, California 94720, Phone (510) 642-6000, University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of Michigan Medical School: 1301 Catherine Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, Phone (734) 763-9600, Michigan MedicineUniversity of Texas Medical School: 6431 Fannin Street, MSB G420 Houston, Texas, Phone (713) 500-5116, http://www.uth.tmc.eduUniversity of Florida Gainesville: P.O. Box 100235, Gainesville, Florida 32610, Phone (352) 273-7500, University of FloridaUniversity of California San Diego: 9500 Gilman Drive, LaJolla, CA 92093, Phone (858) 534-2230, University of California San DiegoHarvard School of Medicine: 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, Phone (617) 432-1000, http://www.hms.harvard.edu/hmsUniversity of Wisconsin Madison: 750 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, Phone (608) 265-6344, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of Virginia School of Medicine: P.O. Box 800725, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, Phone (434) 924-5571, UVA Health SystemUniversity of Illinois Medical School: 601 S. Morgan Street, Chicago, Illinois, Phone (312) 996-7000, http://ww.uic.eduStanford School of Medicine: 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94305, Phone (650) 723-4000, Stanford MedicineChoosing a CollegeThere are many fine colleges for premed students and while some names are more recognizable than others, there is a good selection in a variety of regions across the country. The best advice when searching for the premed college choices that offer the best programs, is to find the ones that are best suited to all facets of your life and your medical education goals. Accredited colleges offer similar basic programs, but some might offer more specialized courses that are tailored to different healthcare fields. This is a consideration that most premed students use when determining the best premed college to meet their medical career goals.Best Universities for Pre-Med Students: List of Top SchoolsAlthough medical schools are often indifferent to an applicant's major, they usually look for prerequisite coursework in general and organic chemistry, biology, English, and physics. A strong undergraduate grade point average and competitive Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores can also help students gain entry to a good medical or dental school. Some of the best universities for pre-med students include Harvard University, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and the University of Pennsylvania, all of which are highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report.Harvard University in Cambridge, MAHarvard University was ranked as the best medical research school for 2015 by U.S. News World Report. It is an Ivy League institution and has over a dozen groups for pre-med students, such as the Harvard Premedical Society, Harvard Hippocratic Society, and Latinos in Health Careers. The Office of Career Services provides pre-med planning for undergraduate students who want to apply to medical school upon graduation. Harvard also assists students in planning for careers in dental medicine, public health and advanced nursing.University of North Carolina in Chapel HillAs designated by U.S News & World Report in 2015, the University of North Carolina's medical program ranked second in primary care. Pre-med students get assistance from the Health Professions Advising Office in choosing programs and classes, applying to medical schools, and preparing for the MCAT. UNC also offers the Medical Education Development program (MED), a rigorous 9-week summer program for select students that mirrors a first-year medical school curriculum. Of the MED students who apply to medical school, 90% are accepted.The University of North Carolina has an active chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-professional health honor society.University of Pennsylvania in PhiladelphiaIn 2015, US News & World Report ranked the University of Pennsylvania eighth among national universities and fifth for medical research. A member of the Ivy League, this university offers advising and planning for undergraduate students preparing to attend allopathic or osteopathic medical schools. It also offers guidance for students interested in dental school. Through the College of Liberal and Professional Studies, Penn also provides a post-baccalaureate, pre-health program for students who have earned an undergraduate degree in a non-science major or who want to be better prepared for advanced medical study.The University is home to several medical research institutes studying Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and AIDS, as well as cardiovascular health, developmental biology, and head injuries.Top Schools for Pre-Med StudentsLet's take a look at some of the other top schools for pre-med students.Columbia University in New York, NY provides a comprehensive pre-medical handbook for students planning a pre-med curriculum. Columbia University offers a Post-Bachelor Premedical program that is considered the oldest and largest in the United States. Students from the program make up 90% of placement in American medical programs; program provides linkage to Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.Cornell University in Ithaca, NY was named 11th best university in the world by the Center for World University Rankings.Johns Hopkins University encourages students to take a year off between undergraduate and medical school to gain additional experiences or conduct research. The school is located in Baltimore, MD.Northwestern University, located in Evanston, IL, has an undergraduate research grants program that provides pre-med students with funding to conduct independent research.The University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in Minneapolis, MN offers an online interactive workshop for students called Planning for Medical School.The University of Washington in Seattle, WA has an online guide to help students prepare for medical school admissions.The University of Wisconsin - Madison advises students wishing to pursue studies in physical or occupational therapy, pharmacology, physician assistance, and nursing in addition to medicine and dentistry.The best university for pre-med studies really depends on what you want from a school, because each of the top-ranked schools has unique aspects that help to make it one of the best.Colleges That Produce the Most DoctorsBy Nick Selbe on September 24, 2015In the coming months, pre-med undergraduates at colleges across the country will be preparing to apply for medical school.But where are most of the medical school applications coming from? StartClass set out to find which undergraduate schools produce the most medical school applications.The data comes from the Association of American Medical Colleges. The AAMC notes that the data is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an assessment of an institution's pre-medical educational or advisory programs.Another caveat for this list is that schools with larger overall student bodies will obviously have more medical school applicants than smaller schools. Though the list is not a ranking of the best premedical schools, it is helpful to know which schools have the most aspiring doctors.#1 UCLA (919)#2 Michigan (825)#3 UC Berkeley (769)#4 UF (760)#5 UT Austin#6 UCSD#7 Cornell (509)#8 U Georgia (481)#9 Ohio State (473)#10 U Wisconsin - Madison (456)#11 BYU (450)#12 UIUC (427)#13 UC Davis (427)#14 U Washington (417)# 15 Texas A&M (411)#16 UNC (394)#17 JHU (390)#18 Duke (387)# 19 Emory (386)# 20 Rutgers (385)#21 UVA (368)#22 U Maryland - College Park (365)#23 Wash U (354)#24 U Arizona (353)#25 U Miami (348)#26 U Notre Dame (344)#27 Michigan State (343)#28 NYU (339)#28 U Penn (339)#30 Harvard (323)Pre-Med Choice of Undergraduate College Does Affect Med School Chances: What to ConsiderPosted on January 27, 2017 by Cheryl — 22 Comments ↓(Updated 2016) Some maintain that it doesn’t matter which undergraduate college you go to, as long as you get a top GPA and MCAT score. That’s wishful thinking. While high numbers are essential no matter where you go, once med schools look beyond their MCAT/GPA cut-offs, their decisions are impacted by where you attend undergraduate college, just as residency decisions are affected by which med school you attend. It’s not so much the school’s name, but the resources that it offers, that make the choice of undergraduate college so essential.This post is a long one because there are many things to consider. So, get comfy and read on.Look Closer When You’re Pre-MedPre-meds have to consider more than the basic college selection criteria — a good fit socially, the right size, talented professors, a decent location, etc. A pre-med also needs tools and opportunities that the average college undergraduate doesn’t, such as chances for research and publication, guidance from a knowledgeable pre-med adviser and, if possible, a letter of evaluation from a pre-med advisory committee. In fact, my son, AC, was so convinced the undergraduate college mattered, that he decided to transfer from his good, solid state university to a more pre-med focused university. That new college had the resources to better prepare him for the demanding medical specialty and top research med schools he hoped to (and eventually did) attend. Here’s what he considered:History of Med School Admissions. Even as a freshman, AC had an idea of what specialty he wanted to get into, and which med schools would help him get there. But after doing research, including discussions with his college advisers and professors, and Internet searches on class profiles for various med schools, he found that almost no one from his college had gone to those schools. It could have been that no one from his college had applied – that wouldn’t have been surprising considering how few pre-meds were on campus. Or, it could have been that those from his college who had applied had not gotten in. Either way, that lack of a connection between his undergraduate college and his target med schools was a concern. Such history, or lack of it, is one factor to look at in considering an undergraduate college.2008.11.25 – The physician by Adrian Clark (Flickr Creative Commons)Availability of a Comprehensive Pre-Med Advisory Committee Program. While many undergraduate colleges do not have pre-med advisory committees, there is a significant benefit to those that do. An established pre-med committee program offers expert advice and guidance as to course selection, application development, and application processing throughout the undergraduate years. An experienced pre-med adviser will protect you from rooky mistakes such as taking your organic chem classes during the summer (most med schools don’t like that) or assuming your high school AP chemistry credits will satisfy the pre-med chemistry requirement (it probably won’t).Most valuable are those committees that provide a committee letter of evaluation, which med schools prefer over only individual recommendation letters. The pre-med committee letter is given after the student provides information on his activities and research, sometimes a draft of his med school essay, and even a med school style interview with one or more committee members or other faculty. Some medical schools have relationships with certain pre-med committees, which could make a great letter from one of those committees have greater weight. Overall, an experienced pre-med committee can be invaluable, and whether your potential undergraduate college has one is an important consideration.Availability of Pre-Med Living-Learning Communities. Some colleges offer pre-med living-learning communities, much like honors communities, where pre-meds are grouped together in dorms and offered medicine-related programs. AC’s first undergraduate college did have one, and it was one of the most valuable aspects of his freshman year there. Although it had just a handful of pre-med students, the learning community offered AC exposure to other pre-meds and health professionals, presentations about and by some med schools, and community service or clinical opportunities.Pre-Med Honor Societies.. Alpha Epsilon Delta is the national honor society for pre-meds. Check to see whether your prospective college has a chapter. AC was a member of a chapter in his freshman year, and found it helpful both in meeting more pre-meds and in planning events of interest to aspiring physicians. Just be careful not to spend too much time attending meetings that won’t necessarily advance your goal to become a doctor. While groups like this can have value, especially for people who aren’t positive they want to commit to medicine, if you must choose between going to a meeting and taking part in another meaningful activity that you love, choose what you love. Being passionate about something is attractive to med schools, which seek students who will become passionate doctors.National Eye Institute : Documenting Research Findings (Flickr Creative Commons)Availability of Research Opportunities. Pre-meds, especially those planning on a research (as opposed to a primary care) medical school, need some type of research experience, preferably in an area that relates to medicine. Undergraduate schools with significant research money and a willingness to get their students into research early on, are much more valuable to such pre-meds than colleges with only small pots of research money.Potential for Publication. In addition to research opportunities, a pre-med planning on attending a research medical school benefits from a chance to publish. Generally, universities with significant research money have more publication opportunities than universities that aren’t heavy on research funding.Availability of Clinical Experience. Pre-meds, especially those interested in primary care, need opportunities to get clinical experience. Colleges with nearby hospitals or clinics could offer that potential.Rigor of the Curriculum. Top med schools often list a rigorous curriculum as a selection factor. When looking at colleges, ask these questions: Are the hard science courses strong enough that they will help prepare you for the MCAT? Are high-level science courses such as genetics or neuroscience offered? (Small, humanities-focused liberal arts colleges may not offer them.) Is the college recognized by inclusion in chapters of highly selective honor societies? Does it actively promote and advance its students to become scholars for exclusive programs such as the Fulbright or Goldwater? Med school committee members, like everyone else, are impressed with those types of honors. Does your potential undergraduate college nurture them?I can’t read a word of this essay of yours. Excellent WorkOther Considerations. There are plenty of people who want to chime in on which universities are the best for pre-meds. Online Colleges, Schools, Universities and Scholarships reviews by America edu - compiled a list of its “Top 20 Pre-Med Schools in America.” College Magazine published a Top 10 list in its 2015 “CM’s Top 10 Universities for Pre-Med Students.” And there are endless discussions about which are the best pre-med schools on forums such as College Confidential.But there are many very personal questions you need to answer before choosing your school. For example, becoming immersed in a predominantly and aggressively pre-med culture could narrow and skew your view of the world. How would that impact you as a person and an aspiring doctor? Also, the top pre-med colleges sometimes have a very competitive, almost cutthroat atmosphere, and some schools are very harsh in their grading. Will you will be able to thrive and pull the top grades you need from such a college? Consider seriously that your plans to be a doctor could end if you can’t get the grades you need for med school acceptance from that top pre-med college. You must know yourself well when choosing your pre-med college, just as you must in making the decision to pursue a career in medicine.Interview Groups told AC the Real Story: Your Undergrad College MattersGotCredit: College (Flickr Creative Commons)There are numerous debates on whether the undergraduate college you choose is important to your success with getting into med school. Some people charge that it’s all about “name dropping,” and that private schools perpetuate the myth that their degrees hold more value than less expensive public universities. The subject has been hotly debated in the college and student doctor forums. For example, see The Student Doctor Network’s “The Effect of Undergrad School on Med School Acceptance,” and “Theory: Admissions at Medical School DO Care Where You Went to Undergrad,” and Student Doc’s “Does Undergrad Prestige Carry Any Weight in Admissions?”But for AC, the tale was told when he did his interviews at a half-dozen of the best med schools in the country, and found one similarity: “I was meeting kids from the same schools over and over. They were from the Ivys, the public Ivys, and other top, very selective undergraduate colleges. I almost never met applicants from regular state schools. I know this isn’t a scientific way to make the conclusion, and I know so many of the best doctors and minds come from state schools and community colleges, but what I saw repeatedly in my interviews convinced me that coming from a top-ranked university with a lot of resources seemed to be a prerequisite for interviews at the top med schools.”Maximize the Resources of Your CollegeCollege Gameday by Phil Roeder (Flickr Creative Commons)All of this advice is valid and (I hope) valuable. But the reality is, circumstances (money, grades, scores, personal obligations, simply personal preference) may dictate you attend a college that doesn’t have a big pre-med focus. Yet, that does not mean you won’t have a chance of attending a good — or even a top — medical school. The most important way to make it to med school is to be knowledgeable and fully prepared for the journey ahead. Read all you can about different med school programs, what the schools are looking for, how to prepare for the MCAT test, even the possibility of doing a post-baccalaureate program if needed to boost your preparation for med school. Figure out how to get that clinical experience, research, community service, and leadership background that will prepare you for medicine.Learn about any and all activities your undergraduate school does have for pre-meds, and take full advantage of them. Even if it doesn’t have a pre-med advisory committee, it may have a pre-professional honor society such as Alpha Epsilon Delta. If your school’s chapter isn’t very active, join it and lead it into new and more productive directions. If there is no chapter, look into starting one, or check on whether there are chapters at nearby colleges.No honor society chapter? Start a less formal pre-med club to bring in speakers and doctors for education and possible mentoring. How to do that? Check with your school’s student activities office about the process for starting a club. Then talk to one of your professors, perhaps one that teaches a pre-med course such as biology or organic chemistry, about being your club adviser. AC was able to start an organic chemistry club at his school. It took a couple months to figure out the process, find an adviser, and then organize and publicize meetings, but the school was supportive and it eventually did happen. Your college wants you to succeed because it makes it look good, too, so let it know what you need, and ask for help.Aggressively look for a mentor who can guide you and, when the time comes to file your application, can speak personally about the qualities you have that will make you a good doctor. If you want to end up at a good med school, search out your college pre-med adviser early on, and talk about your goals. Ask for ways to help prepare you for what will be ahead as a pre-med, a med school applicant, and a med student. If your adviser is not very knowledgeable about med school preparation and the application process, ask him who is. Have him direct you to other possible resources, such as a local doctor who might take you as an intern. Or, talk to your university health clinic about letting you shadow its doctors. And, do your research on what is needed for a competitive application, then work hard to get the experience that will make you stand out in the crowd.Finally, keep in mind that, in some ways, being at a less pre-med focused university or a smaller college can have benefits, because you are more likely to stand out among your peers. You also may end up with much closer personal relationships with your professors, who will want to help you meet your high goals, and promote you in every way they can.The key is to be a knowledgeable self-starter, to ask for help and opportunities, and then to run with them. In fact, that is an essential characteristic for being a good doctor, so you might as well start building it now.TEDx GeorgeMasonU:George Mason University’s First TEDx Conference (Flickr Creative Commons)Parental Assist: Of course, there is the normal preparation needed for any kid considering colleges — take him to the schools to check them out, consider the big issues like location, costs, etc. Urge him to see whether there are any admissions talks specifically for pre-meds, and to attend them with questions ready to ask. Suggest he focus on issues such as med school admissions information, strength of any med school advisory committee, whether the committee does letters of evaluation, etc. Ask if he has specific med schools in mind yet, and offer to help research information such as med school admissions data for those schools. You could also offer to create files for each school, and/or charts to facilitate comparisons. But remember to also gauge how much your student is invested in these preparations. You should be a helpmate, not the driving force. If he isn’t interested in doing prep work himself, he probably is not ready to embrace a medical career.If it’s clear your kid is committed to pre-med, but won’t be going to a great pre-med school, be sure he understands that does not mean he will lose his dream of getting into a good or even a top med school, and becoming an excellent doctor. Plenty of exceptional doctors have come out of lesser- known undergraduate schools. It’s all about working hard to accomplish the goal.Top 20 Pre-Med Schools in America - Education AmericaMarch 8, 2011Top 20 CollegesTop 20 Pre Med Schools in America, listed by School, Average Verbal MCAT Score, Average Physical Science MCAT Score, Average Biological MCAT Science Score and Average GPA (unraked).Ø Cornell University offers a two year Pre Med track; program prepares students for entry into the four year medical degree program. Course focuses on sciences that are related to medicine; no degree is awarded.Ø Creighton University offers a 4 or 5 year Pre Med Nursing Track; a bachelor’s is awarded in both programs. A Post-Baccalaureate is also administered through the School Of Medicine; program prepares students intensively for medical school.Ø Boston University offers a Pre-Medical program in Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine and Pre Veterinary Medicine, program allows students to create specific areas of study; a post baccalaureate certificate program is also offered.Ø Dartmouth Medical School offers a pre-med program in conjunction with Dartmouth College, an arrangement also exists between Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) and Dartmouth College. Health professionals advise and help students applying to medical, veterinarian and medical schools.Ø East Tennessee State University (J.H. Quillen) prepares students for the 4 year Doctor of Medicine degree through its Pre-Medicine Program. Students must complete courses required by most medical schools; these include Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, English and Communication.Ø Baylor University provides a Pre-Med curriculum that emphasizes all areas of course work; medical pre-professionals are recommended to take Biology Chemistry, English, Mathematics and Physics.Ø George Washington University offers an all in one program that leads to BA/MD. Program is based on academic excellence, healthcare experience, community service and demonstrated leadership. Incoming freshman are admitted into George Washington Medical at a fixed tuition rate; MCAT is waived.Ø John Hopkins offers a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med program for all medical specializations. Program is offered on the undergraduate campus, School of Medicine and at the School of Public Health; students are able to carve out their own area of study.Ø Georgetown allows undergraduate students to gain the training needed to meet medical school criteria; program is part of the degree curriculum. A Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical program is also available for bachelor degree holders who lack core Pre-Med Science courses.Ø Saint Louis University’s 4 year Pre-Medical curriculum provides a foundation in the courses required for med school. Courses include Biology, Chemistry Physics and Calculus; program allows students to complete courses across disciplines.Ø Mount Sinai School of Medicine administers a Humanities and Medicine Early Acceptance Program, program was designed to prepare students for medical school. The 8 week summer program includes studies in Physics & Organic Chemistry, as well as other health disciplines.Ø Northwestern University offers study abroad programs in the United Kingdom; students may elect to study at Kings College University of London or Oxford University. A Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is also offered to those hoping to complete the course work required for medical school.Ø Ranked as one the Best Medical Schools (US News), Ohio State’s School of Allied Medical Professions Division of Medical Technology offers a Medical Science Track that leads to a BS in Science. Program was designed for pre-pharmacy, pre-dental, pre-vet and pre med students.Ø Howard University offers a dual degree in BS/MD; program allows students to earn both degrees in six years. Program makes an easy transition from undergraduate to graduate study; an overall G.P.A of 3.5 and an MCAT score of 24 must be satisfied. Students must also meet the minimum G.P.A of 3.25 in science.Ø Temple University offers two tracks of study for students who intend to study medicine, tracks include BCMS and ACMS. BCMS-Basic Core in Medical Sciences Program was designed for those lacking the core requirements needed for medical school. ACMS is for students who wish to enhance their credentials so as to pursue a career in medicine.Ø University of Iowa administers a Pre-Medicine track that includes math, chemistry, biology and physics. Students must declare a major in a specific area, program has led to high medical school acceptance rates.Ø University of Miami offers a Pre Law Undergraduate Program as well as a Post Baccalaureate Program; the Post Baccalaureate Program helps bachelor degree holders who feel they need more preparation prior to applying to law school.Ø University of Pennsylvania offers a few Post Baccalaureate programs, two are relevant to the study of medicine; these include the Pre Health Core Studies and the Pre Health Specialized Studies. Both programs are very selective and pave way for further medical studies.Ø University of South Florida offers programs to help prepare students for professional schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and many other health related fields. Students must choose another major besides the pre-professional requirement.Ø Columbia University offers a Post-Bachelor Premedical program that is considered the oldest and largest in the United States. Students from the program make up 90% of placement in American medical programs; program provides linkage to Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Here are one or two or a hundred:I’ll start with some that I’ve already written about, and then I’ll move to a bunch more I found on the internet.First, here is the link to the Cornell University project: ZooniverseThey are calling the project “Hawk Talk”!That link takes you to the “About” page, which describes the project. In the right top corner, you’ll see a link to the “Classify” page. That’s where you’ll want to go to participate. It allows participation from anonymous volunteers if you wish, or you can also register and have your contributions noted by name.Basically, what’s going on is that they are trying to collect additional data about the vocalizations that Red Tailed Hawks make (their sounds, or calls), and what the various calls mean. Normally, this would almost be impossible… or at the very best, it would require researchers to spend thousands of hours just watching a cam. There’s not enough hours in anyone’s day to do that, without missing something. So, they have set up this project, where any of you can help collect the data. What they’ve done is… they have broken up hundreds of hours of nest cam footage, into 10-second clips. Clearly, this results in many thousands of clips. What they hope is that enough people will get involved and that each person will run through these short clips, hoping to catch a moment when either one of the parent hawks, or one of the chicks, is calling out in some way. There is a set of four questions next to each clip, which are to be answered. Then, when the project is over, they will have caught every single instance of red tail vocalization, and exactly what they were doing at that exact moment. It’s quite a brilliant project plan. But it requires the help of hundreds of people who want to spend 5 or 10 minutes of their day or night, running through the clips one by one and clicking on the various possible answers.Okay, so this one is a whole lot of fun. It’s actually a sub-section of Zooniverse, above. But there are a lot of menu items in Zooniverse, so I wanted to point this one out in particular as I’ve had a lot of fun and spent quite a few hours playing with it. It’s basically photos taken by a automatic Trail Cam. Each photo was set off by something moving, and they are asking you to look at each still-shot and try to find what it was that set off the camera. Sometimes it was just the wind on a weed or something you can’t see. But they have thousands of photos to go through, so they’re asking for the public’s help in flipping through them. There are two cams here… one for mammals and one for birds. Give it a try! I found it to be a bit addicting, sort of like finding Waldo! Sometimes you need to adjust the contrast, or maybe change it into a negative photo. Usually you find nothing, but sometimes you’ll see a bobcat, coyote, or maybe just a hare’s or rabbit’s butt running off the photo’s edge. This was set up by Sky Island Alliance, an environmental group I worked with for a number of years, out of Tucson, AZ: Help Us ID Species - Sky Island AllianceNext… I’ll give you the best kept secret I know for nature lovers; how easy it is to VOLUNTEER for wildlife. It can change your life and give you adventures & knowledge you never thought you’d have access to. No matter if you’re a banker, a soccer mom, a grandma, a student or an electrician… there are groups you can join near you. Most people have no idea.Volunteers Home Page, US Fish & Wildlife ServiceThere are infinite ways to learn about nature. School, reading, asking, etc. But nothing beats DOING. And this is extremely easy. The number of opportunities to volunteer in nature-related work are more than I can count. If you are in the USA, look at the link above; The US Fish & Wildlife Service Volunteer Opportunities page. I’ve used it. Whether you live in Mississippi, Alaska, the deserts of Arizona, or anywhere in between, there are ways that you can volunteer your time out in the field and get the best education about nature that you could imagine. Get your boots in the mud. Walk the prairies counting antelope. Scramble over rocks looking for tortoises. Wade though rivers picking up trash or fixing bank erosion. Change the ground bedding at a Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility. Spend two hours a week, and go home after. Spend a weekend a month and camp out with fellow volunteers for a weekend project. Spend a two week stretch in the wilderness on an advanced project. Be the car pool driver for your fellow volunteers. If you have a little time and no money, or a lot of time and can help with supplies… it doesn’t matter. Go out and help and you will learn more than you can imagine.US Fish & Wildlife is but one resource. One of hundreds or thousands.Water SentinelsThe picture above is a group I’ve helped with. Water Sentinels. It’s part of the Sierra Club Near YouVolunteering Opportunities Government Agencies Various outdoor opportunities in your stateWorking with Us | US Forest Service Self-explanatory. Much of this volunteer work is in National and State Parks. Also involves the planting of seedlings, a vital task usually done by volunteers. Programs for kids, too!Wildlife Conservation Volunteering That one is for international projects. However… please be aware that most of what you’ll find on this site internationally requires you to pay a considerable fee to participate. From $2000 - $8000. I can’t really wholeheartedly endorse these types of programs… at least not all of them. Since they are businesses, and they give you a grand adventure, they are “for profit”, so the animal’s welfare isn’t necessarily the first priority. I’ve provided this link just so you know that these programs exist. Some may certainly be worth a look, but my preference is to volunteer locally (and for free!). Every area has wildlife volunteer opportunities of their own, close to where you live.United States wildlife habitat Volunteer Opportunities That one covers everything from taking a whole summer to be a care-taker, to meet-ups on weekends to do local projects for a few hours.Get Involved That one is for locals in FloridaVolunteer Opportunities There’s for MichiganVolunteer - Sky Island Alliance A fantastic group I spent years with in Arizona. This is where I got introduced to someone who eventually recommended me for a spot on the jaguar research team:Volunteer Opportunities at Texas State Parks There’s one of the many in TexasI could go on, but I think I’ve made my point. Google “Wildlife Volunteer Opportunities in ______” or “Environmental Volunteer Opportunities in _____” (fill in your city or state)…and you will find the way to learn about nature, with other people who also care, also want to learn. You’ll be amazed at the adventurous things you will end up doing.Do you live somewhere other than America? Then try some of these:Here’s one of the resources in India: List of wildlife volunteering programs across India..Try this one in Brazil: ▷ Volunteer in Brazil | Top 10 Projects for 2018 | Volunteer WorldHow bout Norway? The Norwegian Wildlife HospitalOr South Africa? 7 Places To Volunteer With Animals In South Africa (Just don’t go swimming, wearing a seal suit!)Keep Calm and Volunteer in England: Animal Volunteer Work UKCheerio!Whether you’re in India, Norway, Chile, Australia or the USA, every place has people, groups and agencies that will give you these adventures if you offer them a bit of your time and effort. 13 year-olds can help and learn. 75 year-olds can help and learn.You can stay on Quora and read the hundreds of awesome nature and animal articles I’ve written (some are quite good, if I do say so myself!)… but instead of that, I would suggest you start searching for a group near you who go out and make a difference and who need your help. It’s a win/win situation. It’s easy and fascinating. You just have to get started. Take a friend with you! You can thank me later, for helping you discover a world of adventure that was right under your nose the whole time. I highly recommend it!EDIT: One important additional point… once you volunteer for any of these government agencies, non-profits, groups, etc., you'll become privy to many more fun opportunities directly from them, which aren't advertised on the websites. Once you are in the inner circle, get to know people, and start building a reputation as being dependable and passionate… you will get good references for the really good stuff at other organizations. This was my experience as well, and as an example, it's how I got a tip and good reference for a job with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. It was a month long research project that took me by helicopter to the bottom of a branch off the Grand Canyon. I was put on a waiting list, and about 6 months later, got the call. I felt very privileged, as the other members of the small team of seven were all reputable biologists and researchers from all over the country. This is also where I had my adventure of being stalked by a mountain lion that some of you may have read about, elsewhere on Quora. It was a thrill of a lifetime, and all due to having volunteered diligently, and building a solid reputation in that inner circle of wildlife professionals and volunteers, the year prior. All of this experience and reputation also eventually made me a shoe-in for, years later, getting a position at the Carolina Raptor Center, which was also life changing. So I urge you… just get started! Good luck! It's extremely satisfying.These are the Non government Organizations you should keep an eye out for if your passion is helping animals. Find out who they are to start saving lives today!World Wildlife Fund (WWF)One of the largest organizations in the world dedicated to save nature and ensure endangered species.You can go to their site and there you will find many different ways to contribute, amongst which are signing petitions or contacting officials to save endangered species, travel with WWF to natural habitats, make donations, adopt an animal, and many other ways to help make a difference.Humane Society of the United StatesCompletely dedicated to animal protection, this organization offers the opportunity to help in three big ways: Animal rescue and care, Animal advocacy, and Pets and shelters.Animal rescue and care – You can be a part of the rescue team, disaster response, mobile vet clinics, or sanctuaries and care centers.Animal advocacy – You can help advocate through public policy, corporate reforms, and major campaigns.Pets and shelters – Providing humane residence for animals in need.Go to their site to find out more.Read more on Activism with Compassion: Volunteering at Farm SanctuariesAmerican Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (ASPCA)This society is a huge advocate for animals in need, ASPCA offers nationwide volunteer opportunities where you can advocate in legislative and public policies, get on the investigations and response team, advocate to protect horses from slaughter, volunteer at adoption centers, and be a pet foster parent.Find out more here.Animal Welfare Institute (AWI)The AWI seeks better treatment for animals everywhere, in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.Though you should know that because AWI is the country’s leader in obtaining laws to benefit animals in need, it is slightly a less hands on kind of experience, the kind of help they encourage you to give is donating to their causes or getting involved with their initiatives and raising awareness for their cause.You can find all the information you need here.PetSmart CharitiesTheir goal is to end animal homelessness by investing in animal welfare charities all over the country to get pets adopted, and fund spay/neuter surgeries to prevent unplanned litters and reduce overpopulation from the start.And the best part is that they have a really good web page where you can easily find the adoption center or spay/neuter clinic closest to you, so you can waste no more time and start saving lives today.Teens Making a DifferenceAre you an animal-loving teen who wants to make a difference? Well, you’ve come to the right place!The Anti-Cruelty Society has been providing shelter and medical care to hundreds of thousands of animals since 1899. This is only possible thanks to hard-working, dedicated individuals who share a passion for helping animals and the people who love them. Volunteers have long been a backbone of the Society, providing much-needed assistance in every department to ensure that the shelter continues to operate smoothly and that the animals in our care stay happy and healthy while they wait for their forever homes. We encourage anyone--of any age--to volunteer! If you love animals and want to help, we have a number of different programs for you to participate in.Have questions? Email [email protected] for answers regarding this or any youth program at The Anti-Cruelty Society!Virtual OpportunitiesLIVE! At The Anti-Cruelty SocietyCalling all classrooms, community groups, and youth clubs! Are you looking for an engaging activity for your group to learn more about animals and animal welfare? Look no further than LIVE! at The Anti-Cruelty Society. This unique virtual program offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the important facets of the work we do to help people and pets at The Anti-Cruelty Society. Click here for details and more!Service ProjectsThe Anti-Cruelty Society offers a wide range of home and classroom-based service learning projects. They are ideal for students in need of service learning hours, scout troops looking to earn a badge or teachers in search of a classroom project. Each different project is worth a specific amount of hours, but you can mix and match to suit your needs.Service Project DetailsWeb WarriorsWhether you’re stuck at home or are simply looking for unique ways to learn and volunteer this program may be just what you are looking for. Explore animal welfare topics, and make a positive impact in your community through our Web Warriors program!Read Web Warriors DetailsVeterinary Mentoring ProgramThe Anti-Cruelty Society, in partnership with The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, offers an exciting program for high school students with a serious interest in veterinary medicine or animal science-related careers. The Veterinary Mentoring Program is an academic program that introduces students to the many areas of science that they will encounter in veterinary school. Students attend seminars one Saturday a month at which they explore various topics and learn how clinical science is used to diagnosis and treat injury and disease in animals.Veterinary Mentoring DetailsTemporarily Suspended: (next four)After School AdvocatesThe After School Advocates program empowers teens ages 13-18 to explore animal welfare issues that affect the Chicago community. After School Advocates gives participants the opportunity to gain valuable insights into animal shelter operations, positive reinforcement training, animal careers, animal abuse in the community, and animal advocacy, while learning from professionals in the field. This limited admission, 4 week programs takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with three sessions per year.After School Advocates DetailsJunior Crafting CrewIf you’re looking for a one-day, on-site volunteer opportunity for your group at the Society, consider signing up to for a Junior Crafting Crew! This onsite program engages youth clubs or classes to help shelter animals in a practical way by crafting enrichment projects using common everyday materials.Junior Crafting Crews DetailsShelter Service DayThe Anti-Cruelty Society welcomes teens to our Shelter Service Day! This unique volunteer opportunity occurs one Thursday per month from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Use your crafting skills to create toys and beds for the animals at The Anti-Cruelty Society so that they can stay cozy and happy while they are in our care.Shelter Service Day DetailsTeens Who CareThis program aims to provide a hands-on volunteer experience for high school youth ages 13-18. Participants will help our animals find homes by performing supportive tasks throughout the shelter departments such as cleaning, animal socialization, administrative assistance, and more.Teens Who Care DetailsVolunteering Opportunities with AnimalsWe know there are TONS of animal lovers out there who wish they could help every single animal in need. If that's you, know that, while you may not be able to help all animals, you can certainly make a difference for many right in your own community.Before looking for volunteer opportunities with animals, think about the type of involvement you want and how much time you realistically have available. For example, would you prefer working directly with animals or providing behind-the-scenes support doing administrative work or fundraising? Would you rather work in a group or do tasks you can perform alone? If you don't have a lot of time for a big commitment, volunteering for a one-time event or for two or three hours here and there can still make a difference.Once you've determined what type of volunteering you want to do and how much time you can devote to volunteering, look for volunteer opportunities with animals in your area and identify ones with missions you feel most passionate about.Below are some ideas for volunteering with animals to get you started. Many non-profit organizations that work with animals will need volunteers to help with one or more of the tasks below.Transport Animals to Appointments - Help shelter animals stay healthy by driving them to and from their vet appointments.Volunteer at a Pet Adoption Event - Shelters often organize adopt-a-thons and other events, many of which require setting up of booths, tents and displays. This is a perfect way to help out for a day if you aren't able to volunteer on a regular basis.Become a Foster Parent - Many animal shelters and rescue groups rely on caring foster parents to provide a loving home for the animals in their care. By volunteering to be a foster parent to an animal, you help keep him out of cages and kennels.Help with Laundry - Shelters go through a lot of laundry, all of which needs to be folded and put away. When volunteers help with these tasks, staff members are free to focus their efforts and attention on caring for the animals. A lot of shelters also rely on volunteers to wash the laundry, as hiring a laundry service often isn't in the budget.Use Your Photography Skills - Help animals find homes by capturing their personalities and overall adorableness with your camera. Photography can increase adoption rates, helping to save animals' lives.Become a Board Member - If you love fundraising and networking and have great management skills, consider becoming a board member at your local animal shelter.Social Media Management - Do you possess excellent social media and advertising skills? You can use these skills to bring attention to the cause of your favorite animal shelter by managing their social media accounts. Share the stories and photos of animals to help promote the shelter's cause and help more animals find homes.Sources:13 Creative Ways to Volunteer for Animal Shelters & RescuesHow Photography Can Save Pets' Lives | PetfinderVolunteer StoriesTestimonialsLocal Volunteer OpportunitiesHoliday Volunteer OpportunitiesB-Corp Partnerships5 Benefits of VolunteeringDownloadable ToolkitSimply put, volunteering your time saves precious lives.In 2018 alone, PAWS volunteers contributed a staggering 74,000 hours toward helping cats, dogs and wild animals in need.HOURS & LOCATIONSEach year, PAWS cares for more than 7,600 cats, dogs and wild animals, and we couldn’t do it without our compassionate and dedicated volunteers. Volunteers work side by side with PAWS staff caring for wildlife and companion animals and helping with education and outreach to the community. We provide the training for all volunteer positions – no prior experience required. Whether you’re feeding orphaned wildlife, helping find homes for cats and dogs, or contributing to the success of an event, you can play an important role in the life-saving work of PAWS.Ready to volunteer?Become a volunteerAre you looking to help animals in need, feel inspired, and meet like-minded animal lovers? Find the requirements for volunteering at PAWS and how to get started.LEARN MOREVolunteer opportunitiesFrom feeding baby birds at the PAWS Wildlife Center to making donor thank you calls from your home, PAWS has volunteer positions for anyone who wants to make a difference. Check out the many opportunities and get involved today!LEARN MOREInternships and externshipsPAWS has a variety of opportunities for those wanting to gain hands-on experience in the fields of companion animal sheltering, wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary medicine, and outreach/education.LEARN MOREPopular Ways to Volunteer with AnimalsLending a hand at the local animal shelter may be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about volunteering with animals, but there are tons of different settings and roles beyond the shelter for prospective volunteers to explore. Wild and domestic animals alike need help from human volunteers, and even those who want to help animals without handling them directly can find their niche.Explore Animal Volunteer PathsAnimal Shelter VolunteeringFostering Pets in Your HomeAgricultural Animal VolunteeringVolunteering with a Therapy PetVolunteering in Wildlife ConservationVolunteering with Animals Abroad1Animal Shelter VolunteeringApproximately 6.5 million animals enter shelters annually according to the ASPCA. Caring for and homing shelter animals is a collaborative effort, so volunteers are needed to fill many different types of roles. Hands-on behavior modification, animal handling at off-site adoption events, educational outreach, groundskeeping, veterinary transportation, photography, administrative work and everything in between are crucial to the success of animal shelters and their furry residents.Common Volunteer Tasks & ResponsibilitiesSocializing catsWalking, running and playing with dogsTraining and behavior modificationBathing and groomingTransporting animals to vet appointments and adoption eventsCleaning and maintaining groundsCommunity outreach and educationWorking in the shelter retail storeWorking off-site adoption and fundraising eventsAdministrative and office workPet photographyGathering background data on adoptable animals through observation and interactionYou’re a good fit for this type of volunteering if …You’re at least 16-18 years old, depending on the volunteer positionYou can commit to a consistent volunteer scheduleYou can bend, lift and spend multiple hours on your feetYou work well with people as well as animalsYou communicate effectively in person and via email and textYou enjoy hands-on workReal-Life Animal Shelter Volunteer ProgramsVolunteer programs will vary from shelter to shelter, but the following examples of real-world programs can give future volunteers an idea of the opportunities that may be available in their area. Volunteers can find a program type that aligns with their interests, skills, and schedules and ask their local shelter if they have similar opportunities available.Animal Shelter Group VolunteeringGroup volunteering opportunities are great for students, office teams, clubs and other small organizations to lend a hand and build comradery. These are typically single sessions that last a few hours. Group volunteering at the Oregon Humane Society is open to small and large groups and can entail socializing animals and maintaining grounds.Youth Volunteer ProgramWhile many opportunities require volunteers to be at least 18 years old, many shelters have youth programs that allow kids and teens to help out in a variety of capacities. At Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in Virginia, youth volunteers can participate in adoption events and help with administrative work in the shelter office. Fundraising, educational camps and even birthday parties where kids make treats and toys to donate to the shelter make for hands-on volunteer opportunities off-site, too.Animal PhotographyShelter animals often get a quick photo snapped when they enter the shelter to help them get adopted, but these animals are often scared and uncertain when they first enter a shelter. Volunteer photographers play a key role in taking nice photos that make shelter pets look more appealing to prospective adopters. Photographers, like the ones at Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA, may also take photos at special events.Off-Site Adoption Events & Special EventsOrphans of the Storm shelter in Illinois notes the unique impact off-site and special event volunteers have on getting animals adopted. Volunteers develop relationships with animals outside of a shelter environment, get to know their histories and personalities and hype them up to potential adopters who either can’t or prefer not to visit shelters directly.Retail or Thrift Store VolunteeringShelters often have a retail component to help fund shelter operations. Volunteers may help out in these stores, taking in and selling merchandise. The Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s ReTails Store has been consistently voted the best thrift store in Clark County thanks to its volunteers, and proceeds go to help the shelter’s animals in need.Reading with RescuesReading programs are nice ways for kids to spend time with animals who can benefit from the soothing effects of a human voice and company. Kids can also gain confidence in their reading and speaking skills since animals are a non-judgmental audience. Minnesota’s Animal Humane Society Rescue Readers program offers a low-cost season pass for young readers who want to visit regularly.Teaching Animals Basic Behavior SkillsEast Bay SPCA puts a strong emphasis on behavior modification to help animals get adopted faster and thrive in loving homes. After receiving training, volunteers help in training, socialization and enriching animals during their shelter stay.Exercising PetsAnimals in shelters don’t usually have the ability to roam freely and get exercise on their own, so they rely on volunteers to help them stay healthy. Pet exercise can include walking dogs, running with high-energy dogs, playing with cats, and helping prospective adoptees burn off excess energy during adoption events. The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter’s Pet Project Foundation even has volunteers who set up safe exercise pens for their rabbit residents.2Fostering Pets in Your HomePet foster parents are essential players in the animal adoption and shelter system. When shelters don’t have room for new animal intakes, or they have animals who could benefit from being in a temporary home rather than a shelter, foster parents step in and open their homes to hundreds of thousands of pets each year. Keeping animals in foster homes rather than shelters gives them a chance to let their true personalities come out, which is key in finding permanent homes. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter in Virginia found that after placing 52 dogs thought to have behavioral problems in foster homes, 90 percent turned out to be normal and were adopted within a month. The shelter environment was simply too stressful. Foster homes are needed for all types of animals, not just stressed dogs, so it may be a great option for people who like the idea of having a significant impact on animals without the long-term commitment.Common Volunteer Tasks & ResponsibilitiesUnderstand the individual needs of your foster pet and ensure you can meet themProvide basic care, including exercise and vet visits, as well as a safe and loving homeSocialize foster pets with other animalsWork on trainingTake pictures of your foster pet to help them get adoptedLearn about your foster pet’s personality and behavior and talk about them to potential adoptersYou’re a good fit for this type of volunteering if …You want a flexible way to help animalsYou like caring for animals but don’t want or are unable to take on the full commitment of a permanent petYou can commit to care responsibilities for different animals, like walking dogs, administering medication, or nursing kittens.You have experience training animalsYou are patient and empatheticYou are able to promote your foster pets to help them get adoptedSources & Further ReadingBestFriends.org – Pet Fostering Q&AFoster Dogs, Inc. – Know Your Role as a Foster ParentOneGreenPlanet – Why Fostering Dogs and Cats is So Important and How to Get InvolvedPetFinder – Before You FosterPetFinder – How to Prepare Your Home for a Foster Pet3Volunteering with Animals in Agricultural SettingsThere are many opportunities for people to volunteer in agricultural settings, particularly at farm sanctuaries. These sanctuaries provide care and enrichment for animals who have escaped or been rescued from factory farms or other inhumane animal agriculture facilities. There are farm sanctuaries around the country, but since they strive to let animals live out their lives in the most natural way possible, more opportunities exist in rural areas, where animals have space to roam freely. Volunteers typically help with animal care, grounds maintenance and guided tours and education for the public.Common Volunteer Tasks & ResponsibilitiesBarn cleaningGrounds maintenance and minor repairsFeeding, cleaning and providing other care for animals in the shelter’s hospitalHospital chores, like cleaning and laundryFeeding barn animals and cleaning troughs and food dishesEgg collectingAdministrative supportPublic educationGuiding toursRunning the gift shop or visitor’s centerAssisting with special eventsAnswering visitor questionsYou’re a good fit for this type of volunteering if …You meet minimum age requirements or plan to volunteer with an adult parent or guardianYou can work in all types of weatherYou are physically fitYou are interested in volunteering on a regular basisYou are invested in the welfare of agricultural animalsSources & Further ReadingOneGreenPlanet – 10 Farm Sanctuaries in the U.S. That Are Great For VolunteeringThe Farm Sanctuary4Volunteering with a Therapy PetUnlike the other volunteer opportunities addressed here, where volunteers help with animals that live in sanctuaries or don’t have permanent homes, volunteering with a therapy pet typically involves pet owners working with their own pet to help people in their community. Therapy pets can play many helpful roles, like helping young students learn to read, relieving college student stress, calming nervous fliers at airports or enriching patients at hospitals and residents of elder care facilities.Common Volunteer Tasks & ResponsibilitiesParticipate in handler trainingParticipate in regular therapy pet training, including the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen training for dogsTalk with visiting people while remaining attentive to their petVisit hospitals, schools, assisted living facilities, airports and other participating locationsEnsure that both human and animal participants are calm and safeYou’re a good fit for this type of volunteering if …You have a well-behaved pet, and you work well togetherYou can commit to trainingYou can pass a criminal background checkYou and your therapy pet can commit to regular visits to participating organizationsYou are okay with others touching and interacting with your petSources & Further ReadingAKC Recognized Therapy Dog OrganizationsAlliance of Therapy DogsK9to5 National Therapy Dog RegistryLove on a LeashPet Partners Therapy Animal Program5Volunteering in Wildlife ConservationVolunteers can play important roles in animal care and wildlife conservation, both directly and indirectly. There’s a huge range of volunteering opportunities where you can help protect wildlife. Some volunteers may work in enclosed wildlife sanctuaries, caring for animals that can’t survive in the wild, while others may work in fish hatcheries or nature refuges ensuring animals can continue thriving in the wild.Common Volunteer Tasks & ResponsibilitiesVisitor educationWorking in the retail shop or visitor centerGrounds maintenance and restorationFeeding and food preparationCleaning enclosuresCommunity outreachGrant writing and fundraisingObservation and data gatheringSpecial events coordinationRehabilitation and medical carePreparing animals and facilities for seasonal changesYou’re a good fit for this type of volunteering if …You can meet the physical demands of volunteer work, such as lifting heavy objects, bending, twisting and navigating different terrainsYou are comfortable working on different types of tasks as neededYou can commit to training and a consistent volunteer scheduleYou can work in different climates and types of weatherYou communicate effectively with visitors and fellow volunteersSources & Further ReadingCalifornia Wildlife Center – Become a VolunteerU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – VolunteersAnimal Ark Volunteer Program6Volunteering with Animals AbroadVolunteering with animals can be a global adventure. Wildlife and domestic animal populations around the world can benefit from volunteer efforts in a range of capacities, from caring for street dogs to making sure that newly hatched sea turtles survive the dangerous journey from beach to ocean. Because of the incredible breadth of ecosystems, animals, organizations, and needs around the world, international volunteers can offer specialized aid that they may not be able to provide in the U.S. Upon returning home, volunteers can continue spreading awareness of global ecological and animal welfare issues and apply their skills in local settings, too.You’re a good fit for this type of volunteering if …You have a passportYou are at least 18 years old or will be traveling with a parent or volunteer organizationYou are interested in ethical volunteerism abroad, not just social media cloutYou are flexible and adaptableYou can pay travel feesYou can get any requisite vaccinesYou can work in all weather conditions4 Rewarding Ways to Volunteer with Animals AbroadBecause there are so many ways to volunteer with animals abroad, you may find it helpful to narrow your focus to one of the following areas of interest before seeking volunteer positions.Wildlife Sanctuary VolunteeringWildlife sanctuary volunteers help care for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. Volunteers can work with a wide range of indigenous wildlife in a single area, which makes sanctuary volunteering unique and exciting. Some sanctuaries focus on rehabilitation and release into the wild while others care for animals through the remainder of their lives. Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Costa Rica are popular wildlife conservation destinations.Volunteering with Street AnimalsMany areas around the world do not have the resources to care for and house homeless animals. International animal care volunteers typically provide care to street dogs, but opportunities to work with other animals may be available as well. Volunteers generally feed, wash and play with street animals and may help shelter staff with cleaning facilities and providing medical care to animals. Opportunities are common throughout Asia and South America.Volunteering with Marine LifeCoastal regions around the world need volunteers to help preserve and study turtle populations and collect data on reefs, fish and other aquatic life. Volunteers may go on deep dives, comb beaches or help in rehabilitation and care facilities. Marine life volunteer opportunities are common in Costa Rica, Seychelles, Thailand, Fiji, Sri Lanka and Mexico, but opportunities are available in many other island and coastal areas.Farm and Livestock CareThose who volunteer on farms abroad often do a combination of animal care and farming work. Volunteers may learn about sustainable farming practices and help ensure animals are fed and tended. Volunteers may herd goats, milk cows and gather eggs as well as build and repair farm buildings and infrastructure. Farm and livestock opportunities are available in Thailand, Kenya and Nepal.Examples of Animal Volunteering Abroad ProgramsAustralia – Wildlife Animal SanctuaryVolunteers help out at Walkabout Wildlife Park, a wildlife sanctuary and Aboriginal cultural site, for 1 to 4 weeks. Volunteers spend half their on-site time working directly with animals and half maintaining sanctuary grounds. They have weekends free to explore the surrounding areas. Living accommodations are provided on-site.Location(s): Calga, AustraliaGet more infoAnimal Care/Animal Rights in GuatemalaAnimal care volunteers are placed in high-demand facilities, including dog and cat shelters, exotic animal refuges and veterinary clinics, and may perform many basic care duties. The facilities commonly rely on volunteers to clean enclosures, help with vet care, bathe and play with animals and work on small construction projects. Volunteers live with host families during their stay.Location(s): Antigua, GuatemalaGet more infoElephant and Endangered Sea Turtle Coastal Conservation in ThailandVolunteers can have a direct impact on two endangered species: the green sea turtle and the Asian elephant. The program begins on Thailand’s southern coast, where volunteers work with turtle conservation groups, like turtle nurseries. Then volunteers head to northern Thailand to help trainers reintroduce Asian elephants to semi-wild habitats.Location(s): Chiang Mai, Thailand and Phang Nga, ThailandGet more infoMarine and Coast Conservation Volunteer Program in SpainThis volunteer opportunity involves working with marine wildlife as well as studying coastal plants and animals nearby. Volunteer work focuses heavily on gathering data and monitoring wildlife like whales, turtles, dolphins and seabirds. Volunteers also help improve wetland ecosystems and work on underwater and beach cleanups.Location(s): Denia, SpainGet more infoThe Little Farm Friendly ProjectFarm volunteers assist with both animal care and sustainable agricultural work. Animal-focused duties can be hands-on, like feeding, bathing and raising, but volunteers also help with building enclosures and cleaning up after animals. Simple living accommodations are provided along with two meals per day. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least one week of work.Location(s): Ratchaburi, ThailandGet more infoHow and Where to Find Animal Volunteer OpportunitiesOnce you’ve decided how you want to volunteer with animals, it can sometimes be difficult finding organizations and programs that are located nearby and/or offer the exact type of volunteer work you’re looking for. Here are some tips and resources for tracking down the perfect animal volunteering opportunity.Look online for animal volunteering opportunitiesWhether going directly to an organization’s website to check their volunteer positions or searching through a volunteer database, looking online can be a great way to find a wide range of animal volunteer options. These websites can get you started in your search:Best Friends National Network: Find a Best Friends volunteer program in your area, or search for a Best Friends Network partner.The Humane Society of the United States: Search for over 60 types of Humane Society animal volunteer opportunities across the United States.Vet Set Go: Vet Set Go is a resource aimed at aspiring veterinarians, but anyone can use their volunteer opportunity search tool.Audubon Society – Audubon Near You: Ornithological enthusiasts may want to hone in on bird-specific volunteer opportunities. Local Audubon societies are a great resource.GoEco – Animal Volunteer Opportunities: Discover a range of opportunities to volunteer with animals abroad and read past volunteers’ experiences.Volunteer.gov: Get involved in government-sponsored wildlife and conservation volunteer projects through http://volunteer.gov.VolunteerMatch: VolunteerMatch is an extensive database of open volunteer positions. Narrow your search to find animal-focused opportunities in your area.GoAbroad – Animal Welfare Volunteer Programs Abroad: A popular resource for international teachers, GoAbroad also helps connect volunteers with animal welfare projects around the world.Petfinder: Unfamiliar with shelters in your area? Petfinder’s shelters and rescues search can help you find a place to volunteer.ASPCA: Learn about and find ASPCA volunteer opportunities by location and area of interest.International Volunteer HQ – Wildlife and Animal Care: International Volunteer HQ facilitates many animal volunteer opportunities abroad and provides helpful information to future volunteers.World Animal Net Directory: Search for animal protection agencies domestically and abroad to help narrow your volunteer opportunity search.Corporation for National and Community Service: This government resource helps volunteers find local opportunities in their area of interest.The Nature Conservancy – Volunteer and Attend Events: Find events and ways to volunteer with The Nature Conservancy, which has chapters around the country.Projects Abroad: Find international volunteering opportunities focused on conservation, animal care, marine life and more.Oceans 2 Earth: Oceans 2 Earth is a nonprofit organization that works exclusively with wildlife habitat conservation and animal welfare organizations around the world.Inquire in-person about volunteer needs near youStopping by an organization in person can often be the most direct way to get information about different volunteer positions. Staff or volunteer coordinators may even be able to give prospective volunteers more detailed information in person. Consider asking about opportunities by visiting a variety of places within your community, including:Animal sheltersWildlife sanctuaries and refugesVeterinary officesConservation organizationsFarm sanctuariesAnimal rehabilitation centersLocal fish and wildlife department or parks and recreation departmentHospitalsAnimal Volunteering ChecklistVolunteering with animals can be exciting and you may be eager to get started, but volunteers typically have to do some prep work before they can lend a hand. Specific procedures vary by organization, but these steps can help potential volunteers get ready to work with animals in need.Research the volunteer requirements and responsibilitiesBefore settling on an opportunity, prospective volunteers need to make sure they meet the position’s requirements and can fulfill all responsibilities. Volunteer coordinators can help potential volunteers find positions at their organizations that may be a good fit.Fill out a volunteer applicationVolunteer applications may be available online or at the volunteer organization. Applications often include requirements, codes of conduct and liability waivers, so be sure to carefully fill out and read through the form.Pay volunteer feesDepending on the organization, volunteers may have to pay a fee. For local organizations, this may cover training and supplies. International volunteering fees may be greater but can cover room, board, and extracurricular activities.Complete a background check, if requiredSome organizations require background checks. Background checks can take a while to process and may require an additional fee, so be sure to inquire about this when researching volunteer requirements.Attend any required volunteer trainingMost organizations require volunteers to attend training sessions before letting them help out. These training sessions are essential in preparing volunteers to provide the best help they can.Get ready to volunteer!Depending on how you volunteer, this can be as simple as putting on animal-friendly clothes or considerably more involved. Fosters, for instance, need to prepare their house for their new animals. International volunteers may need to get passports and vaccines squared away. Careful research and planning can make for a smooth and rewarding volunteer experience.IAdditional Resources and Reading for Volunteering with AnimalsVeterinary Volunteer: 4 Great Ways to Start Volunteering with Animals TodayHumane Society of the United States: What to Know Before You VolunteerWhy We Need More Animal VolunteersSo You Want to Be a Photographer in an Animal Shelter?How to Get Your Dream Job Working in Animal ConservationHow Animal Rescue Volunteers Create Happily Ever AftersAfter that… read through all these articles that I wrote on related subjects. You should find some helpful info in at least a few of these.Stefan Pociask's answer to How can I learn more about nature?Stefan Pociask's answer to Would volunteering at wildlife/nature centers improve my chances of getting a job working with birds?Stefan Pociask's answer to How hard is it to get a job in wildlife conservation? (US)Stefan Pociask's answer to How do you start a career in wildlife conservation?Stefan Pociask's answer to Where can I interact with animals in the wild, and contribute to their well-being?Stefan Pociask's answer to What is it like to be a birds-of-prey rehabilitation specialist?Take any job you can find, even the dirty ones that aren’t as popular… like cleaning trash from a river or riparian area. You will get a good reputation that way, and more and better things will come your way. Good luck!EDIT: ARRGH! I just checked google maps, and this is what has become of my beautiful wilderness full of Bald Eagles and endangered Gopher Tortoises and Indigo Snakes:Ah, well… we gave them a couple of extra decades I guess : (Some final excellent suggestions for you:Wildlife Rehabs. Do some research in your area, and I’m sure you can find at least one of several types of Rehabilitation Centers. Near me I have a Waterfowl Rescue, a Raptor Center and several Wildlife Rehab Centers. There are all sorts of Rehabs specializing in many different things, depending on where you live. You will get to interact with wild animals when they need you most, and when the time comes for them to be set free, you will interact with them when you go to release them into the wild. It’s very satisfying.BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Contact your local office and ask what types of field work opportunities they might have that you can volunteer your time to.Your State Wildlife agency. Same as above. Ask about volunteer opportunities.USFWS. Again, ask for volunteer opportunities.Local Universities. There are often grad students looking for volunteers to help them with projects. Check Natural Resources departments, or Wildlife Biology departments.Call these places and put your name on all their lists. Someone will eventually call you. Enjoy!Now… all you have to do is stop just reading about it, follow up on these websites… … contact them until you find one in your area that needs you… get up off your quarantined butt… and DO something!SO… THOSE ARE A FEW THAT SHOULD GET YOU STARTED!! GOOD LUCK!