Pre-Health Advisor Leaves New Position

By Angie Schiavoni
Contributing Writer

Kay Slater, Wesleyan’s first full-time pre-health advisor at the Career Resource Center (CRC), will leave next week. Her position, unique among schools similar to Wesleyan, will remain.

Slater formally announced her resignation in early September. Her husband has been transferred to Boston and she plans to work as a full-time mother for her 11 month-old son.

"I love Wesleyan," Slater said. "I’m impressed with Wes students every day. They are self-motivated, interested in helping others, and smart. It made my job easy."

Slater advises not only pre-med students, but also students interested in dentistry, public health, psychiatry, and other health professions.

Although only created one year ago, her position has already given pre-health students a more individualized advising experience and has lifted the burden from other faculty members who helped with pre-med advisory.

Before Slater, former Director of University Health Services Dr. John Kennedy and other faculty members volunteered their advising time to pre-med students even though it was not a part of their job descriptions.

"The thing about pre-med advising is that there is a prescribed path that people have to follow," Slater said. "You have to have those courses. Most students come in knowing what they have to do."

Pre-med students have to take one year of biology with laboratory, one year of general chemistry with laboratory, one year of organic chemistry with laboratory, one year of mathematics (calculus or above), and one year of English.

According to Slater, 60% of pre-med graduates from Wesleyan are accepted into medical school and the national average is only 35% acceptance. Around 50 Wesleyan students and alumni are accepted into medical school each year.

Current pre-med students appreciated Slater’s help.

"She’s enthusiastic and interested in helping pre-meds with any and all of their courses," said Gordon Carr ’01. "Personally I’m very sorry she’s leaving because I was just getting to know her."

"She rules," said Selin Caglar ’00, a pre-med student who worked with Slater. "She’s very good about letting students know about any opportunities available."

Wesleyan is currently looking for a replacement for Slater and Slater expects that her colleagues in the CRC will take over her duties in the interim.

"Kay has been a splendid and much needed addition to our staff and a superb colleague who will be greatly missed," said Associate Director of the CRC Vicky Zwelling.

Additional Reporting by Becky Trout