Hispanic and Native American Center of Excellence

Counseling and Support Resources

In addition to the academic support available through the College, there are several University sources for personal counseling available to students:

Agora – (277-3013) Located at 1716 Las Lomas (corner of Buena Vista, white building, central campus). This is the UNM Crisis Center offering free paraprofessional counseling. The Center is open seven days a week, call or walk-in. The Agora office phone number is 277-7855.
Career Services – (277-2531) Located in Room 220 of the Student Services Center, central campus. Career counseling services by appointment. A reference library including general information on careers, preparation, and projected availability of jobs, and corporate annual reports. Computers are available.
Office of Cultural and Ethnic Programs (OCEP) – (272-2728) School of Medicine, BMSB 106. Resource center for undergraduate pre-health, pre-medical students and medical student academic and professional development.
Student Health Center – (277-3136) Provides health care to students at a reduced cost. Personal counseling is available to students by mental health professionals. The Center is located on central campus, next to Student Services.
Women’s Resource Center – (277-3716) Located in Mesa Vista Hall, Room 1160, the Women’s Center offers general and personal counseling and workshops.
Veterans Office – (277-3514) Located in Room 257 of the Student Services Center, central campus.
Recreational Services, Johnson Center, Room 1102 (277-4347); and Student Activities Center, UNM Union Bldg. (SUB), Room 105 (277-4706).

Student Service Organizations

African American Student Services (277-5645) 1130 Mesa Vista Hall, UNM central campus.
Provides a meeting place for students, a resource library, guest speakers, and computers for student use. Career and general counseling is provided; curriculum planning, advisement, tutoring & mentoring services. Student advocacy, financial aid information. A strong community connection is provided.
American Indian Student Services (277-6343) 1119 Mesa Vista Hall, UNM central campus.
Academic advisement, tutoring, financial aid liaison, coordination of financial aid package, career planning advisement and student outreach programs.
Disabled Student Services (277-3506) 2021 Mesa Vista Hall, UNM central campus.
General counseling and advisement, arrangements for appropriate exam environments, reading services, and interpreters, access to assitive technology. Assistance with admissions, recruitment, extra-curricular activities, housing, facilities, counseling & testing, access to courses, financial aid, employment, insurance, recreation and telecommunications.
El Centro De La Raza, Hispanic Student Services (277-5020) 1153 Mesa Vista Hall, UNM.
Student advocacy, computer room, career counseling, personal counseling, mentoring, cultural programs and community outreach.
International Center (277-4032) Room 6, SUB.
Informal English language tutoring, recreation

"What you should know about You when choosing a health career"

How do you know what career is best for you?

Looking carefully at what you want.....

Self-Assessment
Values--What is important to you?
Interests--What do you enjoy doing?
Personality--How do you approach the world? What energizes you?
Learning Style--How do you learn best?
Work environment preferences--Where do you want to work?
Educational Experiences--What were your best learning experiences?

Career Exploration
How many health careers are there?
What kind of training and licensing is necessary for the different careers?
Find out all you can about the different health careers--
Where? Your instructors, school advisement and career services office, web sites, career books.

Decision-Making
To arrive at a career decision that is right for you, review your Self-Assessment and career exploration information, talk to family members, advisors, career counselors, and when possible, people working in the field you are interested in.

Implementation
Where will you get your training? How long will it take?
How much will it cost? How will you pay for it?

Application information, deadlines, financial aid information is available from the admissions office at the college where you plan to apply. You can call the admissions office, or access the specific college and department web sites.

Where to go for career and application information at UNM HSC:

Admissions and advisement offices at the University of New Mexico, 272-2728
Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, 272-4766.
Office of Cultural & Ethnic Programs, 272-2728
Hispanic & Native American Center of Excellence, 272-1419
Center for Native American Health, 272-4100
College of Pharmacy, 272-0912
College of Nursing, 272-4221
Physical Therapy Program, 272-5755
Occupational Therapy Program, 272-1753
Dental Hygiene Program, 272-4513

Where to look on-line for more career information

UNM, http://www.unm.edu
UNM Health Sciences Center, http://www.hsc.edu
UNM School of Medicine, http://www.hsc.unm.edu/som
UNM SOM Admissions, http://www.hsc.unm.edu/som/admissions
Association of American Medical Colleges. Information about careers in medicine, applying to medical school, resources. http://www.aamc.org
Princeton Review. Advice from other students, MCAT information, study habits. http://www.review.com
Kaplan. Study habits, etc. http://www.kaplan.com
National Association of Advisors in the Health Professions. NAAHP
Information on pre-health advisement, applying to medical or other health career programs. http://www.naahp.org
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-2003 Edition: What workers do on the job; working conditions; training & education needed; earnings; job prospects. http://www.bls.gov/oco/

<Career Books:

Tysinger, J.W. (1999) Resumes and Personal Statements for Health Professionals, Galen Press, Tucson, AZ

American Hospital Association (Annual). Guide to the Health Care Field.

Bolles, R. N. (2002) What Color is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press

Web Links:

These are some links to more information available on the The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) website.

Considering a Career in Medicine
Careers in Medicine: A Guide for High School Students
AAMC Student and Applicant Information: Medical Careers
MEDICINE: A Chance to Make a Difference
AAMC Student and Applicant Information: Schools Offering Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical Programs
AAMC: Considering a Career in Medicine: Getting into Medical School
AAMC Student and Applicant Information: Information for Women
AAMC Information for Students and Applicants: Applicant Information

These are some links useful for Pre-Med students.

http://www.aamc.org
The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), this organization produces the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

http://www.Kaplan.com
Kaplan has free MCAT preparation information online as well as pre courses & materials to buy.

http://www.medschool.com
This is a company specializing in test prep for medical school, MCAT as well as medical school boards. There is a pre-med forum, MCAT prep advice from students who recently took the exam, ideas for medical school preparation, and sample personal statements.