The dream of becoming a doctor motivates students who want to apply to medical school to devote much of their undergraduate careers to building a strong resume and application.  Although medical school admissions are highly competitive, the demand for health care professionals is increasing every year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The AAMC has recommended U.S. medical schools increase enrollment by 30 percent by 2015 to meet a growing physician shortage.  In 2007 U.S. medical schools increased their enrollment by 2 percent, making the incoming first-year class just over 18,000 students. Although this is the largest first-year class in history, it is still far off from a 30 percent increase and there is still a great demand for those in the medical profession. The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences offers a Health Professions Advising Center, commonly known as Health PAC, to provide services for all University students interested in healthcare careers including medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmaceuticals, physical therapy, nursing, physician’s assistants programs or graduate fields. Director of Health PAC Anita Flick said the University’s health care advising program takes a five-pronged approach to helping students prepare for health care careers.  ”The first and most important component of a student’s preparation for medical school applications is a strong curriculum of science courses,” Flick said. “Our students have historically done very well in medical school because they have a good foundation in academics.” Flick said the academic component includes more than just an outstanding GPA, however.  ”Research and study abroad opportunities are great ways to get involved academically,” Flick said.  There is no pre-med specific major at the University, and medical schools do not require a certain major for acceptance. There are certain required courses that must be taken, however, in biology, chemistry and physics. Flick said the biology major with a concentration in human biology is tailored for students who want to work in the medical field. This major gives students the required courses they need as well as flexibility in elective courses. The next component of the pre-health advising system is Health PAC, which includes a Web site, an advising center, meet and greets and endless resources for students to take advantage of, according to Flick. Health PAC also sponsors the student-led Pre-Health Club, which includes 11 interest groups and three special interest groups with over 11,000 total members. Matt Hunt, co-president of the Pre-Medical subdivision, said the Pre-Health club invites speakers from all areas of medicine to help students determine what field they want to go into. ”Working to get into medical school is a big commitment,” Hunt said. “It’s important for freshman to start early by getting involved with the Health PAC and the Pre-Health Club to evaluate their interests and make sure they really want to go into medicine.” Flick said the Pre-Health Advising Committee also provides a review committee that evaluates applications from students applying to medical, dental and optometry schools. ”Last year, all of our students who were accepted to medical school in North Carolina used the review committee,” Flick said. “It is an invaluable resource to students.” The last aspect of medical school admissions Flick said the University helps with is the MCAT, the medical school entrance examination. The University is offering a class every semester to review for the MCAT, and also offers a Kaplan intensive review course at a discounted rate for students who have to take the test soon. Drew White, a fifth year senior in biomedical engineering, just received an acceptance letter from UNC-Chapel Hill’s medical school. White advises students interested in medical school to gain experience working with doctors to make sure they know how demanding the job can be. ”If you know you want to go to medical school, you should try to do something to set you apart from all the other applicants,” White said. “Do something you are passionate about and let that show through in your interviews and essays. Although you need the academics and medical experience, that can’t be your whole life.” White said he has always known he wanted to work with medicine, but he didn’t decide he wanted to be a doctor until he got involved with volunteer work in the medical field. ”I want to be a doctor because I like working with people and making relationships with people,” White said. “And of course, I am passionate about helping people who need help.” Not every student takes a conventional path towards the medical field. Michael Ransone, a senior in biochemistry, has decided to take a year off after graduation and hopes to be accepted into medical school the next year.  ”Being on a pre-med track as an undergraduate takes a lot of time and effort,” Ransone said. “I want to take a break to reflect and do some things for myself. I plan on backpacking across Europe and doing medical missions in Haiti.”