Thursday, June 11, 2026
Pennsylvania College of Technology will once again host a Pre-Health Plunge Program, set for Aug. 3 through 12.
The 10-day residential opportunity, funded through a gift from AllOne Charities, is designed to help prepare students, at no cost, with foundational human anatomy and physiology content, introduce them to campus support services and provide opportunities to build rapport with a cohort of peers.
Pennsylvania College of Technology students Haley L. Hoffman, of Richfield, and Sanaa L. Rivera, of Willow Grove, show a poster they presented during the college’s 2025 Pre-Health Plunge Program. The college will once again host the 10-day residential program, designed to introduce students entering pre-health majors to foundational human anatomy and physiology content and campus support services, Aug. 3-12.
Ten incoming pre-health students and one peer mentor will be accepted into the program. Five individuals successfully completed the plunge last summer.
“The students who participated said that they felt prepared to begin their academic coursework and they appreciated being able to develop a strong relationship with Penn College faculty and staff prior to the semester starting,” said Valerie A. Myers, professor and dean of nursing & health sciences. “They also were glad that they got to begin developing professional relationships with area healthcare professionals.”
An analysis of data showed that the students who participated outperformed all nursing and health sciences students when comparing mean GPAs in Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Human Anatomy & Physiology Survey, and overall semester GPA.
“What makes the Pre-Health Plunge Program so impactful is how it surrounds students with everything they need to succeed from day one – academic preparation, hands-on experiences and a strong community,” Myers said. “Students begin their journey already building relationships, developing effective study strategies and seeing themselves as future healthcare professionals.”
Penn College offers nine programs through its School of Nursing & Health Sciences – five of which include one or two pre-program semesters before students are eligible to be selected into the course of study. Selection criteria include the successful completion of human anatomy and physiology courses, English Composition I and Technical Algebra & Trigonometry 1 or higher.
Those who would like to participate in the Pre-Health Plunge Program should express interest by June 30 through their applicant dashboard. Finalists will be selected and notified in early July.
To learn more about Penn College’s nursing and health sciences majors, call 570-327-4519 or email nhs@pct.edu.
For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email Admissions or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
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