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Auburn graduate Maddie Edwards stands in academic regalia on Samford Lawn with Samford Hall visible in the background.

Maddie Edwards stands on Samford Lawn after earning her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. Edwards later enrolled in the Master’s Non-Thesis Pre-Professional Program to strengthen her academic preparation before veterinary school.

Before taking the next step toward professional school, Maddie Edwards stepped into a professional-level classroom.

She enrolled in the Department of Biological Sciences’ Master’s Non-Thesis (MSNT) Pre-Professional Program and registered for Physiology I at the College of Veterinary Medicine, a course typically associated with first-year veterinary training.

"They always tell you about these classes in vet school and how tough and rigorous they are, but you don't know until you're in it," Edwards said.

The course required mastery of complex systems, from cardiovascular regulation to renal function, at a level expected of professional students.

"I was kind of warned against taking it," she said. "It is very tough and rigorous, but I like to be challenged."

Edwards, who earned her Bachelor of Science in wildlife sciences from Auburn in December 2023, chose the MSNT program deliberately. Before starting veterinary school, she wanted to strengthen her academic foundation in an environment that mirrored professional expectations.

"It was exactly what I needed at that point," she said.

Housed in Auburn’s College of Sciences and Mathematics, under the department of Biological Sciences, the MSNT program prepares students for medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, physician assistant and other health professions programs. Students complete 30 graduate-level credits in biology-related coursework tailored to their goals. In recent cohorts, about 60 percent of graduates have been accepted into professional school programs.

What distinguishes the program is its cross-campus customization.

"It’s special because it is very flexible in terms of what courses the students can take," said Mary Mendonça, professor and assistant chair in Biological Sciences.

Courses may be taken across Auburn, including Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Animal Sciences, Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Poultry Science, Kinesiology or biologically focused areas of Psychology. That structure gives students access to professional-level material before professional school begins. Applications are reviewed in early May for the fall semester cohort.

This program gives students the opportunity to strengthen their academic credentials while developing the confidence and communication skills they need to succeed in professional school. We want them to leave here prepared, focused and ready for what comes next.

Mary Mendonça, professor and assistant chair in Biological Sciences

For Edwards, the physiology course did more than strengthen her transcript. It sharpened her understanding of the science she hopes to practice.

"Now I know all of these things about the heart and the kidneys that I might not have known before," she said.

Students also complete a two-semester seminar sequence in Biomedical Sciences, presenting and critiquing scientific literature while refining their ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. Written assessments and formal presentations are designed to strengthen critical thinking and clarity, skills essential in any health profession.

Those communication skills became tangible for Edwards during her second semester as a graduate teaching assistant in introductory biology labs.

"I think one of the most impactful moments I had actually came in my second semester when I was teaching," she said.

Maddie Edwards holds a small puppy while standing in a clinical or veterinary setting.

Maddie Edwards holds a puppy during hands-on clinical experience, reinforcing her preparation for a career in veterinary medicine.

After one lab, an English major taking her only biology course at Auburn approached her.

"She said, 'This is the one singular biology class that I'll be taking at Auburn, and I will never forget this,'" Edwards recalled. "It was a really good reminder for me of how impactful you can be on someone else.”

The program is designed to foster that kind of engagement. Enrollment is capped, allowing students to move through the seminar sequence together and build a close academic cohort.

For Mendonça, that balance of rigor and mentorship is intentional.

"This program gives students the opportunity to strengthen their academic credentials while developing the confidence and communication skills they need to succeed in professional school," she said. "We want them to leave here prepared, focused and ready for what comes next."

For students preparing for careers in medicine, veterinary science and other health professions, the program offers early exposure to the rigor and expectations of professional training.

For Edwards, that preparation went beyond academics.

"It really is your time to learn and to take in as much as you can so that you can make a good decision about your future," she said. "It reminded me of why I love Auburn so much."