Freshman Pre-Health Symposium The Freshman Pre-Health Symposium is a one-credit course offered in the first semester of freshman year.  In this course, students read widely about diverse issues facing the medical professions.  They also explore ways to engage fully in the academic and extracurricular life of the university.  In addition, they work in small groups to discuss challenges common to first-year students in pre-professional programs and propose ways to meet such challenges.  First-year students in this symposium work with peer mentors and participate in the student pre-health organization meetings (The Laennec Society).