Tracking Your Accomplishments

Transcript Notation and Suitable

The Pre-health Professions transcript notation recognizes NIU students who demonstrate strong academic preparation and meaningful engagement in experiences that support their development as future healthcare professionals.

Students work toward the notation by completing designated academic requirements and the Pre-health Scholars Badge in Suitable, NIU's platform for tracking co-curricular experiences and professional development activities required for the badge.

Together, the transcript notation and Pre-health Scholars Badge provide a way to document your academic preparation, professional development, leadership, service and engagement in healthcare-related experiences.

Pre-health Transcript Notation

The Pre-health Professions transcript notation is an official NIU recognition for students preparing for medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, physician associate/assistant and other health professions programs. To earn the notation, you must complete both academic and co-curricular requirements of the Pre-health Professions Program.

Review the official Pre-health Professions Program and transcript notation requirements in the NIU Undergraduate Catalog.

Pre-health Scholars Badge in Suitable

NIU uses Suitable to track the co-curricular portion of the Pre-health Professions Program. Within Suitable, students work toward the Pre-health Scholars Badge, which documents experiences and professional development completed as part of the transcript notation.

What You'll Complete in Suitable

To earn the Pre-health Scholars Badge, students complete:

• 10 engagement activities focused on diversity and healthcare
• 25 or more hours of healthcare simulations or job shadowing
• One research experience
• One leadership experience
• Professional Development Training Academy modules

Activities are verified in Suitable through required documentation including uploads, reflections or supervisor confirmation. Your Suitable dashboard allows you to see which requirements are complete, in progress or still remaining.

How to Access Suitable

1. Visit the NIU Suitable platform and log in using your NIU credentials.
2. Navigate to Milestones → Achievements → Pre-health Scholars Badge.

You can also access the Pre-health Scholars Badge directly in Suitable. The Suitable mobile app is available for iOS and Android.

Why Participate?

Professional school preparation involves more than completing prerequisite courses. The Pre-health transcript notation and Pre-health Scholars Badge encourage you to intentionally develop experiences and competencies in areas such as:

• Academic preparation
• Healthcare exposure
• Professionalism and service
• Leadership and teamwork
• Research
• Professional development
• Engagement with diverse communities

Begin working toward the requirements early in your NIU experience and update your Suitable activities as you complete them. This allows you to track your progress over time rather than trying to document your experiences all at once later.

For questions about the Pre-health transcript notation or Pre-health Scholars Badge, contact prehealth@niu.edu.