Timeline to Become a Competitive Applicant

Freshmen Year

Meet with your advisor to select the courses that you need to take to fulfill your prerequisites for the HP program you are interested in (you should not just take the basics - advanced biology and chemistry courses will help you be better prepared for graduate level courses).

Join and be active in clubs at SU - Society of Science and Mathematics, Service Corps, Student Government Association. Leadership positions are important.

Investigate a summer position that will help you get experience in a health professions field. Note: A volunteer job will often lead to a paid position at a later time. Start early - do not wait until May to look for a position.

Start to discuss your career goal with those in the health professions field (start with your family physician, dentist, veterinarian).

Attend talks, workshops, open houses and career fairs about the different health professions programs given by local colleges or organizations.

Sophomore Year

Continue to meet with your advisor to determine that you are on track in your major and select electives that will help you in your HP program.

Visit websites of professional organizations and schools that have the health professions programs that you are interested in (remember that public universities in your legal state of residence accept the majority of its students from that state).

Learn about summer internship opportunities held by organizations or schools offering health professions programs (Summer Medical and Dental Enrichment Program, Podiatric Medicine Summer Internship Program, Dentistry Today).

Attend talks, workshops, open houses and career fairs given by local colleges or organizations about the different health professions programs. Focus on meeting faculty and members of the admissions offices at various schools.

Start to investigate the required standardized tests (MCAT, DAT, PCAT, and GRE). Find out about review courses and the date/location that the tests are held throughout the year.

Obtain direct patient care.

Junior Year

Meet with the Chief Health Professions Advisor to go over your progress and to determine if you are on the right track to being a competitive applicant.

Participate in The Science and Mathematics Division's HPAC application service. If you program requires a committee letter, then you must participate in this service.

Register for the required standardized test. Tests are now computerized and thus there are only a selected number of dates and spaces available at each location. Prepare for the test by studying and taking practice tests. Courses are available to assist you in preparing for the test. Do not take a test without preparation!

Identify which schools offer an HP program that is a good fit for you. Visit the schools' website or check manuals such as the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) to determine the average GPA, test score, etc. of accepted applicants.

Participate in the HPAC interview at SU.

Start to fill out your on-line application as soon as it becomes available from the centralized agency. Many applications are available in May of the junior year. Complete application and submit in early June or as soon as the submission is available. Many schools have a rolling admission and if you wait until the deadline, then your chances of being accepted are greatly decreased.

Have someone read your essay and your application.

Obtain research experience either as academic credit during the school year or as a summer position.

Continue to obtain direct patient care experience.

Senior Year

If appropriate, submit secondary applications to schools who have requested you to complete one. Have someone read your essays. Submit as soon as possible.

Make sure that you have all of the course requirements and graduation requirements fulfilled by teh end of your last semester at school. Many programs will not accept coursework completed in the summer preceeding the first semester of your graduate program.