veCollect NOW OPEN

The Health Sciences Pre-Professional Advising Committee has opened veCollect TODAY to allow applicants for 2022 matriculation to health professions programs to begin collecting letters of recommendation. 

Please follow this link to learn more about our new process this year.

***You must follow the process below (and on our website) to create a veCollect account with our office.*** 

1. Complete FERPA statement.

Each applicant must sign a FERPA statement allowing us to collect and release letters of recommendation for health professions programs. This FERPA statement also allows letter writers to release information about you to health professions programs. When completing this form, it is highly recommended that students BOTH allow us to collect and release your letters AND waive their right to view the letters of recommendation. If you have questions or concerns about this process, please contact a prehealth adviser. Following the FERPA release, you will be redirected to a payment page (see step 2 below).

   2. Pay for veCollect account (see link below). Our office will then create a veCollect account for you.

To establish a veCollect account to store your letters of recommendation with us, you will need to pay a $50 processing fee (in addition to the signed FERPA statement allowing us to collect and release letters of recommendation for health professional programs). Returning applicants will need to pay this fee again, as it is associated with maintaining an active account each year.

Our office will create and activate your veCollect account once you have paid the fee and signed the FERPA statement. Please wait 1-7 days for your account to open. Please do not create a veCollect account by accessing the company's website directly. This will only result in a delay in establishing your account, as we will need to delete that account to establish an account associated with our office. 

Please note that the $50 processing fee is NON-REFUNDABLE. Even if you choose not to apply, or you choose to withdraw your application, refunds will not be offered, and cannot be transferred to another year.

To sign the FERPA statement and pay online with a credit card, please open FIREFOX and follow this link to our Consent for Release Form and Payment Page. The payment page will not work properly in Chrome, and must be opened in Firefox- we apologize for the inconvenience. Please be sure to enter your name and the cardholder's name accurately, especially if you are using a credit card that does not match your name. This allows us to match your name to your payment and prevents delays.  Note: only VISA or Mastercard are accepted.

Once your account has been created, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access your account and change your password. 

SHPEP 2021 Application Now Open! 

SHPEP is a free six-week summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in the health professions; furthermore, participating students will be awarded a stipend.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing guidelines, and the closure of some campuses, SHPEP will again be a 100% virtual experience in summer 2021. The pandemic necessitated virtual implementation of SHPEP in 2020, and we are proud that the program was successfully delivered online to more than 930 scholars last summer. Therefore, the NPO is confident in the ability of our program sites to once again provide a valuable and transformative online experience to 2021 SHPEP scholars. Please continue to monitor our website for updates on the status of SHPEP 2021.

To be eligible for SHPEP, students must:

• Be a high school graduate and currently enrolled as a freshman or sophomore in college.
• Have a minimum overall college GPA of 2.5.
• Be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or an individual in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
• Not have previously participated in SHPEP.

Although curricula and program dates vary by program site, each program participant will have the opportunity to spend the summer exploring a range of health careers, including dentistry, medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and public health.

SHPEP offers students a variety of academic and career experiences, including:

• Academic enrichment in the basic sciences and quantitative topics.
• Learning and study skills development, including methods of individual and group learning.
• Clinical exposure through virtual health care settings, simulation experiences, and seminars. 
• Career development sessions exploring the health professions and the health professions school admissions process, as well as the development of an individualized education plan.
• A financial literacy and planning workshop that teaches financial principles and management strategies.
• A health policy seminar series, exposing scholars to current health policy issues, the policymaking process and analysis, health care financing, and the social determinants of health.
• An introduction to interprofessional education that addresses effective collaboration across health professions.

Please visit our website to learn more about the program. If you have additional questions, please contact shpep@aamc.org or 1 (866) 587- 6337 (toll-free).

Below are a few resources that will help you learn more about the program:

• SHPEP Applicant Flyer
• The Impact of SHPEP Video

 The application deadline for SHPEP 2021 is Feb. 5!

2021-2022 FAFSA Open!

Interested in applying for AMCAS, AACOMAS, MCAT, DAT, OAT fee waivers? Complete your FAFSA now.

Prehealth Virtual Shadowing

Join Prehealth Shadowing for virtual shadowing sessions from the comfort of your own home. Meet with health care professionals from various domains and specialties to get an inside look at their education and career paths.

Connect with our 2899 other pre-health students and professionals around the world. Get shadowing hours required for Medical, Nursing, Dental, Pharmaceutical, PA, PT, and other health programs.

https://www.prehealthshadowing.com/

Virtual OT Shadowing

Admissions at the University of Mississippi Medical Center Occupational Therapy Program  has several occupational therapy sessions students can view virtually. 

Watch now!

 UT SOUTHWESTERN VIRTUAL OBSERVATION PROGRAM

On Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. Central Time, we offer weekly programs that address the issues of decisions, the applications process, and real-life stories of practicing physicians who serve those in need of care.

These sessions are recorded and available on our YouTube (Pre-Health Virtual Shadowing).

Assessments are open until the following Tuesday at 6:59 PM CST! We encourage you to take the exams to document your participation in the Sessions!

Watch now!

 HEAL Clinical Education Network

• Free Virtual Shadowing led by qualified medical personnel every Wednesday evening at 8pm EDT / 5pm PDT.

• Interactive Seminar Courses (Additional Fee) – Using the same case-based model popular at US medical schools, pre-health students form teams to present cases to their peers and get guidance from medical students.

• Homework Assignments – Using additional ReelDX cases, students learn to take SOAP notes and apply critical reasoning.

• Certification of Hours – Students who come to shadowing sessions, attend clinical education sessions, and do homework assignments will be issued a Certificate of Completion that certifies the clinical hours that students completed to be put on their applications to medical school, PA school, nursing school or other health professions program.

Join Now!

AAMC Minority Student Medical Career Fair

Friday, Nov 20, 11AM - 4PM EST

The 2020 Minority Student Medical Career Fair is going virtual! While we would love to meet you in-person, your health and safety is top priority for us. 

We are very excited to provide you with information on pathways to medicine from the comfort of your homes or wherever you decide to join us. You might ask, what can we offer you virtually? Well, lots!! We will have interactive workshops focused on crucial information for high school and college students including the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®), the American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®), Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools (FIRST), and other AAMC Services. Although not hands-on, you will still get an up-close look as our medical schools demonstrate technics such at suturing.

Who should come? College and high school students, parents, pre-health advisors, school administrations, and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend. While the focus is on supporting individuals from diverse and underserved communities, we welcome participation of all high school and college students interested in medicine and the biomedical sciences. 

Event highlights:

• Learn about Summer Health professions Education Program (SHPEP), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and other medical preparation resources and programs.
• Listen to panel discussions about the pathway to becoming a physician or medical researcher.
• Connect with diversity affairs, admissions, PHD and MD-PhD program directors or administrators from US medical schools along with other health professions school.
• View hands-on medical and health activities.

Register today!

US Army Healthcare Scholarship Information Webinar

Save The Date! 
November 12th 
7-8 pm EST 
More details coming soon!
 

City Semester Pittsburgh

This Friday is the final day for Penn State students to apply for City Semester Pittsburgh’s Spring 2021 session.

City Semester Pittsburgh is a unique and immersive student experience in urban sustainability. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we've transitioned the program into a flexible format that allows for both virtual and in-person learning.

The semester-long program includes:

• Virtual or in-person internship with a Pittsburgh partner in student's field of interest

• Urban Sustainability course with guest speakers and discussions on climate action, justice and inequality, urban design, food security, water quality and more
• Opportunity to network with and be mentored by local community leaders

Undergraduate students from all majors are encouraged to apply at the City Semester Pittsburgh Student Application.

We are also accepting applications for the Summer 2021 session (deadline April 7, 2021).

New and Interesting Spring Courses

Looking for something to take this spring? Check our list of new and interesting courses offered in 2021.

Explore the options!

Info Session: Accelerated MPH Degree

Penn State College of Health and Human Development and Penn State College of Medicine offer an accelerated-degree for Penn State undergraduates in Biobehavioral Health (BBH), Health Policy and Administration (HPA), and Kinesiology (KINES) degree programs. Students can earn both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree as part of a integrated undergraduate/graduate (IUG) program.

IUG students have four years to complete their undergraduate coursework, then complete their MPH degree in Hershey. The MPH degree requires 42 credits, of which 12 can be double counted. BBH, HPA, and KINES students take 12 credits of graduate-level courses during their senior year of their undergraduate degree. Students apply during their junior year through the Penn State Graduate School (not SOPHAS). Applications must be submitted by January 15. 

Wednesday, November 11: IUG Virtual Info Session - Online event from 7 to 8 p.m. To attend please click on the RSVP button below.  

Thursday, December 17: Winter Open House for Public Health Graduate Programs - Online and in-person event from 5 to 7 p.m. To attend please click on the RSVP button below.  

RSVP here!

Dental School Scholarship Webcast with United States Army Medical Department

Dental school is a very expensive proposition. In this short prerecorded webcast you will learn about a Dental School Scholarship option that will pay 100% tuition, books and fees. This scholarship is with the Army Medical Department and is specifically for Dental School. Additionally, this scholarship will provide a stipend of over $2,400.00 a month while in Dental School. Thank you for taking the time to watch this brief webcast on the Army Medical Department's Dental School Scholarship program.

Watch a pre-recorded webinar to learn more! 

Cargill Global Scholarships

The application is now open for the Cargill Global Scholars Program - a distinctive, 2-year scholarship and enrichment program providing financial support, mentorship, and the unique opportunity for U.S. college students to participate in leadership development seminars, including engaging with fellow Global Scholars from Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and Russia. Please review the attached PDF for details on eligibility requirements. To learn more about the Cargill Global Scholars Program and to start an application, please visit: http://www.cargillglobalscholars.com/. The application deadline is Thursday, March 4, 2021.

Webinars: 

Thursday, November 12, 6:00 PM CT

Monday, November 23, 3:00 PM CT

New and Interesting Spring Courses

We invite your best students to apply for our NIH/NCI-funded (5 R25CA023944-37) Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program. The program offers a unique opportunity for pre-doctoral students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, and pharmacy to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. Students participate in basic or clinical oncology research, research and clinical conferences, and a core lecture series designed specifically for them. All participants make a PowerPoint presentation on their research project and submit a report on their research project written in the style of a journal in which their faculty mentor publishes. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is likely that our 2021 program will be primarily virtual. Thus, data analysis skills and experience that would be helpful for remote projects will be advantageous.

A primary goal of the POE program is to encourage students to pursue a career in cancer research. Thus, we are particularly interested in highly qualified students with a serious career interest in cancer research, either as a clinical scientist or laboratory-based research scientist. Our St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offers training in leading-edge scientific fields paired with unique mentoring in the St. Jude clinical experience. Highly motivated POE students would have the opportunity to be considered for admission to the St. Jude Graduate School upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

All POE program applicants must have research experience at the time they apply. POEs must be United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, or possess a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States (required by the funding agency). All must have completed at least their college sophomore year by the time they participate. POE medical students spend a minimum of 10 weeks in the program. The minimum tenure requirement for all others is 11 weeks. All POE applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.40 (on a 4.0 scale) in math and science (biology, chemistry, and physics) and at least a 3.40 overall. The 2021 subsistence allowance will be $400/per week for undergraduates, and $480/week for all others.

The POE home page contains links to the program application. The deadline for receipt of all 2021 application materials is February 1, 2021. Early application is highly recommended, since completed applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis. Members of under-represented ethnic minority groups and women are particularly encouraged to apply, since one of our major long-term program goals is to increase the diversity of persons engaged in oncology research and practice.

MCAT 2021 Updates

We want to let you know about a change in the score reporting timeline for MCAT exams in January 2021. Scores from all January exams will be reported in about two weeks instead of four weeks.

This change will help students who still want to take the MCAT exam and submit scores in their 2021 applications. It will also help with admissions timelines for the medical schools that are accepting January 2021 scores. The new score reporting schedule is posted on our website. 

We will return to the typical 30- to 35-day score reporting schedule beginning in March 2021.   

As a reminder, registration for the January and March dates begins at noon ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Students still have time to preregister (through Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. ET), which gives them a head start on filling in their personal information. You can learn more about registration and the 2021 testing year on our website. 

VCU Summer Academic Enrichment Program

Summer Academic Enrichment Program  (SAEP) offers you the opportunity to simulate the first year of Dentistry, Medical, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy Schools. Its six weeks of rigorous intensive work, clinical experience, community service, fun, and preparation for your respective application season. This program is for Juniors, Seniors, and Post-Bacc students.

             Participants Receive:

• a stipend of $1500,
•  travel reimbursement available if you are traveling out of state,
• free housing for duration of program in one of the luxury residence halls here at VCU. 

Promotional Video Here: SAEP Video
Please go to dhsd.vcu.edu/programs/college/...  to read more about the requirements and to apply! 

VCU Allied Health Career Exploration Program

Another opportunity that would now be available to you is the Allied Health Career Exploration (AHCE) .This program is open to all college students and 12th Grade students. AHCE is a two-week exploration program that provides interactive experiences with Gerontology, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nurse Anesthesia, Patient Counseling, Rehab and Mental Health Counseling, Health Administration and Radiation Sciences! 9 Careers that are part of a successful interdisciplinary team in any patient care setting.

 Participants Receive:

• a stipend of $300
• free housing for duration of program in one of the luxury residence halls here at VCU. 

Please see promotional video here : AHCE Promotional Video

Apply here! 

EPPIC Nov/Dec Events

In November EPPIC will host five workshops for students and scholars on a variety of skills related to pronunciation and academic writing, and our final three sessions of Let’s Talk (a weekly speaking group designed specifically for J-1 visiting scholars).

EPPIC will also offer individual consultations on spoken and written academic English (EPPIC Individual Consultations) through the last week of classes in December.  Appointments may be booked up to three weeks in advance.  

Focus on Pronunciation NOV 6, 2020 12:30 - 2:00P EST

Writing Effective Literature Reviews, NOV 11 @ 11A - 12:30P EST

Focus on Pronunciation NOV 13, 2020 12:30 - 2:00P EST

Writing About Data and Results in Research Papers NOV 18 @ 11A- 12:30P

Virtual Fairs & Open Houses

-MANY NEW EVENTS!-

Feel like you are missing out by staying at home? Want to learn more about osteopathic medicine, medical school in the Caribbean, or postbacc opportunities? Visit and connect with these and other programs virtually at these live events!

 Check it out today!

Miss an issue of the newsletter? 

Head over to our website for an archive of past issues to see what you missed!