Services for Applicants

HPAC supports health professions applicants in the year before their applications.

Questions? See the FAQ (below) or join one of our live Q&A sessions: 9/29 Q&A recording or 10/8 2pm

Accessing HPAC Support, step-by-step

Services begin Oct 1, but you can start at any time.
Complete the steps in order.
Some services (*) have limited seats and rolling admissions.

1. Application Brainstorm ← complete this early to speed up every step of the process
2. Personal Statement Workshop ← use this to quickly write optimized application essays
3. Register Online (3 min) to receive:
   • Bio Form EY 2023
   • e-mail updates from HPAC
   • free businesslike portraits
   • “clearinghouse services” for medical and dental applicants:
     • Give each writer the Letter of Evaluation Form
     • Regular e-mails tell you when we received each letter
     • In summer, HPAC compiles a packet of up to 5 rec letters (bypassing the usual limit of 3) when you submit a Packet Mailing Request.
     • Packets are usually uploaded next-day to schools you designate
     • “Why only med/dent?” Other app services require letters directly from the writers
4. E-mail your completed Bio Form EY 2023 to prehealth@utdallas.edu to receive
   • Assigned HPAC advisor
   • Professional revisions of your Bio Form and essays
   • Candid assessment of your candidacy
   • Guidance on selecting rec letter writers
   • Guidance on optimizing your candidacy
5. E-mail your fully advisor-revised Bio Form EY 2023 to your HPAC advisor to receive:
   • The window to initiate these services was open from Oct 1 2021 to Feb 28 2022.
   • HPE interviews*
   • Committee evaluation (aka “committee letter”, “HPE process”)*
     • A committee evaluation aims to help professional schools to evaluate you, by adding UT Dallas context and multiple viewpoints on your candidacy.
     • The committee evaluates applicants in order of when HPAC receives your interview notes, rec letters, and test scores.
     • To receive a committee evaluation further requires
       • UTD GPA >3.4, UTD science GPA >3.4
       • Oct 1-Feb 28 : revise Bio Form with advisor
       • Feb 1-May 27: Interview with UTD faculty/staff
       • May 15-May 30: Bio Form updated to include spring classes/activities
       • May 1 (of previous year)-July 15: all rec letters received by HPAC
         • May 1 (of previous year)-July 15: MCAT or DAT score received by HPAC
         • MCAT minimum: 504, with no subscore under 124
         • DAT minimum: 18 Academic Average, with no subscore under 16.

* Interviews and HPE process have limited seats and rolling admissions – just like professional schools!
Early submitters will fill the seats – just like professional schools!

FAQ

• When do I apply to professional school?

  In summer before the year you hope to enter. Applicants for EY 2023 apply in summer 2022—usually late May or early June. Over the next two semesters, professional schools conduct interviews and offer acceptances. During that time, HPAC will help you to strengthen your application in case you need to reapply the next summer.

• When do I take admissions tests?

  After you’ve prepared for it, and not before. Director Rainey’s Recommended MCAT Prep offers some tips.

  HPAC recommends that you prepare to take admissions tests by May-June of the year you apply.

• When do I ask for recommendation letters?

  If you DON’T plan to use HPAC’s clearinghouse or HPE services, writers will submit their letters directly to the application services in summer.

  If you plan to use HPAC’s clearinghouse or HPE services, start by registering online: INSTRUCTIONS TO JOIN HPE AND OTHER SERVICES FOR EY 2023

  Give each writer a Letter of Evaluation Form, usually in spring, along with your revised Biographical Form. Writers send their letters to prehealth@utdallas.edu using that form as a coversheet. HPAC will e-mail you periodically to let you know which letters we’ve received.

• Do I need 5 recommendation letters?

  Most professions ask for 3 letters, including 2 faculty from biology, chemistry, physics, math, statistics, neuroscience, or engineering. If you have significant research or teaching experiences, it is common to ask your supervising professors; if not, chose whichever faculty know you best. Some schools demand that the 3rd letter be from a healthcare professional (i.e. many dental schools require a recommendation from a dentist). HPAC’s clearinghouse or HPE services can collect and upload up to 5 letters on your behalf. A 4th or 5th letter should highlight qualities or experiences not addressed by the first 3 letters.

• Can I use old recommendation letters?

  Letters supporting an application for EY 2023 should be dated no earlier than May 1 2021. Some wiggle room may be possible for students who complete the HPE process.

  If the letter was written before May 1 2021, contact the writer to request an updated letter.

• How helpful is a committee letter?

  Very helpful in some cases, because a committee evaluation can help readers to understand experiences or qualities that aren’t reflected elsewhere in your applications. While revising your Biographical Form, your assigned advisor can help you decide whether it would help you more to apply with a committee letter or apply earlier without one.

• How do I receive a committee letter?

  INSTRUCTIONS TO JOIN AND COMPLETE HPE AND OTHER SERVICES FOR EY 2023

• I qualified for HPE last year and met the deadlines. Can I participate this year?

  If you need to reapply to medical or dental in 2023, you are guaranteed a committee evaluation. Note the special instructions for students who went through HPE last cycle.

  INSTRUCTIONS TO JOIN AND COMPLETE HPE AND OTHER SERVICES FOR EY 2023