Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) Review Process

Many professional schools (dentistry, medicine, optometry, physical therapy, pharmacy, and podiatry) require a committee evaluation of applicants. The Union Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) evaluates applicants based on the same criteria used by professional schools:

1. Grades – both math/science and overall grade point averages

2. Extracurricular involvement-including clinical experience, research, volunteer work, campus involvement, leadership skills, work experience

3. Essay

4. Strong interpersonal skills

5. Evaluation letters

1. Participate in the online Health Professions Office Informational Meeting. Please refer to Student Resources for a link to the PowerPoint.

2. Review the HPAC Timeline.

3. Complete the HPAC Self-Assessment Form found under Student Resources. The completed document is required in order to submit the HPAC Request for Review form.

4. Submit the HPAC Request for Committee Review form found under Student Resources.

5. Complete the HPAC online portfolio after receiving access from the Health Professions Office.

6. Complete two one-hour interviews with Committee members.

7. The Health Professions Advisory Committee requests applicants provide 4 total reference letters when going through review, including 2 letters from science professors and 2 additional letters, preferably one from a professor from a non-science course or term abroad and one from a supervisor from a substantial activity (i.e. manager or supervisor from a place of employment or volunteer activity, a research lab supervisor etc..).

Note: Evaluators cannot be a member of the Health Professions Advisory Committee.

Reference letters must be requested using our Health Professions Advisory Committee Individual Evaluation Letter Request form.

Please note: If you are a re-applicant or you are applying in a different cycle than when you were reviewed by the committee, you will need to provide the Health Professions Office with an update letter so that schools have a better understanding of your candidacy beyond what would have been included in the original committee letter. The update letter provides an opportunity for you to highlight medical and service-related experiences and activities that occurred after the committee reviewed you. The letter should be addressed "Dear Health Professions Advisory Committee", and it should be dated, signed, and not exceed one page. The letter will be sent to professional schools with your committee letter, so it should be formal and professional. A pdf of the letter should be sent along with a pdf of your completed, submitted application in one email communication to Health_pro@union.edu

For more information regarding the application process, please view our May Meeting PowerPoint or refer to Student Resources for additional information.

1. Complete and submit application (AMCAS, ACOMAS, AADSAS, OPCAS etc…). Don’t forget to request transcripts be sent to the application service as well.

2. Email a PDF version of your submitted application to health_pro@union.edu. Note: AMCAS applicants must also email a PDF of the letter request form along with the submitted application.

Committee letters will be sent to schools on a rolling basis – earlier is better. Note: successful applicants typically complete their primary application by mid-June and their secondary applications by August. Do not wait until the fall term – this is when you could be interviewing.

• Committee Chair: Carol Weisse, Director of Health Professions Program
• Rhona Beaton, Assistant Director of Health Professions Program
• Michelle Osborn, Dean of Studies
• Brian Cohen, Biology
• Ellen Gasparovic, Math
• Joanne Kehlbeck, Chemistry
• Scott LaBrake, Physics
• Matt Milless, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Campus & Community Engagement
• Shena McAuliffe, English