- 1. Attend an Applicant Information Session
This overview of the application process -- both how to work with HPA and how to prepare to apply -- is required of all applicants who are requesting a committee letter of recommendation.
Applicant Info Sessions will be announced in the HPA Vitals newsletter and on our website. Email hpa@princeton.edu for access to a recording of the info session.
Timing: The first info session will be in October.
- 2. Submit the HPA Intake / Intent to Apply form & resume
Any student or alum who may apply to medical or dental school in the application cycle should complete this form. It will provide HPA with some background information about each potential applicant and provide some reflection questions to help the applicant begin to develop their narrative as a future health professional.
Timing: After attending the Applicant Info Session.
Deadline: Prior to scheduling a preapplication interview.
- 3. Participate in an HPA Applicant Intake Appointment
The intake appointment is mandatory for individuals who have not met with a health professions adviser in the past year and optional for others. The intake appointment is an opportunity to get (re-)acquainted with advisers and discuss your candidacy.
Timing: After attending Applicant Info Session.
Deadline: Prior to preapplication interview.
- 4. Participate in HPA Preapplication Interview
This 30-40 minute interview is required for any student or alum requesting a committee letter of recommendation. A number of written materials must be submitted prior to the interview.
Timing: January through April
Deadline: Interviews are scheduled on a first come, first served basis beginning in January. Absolute deadline to complete preapplication materials and schedule an interview is June 1, but scheduling this late will put the applicant at a disadvantage in the process.
- 5. Take Standardized Test
Medical school applicants will take the MCAT and dental school applicants will take the DAT. Other tests are required for other professions. Learn more about standardized tests.
Timing: For MCAT, ideally by May of the application year. For DAT, ideally by July of the application year.
- 6. Request Letters of Recommendation
Applicants requesting a committee letter of recommendation should gather 3-6 individual letters of recommendation from faculty, staff, supervisors, and mentors who know them well:
- One letter from an individual who has taught the applicant in a science class, who can speak to their readiness for the science curriculum in professional school (required)
- One letter from an individual who can speak to the applicant's science competencies--this can be from a class or a research experience (required)
- One letter from an individual whose letter will complement the science letters and ideally speak more to the applicant's pre-professional competencies
- Up to three additional letters (optional)
Learn more about letters of recommendation.
Timing: Ask for letters in the spring semester. Provide writers with at least a month's notice to produce the letter.
Deadline: To meet the HPA priority deadline to receive a committee letter of recommendation, letters should be received by June 1.
- 7. Submit Primary Application
The primary application is the "Common App" -- all schools to which you apply will receive your primary application. Learn more about primary applications.
Timing: Applications open for preparation in May and may be submitted in June. Submitting early is optimal.
Deadline: To receive a committee letter of recommendation, the application must be submitted by August 1.
- 8. Submit Secondary Applications
Individual professional schools will require an additional secondary or supplementary application that is unique to that school. Learn more about secondary applications.
Timing: Summer, ideally within two weeks of being invited to complete the secondary application.
Deadline: Varies by school.
- 9. Interviews
Interviews are required by every health professions school. Learn more about interviews.
Timing: Interview invitations are released between July and April with the majority in August through October.
- 10. Get accepted!
After the interview, admissions committees will deliberate and extend acceptances.
Timing: For medical school, October through April for regular decisions; before the first day of classes for wait list decisions. For dental school, regular decisions begin in December.
