The most important things to accomplish as a first-year are getting situated academically and socially, adjusting your time management skills.  Here are some steps to take to reach these goals.

1. Read the HPA Preparing for a Career in the Health Professions Guide. This will take you through the basics of academic and non-academic preparation as a prehealth student.

2. Get to know the HPA advisers, peer advisers, and jock docs.

3. Follow us on Facebook for news, opportunities, and upcoming events.

4. Subscribe to the HPA mailing list. You will be automatically added to our mailing list if you indicated an interest in health professions when you provided academic information as an incoming student, or when you come to a meeting with HPA advisers. We send out HPA Vitals, our weekly e-newsletters, and a few other announcements. 

5. Seek clinical experience to gain a realistic understanding of your profession of interest.

6. Join a health-related student organization to get to know like-minded peers. Groups range from social to educational to philanthropic, and sometimes all of the above!