How do I make an appointment with the Health Professions Advisory Team?

All appointments must be made in-person, or over the phone during business hours. The Premed office is located at: 55 Whitney Avenue, 3rd floor suite, or call 432-0818.

Who is eligible to utilize the services of the Yale Health Professions Advisory Program?

The Health Professions Advisory Team serve ONLY students and alumni of Yale College, and those who are enrolled in Yale's post baccalaureate program.

I’m just getting started as a premed. Is there a booklet or brochure I can read that will help me?

You can obtain a copy of the UCS Guide:Preparing to Become a Health Care Professional which provides general information and a timeline to help keep you on track. You can pick up this pamphlet in the premed office or download a copy from the UCS website.

What is the "Redbook" and how do I get one?

The "Redbook" is officially called the Applying to Medical School Guide. It is document that details everything students applying to medical school should be thinking about and doing. Students will receive a copy of the Redbook at Registration Meetings. An electronic version (pdf) of The Redbook can also be downloaded from the UCS website.

How do I sign up for the Health Professions email distribution list?

You must have an account in eRecruiting to become part of any distribution list. Visit the Getting started section of the Medical School pages to learn how to create an account and participate in the UCS Health Profession distribution list.

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What and where are the medical school statistics binders?

The medical school statistics binders contain a collection of admission statistics from previous Yale applicants to medical school. The report lists individual medical schools and includes grade point averages, MCAT scores, major, and state of residence. It is also noted if the applicant was accepted by the medical school. These binders are available in the UCS library.

What and where is the Medical School Admissions Requirement book?

The AAMC's Medical School Admission Requirements guide is the only guide authorized by all U.S. and Canadian allopathic medical schools. It provides up to date information about application and admission requirements, coursework, curricula, deadline dates, average GPAs and MCAT scores, tuition and fees, and more. This resource is located in the Health Professions section of the UCS library. Students may photocopy the contents of this resource during their visits to UCS.

Where can I find the following: Dean’s Report, HPE request, envelopes, postcards, letter of recommendation waivers, etc.?

All of these documents are located in the Health Professions waiting area directly behind the front desk. The forms are also available for download on the website, as copies are included in the appendix of the Red Book: Applying to Medical School.

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What courses are required for admission to medical school?

You can view a list of Yale College courses that fulfill the medical school admission requirements on our website, and within the appendix of the Redbook. Since some medical schools have additional requirements, it is important that you review the publication, Medical School Admissions Requirements (available in the UCS library), paying particular attention to your state medical school requirements.

In addition to the courses required for admission to medical school what else should I be doing during term time and during my summer breaks?

Medical schools believe firmly that it is important that you demonstrate clear understanding of what a career in medicine entails. Thus, they look for evidence of significant exposure to the field of medicine through in-depth volunteer work in clinic/hospital, as an EMT and so forth. In addition, one needs to show emotional maturity, character, integrity, sensitivity, compassion for others, excellent communication skills, and leadership. For an in-depth discussion of these skills and attributes and a timeline of how you might break down your preparation year-by-year, refer to the UCS publication, Preparing to Become a Health Care Practitioner.

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When do I start the process of applying to medical school?

If you plan to matriculate to medical school immediately following graduation from Yale College, you will begin the process in the first term of junior year. For a complete discussion of the application process and a single-page timeline refer to the UCS publication, Applying to Medical School.

How are HPE interviews scheduled?

In February of the application year (ONLY), students should sign-up for an interview with a member of the HPAP. This meeting will take place between mid February and early May. Students must bring with them the required autobiographical statement and resume when they make the appointment. More information regarding the HPE interview and the Health Profession Evaluation will be provided at the mandatory November Registration Meeting. A description of these HPAP services can also be found in the publication Applying to Medical School.

Alumni Applicants: Alumni who graduated within the past four years and who are able to travel to New Haven may schedule a personal interview according to the dates in the above paragraph. Phone interviews are NOT possible. Alumni who graduated more than four years prior are welcome to seek advice on applying for admission, but medical schools are less interested in an evaluation of your undergraduate experience. Thus, we do not prepare a letter of evaluation or conduct a personal interview.

Is the process of preparing for and applying to other health professions programs (i.e. veterinary, dentistry, public health) the same as it is for applying to medical school?

This is a yes and no answer. Regardless of the type of program you are interested in you are encouraged to complete certain prerequisite courses, sit for an entrance exam, participate in extracurricular activities, and go through an application process of filling out forms, submitting transcripts and letters of recommendation, and possibly even interviewing. So in that way, the processes are very similar indeed. However, there are nuances throughout both the preparation stage and the application stage that differ significantly among the health professional programs. One of the major difference is that students who are applying to allopathic or osteopathic medical schools are required to register with the UCS Health Professions Advisory Board, but students applying to other health professions do not (although those students are still encouraged to meet with a health professions counselor early and often throughout their Yale career). For more complete information regarding the preparation for and application to various health professions programs, please visit the Medical School and Additional Health Professions section of our website.

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