SHPEP Applications Open Today!

Summer Health Professions Education Program

Program Overview

SHPEP offers students a variety of academic and career experiences:

• Academic enrichment in the basic sciences and quantitative topics.
• Learning and study skills development, including methods of individual and group learning.
• Clinical exposure through small-group rotations in health care settings, simulation experiences, and seminars. 
• Career development sessions are directed toward exploring the health professions, the admissions process, and developing an education plan.
• A financial literacy and planning workshop that informs students of financial principles and management strategies.
• A health policy seminar series to expose scholars to current health policy issues, the policymaking process and analysis, health care financing, and the social determinants of health.
• An introduction to interprofessional education that addresses effective collaboration across health professions.

Who is eligible to apply?

All students who meet the Summer Health Professions Education Program eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a high school graduate and currently enrolled as a freshman or sophomore in college.
  • Applicants should have earned no more than 60 credits.
    • Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credits are not counted.
    • Dual enrollment credits are counted.
• Have a minimum overall college GPA of 2.5.
• Be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or an individual granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Must not have previously participated in the program.

Other factors for consideration include that a student:

• Identifies with a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented in the health professions;
• Comes from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background; and/or
• Has demonstrated an interest in issues affecting underserved populations.
• Submits a compelling personal statement and a strong letter of recommendation.

Application Materials to Submit

Applications will only be reviewed by designated program sites once the National Program Office processes the following materials in accordance with the admissions guidelines:

1. The online SHPEP application includes one essay prompt (Personal Statement Guidelines). An AAMC account is required to access the application. Register for an AAMC account if you do not already have one.
2. One official transcript from every U.S., U.S. Territorial, or Canadian post-secondary institution attended sent directly by the institution’s registrar’s office. Please review the transcript requirements below for more information.
3. One letter of recommendation from a qualified reference. Please review the recommendation requirements below for more information.

Application opens November 1 and closes February 5