Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC)

Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC)

The Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) provides students applying to medical or dental school in the upcoming cycle an opportunity to obtain a letter of recommendation from an HPAC Committee Member. This is also referred to as a committee letter. The HPAC process allows students to proactively prepare for their upcoming medical or dental school application. Each student also receives individualized feedback to best prepare them to be successful in their goals. Students are selected through an application process. Selected students participate in an interview with an HPAC member who will then write a letter of recommendation for their medical and dental school application.  

Applications for the 2024-2025 cycle are CLOSED!

Applications for the 2025-2026 cycle will open Dec. 6, 2024. 

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 

  • Must be a UTA alum or current UTA student (first-degree) with a minimum Overall GPA of a 3.25 

OR

  • Must be a current or very recent UTA non-degree seeking post-bacc or second bacc student with a minimum 3.6 UTA Post Bacc GPA in at least 12 hours completed at UTA. 6 of those hours must be 3000/4000 level sciences; All minimum hours must be for science majors and count towards medical or dental school required/recommended courses.  
  • Must be applying to the upcoming medical or dental school cycle. Ex: Students planning to apply in the 2025-2026 medical/dental school cycle should apply to the 2025 HPAC that opens in December of 2024
  • Preference given to applicants showing an upward science GPA trend in recent upper-level science coursework (within 1-2 years)
  • Submission of all supporting documents (see below)

 

RE-APPLICANT CRITERIA  

  • APPLICANTS that received an HPAC letter from a previous year:
    • Starting for the 2020-2021 cycle, letters will include the cycle year with ranking. Students can request to use a previous HPAC letter for the upcoming cycle, however, the date and content of the letter will not be changed.
    • If a student would like an updated HPAC letter with a new date, ranking, and cycle year, they will need to reapply to HPAC.
    • Students can reapply ONCE within three years. Students can also reapply if it has been more than 3 years since the last applying to HPAC. 
    • ***Note: Re-applicants are NOT guaranteed a letter and should read the ALL APPLICANTS RE-APPLYING section below
  • APPLICANTS that were not accepted to HPAC in previous cycle are welcome to re-apply for the upcoming cycle as long as this is not the third time applying to HPAC within 3 years. Students can reapply if it has been more than 3 years since last applying to HPAC.  

 

  • ALL RE-APPLICANTS:

    • There should be evidence of growth from their previous application much like they would need to for their medical or dental school application. (HPAC essays should be updated) 
    • Re-applicants can re-use 1 of the 3 individual letters from a previous year. However, updated letters are highly recommended and may be required by medical/dental schools and the application services. 
    • Applicants are allowed to reapply ONCE within three years. EX: Students that have applied to HPAC in both of the past 2 cycles CANNOT apply to HPAC again until next cycle. 

 

  • PRO TIP: Students should create an account with the application service(s) they will be using to apply to professional school(s). (TMDSAS, AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS) There will be a section on the application and Letter of Recommendation Evaluation Form to include your unique ID number(s).

 

REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS & INFORMATION NEEDED FOR APPLICATION

  • Transcripts:

  • unofficial or official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities where college courses were taken

  • Overall and Science GPA (inputted in application):

    • GPA from all transcripts; Science GPA includes all Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math courses only (aka BCPM GPA).  
    • HELPFUL TOOL: CASPA GPA CALCULATOR - READ INSTRUCTIONS on first tab!

  • Admissions Test Score (optional):

    • Completion of the MCAT or DAT is not required to be considered for HPAC
    • Students must enter ALL past attempts with scores and scheduled future attempt(s).
    • A competitive score can help your HPAC application
    • A low score(s) does not negatively impact the application as long as a future test date is listed.     
  • Personal Statement - max 5,000 characters with spaces (Required)
    • Pre-medical students: Explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. You are asked to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.
    • Pre-dental students: Explain your motivation to seek a career in dentistry. You are asked to discuss your philosophy of the dental profession and indicate your goals relevant to the profession.
  • Personal Characteristics Essay - max 5000 characters with spaces (Required)
    • A key aspect of holistic review includes the consideration of applicants' attributes within the context of their experiences and academic metrics. Describe any personal qualities, characteristics, and/or lived experiences that could enrich the educational experience of others.
  • Unique Circumstances or Life Experiences Essay - max 2,500 characters with spaces (Required)
    • Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application. This is not an area to continue another essay or reiterate what you have previously stated: this area is provided to address any issues that have not previously been addressed.

  • Healthcare Activities, Volunteering, Work Experience, Leadership, Awards/Honors, and Research Hours (inputted in application):

    • These are the sections on the HPAC application which is similar to the TMDSAS application
    • There are no minimum hour requirements. Applicants are evaluated holistically. 

  • 3 Letters of Recommendation:

    • 3*** from any faculty member, health professional, research director, clinical experience, volunteer supervisor, or professional/employment reference that you have professionally interacted with
      • ***NOTE: Check your specific school's requirements; some schools may require a specific letter writer. Ex: 2 science faculty or 1 DO, or 1 from research faculty; Some Texas dental schools require a letter from a dentist
      • Personal letters not accepted (EX: relatives, family friends, etc.)

    • All letters must be dated after May 1st of the previous cycle year. EX: Letters for the 2025-26 cycle should be dated after May 1, 2024. (preferably closer to the HPAC deadline) 
      • EXCEPTION: Reapplicants are allowed to re-use 1 letter from the previous year but should be aware of the TMDSAS Letter Requirements listed below; All updated letters are highly recommended.

LETTERS

Note: Letters sent in for HPAC are kept on file and can be used for dental/medical school applications even if you are not accepted into HPAC. 

  • Instructions for applicants requesting letters: Review the Letter of Recommendations Page. Applicants must complete the top portion of the HPAC Cover Letter Form. Give this cover letter to your evaluator. HPAC will not review your application unless the box waiving your right to the letter is marked.  If this form does not accompany the letters, your right to the letter will be automatically waived.  
  • Instructions applicants should share with letter writers: Letters should be addressed to the Admissions Committee, not HPAC and must include the TMDSAS Letter requirements listed below. See below for letter delivery options. Please refer to the AAMC Guideline for Letter Writers for tips.

TMDSAS Letters Requirements

Be sure to inform evaluators of letter requirements, as letters missing any of this information may be rejected

  • Official Letterhead - personal or professional letterhead is accepted
  • Evaluator Contact Information – telephone number and/or email address
  • Applicant 's Name
  • Date– Admissions committees will take the date of the letter into consideration during review, with a strong preference for letters written after May 1, 2024.
  • Letter must be written in English
  • Evaluator Signature

Letter delivery options:

  • Emailed by evaluator (preferred): Completed letter and form can be scanned and emailed by the evaluator to sandy.hobart@uta.edu OR hpac@uta.edu
  • Applicant delivery: Evaluators can give the letter and form to the applicant for hand delivery to the Health Professions Advisor mailbox (Sandy Hobart) in the Dean’s Suite (LS 206). The letter and the form must be placed in an envelope and signed across the seal by the evaluator to verify the integrity of the letter.

 

APPLICANT SELECTION CRITERIA

ALL supporting documents, including letters, should be received by the deadline of February 16, 2025 by 11:59 pm CST. Applications can be submitted prior to letters being received.

Applicants will be reviewed holistically. Competitive Applicants will be selected and invited to an HPAC Interview. Selection criteria will be based on:

  • Overall GPA, science GPA, last 30 hours (trend)
  • Experiences: Clinical and non-clinical experiences, volunteering, leadership, research
  • Personal statement, essays, and letters of recommendation
  • Interview- an interview invite DOES NOT guarantee a committee letter

TENTATIVE TIMELINE (2025 CYCLE)

Applications open Friday, December 6, 2024, and close Sunday, February 16, 2025, by 11:59 pm.

  • Week of Feb 24th: Review process
  • Week of March 3rd:  Invites/denial email sent with interviewer information
  • March 10th - April 18th: Interview period & feedback period
  • May 2nd: Committee letter deadline to send to Ms. Hobart
    • Letter is added to student's file
    • Students are notified ONLY IF they WILL NOT receive a letter