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 become familiar with the medical school or dental school application process and are selected through an application process. Selected students will have the opportunity to participate in an interview with the HPAC member who will be writing their letter.  

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 2024-2025 medical/dental school cycle should apply to the 2024 HPAC that opens in December of 2023
  • Preference given to applicants showing an upward science GPA trend in recent upper-level science coursework (within 1-2 years)

Please see below for Applicant Selection Criteria.

 

RE-APPLICANT LETTER 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 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 letters previously sent to the Health Professions Office within the last 5 years are kept on file and can be requested to be sent to application services 

 

  • ALL APPLICANTS RE-APPLYING to HPAC:

    • 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:

    • GPA from all transcripts; Science GPA includes all Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math courses only (aka BCPM GPA). There will be a question on the application that requires this information.
    • HELPFUL TOOL: CASPA GPA CALCULATOR - READ INSTRUCTIONS on first tab!

  • Admissions Test Score:

    • 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 2,500 characters with spaces (Required)
    • Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to 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:

    • 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:

    • 1 from a science faculty member (HPAC will accept letters from any faculty member under the College of Science or BME Professor; however, students should verify with specific schools if they will consider letters from PSYC, MATH, or BME as science if required)
    • 2* from any faculty member, health professional, research director, clinical experience, volunteer supervisor, or professional/employment reference
      • (*prefer 1 from a health professional of your chosen career; NOTE: Please check your specific school's requirements; some schools may require a certain type of letter. Ex: 2 science faculty or 1 DO, or 1 from research faculty; Most Texas dental schools require a dentist letter)
    • All letters must be dated after May 1 of the previous cycle year. EX: Letters for the 2022-23 cycle should be dated after May 1, 2022. (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)

***TMDSAS Letter Requirements 

All letters of evaluation must include the following criteria in order to be accepted by TMDSAS. Any letters that do not meet these standards will be rejected. 

  1. Be written on official letterhead (personal or professional letterhead is accepted)
  2. Include the evaluator's contact information (specifically a phone number and/or email address) 
  3. Include the evaluator's signature 
  4. Include the applicant's name
  5. Letter must be dated. Admissions committees will take the date of the letter into consideration during review, with a strong preference for letters written after May 1, 2022
  6. Written in English

 

 

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. 

***Read letter type requirements in the supporting document section above. 

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. The form can be hand delivered or scanned and emailed to your evaluator to complete depending on their preference. If this form does not accompany the letters, your right to the letter will be automatically waived.  

Instructions for evaluators writing letters: Letters should be addressed to the Admissions Committee, not HPAC and must be typed, on an official letterhead, dated, hand or e-signed and contain contact information. These letters will most likely be used for the applicant’s medical/dental school application(s). See below for letter delivery options.  The HPAC Cover Letter Form should have been provided by the applicant requesting the letter. This form should accompany the letter. Please refer to the AAMC Guideline for Letter Writers for tips.

Letter delivery options for evaluators:

  • Email (preferred): Completed letter and form can be scanned and emailed by the evaluator to 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.
  • Mail (not recommended): Letters with the completed evaluation form can be mailed in an envelope signed across the seal by the evaluator to: Sandy Hobart, Health Professions Advisor LS206, The University of Texas at Arlington Box 19047 Arlington, TX 76019-0047

 

APPLICANT SELECTION CRITERIA

ALL supporting documents, including letters, should be received by the deadline of February 18, 2024 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 (2024 CYCLE)

Applications open Monday, December 4, 2023, and close Sunday, February 18, 2024, by 11:59 pm.

  • Week of Feb 26th: Review process
  • Week of March 4th:  Invites/denial email sent with interviewer information
  • March 11th - April 19th: Interview period & feedback period
  • May 3rd: 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
  • For information on requesting letters to be sent to TMDSAS, AMCAS, etc., visit the LOR, PS, and Interviewing Page.