Application Cycle
(to matriculate in the fall following graduation)

FALL SEMESTER

• November/December - Health Professions Applications Workshop-  Information for all health professions applicants for entering in the fall 2008.
• Enroll as a member of the ANGEL Health Professions Applicant Group

FEBRUARY

• Begin to gather and submit materials for your HPAC Applicant File.  Medical, Dental, Osteopathic, Optometry and Podiatry applicants will require the support of the health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) in the form of Evaluation Packets (letters of recommendation).  Before these letters are drafted, applicants' HPAC files must be complete.  Completed files contain:

ü     Applicant Profile Questionnaire (submit online as soon as possible, due April 1st)
ü     Waiver Form (submit as soon as possible)
ü     Individual Letters of Recommendation (Due April 1st ).
ü     Dean's Report Forms (Due May 15th).

• Establish a personal filing system! ALWAYS keep a copy of everything you write, send, submit, request - i.e. a paper trail with dates. USE a CALENDAR!!

• Preparation for the MCAT, DAT or other admissions test. Make sure you know when school require completion of admission tests. Most admission tests are offered online at Sylvan and other test centers. You may schedule most of them when you are ready. Electronic test scores are available immediately after completion of these tests (except for the MCAT)
•  The MCAT has specified dates, and registration is first come, first served.  Be sure to RELEASE your test scores to your Health Professions Advisor.

MARCH:

• Begin investigating schools (Use Web Sites, or the most recent editions of the medical and dental admission requirements books.)

• Order materials you think will help with your application process.

APRIL:

• April 1^st Deadline for submission of Applicant Profile Questionnaire, individual letters of recommendation, and waiver form.
• Schedule an Interview with your assigned Committee Member. This should be done through the Health Professions Advising Office, Harkins 210, (401)865-1989. Be prepared to discuss your academic background, health professions experience, and the information in your Applicant Profile Questionnaire. Your interview should be completed by May 15th.  
• As soon as they are available (keep checking the health professions organizations' websites) obtain the AMCAS, AACOMAS or AADSAS application materials. IMMEDIATELY download and print available INSTRUCTIONS and application forms to use for drafts. 
• April Meeting - Health Professions Application Updates: Meeting for all Medical/Dental Applicants to review application procedures
• Obtain all support materials you will need to begin to prepare your application. (Copy of your transcript to work from - all grades need to be converted to the form requested on the application).
• Work on the "Personal Statement" for your application. This is one of the most important parts of your application and should be done in a series of ever improving drafts . DON'T wait until the last minute. Be SURE to allow enough time for this piece of your application. Get opinions from others who can provide substantive guidance and criticism (those who know what is important to admissions committees).

MAY:

• May 15^th Deadline for submission of the Dean's Report(s) and completion of Interview
• Make initial selection of schools to which you plan to apply.
• Continue to check the status of your applicant file on "My Grades" on ANGEL. Maintain a calendar that clearly outlines DUE DATES for EACH SCHOOL to which you intend to apply. 
• Continue to complete the AADSAS/AACOMAS/AMCAS Application Forms.

JUNE:

• Applications may (should) be submitted as soon as possible* - The AADSAS, AMCAS and AACOMAS Applications generally have an "opening day" early in June. The date changes from year to year but will be posted on the application service web sites, as well as on the ANGEL Calendar.

*Many professional schools interview and accept applicants on a rolling admissions basis.  Because of this, early applicants are at an advantage.  Do NOT aim for the application deadline.  Aim for the opening of the application cycle.

It is also a good idea to complete your applications before the fall semester begins when you will be busy again with academics.

• Request Committee Letter of Evaluation Packet (in writing! - email or snail mail ) from Health Professions Advising Office AS REQUIRED or REQUESTED BY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.  When your HPAC Evaluation packets are mailed/posted it will be noted in "My Grades" on ANGEL. Always follow up a request to be sure it was received and processed.
• Most allopathic, osteopathic and optometry schools now use an electronic letter service called VirtualEvals. As we post your HPAC Packets to Virtual Evals, you will be notified by email.  This online service is encrypted and secure on both the distribution (Advisor's) and receiving (Professional School's) end.
• Your Committee Evaluation Packet will be submitted directly to individual DENTAL schools (NOT through AADSAS)
• Submit supplemental application materials and fees.
• Prepare for interviews (see section below on Professional School Interviews).
• Maintain contact with Advisor (e-mail, phone or by mail):

ü     Application advice: ccrafts@providence.edu

ü     Requests for letters, applicant file information: cwalker@providence.edu
ü     Phone: (401) 865-1989

• SENIORS - Your Providence College e-mail accounts will expire when you graduate.  You MUST change the e-mail address on Angel accordingly.  You should receive instructions from the Angel Administrators about how to do so.  If you don't, or can't remember, email angel@providence.edu and request that you wish to change your email address on Angel so that, as an alumna/us, you will have continued access to the Health Professions Applicants group.  Make sure you update this address, or you will NOT receive email from the Health Professions Advising Office. You should use the same e-mail address on your applications.  Most application services communicate via e-mail. 

• WARNING: The Advisor for the Health Professions will be away occasionally during the summer. PLAN AHEAD!  

Professional School Interviews

Interviews at health professions schools require as much thought and preparation as your initial applications. Don't short change yourself by being unprepared.

• Each institution uses an institution-specific interview format which they will describe - BE SURE TO ASK.
• The interview is an opportunity for you to become informed about the school as well as for the school to get to know you. Be prepared with intelligent and probing questions about each school you are visiting. Use the "31 Questions I Wish I had Asked" as a framework for developing your own institution specific questions. This and other articles about interviewing are posted in the Health Professions Applicants "Interviewing" folder on ANGEL. Ask questions that show that you know about the school you are visiting.
• Learn as much as possible about the school before the interview.
• If you don't have an answer, be honest. You might say "That's a really interesting question that I haven't thought about, but I will look into it."
• Schools are interested in your responses to ethical dilemmas. There are no EASY or, necessarily, CORRECT answers. They are interested in your thought process and in how you will  analyze difficult questions to find an answer.
• Dress and act like a professional - jackets, ties, haircuts, reasonable skirt lengths, reasonable height heels. "Lose" the studs and other body piercings at least temporarily (that includes tongue studs!)ETC.