Health Professions Mentoring Program FAQs

Eligible students will be identified through their application to UM and invited to participate in HPM along with their notification of admission to UM. Eligibility is determined through choice of major and interest in pre-health professions.

The University employs a holistic review process to assess applicants’ readiness for the HPM Program. Factors influencing admission to the HPM Program include:

• Personal/life experience within diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and neighborhoods
• Time and service to disadvantaged populations
• Excellence in community service and leadership ability
• Specific interest in health disparities

Strong achievements in science and math courses, strong letters of recommendation, a compelling essay, extracurricular activities, and awards/achievements are also reviewed.

The HPM Program will prepare students to be competitive applicants to any medical school of their choice upon completion of their bachelor’s degree. The Program provides an enriching curriculum, where students participate in exclusive, hands-on and engaging courses.

Some of the benefits include:

• Multigenerational mentoring by faculty, medical school students, and advanced undergraduates
• Professional development activities
• Monthly meetings with special guest speakers in the medical profession
• Early access to course registration
• Enriched academic curriculum:
  • Enrollment in an HHMI Integrative Biology/Chemistry Research Lab course through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Community Outreach during the first year of the program
  • Clinical Medicine course, taught by medical school faculty: HPM Program students are introduced to the art of diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and understanding of disease etiology via shadowing physicians in various departments, through case studies, and in simulation labs
• MCAT course: If eligible, students will enroll in the prep course in the third year of the program

The HPM Program enriches the traditional pre-med track with its focus on mentoring, professional development opportunities, and unique courses, which will be made available ONLY to students in the HPM Program.

Although entrance into medical school does not require a science major, students with science majors will be given priority during the selection process. The Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) should be used as a guide for all medical school pre-requisites and application processes.

Yes, students can be in more than one of UM's Honors & Scholars Programs.

Invitations will be extended for Early Decision I (EDI) and Early Action (EA) applicants by late January and for Early Decision II (EDII) and Regular Decision (RD) applicants by April 1.

Students must maintain a 3.5 GPA and participate in all program co-curricular activities.

No, students are not guaranteed acceptance into Miller School of Medicine.

No, students may apply to any medical school of their choice. 

The minimum MCAT score for admission into the Miller School of Medicine will be determined annually based on the average MCAT score of the previously matriculated medical school class.