Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! Medical schools and other health professions programs accept students from ANY major, as long as you complete the required prerequisite courses. In fact, admissions committees value diverse academic backgrounds.

Students have successfully applied from majors including English, psychology, business, chemistry, environmental science, public health, and many others.

What matters most is strong performance in prerequisite science courses, meaningful clinical experiences, and a compelling personal narrative—not your major. Meet with Dr. Dubé to create a plan that fits your academic interests and career goals.

Yes! While the average GPA for accepted medical students is around 3.70, many students are accepted with lower GPAs, especially when they have:

• An upward trend showing improvement over time
• Strong MCAT/GRE scores
• Extensive clinical experience and meaningful activities
• Compelling personal narratives explaining challenges overcome
• Strong letters of recommendation

Health professions programs use holistic review, meaning they look at your entire application—not just numbers. HPAC can help you strengthen other areas of your application and develop a strategic school list that matches your profile. If your GPA needs improvement, we can also discuss post-baccalaureate programs, special master's programs (SMPs), or taking additional coursework.

The committee letter provides context for your academic journey and highlights your strengths beyond GPA, giving content for your entire application (including any challenges you faced and trends that show improvement). A strong committee letter can help explain lower numbers and highlight your other strengths, such as clinical experience, personal growth, or exceptional service. The committee advocates for you as a whole person, not just your statistics.

Finding quality clinical experiences is essential for health professions applications. Here are some strategies:

For shadowing:

• Ask your own physician, dentist, or healthcare provider if you can shadow them
• Contact UPMC Shadyside Hospital volunteer services
• Reach out to Chatham alumni working in healthcare (ask Dr. Dubé for connections)
• Contact local private practices, clinics, or specialty offices directly
• Attend HPAC's Clinical Experience & Shadowing workshop in September for more guidance

For hands-on patient care (especially important for PA programs):

• Work as a medical scribe, medical assistant, EMT, CNA, or phlebotomist
• Volunteer at hospitals, free clinics, or hospice organizations
• Contact Chatham's Office of Career Development for local opportunities
• Consider positions that provide training (EMT, CNA certification programs)

Start early (freshman/sophomore year) so you have substantial hours by application time. Keep a detailed log of your hours and reflect on what you learn. Quality matters more than quantity; focus on meaningful experiences where you learn about patient care and the healthcare system.

Both paths are valid, and gap years are increasingly common and often advantageous. Many successful applicants take one or more gap years to:

• Gain additional clinical experience or patient care hours
• Strengthen their academic record with post-baccalaureate coursework
• Work, travel, or pursue meaningful service (Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, etc.)
• Improve MCAT/GRE scores
• Gain maturity and life experience that enriches their applications

Gap years should be strategic, not a backup plan. If you use the time productively, gap years can significantly strengthen your candidacy. However, if you're academically prepared, have sufficient clinical experience, and are ready to apply, going straight through can also be successful.

Meet with Dr. Dubé to discuss your specific situation and create a timeline that works best for you.

While not technically required, most health professions programs strongly prefer or expect a committee letter from institutions that offer this service. Some schools explicitly require applicants from schools with health professions committees to submit a committee letter. Even when not required, a strong committee letter significantly strengthens your application.

No. Committee letters are accepted by medical school (MD/DO), dental school (DDS/DMD), podiatry (DPM), and optometry (OD) programs.

Other health professions programs, including physician assistant (PA), physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), pharmacy, and veterinary medicine, require individual letters of recommendation instead of committee letters.

If you're pursuing PA, PT, pharmacy, or veterinary programs, HPAC will guide you on securing strong individual letters from faculty, supervisors, and professionals in your chosen field. You do not need to participate in the committee interview process.

Yes! Students planning gap years should still complete the committee interview process during their junior or senior year. The committee letter will be held and updated as needed when you are ready to apply. Contact Dr. Dubé to discuss the best timing for your situation.

You will still request 2-3 individual letters of recommendation from faculty, mentors, or clinical supervisors. These letters are submitted to HPAC and included in your committee letter packet. The committee synthesizes themes from these letters along with your interview and application materials to create a comprehensive evaluation.

The committee interview is designed to be supportive, and committee members will provide constructive feedback to help you improve. If you are nervous or struggle during the interview, the committee understands and will work with you to strengthen your presentation. The interview is also a valuable practice for actual admissions interviews. Remember that the committee wants you to succeed and will write the strongest letter possible based on all available information, not just the interview.

The committee can write letters tailored to different application paths. During your interview, discuss your various interests, and the committee will prepare appropriate letters for each application service you are using.

Absolutely! Many students enter college interested in multiple health career paths, and that's completely normal. HPAC supports students exploring all health professions.

Here's how to explore: 

• Attend the Exploring Health Professions Panel (October) to hear from professionals in multiple fields
• Attend both the MD/DO Roundtable (October) and PA Roundtable (November)
• Shadow in different settings (hospital physicians, PAs in clinics, PTs, etc.)
• Meet with Dubé to discuss the pros/cons of different paths
• Consider your priorities: length of training, scope of practice, work-life balance, patient interaction style

The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and GRE (Graduate Record Examination) are different standardized tests required by different programs.

MCAT

• Required for medical school (MD/DO) and some podiatry programs
• Tests: biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, sociology, critical reading
• Scored 472-528 (average accepted student: ~511-512)
• Offered multiple times per year; register well in advance
• Preparation typically takes 3-6 months

GRE

• Required for some PA, PT, OT, and some other health professions programs
• Tests: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing
• Less biology/chemistry heavy than the MCAT
• Scored differently (130-170 for verbal/quant; 0-6 for writing)
• Generally considered less difficult than the MCAT, but still requires preparation

Which test you take depends on your career path:

• MD/DO — Take the MCAT
• PA, PT, OT, or Pharmacy— Take the GRE. Check with specific programs to determine if it’s required.
• Not sure yet? Wait to decide until you've explored both paths through shadowing and HPAC events.

Attend HPAC's MCAT Preparation Workshops or meet with Dr. Dubé to discuss test preparation strategies.