Office of Pre-Health Advising
Office of Pre-Health Advising
Applying to professional health programs is a multi-step process that requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of each program’s expectations. Whether you’re pursuing medicine, dentistry, optometry, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, pharmacy, or public health, this section will guide you through the key components of a successful application.
Each service has its own timeline, fee structure, and requirements. Be sure to review the official websites and start early to avoid missing deadlines.
While each CAS has its own format, most primary applications include the following core elements:
Includes personal details such as name, contact information, citizenship status, and demographic background.
Applicants must enter ALL college-level coursework, including grades and credit hours. While many schools have grade forgiveness for class retakes, CAS applications do not. You must enter each course, even if it was a retake. Most systems require official transcripts and may use a standardized GPA calculation.
You’ll report scores from required exams (e.g., MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE). Some systems allow scores to be sent directly from the testing agency.
A central essay that explains your motivation for pursuing a career in the health professions. This is your opportunity to share your story, values, and goals.
Applicants list clinical, research, volunteer, leadership, and employment experiences. Most systems allow you to highlight key experiences with short narratives. You should only list activities you participated in after high school.
Most CAS platforms allow you to assign letters to specific schools. Letters are typically submitted by faculty, healthcare professionals, or mentors who know you well.
You’ll choose which schools to apply to and pay associated fees. Each school may have different deadlines and requirements. It is important to do your research and make sure you know each schools requirements and deadlines.
Once submitted, your application enters a verification process, where coursework and transcripts are reviewed for accuracy. This can take several weeks, so early submission is recommended.
After verification, your application is forwarded to the schools you selected. Many programs then invite applicants to complete secondary applications, which may include additional essays and fees.
What Are Secondary Applications?
After submitting your primary application through a centralized service (such as AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, OptomCAS, PharmCAS or CASPA), many health professions schools will send you a secondary application. These are school-specific and often include additional essay prompts, short-answer questions, and a separate fee.
Secondary applications allow programs to learn more about your motivations, values, and fit for their institution. They are a critical part of the admissions process and should be approached with the same level of care as your personal statement.
What to Expect
Secondary applications vary by school, but most include:
Some schools send secondaries automatically to all applicants, while others screen primary applications first. Be prepared to receive multiple secondaries within a short time frame, often within 2–4 weeks of submitting your primary application.
Office of Pre-Health Advising
Engineering Bldg. RM# 125
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Kia Hart
(313) 993-1928
hartkl@udmercy.edu