Applicants
The following pages are designed to give students an overview of the application process.
For students who are just beginning your PreHealth journey, spend some time on the Academics and Experiential Learning sections of this website. These sections detail ways to prepare yourself as a candidate.
While application requirements vary depending on the type of health professional program, most applicants can expect to complete some version of the following:
- Primary Application, including:
- Biographical and demographic information
- Coursework and academic information, including transcript requests
- Entrance exam (as required)
- Personal statement
- Work and activities/experiences
- Letters of evaluation
- School or program selection
- Secondary Applications, including:
- Situational Judgment Tests (as required)
- Interviews
The pages that follow provide guidance for navigating these components of the application process, from preparing and submitting your primary application through completing secondary applications and interviews.
This section of our website also highlights application support services and resources available through the PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program, as well as guidance for planning a gap year, determining when to apply, and financing your health professional education.
A Message for our Students
The PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program supports Northeastern undergraduate students and alumni in their pathway to their health professional program. While you are exploring the different ways to broaden your experiences and develop a strong application for your chosen health professional field, you may be wondering, when is the right time to apply? The best year to apply is the year in which you can be the most competitive in all aspects of your application. Every PreHealth student at Northeastern is on their own individualized timeline to applying to their chosen health professional program and it is encouraged for students to cater their timeline to best suit their personalized circumstances. While some students may apply the year before graduation to begin their health professional program directly after graduation, we have many students (~85% of Northeastern applicants), who apply with at least one gap year between graduation and entering their program. Our office is here to support you through your PreHealth journey and provide holistic guidance on how to be a competitive applicant.
The PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program is here to support current students and alumni of the CPS Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program (completion of at least 8 required courses) as they apply to medical, dental, PA, veterinary, optometry, or podiatry school. We encourage all applicants to participate in our Application Readiness Program and if eligible and applicable, Letter Packet process. Many students complete the post-baccalaureate certificate program in 4-5 semesters, and then apply for their health professional program of choice. We encourage meeting with your pre-health advisor early in your post-baccalaureate program in order to establish your individualized timeline and goals.
Post-baccalaureate students who do not complete the full certificate program will not be eligible for advising support of the PMPH Advising Program at Northeastern University, but likely have access to alumni support services from their undergraduate institution. If this applies to you, we recommend reaching out to the pre-health advising office at your undergraduate institution to determine the support available to you.
NU Applicant Success
