The 2021 Application.


​Have you ever thought you might want to become a doctor?
Are you curious about what this career path would be like?
How much training it would take?
How you would go about paying for your education?
Whether you have what it takes?

​If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the Health Professions Exposure and Recruitment Program (HPREP) at UC San Diego School of Medicine may be right for you! 

​

Application Overview ​​


  • UC San Diego HPREP is recruiting a new class of 12 students. Each applicant must be in ninth grade (entering tenth grade in Fall 2021) and attending a high school in San Diego County.
  • Ideal applicants are highly motivated students who are high-achieving or improving in the classroom despite challenges or disadvantages. Those who are members of racial, ethnic, or other groups underrepresented in medical professions, including African-Americans, Latinos, Southeast Asians, LGBT, foster youth, and low-income students are encouraged to apply. Students may also self-identify other challenges or disadvantages they are overcoming in their pursuit of academic and professional success.


​Applications are due June 6th, 2021 11:59 PST

​Complete applications include: a personal statement, letter of recommendation, transcript(s), and a cover page. 

Personal Statement. 


Please answer one of the following three prompts in a written statement of 250-500 words.

1. What obstacles or challenges have you overcome or are you still overcoming in your life? What
attributes have helped you in that process and what have you learned from the experience?

2. Describe a significant health event, chronic disease, or other health-related problem that you or
someone close to you has faced. What was your role in this experience and what have you learned
from it?

3. Why do you want to be a physician or other healthcare professional? Describe what personal
traits you possess which would help you be effective in this field, citing specific examples from
your life which demonstrate those traits.
​
​Please do not provide a response which addresses multiple prompts. Submissions will be assessed for both content and quality, which means we want to know about you and we want to know about your writing ability.

Letter of Recommendation. 

Each applicant must request one letter of recommendation from a high school or middle school teacher in any subject.

Teachers should write a 1-2 page letter describing the applicant’s academic ability and character, providing specific examples related to his or her performance and behavior.

​Teachers will e-mail this confidential letter of recommendation directly to the HPREP admissions committee: [email protected] 

Transcripts. 

Each applicant is required to submit at least their most recent transcript from his or her current high school.
Applicants have the option to submit additional middle school or high school transcripts to demonstrate academic improvement over time. High grade point averages are not necessarily favored over lower-but-improved grade point averages.

Transcripts do not need to be official. We will accept PDF copies of unofficial transcripts via email: [email protected] 

Cover Sheet.

hprep_application_cover_sheet_2020-21.pdf
File Size: 310 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​All application materials should be sent ​as PDFs to:


​[email protected]

Please save your files using the following format: 
​
Last Name, First Name_HPREP Personal Statement
Last Name, First Name_ HPREP Transcript 
Last Name, First Name_ HPREP Letter of Recommendation 
Last Name, First Name_HPREP Cover Sheet

Students, please send your personal statements and transcripts in one email. ​​