Who Is Eligible for SMDEP?

To be eligible for SMDEP, an applicant must:

• be currently enrolled as a freshman or sophomore in college;
• have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, with 2.75 in the sciences;
• be a U.S. citizen or hold a permanent resident visa; and
• not have participated in SMDEP previously.

Other factors considered in the admissions process include whether an applicant:

• has a combined verbal and math SAT score of at least 950 or ACT score of at least 20;
• identifies with a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented in medicine and dentistry (as defined independently by each program site);
• comes from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background;
• has demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved populations;
• has local and/or regional residency; and
• submits a compelling personal statement and strong letters of recommendation.

Each SMDEP site makes its admissions decisions on a "first come, first served" basis, therefore apply as early as possible to increase your chance of being selected at your designated program site(s).

Students should contact their school's health professions advisor or career counselor for advice on choosing which summer to apply to SMDEP and for other information about a career in the health professions.