If you are a UW-Madison student or alumni applying to a health professions program, the Center for Pre-Health Advising has several specialized resources to support you.
On this page, explore the tools available to you throughout the application process.
To learn more about the components of an application, visit our Applying to Health Professions Programs page and schedule an appointment with us so we can help you weigh when it is best for you to apply.
Applicant Advising in May
In peak application season during the month of May, CPHA prioritizes applicant advising. Appointments and drop-ins are reserved for applicants only so we can focus on supporting you at this important time!
Current students can schedule an appointment via Starfish. Alumni can email (questions@prehealth.wisc.edu) or call our office to set up an appointment in the absence of access to Starfish.
CPHA Self-Paced Application Canvas Courses
If you are planning to apply to a health professional program in the coming year, please sign up for a CPHA Application Course. These are free resource courses on Canvas designed to supplement advising conversations with our office and support you through each stage of the application process.
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Application Prep
How We Can Help
Personal Statements: CPHA will meet with you twice to discuss and review your personal statement. We have found that students get the most out of this feedback if they have done some writing, looked at the Canvas courses modules on doing revisions, and now feel “stuck”, although we are happy to review your writing at any stage!
Experience Statements: CPHA will review 2-3 experience statements in appointments.
Secondary Essays or Program Materials: CPHA will review 3-5 school-specific essays.
When To Meet With Us
We recommend meeting with us to discuss essays about 1 semester before you plan to apply. We can talk through the various essays you will encounter throughout the application and the functions they serve within the application. These conversations can give you clarity as you start brainstorming and organizing your essays.
Please be mindful of others. If you have met with us twice for a personal statement, consider getting additional feedback from the Writing Center or another trusted reader. If we have already looked at some of your experience essays, have someone else give them a final review. We are committed to supporting many people throughout the application process and these people could be your future colleagues! We’re all in this together.
Want More Help?
Work with the UW-Madison Writing Center! They offer peer feedback for current students and alumni and appointments for current UW-Madison students. The Writing Center also offers a list of proofreaders and editors who are all graduate students or recent PhDs who charge reasonable rates for their service.
For alumni, Madison Writing Assistance offers individual in person or remote appointments for you to work on your personal statement with a writing specialist.
After Applying
You’ve put time, energy, and money into an application. It’s normal for the (sometimes extended) waiting period after applying to be difficult.
Now is a good time to connect with us about questions related to providing updates, waitlists, letters of intent, financial aid, negotiating and accepting offers, reapplying, and more.
Accepted? We want to celebrate with you! Feel free to let us know by emailing questions@prehealth.wisc.edu. With your permission, we can add you to our alumni database.
