Should I try to attend SHPEP

[Rajaredhilu]

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My university has encouraged its pre-meds to apply to a program called SHPEP (Summer health professions education program). I dont know luch about it but from what I read it seems like a six week long seminar geared towards making disadvantaged applicants better applicants. Would attending this look good on a med school application or would my time be better allocated to volunteer work during the summer? Do med schools care if you went to a program like this?

 

[Arturiase]

spend your time volunteering imo, those programs in general seem like just to help people who have no clue what the cycle is like. The specific medical school might care, but i doubt other schools will

 

[sunkissedmelanin]

I attended SHPEP this summer and I would say it is a good opportunity. I was knowledgeable about the cycle before going into the program as were a number of other people. I'm not sure about other locations but at mine, we took classes (Anatomy & Physiology, Biochem, Academic Skills, Communication), went to seminars, and shadowed. It's only six weeks so you still have the rest of the summer left to do other things like volunteering, shadowing, getting a job, etc. We went to a Health Professions fair at the end of the 6 weeks where I got to talk to several med schools, and many of them said they do value programs like SHPEP when considering applicants. The school I attended also said we had a pretty good chance of getting an interview there, as we were also able to make personal connections with the Dean of the Medical School, and Dean of Admissions. If you feel like it would be beneficial to you in any way, I would say go for it, especially if you're a freshman.

 

[Stoppingtheworld]

I completely disagree with the first response. I attended the Summer Health Professions Education Program this past summer at McGovern Medical School. Out of every single volunteer event, shadowing opportunity, clinical rotations, or any pre-med activity that I have done - SHPEP was by far the best experience I have ever had. I made life-long friends and professional connections that have moved me so far forward. Going into the program, I already knew what it took to get into medical school, and so did every other scholar there. I learned things I could have never imagined, saw things I would have never seen, and by in all, had such an outstanding time. ABSOLUTELY medical schools know what SHPEP is. DO IT! 🙂