Health Professions Advisory Office
Offers advising for students considering pre-health professions on courses of study, shadowing, MCAT, and application to medical or other health professional schools.
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74%
In the last 3 years, over 70% of our students were accepted into medical school on their first try.
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200+
Each year, we advise over 200 students who are admitted to health professions programs.
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40 yrs.
Our team has a collective 40 years of experience in pre-health advising.
Support Offered
Connect with Us
Here are six ways to connect to resources and us below. For "quick questions" (5-10 minutes maximum) please join a walk-in hours (times below) or email HPAO. For longer conversations, please schedule an appointment. Instructions for scheduling are provided below.
Office Location
Whether your are exploring, preparing, applying or taking next steps towards the healthcare professional school program or industry, join the HPAO Brightspace to access on-demand resources, advice and tools to support you on your journey as a Vanderbilt Pre-Health student.
Stay informed! Sign up for our HPAO email list serve to receive important and timely email announcements for current VU Pre-Health students.
Join HPAO Email List
Walk-In Hours: (for quick, 5-10 minute questions only)
HPAO offers in-person peer advisor walk-in hours during these times for spring 2025, located in Moore A101:
- Mondays: 1:30-3:00pm (pre-dental specific recommended)
- Tuesdays: 11:30-1pm & 1:30-3:30pm
- Wednesdays: 1:30-3:00pm (pre-dental specific recommended)
- Thursdays: 11:30-1pm & 1:00-3:00pm (1-3pm: pre-dental specific recommended)
- Fridays: 9:30-11:30am
To schedule:
- Sign in to Handshake using VU email/VUNETID.
- Click the Tri-Bar Menu (top left on phone) and/or select:
- "Career Center" & "Appointments."
- Click "Schedule A New Appointment" & "Health Professions Advising" option.
- Select your appointment type need to view staff availability and schedule a session.
No appointments available? Don't forget options...
- Join HPAO Brightspace: access on-demand pre-health resources.
- Have a "quick" 5-10 minute question? Consider "walk-in hours" option as well.
Please check at least 3 weeks ahead in the system.
Discover annual events, programming and workshops by joining our HPAO Brightspace, email and social media channel to be informed about upcoming events, workshops and small group sessions designed to help you in your journey as a Vanderbilt pre-health student. Learn more by joining the HPAO email list serve to stay informed.
- February 10 -14, 2025: Exploring career role options within healthcare? Vandy in Health Week
- Multiple sessions, March 18 - April 15th: Application Refinement: Small Group Sessions - Highly recommended if applying summer 2025 - Register Here
Come to the HPAO for guidance as you prepare your application for a health professions program. These sessions are optional support and will have no bearing on your committee letter.
- March 19th, 2025: Pre-Med Gap Year Panel Event - Register here
Wondering whether you should take a gap year or not? Come to the HPAO Gap Year Panel Event where you can ask Vanderbilt Medical Students your questions! There will be a panel portion as well as a networking, 1:1 portion where undergrads can ask more specific questions to medical students of their choosing. Chick-fil-A will be provided.
- October 16, 2025: Annual Music City Health Professions Fair Event
Shadowing Opportunities
Through shadowing, undergraduate students can observe professionals in action, learn about their day-to-day responsibilities and the skills, knowledge, and expertise required to excel in their field. Current Vanderbilt undergraduates can participate in shadowing through the VPS Shadowing Program or by finding a physician independently.
2023 Annual Report
Each year, we compile comprehensive data on how our students performed in the latest application cycle. Our annual report includes data on student GPAs, MCAT scores, applicant volume by school, and more.
Join the HPAO ListServ
We relay valuable information via our weekly email announcements to current VU undergraduate students.
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Personal Advising
We meet 1:1 with you to offer guidance on matters pertaining to academic majors, careers in healthcare, class scheduling, pre-professional tracks, resume review, and the application process.
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Resource Guidance
We ensure that you feel well-connected to the resources that are integral to your success. This may include shadowing opportunities, research connections, standardized exam resources, and other health-related internship opportunities.
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Application Advising
We understand how complex applying to medical school and other health professions programs seems. Supplementary to our coaching sessions, we provide extensive guidance in preparation for applying to these programs.