As you are preparing to apply to a health professional program, be sure to meet with an advisor for advice and guidance on how to be the best applicant you can be. Health Professions Advising is here to help you through each step of the application process, from the primary application all the way to the secondaries, interviews, and decision-making process.
Centralized Application Cycles
Check out the Centralized Application Cycles Chart for a general overview of the centralized application cycle dates for a sample of the centralized application services (CAS) used by various health professions. Students can also check for the specific dates that their specific health professional CAS opens and closes through its Applicant Help Center. Some programs may have applicants participate in the CAS and may also have applicants complete an application through the program’s own internal graduate school application. As a reminder, not all health professional programs may participate in a CAS, instead opting for applicants to submit their applications solely via the school’s internal graduate application. Students are recommended to familiarize with the application process, materials, and timeline of each school they are interested in applying to.
Please also keep in mind that the CAS close date is different from a school’s application deadline. Depending on the CAS, it may be open year-round or almost a full-year, but a school’s application deadline may be earlier (e.g., within a few months of the application open date). The school’s deadline are the deadlines applicants should be submitting by. If the school or program you are applying to accepts applicants on a rolling basis, HPA recommends applying early, but only when you are ready.
Programs and application systems may have specific guidelines about what is considered a completed application, and these components may vary based on the application system and/or individual program. Some examples include but are not limited to submitting the application fee, receiving letters of recommendations, completion of prerequisites, and official transcripts. Students are responsible for ensuring their applications are complete, submitted, and verified by the school’s application deadline.
How to Order Official Digital Transcripts from UC Davis
Students are highly encouraged to obtain an official transcript from every institution they have attended; this includes community colleges. Please be aware that not all schools use digital PDFs and that community college transcripts may take three to four weeks to process and verify, so order transcripts early.
To order a transcript from UC Davis:
- Log into SISWEB (Student Services & Financial Aid > Student Records > Order Official Transcripts)
- You will be taken to UC Davis Transcript Order Services.
- Press Start My Order.
- Student Information (Enter any information not already there)
- Basic Order Information
- Select “Official Transcript”
- Select “Send Now” if your most recent grades are already posted.
- If your grades or degree are not already posted, you can choose to hold your transcripts until they are posted.
- Primary Reason for Ordering is “For Graduate Admissions”
- Select “Transcript with Work in Progress” if you are enrolled for classes next quarter. Otherwise, select “Transcript WITHOUT Work in Progress”
- Select Recipient 1 Type
- Choose “Select an Application Service”
- Find your application service in the drop-down menu.
For more information about how to order an official transcript, please visit the Office of University Registrar (OUR)’s webpage on Official Transcripts.
Supplemental Applications or Secondaries
Supplemental applications (or secondaries), if applicable, are sent after the primary application has been submitted and include school-specific questions. Some health professional programs will include their supplemental questions with the primary application. Generally schools that use a centralized application system tend to use supplemental applications to collect specific information that they desire. Some programs will send a supplemental to every applicant, while others will pre-screen the applicant pool, sending supplementals to those who are most qualified.
The second application costs an additional fee per school for some programs; check each school for more information. For programs that require secondary applications, applicants should anticipate additional application-related expenses and are encouraged to prepare for such expenses. The turnaround time for secondary applications may be very quick for some programs, hence students should also anticipate the timeliness in completing the secondaries.
Some supplementals are quick answers from a selection, while others may require additional essays. Health professions advising recommends the following:
- Tailor each essay to the program. "Speak" to the school by highlighting how you would be a good fit based on how your attributes and experiences align with their mission and philosophy.
- Know the schools that you are applying to so that you can tailor your application to them. Do not copy and paste the same essay into multiple schools' secondary applications.
- Edit your secondaries carefully. Be sure not to include the wrong school name. Never send first draft writing.
- Don't leave questions blank. If they ask an optional question, answer it if you can.
Fee Assistance
Some programs offer fee assistance to applicants that will waive the fee for the submission of the primary application, cost of exams (if applicable) and supplemental application fees. For more information, check out HPA’s Application Portal Overview (+Fee Assistance) for health professions.
More questions? Check out the frequently asked questions or schedule an appointment with an advisor.