Eligibility Requirements

Douglass L. Jackson, DMD, MS, PhD, serves as Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. As a critical member of SHPEP’s University of Washington program site, Dr. Jackson stresses the importance of representation in the health professions.

Who is eligible to apply?

All students who meet the Summer Health Professions Education Program eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be a high school graduate and currently enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college.
    • Applicants should have earned no more than 90 credits when submitting their application.
      Please note that only two SHPEP Program Sites are accepting college juniors this year. For sites accepting college freshmen and sophomores, applicants must have completed no more than 60 credits by the time they submit their application.
      • Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credits are not counted.
      • Dual enrollment credits are counted.
  • Have a minimum overall college GPA of 2.5.
  • Be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or an individual granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
  • Must not have previously participated in the program.

Other factors for consideration include that a student:

  • Comes from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background; and/or
  • Has demonstrated an interest in issues affecting underserved populations.
  • Submits a compelling personal statement and a strong letter of recommendation.

Application Tip: Remember to apply to 3 program sites.

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