To assist students in deciding what career they wish to pursue, SSU's Health Professions Advisory Program has a Committee whose members act as advisors. The Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) is composed of faculty members, many of whom are involved in teaching courses that are taken by pre-health professions students. There is also a staff member in the HPAC office (Darwin 200) who oversees the administrative functions of the program.
In addition to advising, the Committee prepares the HPAC Letter of Evaluation which is a critical part of the application process for entrance into a health professions school. Most health professions schools place more value on the health professions advisory committee evaluation of a candidate than they do on separate letters from individual faculty members because of the broader perspective of the candidate by the committee, and because this one letter contains a summary of many recommendations.
Every spring, each student who is applying to health professions schools during the following summer and fall is given a practice interview with two to three of the Committee members present. Many larger universities do not offer either of these two services.