PSAP (formerly known as HPRC) provides Tufts students and alumni who are planning on applying to medical or dental school with information, resources, and guidance to help them prepare for and navigate the entire process.

Those who choose to participate in PSAP are more likely to submit a complete, competitive application in a time frame that is most advantageous. Additionally, the PSAP application provides a centralized platform in which each applicant’s letters of recommendation are collected and securely stored until they are ready to be uploaded to the appropriate centralized application service(s). Finally, the health professions advising staff create a cover letter that describes the unique nature of Tufts’ chemistry course sequence, writing requirements, and also addresses an applicant’s status regarding any institutional actions incurred. This cover letter completes the packet that includes the applicant’s individual letters of recommendation, which is then uploaded to the appropriate application service(s).

Tufts Health Professions Advising has been providing this service to students for many years, which means that medical and dental schools across the country anticipate that applications received from Tufts students and alumni will contain this letter packet. While we do not require students to participate in this process, not participating may raise questions for some professional schools.

In order to participate in PSAP , the following requirements must be met:

Mandatory Presentations. Students and alumni are required to attend one virtual presentation of the Preparing to Apply to Medical & Dental School presentation and the Evaluating Your Candidacy presentation or watch the recorded sessions.
- Preparing to Apply to Medical & Dental School
- Evaluating Your Candidacy
Starting October 1st, begin your PSAP registration. The link to the PSAP Application can be found here.
Candidacy Review Meetings: These optional meetings provide prospective applicants with the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a health professions advisor to discuss their candidacy and plans for applying in the upcoming cycle.
- Meetings will take place from mid-October through the end of April.
- In order to participate, students must have attended the Preparing to Apply to Medical & Dental School and the Evaluating Your Candidacy presentations, and
- Completed the Autobiography, Portfolio of Experiences, Self-Assessment, Registration, Education sections of the PSAP application, and upload an unofficial Tufts transcript. Note: The PSAP application will not open until October 1st.
  - Once you have completed these sections, you will receive an email with the scheduling links for the pre-health advisors.
Submit the PSAP registration by the deadline. PSAP registration submission opens on February 1st. The registration must be submitted by March 1.
PSAP Canvas Course. Important information, resources, and announcements are included in and distributed through the PSAP Canvas Course, which will launch in early October. Those who attend a Candidacy Review Meeting will be added to the PSAP Canvas Course after their meeting. All others who submitted their PSAP registration by the March 1st deadline will be added to the PSAP Canvas Course after that date. Students must accept the invite to join the course by April 1st. Those who do not will not be allowed to continue through the remainder of the PSAP process.
Letters of Recommendation. All letters of recommendation must be uploaded to a student’s PSAP portal by June 1. Students are responsible for tracking letter submissions and sending reminders. The HPA Office/PSAP will not resend links or send reminders to letter writers about this deadline. Changes may be made to recommenders in the PSAP Registration up until May 1; however, we strongly encourage applicants to obtain confirmation from individuals well before that date.
Pay Fee and Upload Forms. Students must have paid the processing fee and uploaded the appropriate forms (application PDF, letter request form) by June 20.
Letter Packet Uploads. Letter packets will be uploaded starting mid-June for all students whose applications have been processed and whose letter request form (AMCAS) or letter request email (AACOMAS, AADSAS, TMDSAS) has been received by our office.