Princeton University Health Professions Advising

09/22/2026

HPA Tip of the Week from Sam Berk ’28, HPA Peer Adviser: What I wish I knew as a first-year

1 - You do not have to have it all figured out! It takes time to adjust to college life, and even if it may feel like all of your peers have mapped out their perfect path through Princeton, I promise that many people are also in the boat of uncertainty. There's a reason you don't have to declare your major until your sophomore year – you really can take your freshman year to explore. There is no one "right" pre-med major or pre-mad path through Princeton, so take advantage of the plethora of opportunities (academic and extracurricular) that Princeton offers. Try out different clubs and different classes to discover what you love and what sticks. You might really surprise yourself!

2 - Ask for help! It's completely normal. Princeton has a plethora of resources constantly available to students. Professors, TAs, UCAs, McGraw tutors, and even your peers are all there to help you.

3 - Give yourself time to breathe. It might feel like you have to fill every single minute of your free time with extracurriculars like volunteering, shadowing, or lab work, but finding the balance is totally worth it.

4 - Have fun! Yes, college is a time to learn and grow academically, but it is also a time to connect with peers, make new friends, and enjoy.

Learn about Sam: https://hpa.princeton.edu/about-hpa/hpa-peer-advisers/sam-berk-28

09/20/2026

Study Abroad Experiences from Adriana Shields ’27, HPA Peer Adviser

My name is Adriana, and I am a senior in EEB with a NEU minor. While at Princeton, I have gone abroad four times, and they have been some of the most enlightening and enjoyable experiences of my life!

If you are interested in going abroad, summer internships are a great opportunity to travel somewhere new while gaining valuable experience. I have participated in two summer programs through the International Internship Program–in Mombasa, Kenya, and on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica–and one internship through the High Meadows Environmental Institute. Both programs offer funding to cover the costs of travel and living, and HMEI provides additional money as a stipend. Apart from IIPs and HMEI internships, there are many other summer internship opportunities that can take you abroad, including Internships in Global Health, Princeton Internships in Civic Service, the Streicker International Fellows Fund, and more! My summer internships have allowed me to explore other cultures, learn about healthcare abroad, and connected me with some of my closest friends.

In addition to summer internships, Princeton offers a wide variety of study abroad programs that occur during the school year. I participated in the Semester in the Field program through the EEB department, in which I spent my junior spring semester at a research station in the Panama Canal. I worked alongside researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to conduct my own publishable research, while also taking four Princeton courses. Outside of this opportunity, there are many other semester abroad programs all across the globe, where you can take courses at another university, learn about a new culture (and possibly a new language), and have fun exploring the world!

If you are considering going abroad, do it! Princeton has so many special opportunities, and you should take advantage of as many as you can. They have been some of the best times of my Princeton career! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about going abroad.

Learn about Adriana: https://hpa.princeton.edu/about-hpa/hpa-peer-advisers/adriana-shields-27

09/19/2026

HPA Question of the Week: I hope to start medical school in Fall 2028. What’s the best time to take the MCAT?

I noticed that most medical schools have application deadlines in the fall, but HPA tells us that we should apply in June. Why is this?

09/17/2026

Kayla Jurkevich '25 matriculated at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine

09/16/2026

What counts as clinical experience? How much do you need? Join HPA advisers and peer leaders to discuss how to build your evidence of readiness to care for patients.

How to Get Clinical Experience
How to HPA: A Friday lunch-and-learn series.
Sep 18 | 12:30PM | HPA Lounge - McCosh 155

What counts as clinical experience? How much do you need? Join HPA advisers and peer leaders to discuss how to build your evidence of readiness to care for patientsPlease RSVP so we know how much food to order!Email hpa@ to request accommodations at least two weeks prior to the program.

09/16/2026

Ayanava Ganguly matriculated at NYU Grossman School of Medicine

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

09/15/2026

HPA Tip of the Week from Larry Ejiofor '27, HPA Peer Adviser: How to effectively use office hours/ Getting to know your professors

Office hours can be one of the most useful resources here at Princeton, but sometimes we don't know actually know what we’re supposed to do when we go.

1. Don't wait until you're struggling: You don't have to be completely lost to go. Go early in the semester to introduce yourself and get to know your professor a little. They're always willing to say hi and meet students in their class, especially in the large intro courses. Ask about something from lecture, an assignment, or a concept you found interesting. Even a 10–15 minute conversation can help you become more comfortable with your professor.

2. Come with a specific question: When the time comes that you feel like going for help with a problem on a pset, or a question about lecture, it's important to always try to be specific. Sharing what specifically tripped you up about a problem, or where your understanding broke down about a concept can really help your professor or preceptor understand how to help you, and can help you make the most of the time. This makes the conversation much more productive and shows that you've already tried to work through it.

3. Use office hours to get to know your professor: You can also use office hours just to get to know your professor. Ask about their interests or their research, tell them about your own interests, ask for advice about research opportunities and classes. You don't need to have a huge reason for stopping by. And don’t forget that you can always follow up! If your professor ever gave you advice or helped you with something, send a quick thank you afterward or let them know how it was helpful to you next time you end up speaking to them. They're also interested in your success.

Learn about Larry: https://hpa.princeton.edu/about-hpa/hpa-peer-advisers/larry-ejiofor-27

09/14/2026

Matthew Avallone '26 matriculated at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

09/13/2026

Moreen Rezkalla '23 matriculated at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

09/12/2026

HPA Question of the Week: How do I know which courses will and won’t count for a med school’s English requirement?

Q: How do I know which courses will and won’t count for a med school’s English requirement?A: We designed a flowchart to give you our best prediction as to whether a course will count. Any course that makes it through our flowchart is likely to satisfy their requirements, but we can make no guar...