Applicant Self-Assessment for Health Professional Schools
This is a self-assessment and is intended primarily for you to take an honest view at your readiness to apply
for and enter a health professional program. You may wish to bring it with you to discuss with an adviser or
other person whose feedback you find helpful.
1. Motivation
Can you clearly articulate your motivations to be a doctor/dentist/pharmacist/etc. in writing activities and
especially in the personal statement? Are you comfortable doing this in conversation?
I rate myself:
☒ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My reasons for this rating:
My plan to improve in this area:
2. Academic Preparation
Take a look at your transcripts and pull out approximate numbers for the following:
 Cumulative undergraduate GPA:
 Science GPA (Biology/Chemistry/Math/Physics):
 GPA for the last three quarters:
Research your target schools to find the following for admitted applicants:
 Cumulative undergraduate GPA:
 Science GPA (Biology/Chemistry/Math/Physics):
Overall I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My plan to improve in this area:
The curricula at health professional schools will be rigorous and intensive. I would rate the effectiveness
and efficiency of my study skills:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My reasons for this rating:
My plan to improve in this area:
3. Standardized Exam Preparation and Performance
I have taken the entrance exam and my results are:
Research your target schools to find the following for admitted applicants:
 Average exam scores:
 Range of exam scores:
I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My plan to improve in this area (if needed):
4. Shadowing and Clinical Experiences
Research the requirements/expectations for clinical experience and shadowing at your target schools.
 Do you have a good understanding of the important qualities of a health professional in this field?
 Are you confident that you have these qualities?
I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My reasons for this rating:
My plan to improve in this area:
5. Service and Volunteer Experiences



Through your service and volunteer experiences, what challenges have you identified that patients
face in accessing the health care system?
How have you developed and practiced cultural competencies?
How do your service and volunteer experiences demonstrate a commitment to community
engagement?
I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My reasons for this rating:
My plan to improve in this area:
6. Leadership and Teamwork Experiences
What teamwork and leadership experiences have been the most meaningful for you?
What leadership skills you have developed?
How will these make you a leader in health professional school and beyond?
I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My reasons for this rating:
My plan to improve in this area:
7. Research and Scholarly Experiences
As a health professional you will be reading journal articles and attending conferences. You will need to
understand how research is designed, how it is conducted, how the results are shared and the role that
research plays in your health profession.
I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My reasons for this rating:
My plan to improve in this area:
8. Personal Qualities and Professional Behavior
Health professionals must be skilled in oral communication, problem solving, flexibility, resiliency and
willingness to learn. Your behavior affects not only your relationships with patients and colleagues, but
also reflects on the profession as a whole.
How have you demonstrated these qualities in your studies and activities?



What attributes have you identified for development?



I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My reasons for this rating:
My plan to improve in this area:
9. Letters of Recommendation
Who will write your letters?
Which competencies/strengths do you anticipate each will write about?
How well do you think this combination of letters will support your application?
I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
My reasons for this rating:
My plan to improve in this area:
10. Overall Application Preparedness
Identify three strengths of your application:
1)
2)
3)
Identify up to three areas of your application that you need to be strengthen. For each, outline the ways you
plan to address each of these areas:
1)
2)
3)
How do you rate yourself on the overall quality, strength and preparedness of your application?
I rate myself:
☐ Not enough/too low
☐ Enough/meets minimum
☐ Strong/above minimum
☐ Excellent
What other notes would you like to add?