GUIDE Program FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the summer HCOP“GUIDE” Program?

  • This is an eight-week program designed to prepare students for health professional schools. 
  • It has two phases:
    • A one-week, online group hands-on educational portion.
    • Six-weeks individual home educational portion is then available online through Kaplan for the DAT, MCAT, PCAT, or the GRE review.

The primary goal of the program is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, support, and abilities to enter and graduate from colleges and universities to professional schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and occupational and physical therapy programs.

Where is the HCOP website?

You can access our website at wvhcop.org.

How do I apply?

Visit HCOP GUIDE Registration & Application to access the Scholars Database.

If you are a new applicant, please register for the program. If you have participated in an HCOP program in the past (HAPPEN Program), you are already in the system - just log in. Once in the system, click on the “GUIDE” application. If you have trouble with your login, please contact our office for assistance.

When are the applications due?

Application deadline is April 5th.

When will I be notified if I have been selected?

We have a rolling application review process. The earlier you apply, the earlier you will be notified by mail or email about your selection status.

Is the program free?

The program is absolutely free to students who meet the eligibility requirements.

Do I have to stay on campus?

No, you are not required to stay on campus. The first week you will be participating in activities on campus where housing arrangements can be made, if the student has need for it.

How many students can be in the program?

There are 10 seats available this summer. Get your applications in early, as spots fill quickly.

What are the dates of the program?

NEW DATE

Who is eligible for the GUIDE Program?

  • A student seeking admission must be a U.S. citizen.
  • A resident in the state of West Virginia and be a member of an under-represented minority.
  • Student selection will be based upon interest or major in a health career.
  • Other deciding factors will be based on school performance, standardized test scores, and motivation toward improving current educational status.
  • Other eligibility requirements include having a financial and/or disadvantaged status (first-generation college bound).
  • Students can apply for the GUIDE Program if they are an undergraduate sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student seeking admission into the schools of dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

What can the GUIDE Program do for me?

The GUIDE Program is an enrichment program and helps students prepare for their professional school application and helps them become successful in a professional school atmosphere.

It is a great opportunity to “Earn While You Learn” by receiving an $90 per instructional day stipend during the one week on campus portion of the program, where you will obtain on-hand experiences that schools are looking for when you apply! GUIDE also provides a FREE Kaplan review course to prepare you for test like the MCAT, DCAT, PCAT, or GRE.

Students will partake in lectures from faculty, gain research experience, and practice your professionalism with mock interviews and personal statement development, just to name a few.

Do I have to attend WVU in the fall to participate in the GUIDE Program?

No! Students can attend any professional school after the program. Students who attend WVU may have the opportunity to meet some of the faculty that participate in the GUIDE program on campus sessions.