Where are you in your pre-health journey?
Use these pathways to find the most relevant guidance for your next step.
Discover health professions →
Learn about career paths, professional roles, training requirements, and ways to determine fit.
Build your foundation
Plan coursework and develop meaningful clinical, research, service, leadership, and shadowing experiences.
Navigate the application process
Prepare strategically for admissions exams, school selection, written materials, interviews, and HPA procedures.
Prepare for the path ahead
Explore opportunities, guidance, and connections that support your development from early exploration through application.
Clinical Experience
Find patient-facing employment, volunteer opportunities, and guidance for exploring clinical environments.
Browse clinical, research, and gap year opportunities →Research
Explore faculty-mentored research, funded programs, fellowships, and scholarly opportunities across disciplines.
Visit the Villanova Center for Research & Fellowships →Career & Professional Development
Discover alumni perspectives, career news, networking events, employer programs, and opportunities to build professional skills.
Explore career content →Comprehensive guidance for every stage of the application process
HPA’s Medical, Dental, and Physician Assistant Application Handbooks are now available. Additional handbooks for other health professions will be added as they become available.
MD & DO
Guidance for academic preparation, clinical and service experiences, the MCAT, school selection, and the medical school application process.
View Medical School Handbook →DDS & DMD
Guidance for prerequisite planning, shadowing, clinical experience, the DAT, school selection, and the dental school application process.
View Dental School Handbook →PA
Guidance for prerequisite planning, patient care experience, admissions testing, CASPA, school selection, and the PA application process.
View PA School Handbook →Handbooks for additional health professions are coming soon.
Browse additional HPA guides and resources →Join Health Professions Advising on Brightspace
The HPA Brightspace community is our landing page for current students. Find HPA announcements, upcoming events, application and letter packet information, deadlines, featured opportunities, and links to resources on Career Connections.
- Log in to Villanova Brightspace.
- Open Discover using the button below.
- Search for Health Professions Advising.
- Select the HPA course and choose Enroll in Course.
You must be logged in to Villanova Brightspace to access Discover and enroll.
Connect with the right advisor
Health Professions Advising and the Villanova Career Center work in partnership to support different parts of your preparation.
Katie Bell
Explore health professions, plan prerequisite coursework, and begin building meaningful experiences.
Schedule with Katie →
Alexa Viola
Plan application strategy, select schools, prepare materials, and navigate HPA application procedures.
Schedule with Alexa →
John McGranaghan
Develop resumes, personal statements, interviewing skills, networking strategies, and employment plans.
Schedule with John →Looking for nursing resources?
Students pursuing nursing are supported by the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing through dedicated advising, career development, and professional resources.
Visit the Nursing & Healthcare Industries Community →
