Pre-Medical Allied Health Academic Achievement and Retention Program (AARP)

AARP Mission
Pre-Medical Allied Health Academic Achievement and Retention Program (AARP) is a program that provides year-round web-based retention and academic enrichment activities that will enhance the academic performance and increase the retention rate of lower socioeconomic and minority students that are traditionally underrepresented in allied health, medicine, and the sciences.

Program Components
Students will engage in year-round, intensive web-based curricular activities designed to enhance their academic performance, increase performance on standardized tests, and improve their critical analytical thinking, study/reading, communication, and time management skills.

In the two-week summer component, students will visit the UTMB campus and:

• Participate in problem-based learning, team learning exercises, didactic lectures, and social networking
• Take part in mentoring activities designed to augment the retention concepts they were exposed to during the academic year
• Participate in academic enrichment courses and seminars to strengthen medical school and/or allied health preparation
• Interact with other undergraduate students with similar career goals and meet UTMB Health students, faculty, and allied health/medical school administrators
• Receive a realistic view of factors necessary for success at the undergraduate level, and ultimately, in allied health or medical school

• Must be a legal resident within the United States (students who attend school outside of Texas must be a Texas resident)
• Must be economically disadvantaged (based on your FAFSA report) or from an underrepresented minority backgrounds which include African American, Hispanic, mainland Puerto Rican, American Indian, or Native/Hawaiian
• A minimum entry (and MUST maintain) GPA of 2.8 for Freshmen applicants (High School Transcript); 3.0 for Sophomore applicants; 3.2 for Junior applicants
• A minimum ACT score of 21 or SAT score of 1200 (2 part)

• Must submit two letters of recommendation from science professors
• Must submit a personal statement detailing an interest in and a commitment to completing a college education, the benefits of AARP, and interest in a career in medicine or the allied health careers

For more information, contact:

Trea R. Smith
EMSAP/AARP Coordinator
301 University Blvd.
Ashbel Smith 1.206
Galveston, TX 77555-1308
(409) 772-5488
Email: tresmith@utmb.edu