Health-Related Community Service

Involvement in a service activity in a medical setting without compensation.

Examples:

• Assisting with patient transport or visitor support in hospitals.
• Volunteering in clinics, community health centers, or mobile medical units.
• Supporting vaccination clinics, blood drives, or health screening events.
• Helping with patient check‑in, forms, or translation support in clinical settings.
• Providing comfort items, conversation, or companionship to patients in long‑term care or hospice.
• Volunteering in rehabilitation centers, physical therapy clinics, or occupational therapy programs.
• Assisting with dental outreach events, oral health screenings, or community fluoride programs.
• Helping veterinary clinics or animal shelters with basic care tasks.
• Participating in campus or community mental health awareness events or peer‑support initiatives.

Non-Health Related Community Service

Involvement in a service activity NOT in a medical setting, without compensation.

Examples:

• Volunteering at food banks, soup kitchens, or community meal programs.
• Supporting youth programs, after‑school tutoring, or mentoring initiatives.
• Participating in environmental cleanups, sustainability projects, or community gardens.
• Assisting at shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness or domestic violence.
• Helping at senior centers, adult day programs, or community recreation events.
• Volunteering at animal shelters, humane societies, or wildlife rehabilitation centers.
• Supporting local libraries, museums, or community arts programs.
• Participating in civic engagement efforts such as voter registration or community organizing.
• Assisting with large‑scale community events, fundraisers, or charity drives.

Shadowing

Non-participant observation of a licensed professional. You are watching, not performing tasks, documenting care, or interacting directly with patients.

Examples:

• Observing a physician during patient rounds in a hospital or clinic.
• Shadowing a dentist through routine cleanings, exams, and procedures.
• Following a physician assistant in primary care, urgent care, or specialty clinics.
• Observing a physical therapist conduct evaluations and guide rehabilitation exercises.
• Shadowing an occupational therapist during patient assessments and adaptive skill training.
• Observing a pharmacist counsel patients, verify prescriptions, or manage medication therapy.
• Shadowing a veterinarian during exams, surgeries, or animal care procedures.
• Observing an optometrist perform vision screenings and diagnostic tests.
• Following a podiatrist through foot/ankle evaluations and treatment planning.
• Shadowing public health professionals during community outreach or program planning.

Direct Patient Care (DPC)/Clinical

Positions in which you are directly responsible for providing care to a patient. This includes tasks such as taking vitals, drawing blood, performing diagnostics, administering therapy, assisting with mobility, scribing, or counseling. Experiences receiving academic credit and shadowing do not count as DPC. You are doing something that directly affects patient care, comfort, safety, or clinical documentation.

Examples:

• Taking vitals, assisting with mobility, or providing daily living support as a CNA, PCT, or home health aide.
• Drawing blood, processing samples, or performing point‑of‑care tests as a phlebotomist or medical assistant.
• Conducting patient interviews, documenting encounters, and supporting clinical decision‑making as a medical scribe.
• Administering therapeutic exercises or assisting with treatment plans as a physical therapy aide.
• Providing patient education, medication counseling, or adherence support in pharmacy technician roles.
• Performing diagnostic imaging tasks as a radiology assistant (non‑certified support roles).
• Assisting with wound care, splinting, or basic procedures in urgent care or orthopedic clinics.
• Supporting behavioral health patients through observation, de‑escalation, or therapeutic activities as a mental health technician.
• Providing direct animal handling, restraint, or treatment support in veterinary technician or assistant roles.
• Conducting intake assessments, triage support, or health screenings in community clinics.

Involvement in a scholarly or scientific hypothesis investigation that is supervised by an individual with verifiable research credentials, such as professor or physician.

Examples:

• Working with a professor on a research project, helping gather information, review articles, or support grant‑funded studies.
• Assisting with psychology research by helping run participants, collecting data, or observing behavior.
• Helping with public health or epidemiology projects by organizing data, tracking trends, or supporting survey work.
• Supporting quality‑improvement projects in clinics or hospitals, such as helping track patient wait times or reviewing workflow processes.
• Running experiments in a science lab, keeping equipment clean and organized, or helping manage lab supplies.
• Assisting with research ethics tasks, like preparing IRB forms or completing required training modules.
• Helping analyze interview transcripts, organize survey responses, or assist with social science data coding.
• Participating in summer research programs where you work full‑time on a project (such as REUs, SURF, or NIH internships).

Joining a student organization at UCF is a great way to connect with peers who share your goals, learn directly from healthcare professionals and admissions representatives, and strengthen your application. These organizations often offer access to volunteer and community service events, potential shadowing opportunities, leadership roles, and other meaningful extracurricular experiences that help you grow personally and professionally.

Examples:

• Association of Pre-Physician Assistants (APPA)
• Black Men in Medicine, Inc.
• Delta Epsilon Mu
• Global Medical Brigades (GMB)
• Global Medical Training (GMT)
• Health Awareness and Prevention Society (HAPS)
• Hearts for the Homeless
• International Medical Outreach (IMO)
• Knights of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America)
• Latino Medical Student Association Plus (LMSA+)
• Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS)
• National Society of Black Women in Medicine
• Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity
• Pre-Dental Student Association (PDSA)
• Pre-Med AMSA
• Pre-Occupational Therapy Organization
• Pre-Optometry Association
• Pre-Pharmacy Society
• Pre-Professional Medical Society (PPMS)
• Pre-SOMA
• Pre-Veterinary Society
• Undergraduate Physical Therapy Association (UPTA)

Leadership means taking responsibility for guiding, supporting, or organizing others toward a shared goal. You can show leadership in many different settings—through school involvement, campus jobs, community organizations, faith‑based groups, or any role where you help others succeed and move a project or team forward.

Examples:

• Serving as a club officer (president, vice president, treasurer, secretary).
• Leading a committee, project team, or event planning group.
• Coordinating volunteers for service events or community programs.
• Mentoring new members in a student organization or academic program.
• Supervising peers in a campus job, tutoring center, or residence hall.
• Facilitating study groups, workshops, or training sessions.
• Coaching youth sports or leading activities in after‑school programs.
• Organizing fundraising efforts or awareness campaigns.
• Leading small groups in faith‑based organizations or community groups.
• Managing logistics for conferences, retreats, or large student events.

Unique or unexpected experiences that fall outside the typical student path and help an applicant stand out. These activities show creativity, individuality, and personal growth, giving admissions committees a fuller picture of who you are beyond academics and clinical work.

Examples:

• Joining a Student Organization or Association
  Getting involved in clubs, professional associations, cultural groups, or special‑interest organizations.
• “Distance Traveled” Experiences 
  Life circumstances that shaped your journey, such as overcoming financial hardship, being first‑generation, navigating immigration, balancing work and school, or managing major family responsibilities.
• Sports or Athletics Involvement
  Playing on club, intramural, or varsity teams; coaching youth sports; or maintaining long‑term athletic commitments.
• Arts, Dance, or Music Participation 
  Performing, choreographing, composing, painting, acting, or participating in creative arts communities.
• Study Abroad or Global Learning 
  Engaging in international programs, cultural immersion, language study, or global service experiences.
• Business or Entrepreneurial Experience
  Running a small business, freelancing, managing finances, or taking on leadership roles in work settings.
• Mission Trips
  Participating in service trips, community development projects, or cultural exchange programs abroad or domestically.
• Cultural Competency Experiences
  Working with diverse communities, learning new languages, supporting multicultural programs, or engaging in cross‑cultural dialogue.
• Hobbies and Personal Interests
  Activities that show passion, discipline, or creativity, like hiking, gaming, baking, coding, crafting, or writing.
• Artistic Endeavors
  Photography, digital art, theater, creative writing, design, or other expressive projects.
• Non‑Science Major or Minor  
  Studying fields like humanities, social sciences, business, or the arts that broaden your perspective and communication skills.
• Multiple Research Publications 
  Contributing to published papers, abstracts, or posters across different disciplines.
• Healthcare Work Experience 
  Working in clinical or administrative roles that give insight into how healthcare systems function.
• Military Experience 
  Service that builds discipline, leadership, teamwork, and resilience.
• Significant Life Experiences 
  Personal events or responsibilities that shaped your character, values, or motivation to pursue a health profession.

Health professionals must demonstrate integrity, accountability, and a commitment to ethical practice. This includes respecting patient confidentiality, advocating for patient welfare, and adhering to professional standards.

Effective communication is critical for building trust, educating patients, collaborating with colleagues, and documenting care accurately.

Health care is delivered through collaborative teams. Professionals must work well with patients, families, and interdisciplinary colleagues.

The ability to analyze information, make informed decisions, and adapt to changing situations is vital for safe and effective care.

A solid foundation in relevant sciences and clinical principles supports accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Competence in performing clinical procedures and using healthcare technologies safely and effectively is essential.

Health professionals must recognize and respect diverse backgrounds and address health disparities.

Ongoing growth and resilience enable professionals to meet the demands of their roles and maintain well-being.

• Common exam: MCAT
• Topics: Biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, sociology, critical reasoning
• Duration: ~7.5 hours

• Common exam: Varies (many programs require none; some accept GRE or PA‑CAT)
• Topics: GRE (verbal, quantitative, writing); PA‑CAT (biomedical sciences)
• Duration: GRE ~2 hours; PA‑CAT ~3 hours

• Common exam: DAT
• Topics: Natural sciences, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning
• Duration: ~4.5 hours

• Common exam: Often none (PA-CAT was retired in 2024); some programs may require additional assessments
• Topics: Varies by school
• Duration: Varies

• Common exam: Some programs require GRE
• Topics: verbal, quantitative, writing
• Duration: ~2 hours

• Common exam: MCAT
• Topics: Biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, sociology, critical reasoning
• Duration: ~7.5 hours

• Common exam: Varies; GRE optional at many schools; some require SJTs
• Topics: GRE (verbal, quantitative, writing); SJTs (judgment/ethics)
• Duration: GRE ~2 hours; SJT ~90 minutes

• Common exam: Varies, many schools no longer require the GRE
• Topics: Varies by school
• Duration: Varies