Students Training in Academia, Health, and Research
Collegiate
Collegiate Scholars Overview
The STAHR Scholars Program provides students with the opportunities, resources, and knowledge to become competitive applicants to health professional programs. Students in the Scholars Program will undergo personal and professional development as they explore and strengthen their interest in health careers.
Participation in the Scholars Program is free. Students who meet program expectations will receive financial support as stipends and/or scholarships.
Collegiate-level students can participate in the Scholars Program so long as admission to a health professional program has not yet been achieved, starting from the summer prior to their freshman year of college through post-baccalaureate status. Collegiate students specifically focusing on admissions test preparation can learn more about our DAT Prep Scholars and MCAT Prep Scholars. From June through the following May, Collegiate Scholars will increase their confidence and preparedness for pursing their educational goals.
To provide sustained support to students, the Scholars Program is composed of a summer experience and an academic year experience.
Summer Details ∇
Students in the Scholars Program begin by participating in the summer experience, which starts in June. Collegiate-level trainees will participate in a 6-week-long summer experience. From Monday through Friday for 30 hours each week, students immerse themselves in health-related and non-health-related learning and activities in preparation for their future as health professional students.
In the 6-week summer experience, collegiate students participate in the following opportunities:
Attend sessions to build relevant knowledge and skills, like learning about health disparities and developing financial literacy
Participate in simulated and hands-on health experiences, like solving real-world cases and observing health professionals
Receive academic enrichment to prepare for prerequisite classes and the DAT, GRE, and MCAT
Develop and improve portfolio materials and skills, like personal statements and interviewing
Collegiate Scholars Sample Week:
Academic Year Details ∇
After the summer is over, students continue their development throughout the academic year. From August through May, students receive continued support and opportunities to help them plan and prepare for their next steps in becoming a health professional student. Instead of rigorously structured activities like in the summer experience, students throughout the academic year primarily work on individual projects on their own time.
In the academic year experience, collegiate students participate in the following opportunities:
Receive continued coaching and mentorship from the STAHR Team, current STAHR Ambassadors, and other professionals
Participate in exclusive opportunities for community service volunteering or health shadowing
Develop and improve portfolio materials and skills, like personal statements and interviewing
Hear from former Scholars about their experiences in the program:
Attend all Scholars Program sessions and activities as an attentive and engaged learner
Includes both the summer and academic year experiences
Complete all tasks, assignments, projects, and surveys appropriately and on-time, designed to evaluate student development and the effectiveness of the program
Accept the challenges in developing personally, professionally, and academically
Promptly communicate any pertinent or relevant needs or concerns
Accept responsibility for reading and responding to correspondences related to the program
Maintain good academic standing
Foster a community of respect, trust, and support
Program Benefits
In addition to the knowledge gained from participating, students who meet program expectations receive many benefits, including:
Financial support as a stipend or scholarship
Automatic interviews for applicants to the UMKC School of Medicine’s BA/MD, MD, MMSPA, and MSA programs
Note: students must meet the minimum requirement for admission to these programs to receive this benefit.
Special consideration for applicants to the UMKC School of Pharmacy’s PharmD program and the School of Dentistry’s DDS program
Workshops with UMKC’s admissions professionals
Networking with UMKC faculty, researchers, and practicing health professionals
Mentorship and guidance for your unique educational path and goals
Eligibility
All students in the Scholars Program must meet the following criteria:
Personal interest in pursuing a health profession*
Availability to participate Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:00pm CST for the duration of the summer experience
The 2023 Scholars Program summer dates are: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 – Friday, July 28, 2023
The program will be conducted both virtually and in-person. In-person activities are scheduled at the UMKC Health Sciences Campus on the last week of the program, from Monday, July 24, – Friday, July 28.In-person activities subject to change based on COVID-19 restrictions
Availability to invest in development activities each semester during the academic year (August – May)
Currently a high school senior (12th grade) or academically higher, but not yet admitted to a health professional education program
2.75 minimum cumulative GPA
**Economically disadvantaged OR ***educationally disadvantaged
Collegiate Scholars from outside the Kansas City area may be eligible for reimbursement of travel costs to and from campus
All Collegiate Scholars will be required to stay in the provided campus housing, even if you are already located in Kansas City
Preference given to students in the Kansas City area and students interested in providing care to medically underserved communities
*Due to federal grant specifications, students interested in pursuing nursing careers are not eligible for this program because nursing is not designated in Section 739 of the Public Health Service Act, which funds this program.
**Per HRSA, “Economically Disadvantaged” is determined by having an annual family income that does not exceed 200% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines.
***Per HRSA, “Educationally Disadvantaged” is determined by an environment that has inhibited students from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to enroll in & graduate from a health professions school.
Questions About Eligibility
STAHR looks at several different criteria to determine eligibility. We encourage all interested students to apply to have their eligibility reviewed.
Application Process
Students applying for the Scholars Program are applying for the entire 12-month program. Students must participate in both the summer and academic year experiences, and may not apply to a single experience.
To be considered for the program, the following must be completed prior to the deadline:
A completed STAHR Scholars Online Application
Your progress on the application can be saved and returned to later using the Save & Return feature, which provides you with a return code.
The application is not considered “completed” until the final Submit button has been clicked. After successfully submitting, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address provided in the application.
To see an overview of what is included in the application, review the first page of the Online Application.
A copy of your most up-to-date academic transcript(s)
You may attach your academic document(s) through the upload spaces in the Online Application or by uploading directly to the STAHR Application File Upload.
Official documents preferred, but unofficial will also be accepted.
If classes have been taken at multiple institutions, please submit documentation from each school.
Students currently enrolled as a high school senior must submit documentation for 9th grade through the present (including college credits).
Students currently or formerly enrolled in college must submit documentation for all college credits attempted and taken.
Your documentation must contain the following:
Student’s name
Name of school
All classes taken and grades received
Classes currently enrolled in (if applicable)
Cumulative unweighted GPA (out of 4.00)
One professional recommendation submitted through the STAHR Scholars Online Reference Form
Recommendations can come from a counselor/advisor, teacher/instructor, or other professional who is able to speak on your personal and professional attributes.
Recommenders must complete the online form. Letters of recommendation will not be considered.
Recommenders can complete the Online Reference Form before or after you submit the Online Application.
*Students who have previously participated in the STAHR Scholars Program do not need to have a recommender complete the form.*
If not a United States Citizen – A copy of your Permanent Residence Card (Green Card)
You may attach a copy of your card through the upload spaces in the Online Application or by uploading directly to the STAHR Application File Upload.
*U.S. Citizens do not need to upload any form of government ID.*
Deadline
ALL application materials must be submitted by February 15, 2023 at 11:59pm CST. Email confirmations will be sent to applicants when materials have been received.
Selection
Students who meet the eligibility requirements and complete all application materials will undergo a committee review for selection. This committee will review all information about the applicant and determine suitability for the program.
In general, successful applicants:
Understand and commit to fulfilling all expectations and program requirements
Indicate a personal interest in exploring more about what it means to be a health professional
Demonstrate academic persistence and a commitment to learning
To maximize the resources for each student, STAHR will be accepting a limited number of Scholars:
45 collegiate-level (6-week summer experience)
Students will be notified of their acceptance by March 15.
