Description - Black undergraduate students in Tennessee have a distinct opportunity to LEARN FOR LIFE.  The Tennessee Institute for Pre-Professionals (TIP) offers this opportunity to Black residents of Tennessee who wish to pursue a career in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine or law.  The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), which authorizes TIP, is a State effort with participation by all of the State's undergraduate public colleges.  TIP's ultimate goal is to increase the representation and active participation of African Americans in the health professions training and practice.

Structured activities for college freshmen through senior are offered on the campus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).  All expenses are paid for program participants.  Stipends are also available at every level of the programs operation.  Acceptance into any level of the program is at the sole discretion of the State's professional school admission officers.

This program offers scholarships for African-American Tennessee residents in three summer programs:  Track I, Track II, and Track III.

Track I - Generally for Freshmen or Sophomores, TIP offers a four week summer experience which provides basic science review, primary care [internship] exposure, counseling, and learning skills development workshops. Track I is available to freshman who have completed one semester of general biology, and one semester of general chemistry. One semester of college math is also highly desirable. The GPA must be 2.7 in the sciences and 2.75 overall.  Sophomores must have completed two semester of general biology, and two semester of general chemistry, with a science and overall GPA of 3.0. Additionally, applicants must have completed one semester of organic chemistry or physics.

Track II - is available to a current TTU student at the end of their junior year and provides a 6 weeks opportunity for test preparation for students attempting the following professional school examinations: MCAT, DAT, PCAT, or the VCAT. To qualify for this program, you must be a legal resident of Tennessee, must have completed all science courses required for the MCAT, PCAT, DAT, and VCAT professional school entrance exams, e.g. general biology, general chemistry, organic  chemistry, and physics. If there are some required courses still in progress, following the application's submission, students completing the last of a course requirement must show evidence of it's completion before participation.  You must currently be enrolled in a TBR institution and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Track III - for senior students, TIP offers an eight week pre matriculation, summer experience which stimulates the professional curriculum. Courses are taught by professional school faculty.  Tutoring is available and the curriculum is supplemented by learning skills activities.  Participants must:

• Hold a contingent letter of acceptance to one of the State's schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine.  Such an offer of admission is contingent on successful completion of the Track III summer program, with no grade less that "C".

• Have a science and overall GPA of 3.0.

• DAT composite score of 17 in both science and overall: Or MCAT composite score of 20 with no one sub-test score below 6; Or a PCAT composite achieving the 50%-tile; Or a VCAT composite scaled scoring 199.  Note: for the VCAT a total of 0.25 points will be awarded for each additional one point composite scaled score up to a maximum of 25 points

In addition to meeting these minimum criteria, consideration is given to other factors in the applicant's background which provide evidence of the applicant's potential to benefit from TIP, to be admitted to and complete professional school, and to become successful practitioner. Factors considered by these committees include:

1. undergraduate school performance at the time of application.
2. Performance in core courses;
3. Public or community service;
4. Background;
5. Other factors that bear on a applicant's potential success.

Deadline - Feb 28

For application information, contact Dr. Eugene Kline, at Tennessee Technological University, Foster Hall 208, Box 5055, Cookeville, TN 38505, or e-mail to EKline@tntech.edu