Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility Requirements
Although we focus on pre-health tracks, PSO is open to all UF students who pay a $10 application fee, complete the application process, and have a GPA of 3.25 or above. For first-semester freshmen who do not yet have a UF GPA, your high school GPA can be substituted.
Membership Requirements
To be considered an active member, you must pay $25 dues every semester ($15 for Fall 2020; see Covid-19 Modifications) and participate in a minimum of 2 service, 2 social, and 2 philanthropy events. Members must attend all 5 general body meetings, and are required to obtain volunteer hours (15/semester for new members, 30/semester for returning members). Relay for Life is also a mandatory event for our organization.
Covid-19 Modifications
For the Fall 2020 semester, PSO will be operating virtually. All interviews, meetings, and a majority of point events will be conducted remotely via Zoom. Dues have been reduced to $15, and application fees have been reduced to $10. Members are NOT required to physically be in Gainesville to participate in PSO.
What makes a competitive applicant?
We are seeking students who share PSO's mission and are familiar with what we do and offer. Competitive applicants will demonstrate a strong commitment to service and promote the wellbeing of their community. Desired qualities, expressed through personal essays, include volunteerism, teamwork, integrity, leadership, academic excellence, respect, and cultural competence. Applicants should be creative and genuine in their essays; the prompts are purposely vague. We want to know YOU. We have no preference for writing style or format, but applicants should spend time on their essays to ensure they are compelling and free from error.
Students in a pre-professional track (i.e. pre-med, pre-vet, pre-dental, etc.) are prioritized, but we will consider all qualifying applicants. No preference is given towards major. We do not consider applicants on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. All students are welcome within PSO.
How do I know if PSO is right for me?
PSO, above all else, is a service organization. Our members regularly engage in activities that benefit their communities, both healthcare related and non-related. PSO is an inclusive organization that fosters diversity and interconnectivity between health professions. You will interact with students following other pre-professional tracks as well as your own, which gives you a first look at the collaborativity existing in healthcare. We maintain a highly supportive environment; our members are always more than willing to share advice, resources, and positivity.
We cater to the following tracks ("phases"): pre-medicine, pre-PA, pre-vet, pre-dental, pre-PT, pre-OT, pre-nursing, and pre-health. During general body meetings, we break out into "phase" meetings where members will meet with other students on the same path. Members are guided by an experienced student and will learn important information about their professional track (i.e. how to be a competitive applicant, which exams are required, shadowing and research opportunities, job insight, etc). PSO provides a host of resources to ensure that you are fully prepared for professional school and subsequent career.
If you are a pre-professional student committed to serving others and spreading positivity, and want to become the best version of yourself and strongest applicant you can be, then PSO is your future family!
