The Student Doctor Network (SDN) provides online resources to pre-health students and the health professional community as part of our nonprofit mission. Here’s a recap of our standout achievements in 2025, our 26th year.
Profile of the 2025 Accepted Applicant Report
The 2025 Profile of the Accepted Applicant Report highlights attributes of support systems that were common among successful prehealth students in 2024-2025.
- Accepted applicants with research include a broad range of disciplinary topics, but 20% do not list having significant research accomplishments or experience. (Research Experience and Faculty References: Profile of the Accepted Applicant 2025)
- While applicants consider research accomplishments highly valuable, many felt the strong relationships with their supervising faculty members and lab colleagues are equally beneficial. (Research Experience and Faculty References: Profile of the Accepted Applicant 2025)
- Although highly valued among international-status applicants, prehealth advising was perceived to have limited value among first-generation applicants. (Mind the Gap: How First-Generation and International Students Navigate Prehealth Pathways)
- Applicants from historically underserved backgrounds appear to have fewer savings available for the application process (to medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine programs) and may rely more on generosity from family, friends, or available discounts from application administrators to be successful. (The Profile of the Accepted Student)
- Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu applicants were underrepresented in the 2025 cohort. Further research is needed to understand whether this reflects application patterns, survey participation, or other factors.
- Generative AI use is limited chiefly to proofreading application essays and preparing for interviews. While most say genAI helps applicants, respondents are skeptical about its benefits to their future careers in healthcare. These findings are consistent with initial surveys we have conducted (How Are You Using AI? Generative AI Survey Results).
Second SDN Prehealth Scholarship
The SDN Prehealth Scholarship awards $2,500 to help cover application costs for students applying to doctoral health professional programs in 2026, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, physical therapy, clinical psychology, and occupational therapy. Recipients demonstrate a commitment to serving socioeconomically under-resourced communities in the United States.
Read about the winners of the first Scholarship Class.
Apply for the 2026 Scholarship
You may be eligible if you graduated from a high school in a medically underserved area or qualified for application fee assistance. The deadline to apply is January 30, 2026.
Student Doctor Network Review
Student Doctor Network Review (SDN Review) expanded this year as a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal serving future and early-career health professionals. Articles published in SDN Review now receive Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), formalizing their status as citable scholarly publications. The journal prioritizes data-driven analysis and reflective scholarship focused on service, leadership, and community health impact. Submissions are welcomed from students, trainees, and professionals committed to improving health outcomes in their local and global communities. Learn how to submit an article for SDN Review.
Celebrating Mentors and Professionals
SDN recognized three outstanding advisors in 2025: Graham Greer, Dr. Jessie Voit, and Dr. Varnel Antoine. Their interviews offer insights on academic advising, mentorship, and navigating the path to medicine.
We also featured conversations with healthcare professionals across specialties, including Dr. Samuel Dyer’s 31-year journey to finishing medical school, Dr. Sharib Manzoor on running a dental practice, and Dr. Angelica Cifuentes’ advice for future optometrists. Explore pathway programs like Meharry’s PA program and pharmapreneurship opportunities for more inspiration.
Resources for Applicants
Becoming a Student Doctor self-paced course
The Becoming a Student Doctor course helps applicants connect their understanding of social determinants of health with their purpose as future healers. Using real secondary essay prompts, students pre-write reflections and explore how schools and professional organizations are addressing key issues in healthcare delivery. Enrollment includes Advice on Call opportunities to review secondary essays and prepare for interviews.
Enroll free: Students who graduated from a U.S. high school in a medically underserved area or qualified for application fee assistance can enroll at no cost.
Year-end discount: Use code YEAREND at checkout for 25% off enrollment through December 31, 2025.
The New DAT Scoring System
Beginning in March 2025, the scoring system of the US Dental Admissions Test was changed to reward those who scored well on the exam. Read more about the changes in our article: 2025 DAT Scoring Changes: What Pre-Dental Applicants Need to Know.
2025’s Most Popular Articles
- The “One Big Beautiful Bill”: How New Budget Legislation May Reshape Medical Training and Healthcare Access
- The Time is Right: Prehealth Application Timelines
- Financial Aid for 2026 Incoming Health Professional Students
- Admissions Committees: The Art of the Decision
- 2025 DAT Scoring Changes: What Pre-Dental Applicants Need to Know
- Research Experience and Faculty References: Profile of the Accepted Applicant 2025
- Does College Ranking Matter for Medical School Admissions?
- Specialty Choices for Burned Out Medical Students
- Ask the Admissions Expert: Alicia Spence, DDS, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry
- Ten years ago, academics in the NEJM disagreed about a looming shortage of residency positions. After 10 years of data, we now have the answer.
