Health Careers Opportunity Program

HPPP Test Prep Program

This program helps students strengthen their test-taking skills and confidence through a structured support system, Kaplan test preparation resources, live study sessions, advising, and professional development. The program is free to select participants and includes a stipend upon successfully completing all program requirements.

Student writing

Spring 2026

Application Opens January 26, 2026 at 8 AM

Program Perks:

Live & On-Demand Classes
12-month Kaplan Online Access
4+ Full-Length Practice Exams
Digital & Paperback Textbooks
Personal Statement Support
Stipend Support

Exams Currently Supported

Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
Optometry Admissions Test (OAT)
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, students must meet all of the following:

Must be an active HPPP participant
Be preparing to take the DAT, MACT, OAT, or GRE
Plan to take the entrance exam within the next 6–12 months
Have completed all prerequisite coursework for their intended professional program (see table below)
Be enrolled at Fresno State during the semester in which the program is offered.

Prerequisite coursework:

To learn more about the required and recommended coursework, visit the Advising and Resources Center, Pre-Professional Advising page.

Advising and Resources Center - Pre-Professional Advising

Application Process

Complete the online application
Submit all required supporting documents, including transcripts, most recent resume, and financial aid summary.
Participate in an in-person interview if selected (applicants will be contacted within 3–7 business days after the application deadline)

Program Requirements

Selected participants are expected to:

Complete full-length baseline and post-test assessments and submit scores to the program coordinator
Attend weekly on-campus study sessions (minimum 7 hours/week)
Complete all Kaplan-assigned coursework and assignments
Participate in pre-approved live virtual Kaplan sessions.
Register and schedule their exam within 4–6 months of beginning the program
Attend all workshops, conferences, and professional development events hosted by the program
Participate in personal statement coaching with a CASA-assigned facilitator
Attend academic and pre-professional advising.

Note: A stipend will only be awarded to participants who complete all program requirements successfully.

Program Timeline

Application Opens: Monday, January 26, 2026
Application Deadline: Sunday, February 2026, at 11:59 PM PST
Supplemental Questionnaire: Selected applicants will be contacted within 3–7 business days after submitting their application to complete a supplemental questionnaire
Program Start Date: Monday, February 23, 2026
Program End Date: Friday, April 24, 2026

Program Availability by Term

Table above shows program availability by term. Dates are subject to change.
Term	Typical Application Window (Subject to change based on funding and staff)	Program Timeline (Subject to change based on funding and staff)
Fall Semester	September 1st - September 12th	8 Weeks (September 22nd - November 15th)
Winter Intersession	November 17th - December 5th	8 Weeks (January 5th - February 27th)
Spring Semester	January 26th - February 6th	8 Weeks (February 16th - April 17th)
Summer Semester	April 6th - April 17th	8 Weeks (June 1st - July 24th)

For questions or more details, contact the upper-division academic coordinator, Sannad Jawad, at sannad@csufresno.edu

Fresno State Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) is funded by California State University, Fresno. Health Professions Pathways (HPP) is funded by the Department of Health Care Access and Information. Lilia De La Cerda, MPH, Project PI. Larry G. Riley, Ph.D., Project Co-PI.

* 2025-2026 Update: All activities, funding, and support are contingent upon our funding and are subject to change at any time during the academic year at the discretion of the governor's office.