Held each summer on the campus of UNC, the SEP Program is an eight-week, honors-level academic enrichment program for disadvantaged undergraduate students (rising sophomores and juniors) who seek admissions into graduate/health professional programs.

SEP scholars engage in more than 150 contact hours of rigorous classroom instruction in physics, organic chemistry, human physiology and quantitative skills/biostatistics as well as seminars in reading speed and comprehension, test-taking strategies, essay writing, and interview techniques. Local trips to health facilities and a shadowing component expose students to a variety of career options and allow them to discuss their career interests with health professionals and biomedical scientists.

The program introduces students to a world of opportunities many never knew existed. SEP alumni have graduated from various disciplines such as: allied health, dentistry, allopathic and osteopathic medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy and public health.

Since its inception, 834 students have completed the SEP Program. Of that number, currently 86 percent of these participants are either practicing in a health care field, enrolled in health professions training programs or are completing undergraduate prerequisites for these programs (see SEP Works!).

Participating in the SEP Program equips you with knowledge and develops your skills through practical application, fires your enthusiasm and drive for successfully achieving your goals, and builds a strong sense of purpose and confidence that enables you to reach your potential. Become an SEP Scholar today!