Pre-Doc Application Overview

Overview of the California Pre-Doctoral Program Application Process:

1. Review or download a copy of this year's application guide (until it becomes available, the (2025 application guide will help you prepare).  Note: If you are applying for the California Pre-Doctoral Program's Health Professions Track (HPT), review or download a copy of this year's HPT application guide (until it becomes available, the 2025 HPT application guide will help you prepare);
2. Seek a Faculty Mentor (an SF State faculty member in your field — an assistant, associate or full professor, but not a lecturer or visiting professor from another institution) who knows you well and is willing to support your application to the Pre-Doctoral Program, and to serve as your mentor during the award year;
3. Ask your Faculty Mentor to provide you with an in-depth recommendation.
4. Complete an online application (see Application Instructions). 
5. Invite your Faculty Mentor, through the online application, to submit a reference on your behalf. Note: Your Faculty Mentor will not be able to upload their recommendation until you have submitted your application. Your mentor must submit their recommendation by one week after the CSU application deadline--anticipated to be circa February 13, 2026.
6. In collaboration with your Faculty Mentor, develop an Application Budget for the funded activities you will engage in to prepare for entering a doctoral program;
7. If you are applying for the Health Professions Track, prepare a Collaborative Plan indicating how you and your Faculty Mentor will work together over the Pre-Doctoral Year to enhance your applications to doctoral programs.
8. Compose your application essays in consultation with your Faculty Mentor;
9. Assemble unofficial transcripts for every college or university you have attended;
10. Prepare an academic resume (a curriculum vitae or "CV"). Your Faculty Mentor and the Campus Coordinator will be able to provide you with guidance about what this document should contain;
11. The program encourages you to seek support from the Campus Coordinator. If you would like feedback on your application essays, CV, and, for Health Professions Track applicants, the Collaborative Plan, seek a meeting with Dr. Joy Viveros, SF State's California Pre-Doctoral Program Campus Coordinator, by emailing her at fellows1@sfsu.edu.
12.  At least two weeks before the online deadline--anticipated to be circa February 13, 2026, schedule a meeting with Dr. Viveros to review and approve your application.
13. Upload your transcripts, CV, budget, essays to your online application; conform your documents to the "Formatting Instructions" on our Application Instructions.  Note: For Health Professions Track applicants, upload a Collaborative Plan.
14. Submit your online application by the CSU online application deadline--anticipated to be circa February 13, 2026.
15.  Follow-up with your Faculty Mentor to ensure that the recommendation is submitted timely. Note: Your Faculty Mentor will not be able to upload their recommendation until you have submitted your application, and thus they have up to the Friday following the CSU deadline to submit the recommendation.