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Liaison

SOPHAS Express Program User Guide

This guide provides you with documentation, reference guides, and direct links that answer common admissions questions about the SOPHAS Express Applicant Portal, Configuration Portal, and WebAdMIT. It also contains resources that may help you work more efficiently throughout your admissions process. If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please contact a member of your account team.

Cycle Timeframes

Applicant Portal

The Applicant Portal opens in mid-August and closes in early August. You can view the specific cycle dates, including final processing dates (e.g., last date to request letters of recommendation, etc.), on the SOPHAS Express Application Cycle Dates page.

Configuration Portal

Between late April and mid-July, configurations are entered into the prelaunch environment. The account team and ASPPH review submitted configurations in July.

WebAdMIT

You can view new applicants and initiate a transfer settings shortly after the new cycle opens in mid-August.

Program Participation Requirements

ASPPH requires all programs to designate two contacts at your institution who will receive all communication from ASPPH and SOPHAS Express, including the configuration, application, and WebAdMIT launch notifications.

Applicant Portal

The first three sections of the SOPHAS Express application (i.e., Personal Information, Academic History, and Supporting Information) compose the core application. They contain questions that are commonly asked of applicants across all participating programs, such as an applicant's biographic information, standardized test scores, and experiences. The fourth section of the application is Program Materials, which is customized by you through the Configuration Portal (discussed in the next section).

You can access the SOPHAS Express application and SOPHAS Express Applicant Help Center to review the applicant experience. You can also create a test application in the Applicant Portal; we recommend creating a new account and adding "test" to your name (e.g., TestJohn TestDoe).

For a general overview of the applicant experience, review the following documents:

You can direct any applicant inquiries related to the application to SOPHAS Express Customer Service.

Configuration Portal

Use the Configuration Portal Quick Start Guide to make sure you configure your program(s) efficiently and completely in the prelaunch environment. Be sure to check out your CAS's configuration options and review the best practices found throughout. If any optional sections of the application are required for your program (e.g., experiences, test scores, etc.), you'll want to note this on your program home page.

Once you've configured your program, you'll need to have it approved by the account team and ASPPH before it is available to applicants. If your program is reviewed after the cycle launches, ASPPH will approve it.

WebAdMIT

Review the WebAdMIT Manual for any questions related to working in WebAdMIT. The Reference Guides and WebAdMIT Training and Support sections are additional resources as you configure WebAdMIT for your needs. Documents commonly requested include:

The Release Notes feature new enhancements in the Applicant Portal, Applicant Gateway, Configuration Portal, Liaison Letters, and WebAdMIT, in addition to upcoming training opportunities.

For any questions, contact the Client Support Specialist Team.

Cycle Enhancements

2024-2025

The table below contains enhancements for SOPHAS for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.

Portal

Section

Enhancement Details

Implementation

Availability

Applicant Portal

Personal Information – Biographic Information

The Gender/Sex question now includes a third custom gender value: X or another legal sex. This allows CASs to meet their guidelines and new reporting options from state and federal governments.

No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

Configuration Portal

Question Rules

When applicants select a program and answer a program-specific or Extended Profile question, their deadline date can update based on the program’s configurations. If an applicant selects an answer that offers multiple deadlines, then the deadline that the program selected as highest priority displays. If an applicant’s answer is linked to only expired programs, the applicant receives a warning message, advising them to select an alternate program or to contact their program.

Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.

Available now

WebAdMIT

List Manager

Export Manager

The following fields were removed. If you have exports and lists that include them, you will want to review and update them as necessary. Note that all Military Status fields are now located under the Additional Questions field category.

  • Additional Questions field category
    • Military Status Extended
  • Military Branches field category
    • Branch of Military Service
    • Military Service Began
    • Military Service Ended
    • Military Service Still Serving

Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

2023-2024

The table below contains enhancements for SOPHAS Express for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.

Portal

Section

Enhancement Details

Implementation

Availability

Applicant Portal

Extended Profile

The Do you have a Master's degree? question is updated to Will you have completed a master's degree by your anticipated program start date?

The following questions are deleted:

  • Are you a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident?
  • Do you have a US Visa?
    • What type of visa?

No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

Applicant Portal

Personal Information – Release Statement

A new Release Statement section was added.

No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

Applicant Portal

Personal Information – Contact Information

The Current Address and Permanent Address drop-downs now include Taiwan instead of Taiwan (Province of China).

No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

Applicant Portal

Supporting Information – Experiences

Applicants can edit in progress experiences after they submit their application.

No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

Applicant Portal

Supporting Information – Additional Experiences

The following agencies/programs are added:

  • AmeriCorps VISTA
  • Public Health AmeriCorps
  • Public Health Associate Program (PHAP)

No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

Configuration Portal

Program Details

A new Health Economics program attribute is added.

Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.

Available now

WebAdMIT

In Progress Applicants Search Page

CASs can now create a custom Program Plans question and answer values that are available in:

No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

WebAdMIT

Applicant Details

The HRSA/Background Check fields are now enabled.

No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.

Available at cycle launch

 

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