Pre-Health Timeline

• Gather information about yourself, about careers in medicine and other health careers, and about the years of education and training required for each career so you can make an informed decision about your future.
• Start building an excellent undergraduate record. Review your performance early in the fall and spring semesters and take corrective steps to improve any deficiencies.
• Explore your areas of interest while enrolled in at least one science course per semester. Choose a balance and diversified course of study.
• Most students should complete General Chemistry 1 and 2 with labs in their first year. Students may also elect to take General Biology 1 and 2 with labs and/or math in their first year.
• Try to develop a personal relationship with at least one faculty member whose interests are similar to yours and who stimulates you intellectually.
• Participate in extracurricular activities to complement your program and provide some enjoyable diversion.
• If possible, try to involve yourself with some volunteer work in a medically-related area.

• Stop and take inventory of your abilities and interests and continue seriously to evaluate medicine as a career.
• Continue to do well in your courses or improve your record.
• Pursue a field of study that you find intellectually engaging and do well in, regardless of the discipline. Declare your major by the end of this year.
• Most students should complete Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 with labs their second year, as well as General Biology 1 and 2 with lab if they have not already done so.
• Make an effort to get to know at least one more faculty member out of the classroom.
• If you have not already done so, involve yourself with some volunteer work, medical and non-medical.
• The sophomore year is a good time to get involved in research: scientific, medical, or other.

• Start thinking seriously about the application process and obtain information about medical schools.
• Make this your strongest academic year yet. Remember that this is potentially the last year for which grades are regularly included for medical school application.
• Complete your premedical science courses. For most students this includes Physics 1and 2 with lab, genetics, and biochemistry.
• Prepare for the MCAT or other professional entrance examination; you should aim to take the MCAT between April and June.
• Make an effort to get to know at least two more faculty members outside the classroom.
• Meet with the Health Professions Advisor to discuss application procedures and timetable; attend the Application Kick-Off Meeting in November.
• In the spring, request letters of recommendation from faculty who know you and your qualifications.
• Begin working on your personal statement for the primary application.

• Fill out and submit the AMCAS application and any applications from non-AMCAS schools or from other professional schools (this is your primary application); ideally, you will submit your primary application by the end of June.
• Have your transcripts sent to AMCAS and non-AMCAS schools or submit them to other professional school application services.
• Complete secondary applications as you receive them.
• Request to have your letter packet sent once you have received notification that your application has been sent to the professional schools. Request any additional letters of recommendation be sent to the application service if necessary.

• Complete any remaining secondary applications as you receive them.
• Check with professional schools to establish whether or not your file there is complete.
• Interview with the schools to which you have applied, if offered. The schools will initiate interviews with the applicants they are seriously considering for admission.
• Try to relax and enjoy your final undergraduate year of college!
• Continue to do well in all your courses. Remember that a transcript of your final grades must be sent to the school at which you plan to enroll.
• Notify the Health Professions Advisor of the results of your application.

The application process for alumni is largely the same as it is for direct-entry applicants applying at the end of their junior year. Applications to health professions schools typically take place in the summer (June/July) approximately one year before you plan to begin medical school. Students who wish to take one gap year will apply the summer immediately after graduation; students taking two gap years will apply one year after graduation, and so on. Alumni and gap year students should meet with a Pre-Health Advisor to discuss the application steps below.

• Fill out and submit the AMCAS application and any applications from non-AMCAS schools or from other professional schools (this is your primary application); ideally, you will submit your primary application by the end of June.
• Have your transcripts sent to AMCAS and non-AMCAS schools or submit them to other professional school application services.
• Complete secondary applications as you receive them.
• Request to have your letter packet sent once you have received notification that your application has been sent to the professional schools. Request any additional letters of recommendation be sent to the application service if necessary. 
• Attend interviews, if offered, throughout the fall and early spring.