Applicant Timeline

• Meet with a pre-health advisor to discuss the best way to sequence your classes and learn about campus resources
• Attend pre-health meetings on campus and sign up for emails, Tweets and Facebook updates
• Seek opportunities to volunteer, shadow a doctor, and identify research opportunities
• Explore the AAMC’s Considering a Medical Career resources
• Apply to summer enrichment programs or research programs
• Complete first  year premedical courses and other requirements

• Work or volunteer in a medically-related position
• If you’re eligible, participate in summer enrichment or research programs
• Take summer courses through a university (if desired or necessary)

• Check in with your pre-health advisor and attend all pre-health meetings.
• Look for  meaningful clinical experiences, medically-related activities, volunteer work, research and/or leadership roles.
• Continue to develop relationships with faculty, advisors and mentors.
• Apply for summer research, internship or enrichment programs such as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program.
• Contact your previous summer job for a position this year or apply for a new summer volunteer, paid or research position.
• Complete second year of premedical courses and requirements.

• Participate in summer enrichment, research or internship programs.
• Take summer courses through a university (if desired on necessary).
• Investigate:
  • The medical school application process 
  • Medical College Admission Test (MCAT®)
  • Fee Assistance Program (FAP)

• By this time, you should have a well-established relationship with a pre-health advisor and should be actively participating in pre-health activities.
• Identify and pursue leadership opportunities on your campus
• Consider which faculty, advisors and mentors to approach for letters of recommendation for your applications
• Consider taking a more substantial role in your clinical experiences, other medically related activities, volunteer work and research experiences
• Investigate:
  • Medical schools in the U.S. and Canada
  • Minorities in Medicine to get information on groups underrepresented in medicine
  • Meet with your pre-health advisor to:
    • Strategize about your application timeline, whether it be for immediately following graduation or after one or more gap years
    • Discuss your remaining premedical courses and other requirements
    • Identify the best time for you to take the MCAT® exam; visit the MCAT web site to find test dates and locations
    • Discuss letters of recommendation and committee premedical evaluation (if available)
    • Review your medical school options
    • If you are considering a gap/bridge year, investigate meaningful paid or volunteer medically-related experience to complete during that time
    • Familiarize yourself with medical school application services
      • American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS®)
      • Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)
      • Research medical school curricula and joint, dial and combined-degree programs 
      • Complete third year premedical courses and other requirements

• Continue with meaningful paid, volunteer, internship, medically related, research and leadership experiences.
• If applying to begin medical school after your junior year:
  • Complete AMCAS application and work on secondary applications
  • Ask instructors, mentors and advisors for letters of recommendation
  • When you’re prepared and ready, if you haven’t taken the MCAT exam yet, or if you want to take the exam again, sign up to take the MCAT exam in the summer

• You should be regularly consulting with your pre-health advisor to:
  • Discuss letters of recommendation and committee premedical evaluation (if available).
  • Review your medical education options, such as a post baccalaureate premedical program.
  • Discuss the status of your applications and the admission process for schools to which you’ve applied.
• Continue with your meaningful clinical experiences, other medically related activities, volunteer work, research and/or leadership experiences.
• When you’re prepared and ready, if you have not previously taken the MCAT exam or want to retake the exam, sign up to take the MCAT exam in the spring.
• Become familiar with Application and Acceptance Protocols – Admission Officers.
• Become familiar with Application and Acceptance Protocols – Applicants.
• If applying for enrollment immediately following senior year:
  • Complete supplementary application materials for schools to which you’ve applied.
  • Prepare for your interviews and campus visits at medical schools.
  • Receive acceptances!
  • Make interim and final decisions about your medical school choice.
  • Notify medical schools that you will not be attending on or before the deadline given.
  • Ensure that all IRS and financial aid forms are completed and submitted as early as possible.
• Complete degree requirements and graduate.

If enrolling immediately following senior year:

• Purchase books and equipment and make appropriate living arrangements
• Attend orientation programs and matriculate into medical school
• If applying for enrollment following a gap/bridge year(s):
  • Complete AMCAS application and work on secondary applications
  • Ask instructors, mentors and advisors to write letters of recommendation

• Seek meaningful employment, education and/or experience.
• Pay down credit card and/or undergraduate debt as much as possible.
• Continue to consult regularly with your pre-health advisor throughout the process.
• Complete supplementary application materials for schools to which you’ve applied.
• Interview and take campus tours at medical schools.
• Become familiar with Application and Acceptance Protocols – Admission Officers.
• Become familiar with Application and Acceptance Protocols – Applicants.

• Make interim and final decisions about medical school choice
• Notify medical schools that you will not be attending on or before the deadline given
• Ensure that all IRS and financial aid forms are completed and submitted as early as possible
• Purchase books and equipment and make all appropriate living arrangements
• Attend orientation programs and matriculate into medical school