Sample Timeline
This should be considered as a general, idealized guideline and will not apply to everyone.
The timeline for courses varies widely from student to student. Several course schedule examples can be found by clicking here.
Year #1
Fall Semester
- Attend group general pre-med advising meeting (a notice will be emailed to you prior to the beginning of the registration period)
- Meet with your pre-med adviser
- Review your Academic Advisement Report (student notice of academic progress) in early November
- View a list of medical schools in the U.S. and determine entrance requirements for your state’s medical schools or other schools in which you have a strong interest.
- Join Pre-Med Club!
January
- Consider taking a Winter Intersession course.
Spring Semester
- Meet with your adviser to review your Academic Advisement Report in late March.
- Explore the AAMC's Considering a Career in Medicine website
Summer
- Medically related summer employment or volunteer experience.
- Attend summer school, if desired or necessary
Year #2
Fall Semester
- Meet with your adviser to review your Academic Advisement Report in early November
- Investigate available volunteer/paid medically related jobs and research
January
- Consider taking a Winter Intersession course.
Spring Semester
- Meet with your adviser to review your Academic Advisement Report in late March
Summer
- Medically related summer employment or volunteer experience.
- Begin to consider MCAT preparation
- Visit AAMC’s Applying to Medical School website and read combined degree options
- Read about the Early Decision Plan option for application
- Attend summer school, if desired or necessary
Year #3
Fall Semester
- Investigate:
- Applying to Medical School
- Medical schools in the U.S. and Canada
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- AAMC Fee Assistance Program
- Minorities in Medicine to get information for groups underrepresented in medicine
- Begin MCAT preparation for the spring
- Meet with your adviser to review your Academic Advisement Report in early November
January
- Consider taking a Winter Intersession course.
Spring Semester
- Continue preparation for the MCAT and take review course
- Consult regularly with your pre-med adviser
regarding:
- Schedule for completion of school-specific requirements for adviser/committee premedical evaluation
- Continue participation in paid/volunteer medically related activities
- Prepare for and take desired MCAT administration; visit MCAT web site
- Take spring MCAT
- Investigate information about medical school
application services, start applications early
(around May 1st):
- AMCAS (Allopathic application)
- Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)
- Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS)
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) (Osteopathic application)
- AAMC Curriculum Directory for information about medical school curricula and joint, dual, and combined-degree programs
- AACPMAS (Podiatric application)
- Consider attending AMSA national conference
- Meet with your adviser to review your Academic Advisement Report in late March
Summer
- Medically related summer employment or volunteer experience.
- Submit Pre-med Committee letter request to the committee member who you wish to be the primary author with a copy of your completed applications
- Attend summer school, if desired or necessary
Year #4
Fall Semester
- Complete secondary applications
- Interview: Consider organizing a mock interview with Tim Tritch, Career Services Adviser for School Sciences and Allied Health
- Reply to acceptances within two weeks (or as required)
- Investigate:
- Financing your medical education
January
- Consider taking a Winter Intersession course.
Spring Semester
- Make final medical school decision
- Apply for financial assistance
- Immediately notify institutions that you will not attend
- Graduate!
Summer
- Prepare for medical school enrollment: purchase books and equipment and make appropriate living arrangements
- Relax and prepare for medical school
- Attend orientation programs and matriculate in medical school
Note: Excerpts from this page are from the AAMC webpage.