Tasks for Each Year on the Pre-Professional Track (MD, DO, PA)
First Year
- Examine and download pre-medical information from the website (check for updates)
- Start biology classes and your chemistry classes (if ready), also math as appropriate
- Take the time and effort to know your professors personally
- Consider possible majors (choose what you love, not what is popular for med schools)
- Rough in the next 4 years based on Alma and professional school requirements
- Consider Physics in year 2 with 2nd year of Chemistry to take the August MCATs
- Buy the Kaplan MCAT review book and use it with each class you take.
- Bookmark the MCAT site. Note the testing dates for the new computerized test.
- Explore the AAMC's Considering a Career in Medicine Web site
- Plan how to fit in 2-3 years of volunteer and shadowing work (NOT the same thing)
- Join the Pre-Med/GAPS list (see Susan Dinwoody in the Dow Science Office)
- Attend Pre-Med/GAPS meetings as appropriate
- Begin/continue volunteering (GAPS at Alma, hospitals or nursing home in home town)
- Begin shadowing experiences (M.D., D.O. or PA) either in Alma, or at home
- Learn the difference between an M.D. and a D.O. degree, and what a P.A. does.
- Find and read essays, books etc. about medicine and the practice of medicine
- Correct/control all money problems (debt, credit cards, credit rating) for a clean slate
- Ask yourself the following questions regularly:
- Am I serious about my commitment?
- Do I have the intellectual ability and the emotional strength to work with sick people so intensely?
- Will I do whatever it takes? Will I give this my best and first energy?
- Do I measure up to the “Good Candidate Qualities” (see this site under “career”)
Second Year
- Continue all appropriate activities from the list above
- Continue hospital/volunteer work, including more emotionally intense experiences
- Talk to as many professionals as possible. What are the frustrations of the job?
- Continue to be an outstanding student (if not, figure out why and fix the problems)
- Consider CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) training
- Become familiar with leading medical journals in the library - JAMA, NE Journal of Medicine, American Family Physician, for example
- Read editorials regularly, especially on health care policy issues
- Start to look at medical schools on-line to get a sense of their expectations
- Develop a list of schools to send your scores to before the MCAT application is due
- Sort out different medical school philosophies, and visit as needed (into next year)
- Sign up EARLY to take Summer/August MCATs if physics and chemistry are done
- See MCAT pages on this web site and elsewhere
- Develop a study plan and stick to it, and do very well on the test
Third year
- Continue all appropriate activities from the list above
- Download a blank copy of the application from AMCAS (for MD) or ACOMAS (for DO)
- See what information will be required, and at what depth
- Note the limited room for activities, concentrate on doing a few things very well
- Fill in any weak spots in your four year plan
- Become knowledgeable about recommendations letters for different schools
- Begin to sort out who you will ask
- Develop a strategic plan for the spring MCAT (if not already taken of if repeating)
- See MCAT pages on this web site and elsewhere
- Start in the fall (or sooner) with a well-developed study plan and stick to it!
- Sign up EARLY to take the Spring /April MCATs (and do exceedingly well!)
Over the summer prior to the fourth year
- Plan ahead to visit schools and talk to admissions people in the summer as needed
- Sign up EARLY for the Summer (August) MCATs if you do not have at least “9s”
- Strengthen weak areas, and take it seriously
- Begin work on the official on-line applications
- Start your essay immediately after finishing the MCAT (see hints on this web site)
- Fill in grades/activities as a break from the essay (Alma credits are multiplied by 0.9)
- Create all documents off-line first, cut and paste as needed
- Save your essay read by several people until it is excellent in grammar and tone
- Shoot for late June/early July submission date, but it is better to be good than early
- Letters of recommendation (see pages on this site and others)
- Line up possible recommenders
- Assemble your packet of information
- Ask for letters by dates well in advance of the actual dates
- Remind your references and keep on top of the schools and your file
Fourth year (the application year!)
- Continue all appropriate activities from the list above
- Make certain your application was transmitted and is accurate
- Return secondary applications ASAP (within 7 days at the latest)
- Check in frequently with faculty, with Ms. Dinwoody and with Dr. Grimnes as needed
- Double-check that information has been received by the schools (critical for letters)
- Seek out interview questions. Answer but do not memorize them (see interview hints)
- Begin financial arrangements (see web pages here and elsewhere)
- Review all current and pending health legislation and policies
- Get several interviews. Be knowledgeable, and approachable
- Get accepted into a Medical or PA school (Hooray!)
