Explore your career options, and research 10 schools that relate to your health field interests. Find out prerequisite class requirements, cost, MCAT average acceptance (or exam), and GPA average for acceptance.
Join the Pre-Health Society (PHS) and other professional societies such as the American Chemical Society (ACS) or Beta Beta Beta (BBB). Get hands on experience and apply to summer internship programs and summer enrichment programs by shadowing professionals or finding a mentor.
Meet with your faculty advisor to discuss selecting a major for your career interest. Study, serve, and balance your time wisely; talk to your parents; and pray about it.
After you've completed your freshman year, use the summer to volunteer or intern in your selected health field, shadow professionals, and explore financial aid options.
Repeat freshman year steps then garner additional experience working as a laboratory assistant, participating in research opportunities on campus, or completing service projects or an Inner-City Outreach trips.
Meet with your faculty advisor, and start thinking about who will write your recommendation letters. Check-out Intersession courses related to the medical field, and be sure to attend the Career Fair and the Health Professions Career Fair. Apply for summer research, internship, or enrichment programs such as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program.
Volunteer or intern in your selected health field, review appropriate application documents (AMCAS) and exam registration processes (MCAT), and look into Fee Assistance Programs (FAP).
Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your plan including what health field you want to enter, the possibility of taking a gap or growth year, post-baccalaureate programs, and when to take the professional exams.
Request recommendation letters, register early for professional exams, and begin filling out the appropriate application documents (AMCAS). Ask the Career Services Office to set up mock interviews, and be sure to attend the Career Fair, the Health Professions Career Fair, and the Internship Fair.
Finalize and submit your application documents, ask instructors, mentors, and advisors to write letters of recommendation, and submit your applications to pre-health programs. Continue volunteering and interning in your selected health field.
Prepare for interviews by getting tips from professionals in your field. If accepted, complete the FAFSA and other financial aid forms and start looking for a place to live. If rejected, consider a gap year or post-baccalaureate studies and talk to your faculty advisor. Lastly, complete your exit interview before graduation.