Premedical Timeline
Deciding |
Preparing |
Timeline |
MCAT |
Choosing |
Contacts
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
- Attend Freshman/Sophomore Premedical Information Session.
- Consult with a premed advisor about your proposed course schedule for the fall semester.
- Build rapport with your professors and supervisors for future recommendation letters.
- Review the Association of American Medical College's (AAMC) Medical School Admissions Requirements book. http://www.aamc.org
- Review the list of Oberlin's recommended premedical courses, and plan a tentative schedule for completion of all the pre-med requirements.
Spring Semester
- Explore the field of medicine, conduct informational interviews, and volunteer/intern in medical settings.
- Plan out premedical coursework in preparation for the application process.
- Attend any premedical informational visits that you can.
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
- Attend Freshman/Sophomore Premedical Information Session.
- Explore the field of medicine, conduct informational interviews, volunteer/intern in medical settings, attend informational meetings.
- Consider finding a medically-oriented winter term project
- Review the Association of American Medical College's (AAMC) Medical School Admissions Requirements book to check each medical school's requirements.
- Plan when you will take the MCAT (April or August) and start to prepare. http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm
- Continue to build rapport with professors and supervisors for future recommendation letters.
Spring Semester
- Pursue research opportunities as appropriate in Oberlin and in the summer.
- Research medical schools, and attend medical school visits.
Junior Year
Fall Semester
- Start studying for the April MCATs.
- Learn about current medical research and clinical issues.
- Continue to explore the field of medicine, and participate in community service.
- Ask 3-5 people to write you letters of recommendation.
- Attend Medical School visits.
Spring Semester
- If you wish, take an MCAT preparation course, either offered through a commercial program such as Kaplan, or though the student-run ExamKrackers class on campus.
- Attend all appropirate premed events.
- Take the MCAT sometime in April-July.
- Complete committee letter application process.
- Open an interfolio account for your letters of recommendation
- Start filling out the AMCAS and/or AACOMAS application online.
- Obtain non-AMCAS school applications.
- Research and visit medical schools, and develop your target list.
- Have your essay critiqued and completed.
- Submit AMCAS application starting June 1st.
- Turn in all recommendation letters, MCAT scores, academic transcript and personal statement to the Office of Career Services by the end of June.
Summer before Senior Year
- Check to make sure your recommendation letters and your committee letter have been uploaded to interfolio.
- Complete secondary applications and submit a completed school designation form to the Office of Career Services.
- Take the MCAT sometime before August.
- Start preparing for interviews.
- Research Financial Aid options. http://www.aamc.org/md2
Senior Year
Fall Semester
- Prepare for your interviews. Sign up for a mock interview at the Office of Career Services, or seek assistance from your advisor.
- Research medical schools that you are applying to. Read published literature.
- Maintain contact with your advisor.
- Keep abreast of current medical issues.
- Research financial aid options. http://www.aamc.org/md2
Spring Semester
- Write a thank you note to your recommenders and update them on the outcome of your applications.
- Update the Office of Career Services staff on the status of your application.