Pre-Health Student Checklist | Pre-Health Professions

Year one

• Meet with a pre-health advisor to discuss pre-health curriculum
• Begin prerequisite coursework – typically chemistry and biology courses
• Become involved with pre-health organizations and extracurricular activities
• Gain clinical experience in the health field (shadowing, volunteering, employment)
• Become familiar with the admissions process (and statistics) of your chosen field
• Consider your back-up plan and select a major (everyone needs a back-up plan!)

Year two

• Meet with a pre-health advisor to discuss curriculum, activities, and admission exam preparation
• Continue completing prerequisite coursework and gaining clinical experience
• Build relationships with faculty, advisors, and health care professionals – they are future sources of recommendation letters
• Attend health career fairs to learn more about your schools of interest
• Stay involved in pre-health clubs and participate in community service

Year three - fall

• May not apply to allied health professions, such as nursing
• Meet with a pre-health advisor to ensure you are on track
• Continue prerequisite coursework
• Continue to gain clinical experience and volunteer
• Begin serious preparation for the admission exam required by your profession (MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT, or GRE)
• Work on you personal statement

Year three – spring

• Request letters of recommendation from faculty, advisors, and / or health care professionals that know you
• Interview with the Pre-Health Advisory Committee (medical, dental, and optometry students only)
• Decide which schools you want to apply to – contact each school to learn about their specific admissions criteria and visit their campus
• Complete prerequisite coursework and continue gaining experience and volunteering
• Take the admission exam required by your profession

Apply

• Submit an application to the centralized application site of your profession
• Submit supplemental application materials to each school
• Periodically contact each school to verify your application status
• Meet with a pre-health advisor to prepare for upcoming interview
• Continue involvement in clinical work and community service