Becoming a doctor is no small feat. But whether you’re just starting to research medical schools or looking for a second opinion on information you already have, this guide will help you navigate your next steps.
Without a doubt, competition for admission to medical school is fierce, and for good reason. We expect the highest levels of knowledge and support from our physicians and should only want the most knowledgeable, focused, and dedicated students graduating from medical school.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know to prepare for your first year of medical school. From completing your undergraduate studies to receiving your first acceptance letter, this month-by-month approach guides you through two years of medical school preparation.
How to Prepare for Medical School: A Month-by-Month Guide
The official medical school application process begins in May of your junior year, although many who have always known they wanted to end up in a health profession start preparing on Day 1 of their freshman year.
It’s okay if it’s not you. While you want to be strategic about getting into medical school, you can wait until a year or two before you get your degree to start planning, provided you’ve focused on your studies during your freshman and sophomore years you, you’ve made connections, you’ve looked for internship opportunities. and – most importantly – kept his GPA high.
Your junior year is really the time to prepare for admission to medical school.
See the GPAs of those admitted to US medical schools between 2018 and 2024.
August to December (Junior Year)
Health professions advisors advise students to first determine a target start date for medical school and then build their schedule from that date. If you plan to enroll in medical school immediately after undergrad, your two-year timeline begins now.
That’s when you should start working with a health professional counselor (if you haven’t already) to make a plan and make sure you’re on track to reach your goals. This includes making sure you have the required science and pre-med courses in your curriculum. If not, you may be able to squeeze them in during the fall, but it’s better to know now than later.
This is also the time to start studying for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT for short). The MCAT is offered almost every month of the year (January and March through September) and can be taken up to seven times. Pay attention to the time frame in which colleges need your test results, and consider testing early enough so that you have time to retest if needed. If you’re not sure when to take the test, ask yourself these three questions.
January to March (Junior Year)
If you haven’t already started studying for the MCAT, now is the time to start. MCAT scores are often the first factor considered by medical schools. Keep in mind that medical school applications usually open in May and it takes at least 30 days for schools to receive your official scores, which means you should take the MCAT no later than March.
Midway through your junior year is also when you should evaluate your community research or clinical internship experiences. You definitely need one or the other (both are better) to show your exposure to the medical field, hands-on experience in the industry, and your involvement in extracurricular activities. If you can fit it in during the school year, many clinics offer ongoing internship opportunities. Otherwise, focus on the opportunities available during the summer. Just keep in mind that summer internships are more competitive because many more students have the same idea.
April to May (Junior Year)
Now is the time to reach out to the people you hope will write a letter of recommendation for you. I highly recommend contacting at least a month before your letters are due, but two months is better. At the very least, extend the courtesy of asking them if they will write a letter on your behalf before sharing their name with the official application service.
Like all graduate programs, medical schools typically ask for two or three letters of recommendation, and you should try to get letters from a variety of recommendations. For example, you might reach out to a current or former science teacher, a non-science teacher, and a supervisor from your clinical internship. Overall, you want to identify the people who can best speak to your character, interests, and work ethic.
June to August (Between Junior and Senior Year)
Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed and verified by the university, a process that usually takes several weeks. If you’re not already familiar with the medical school application process, let me help you out: there are typically two application processes for each school.
The main application is submitted through one of three online application systems – AMCAS, TMDSAS or AACOMAS – which shares your transcripts, MCAT scores, personal statement, letters of recommendation and other useful information about your academic and extracurricular background. Schools use this information to conduct an initial screening of applicants.
If a school you applied to is interested in you, they will send you a secondary application to complete and return. Secondary applications include essay prompts on a range of topics, such as describing a recent leadership role you held or one of your greatest academic achievements. These questions are intended to reveal additional information about you that will be used to determine how well you fit into the school’s program.
Which app service is right for you?
Most medical schools in the US participate in AMCAS, but depending on the schools you are applying to, you may want to be aware of the other services available.
September to May (Senior Year)
No matter which application service you use, be sure to submit your documents on time. This also applies to the return of any secondary applications, because you will begin to hear from schools about interviewing candidates as early as the fall semester.
Schools will begin sharing their admissions decisions in late fall, and since many schools admit on a rolling basis, that process will continue next spring. Keep in mind that schools have a lot of applications (and materials) to sort through, so patience is key during this time.
The cool thing about medical school admissions is that you can accept more than one offer – but only until May, and the April 30 deadline to accept an offer is fast approaching. I repeat: Applicants must officially choose their school by April 30th. Once you have officially accepted an offer at AMCAS, all other offers will be withdrawn.
After this point, schools will begin accepting students on their waiting lists. If you already have your acceptance in hand, now is the time to prepare for the start of your first year of medical school. But don’t skip the celebration – it’s been a long and rigorous process and it’s important to take the time to recognize your achievement.
Medical School Admissions: Putting It All Together
As you can see, preparing for medical school is easily a two-year affair. But by following this guide, breaking the process into bite-sized chunks, creating a schedule that works for you, and staying persistent throughout the process, you’ll be well on your way to your first year of medical school.
To improve your chances of success, I recommend hanging out with peers who have the same goals and limit distractions outside of your studies. And if you ever need extra motivation, consider these tips to help you survive the prep trail. Then take a few minutes to move your body, drink some cold water, and refocus on the trail ahead. Good luck!
