Charting a Course to Medical School: The AMSA Map for Success

The following is a guideline for the "traditional" pre-medical student, and this schedule will most certainly change depending on your school. You should check with the health professions advisor at your school to see what the recommended schedule is for you. Also, you should check specific requirements for schools that you are especially interested in, since requirements may vary slightly. As long as you fulfill the class requirements before you take the MCAT, you should be okay. Finally, please realize that this schedule includes only the core classes that almost all medical schools want to see. Beyond these classes, it doesn't really matter what classes you take, so feel free to take whatever interests you the most.

Schedule for:

• Freshman Year
• Sophomore Year
• Junior Year
• Senior Year

Freshmen:

• General Biology I + lab
• General Chemistry I + lab
• Calculus I, if required
• Electives (a few easy required general education courses)

• General Biology II + lab
• General Chemistry II + lab
• Calculus II
• Electives

All Year:

• Get involved outside of academics, join clubs and organizations (Join your local AMSA pre-med chapter, or start a chapter at your school!)

Sophomores:

First Term:

• Organic Chemistry I + lab
• English
• Classes for your major

• Organic Chemistry II + lab
• English
• Classes for your major
• Get information about medical schools that interest you.

• Start thinking about leadership positions in clubs. Be sure to start building good relations with your professors.

Juniors:

First Term:

• Physics I + lab
• More classes for your major
• Electives

Second Term:

• Physics II + lab

• February
  • Request AMCAS and AACOMAS applications
  • Register for the MCAT
  • Begin studying for MCAT (if you haven't done so already!)
  • Start thinking about which med schools you'd like to apply to
• Mid-March
  • Be sure to register for MCAT in time
  • Start asking for letters of recommendation
  • If you did any coursework at any schools other than your current institution, you can start submitting transcripts from those schools to AMCAS and AACOMAS at this time
• Mid-April
  • Take the MCAT
• May
  • Start working on your applications (start earlier than this if possible, especially on your personal statement)
  • If you wish to apply for an AMCAS or AACOMAS fee waiver, applications are accepted beginning May 15.
• June
  • Submit your applications! Since most schools use rolling admissions policies, the earlier the better. Do NOT put this off.

• July-December
  • Complete and return your secondary applications as you receive them. Some may come before this time, some may even come after.
  • Start preparing for your interviews
• September-February
  • Most interviews occur during this time. Make sure you are prepared.
• March-May 15
  • If you have the luxury, take some time to choose wisely about which school to attend
  • Start seriously thinking about how you're going to pay for medical school.
• May 15
  • By this date, if you have been accepted at more than one school, you must choose just one school, and drop all others.
• May-September
  • During this time many schools will try to complete their medical school class by inviting students off of their waitlist. If you are still interested in any schools at which you are waitlisted, by all means let them know!

If the cards didn't fall your way this year, regroup and plan a strategy for next year. Be sure to see our section on reapplying as well.

Through the Years

Extracurricular Activities