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Preparation and application
Becoming a healthcare professional can be a long journey. This guide will help you plan ahead so you’ll be ready for when you graduate.
Application Components Accordion Closed
Admissions committees consider the following when deciding to admit you to their program:
- Cumulative GPA
- Science GPA for medicine (Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics)
- Letters of recommendation
- Hands on experience (volunteer and paid positions)
- Community service and other extracurricular activities
- Completing pre-requisite courses
- Score on the entrance exam
- Personal statement
- Secondary application materials (if applicable)
- Interview
Make sure you are also researching individual schools to ensure you are meeting admissions requirements.
First Year Accordion Closed
During that initial year, we suggest you:
- see a premedical advisor
- explore career options
- shadow a practitioner in the field you are considering or conduct an informational interview to gain a realistic view of the profession
- join a club or organization on campus
- discuss your major and degree with your academic advisor
- take prerequisite courses for your health professions program
Second Year Accordion Closed
During your sophomore year, we suggest you:
- continue seeing your premedical advisor
- continue taking your prerequisite courses
- maintain an updated and detailed timeline of your next few years of preparation, including:
- courses and entrance exams to be taken
- plans for clinical experience
- application cycle deadlines
- continue or begin gaining clinical experience in places such as:
- Flagstaff Medical Center Hospital
- North Country Healthcare
- Taylor House
- consider research opportunities in the biology and chemistry departments
- consider other clinical or community service
- visit the Office of Student Financial Aid and/or your academic department website for scholarships
Third Year Accordion Closed
Fall term
During your fall term, we suggest you:
- make an appointment with a premedical advisor to discuss your application plans
- sign up to take your entrance exam
- prepare for your entrance exam
- consider authors and request letters of recommendation
- begin working on your personal statement
- research schools to which you intend to apply
- continue gaining clinical experience, and any research or community service
Spring term
During your spring term, we suggest you:
- continue seeing your premedical advisor
- continue taking prerequisite courses, as well as those needed for your degree plan
- prepare for your entrance exam
- take your entrance exam
- follow up with letter of recommendation authors
- prepare for applications, which typically open between May and June
- begin asking individuals for letters of recommendation from academic faculty and from your clinical experience
Summer after junior year
During summer, we suggest you:
- send in your primary application
- consider taking your entrance exam
- anticipate the arrival of secondary applications
- apply for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) program
Fourth Year Accordion Closed
Finally, in your senior year, we suggest you:
- make an appointment with your premedical advisor for consultation about your plans
- continue completing degree and prerequisite courses
- continue anticipating the arrival of secondary applications
- anticipate invitations for interviews
- continue gaining clinical experience, and any research and community service
- anticipate receiving acceptance, denial, or wait list decisions during the spring
- plan for reapplication or alternate plans in case you are not admitted
Gaining Experience
Learn more about gaining clinical and research experience.
Entrance Exams
Research your program’s entrance exam.
Documents
Learn tips for letters of recommendation and personal statements.