Suggested Timetable

Freshman Year

• Take a variety of college or university courses including medical school prerequisites.
• Begin to participate in campus activities.
• See your academic or faculty advisor early and often.
• Become aware of campus course requirements for graduation.
• Begin to investigate and explore information on various careers, including medicine.
• Attend premedical workshops or conferences.
• Begin to develop academic, personal, and career goals.
• Develop disciplined study skills.

Sophomore Year

• Continue to take an extensive breadth of coursework.
• Begin to think about a possible major.  Consider your interests and what you do best.  (Medical schools do not require a specific major.)
• You should have already begun volunteer service and involvement in campus extracurricular activities.
• Continue your exploration of medicine and other careers.
• Revise your academic, personal, and career goals.
• Strictly adhere to faculty/advisor guidance on graduation and premedical course requirements.
• Attend premedical workshops or conferences.
• Consider special summer science programs or research opportunities.
• Read as much as possible about health-care reform.
• Begin to familiarize yourself with the medical school application process. 
  (Purchase the Association of American Medical Colleges publication
  Official Guide to Medical School Admission Requirements online at www.aamc.org.) 
  This is the only guide fully authorized by all 125 medical schools in the U.S. and Canada.

Junior Year

November-April

• Begin review for the Medical School Admissions Test (MCAT).
• Arrange to take the MCAT by September of the year before matriculation.  For more information on test dates, visit the MCAT web site.

April

• Think about medical schools to which you want to apply.
• Select those individuals from whom you wish letters of recommendation.

May

• Interpret MCAT scores, if available, and GPA with premedical advisor.
• Begin the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application process online at www.aamc.org.
• Make first draft of AMCAS essay.
• Request medical school admissions information packets.

Senior Year

June-July

• Revise and polish AMCAS essay.
• Submit AMCAS application at earliest allowed date.
• Begin to complete non-AMCAS applications as soon as possible.

August

• Inform premedical committee (if your school has such a committee) or others who are writing
  recommendations where to send your letters of recommendation. 
• Arrange to repeat the MCAT if necessary to improve scores.

September

• Make sure all applications are complete and letters of recommendation received.  Strictly adhere to all medical school deadlines.

November-December

• Be patient!  Offers to interview will come.

January

• Fill out FAFSA form for financial aid.  Send updated transcripts if requested by schools.

March

• If on Hold or Wait-Listed, remain calm.  You will be notified of any change in status.

April-August

• If an alternate, acceptance letters are sent out throughout this period.  Make sure medical schools can reach you or a family member by telephone at all times.

University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus
Admissions Office
(218) 726-8511
medadmis@d.umn.edu