Am I on Track?

Year-By-Year Checklists to Best Prepare for Professional School

 

Freshman Year

  • Consult with your preprofessional advisor. Become familiar with these webpages and refer to them often.
  • Attend the Graduate and Professional School Fair.
  • Begin to research majors of interest. Read departmental webpages, meet with an advisor in academic departments of majors you are considering. Attend Marathon of Majors in fall and spring semester.
  • Develop study skills, attend Learning Resource Center workshops.
  • Learn how your GPA is calculated. Become informed on competitive GPA’s for professional schools.
  • Participate in student organizations.
  • Volunteer or work in a medically relevant area, visit the Service Learning Center for local volunteer placements.
  • Keep a journal of your experiences for reference in writing your personal statement.
  • Read articles and books about the field of health care.
  • Begin to research the careers in which you are most interested.
  • Read for pleasure.
  • Investigate Study Abroad programs, academic specializations and research opportunities.
  • Talk to upperclassmen to get a reality check.
  • Attend professional school admissions office open houses and tours.

 

Sophomore Year

  • Continue to consult with your preprofessional advisor.
  • Attend the Graduate and Professional School fair.
  • Take action to declare your major. Meet with an advisor in a major of interest, take beginning courses in a major, research departments by reviewing departmental websites.
  • Hone your study skills. Attend Learning Resource Center workshops to expand your study techniques.
  • Monitor your GPAs - both your cumulative and your science GPA.
  • Consider who might write letters of recommendation for you. (Many schools require letters from two science professors and one non-science professor.) Make the effort to develop a relationship with professors whom you might ask to write for you.
  • Plan for Study Abroad, academic specializations and/or research experiences.
  • Participate in student organizations. Evaluate your interest and candidacy for officer positions.
  • Volunteer or work in a medically-relevant area. Visit the Service Learning Center for local volunteer placements.
  • Keep a journal of your experiences for reference in writing your personal statement.
  • Read articles and books about the field of human health care.
  • Continue to research the health careers in which you are most interested.
  • Read for pleasure.

 

Junior Year

  • Continue to consult with your preprofessional advisor.
  • Attend the Graduate and Professional School fair.
  • Research schools of interest. Read mission statements, review websites and printed materials. Attend Open Houses and tours. If possible, talk to alumni from institutions of interest.
  • Plan your preparation for admissions school examinations.
    1. Identify examination date(s).
    2. Plan study time and strategies.
    3. Gather preparation materials.
  • Register for appropriate examinations.
  • Continue to hone your study skills. Attend Learning Resource Center workshops to expand your study techniques.
  • Monitor your GPAs - both cumulative and your science GPA.
  • Determine who will write letters of recommendation for you. (Many schools require letters from two science professors and one non-science professor.) Make the effort to develop a relationship with professors whom you might ask to write for you.
  • Plan for Study Abroad, academic specializations and/or research experiences.
  • Continue active participation/leadership in student organizations.
  • Volunteer or work in a medically relevant area. Visit the Service Learning Center for local volunteer placements.
  • Keep a journal of your experiences for reference in writing your personal statement.
  • Read articles and books about the field of human health care.
  • Continue to research the health careers in which you are most interested.
  • Read for pleasure.
  • Prepare your personal statement to submit with your application. Utilize the services of the Writing Center.
  • Plan for interview practice (consult with your preprofessional advisor).

 

Senior Year

  • Continue to consult with your preprofessional advisor. See your advisor about questions regarding the application, interview and admissions process.
  • Carefully prepare secondary applications.
  • Attend the Graduate and Professional School fair. Make personal contact with an admissions representative of any schools to which you have, or will be applying.
  • Monitor your GPAs, both cumulative and your science GPA.
  • Continue active participation/leadership in student organizations.
  • Volunteer or work in a medically relevant area.
  • Read articles and books about the field of human health care.
  • Continue to research the health careers in which you are most interested.
  • Read for pleasure.
  • Plan for interview practice (consult with your preprofessional advisor).