For some students, admission to medical school represents the highest possible academic achievement. Many students have dreamed of being a doctor from a young age, and the undergraduate years are the last (and most critical) preparation for the transition to medical school. Of course, not all students that wish to attend medical school actually do. Medical school admissions are frightfully competitive, and adequate preparation and academic excellence are only part of what constitutes a successful medical school applicant.
Freshmen are encouraged to focus on developing strong study habits first, and then add extracurricular activities, physician shadowing, and volunteer and service work once a strong academic base has been established.
The sophomore and junior years should be spent completing the undergraduate prerequisite courses, preparing for the MCAT, and gaining additional experience in the medical field. The formal application process to medical school begins in the spring of the Junior year; students should pick up a supplemental application packet from the Health Professions Advising office in March or April. The supplemental applications are due June 30.
