Preparing a Timeline

Keep yourself on track as you move through your undergraduate career by preparing a pre-health timeline

a student works in an mac computer lab

Yearly Timeline

  • Attend a Pre-Health orientation
  • Create a Pre-Health Advising Portal account
  • Consider making a Pre-Health Advising appointment with Susie Fang
  • Review the prerequisite courses for your preferred field
  • Join a club or organization
  • Seek meaningful health-related volunteer and/or research experiences
  • Develop relationships with faculty, advisors, pre-health liaisons, and mentors

  • Pursue meaningful health-related volunteer and/or research experiences
  • Plan to attend the Sophomore Pre-Health Meeting in the fall
  • Continue to develop relationships with faculty and mentors
  • Use resources from your college’s writing center
  • Keep on track with your preferred field’s prerequisite courses
  • If you are interested in studying abroad, visit your college’s study abroad office (Pitzer Office of Study Abroad and International Programs, Scripps Office of Study Abroad and Global Education)
  • Apply for or consider resuming summer enrichment, volunteer, paid, research, and/or leadership opportunities
  • Consider when you will take the MCAT, DAT, GRE, or other applicable entrance exams

  • Attend pre-health advising programs/meetings
  • Continue participation in meaningful health-related, volunteer, and/or research experiences
  • Identify which faculty, advisors, mentors, or supervisors you would like to ask to write you a letter of recommendation
  • Continue to take prerequisite courses for your preferred field
  • Register to take the MCAT, DAT, GRE, etc. and establish a study plan
  • Review the Natural Sciences Committee Letter process and timeline

  • Attend the Applicant Kick-Off meeting in September/October
  • Follow the Natural Sciences Committee Letter timeline and make sure to meet all deadlines
  • Familiarize yourself with the centralized application service used in your field of interest
  • Research schools of interest
  • Read all Pre-Health Advising applicant update emails

  • Schedule Pre-Health Advising appointments as needed
  • Draft a resume — visit your college’s career services office
  • Follow health news and read relevant articles
  • Document relevant experiences such as shadowing, volunteering, research, etc. (include start/end dates, patient interactions, and supervisor information)