Timetable for Pre-Medical Students

The following outline should serve as a useful guide for pre-med students looking to make the most of their time at Eastern Illinois University:

Freshman Year

  • Attend an orientation session for new pre-health professional students.
  • Meet with the pre-medical advisor and make sure she knows you. Attend Alpha Epsilon Delta meetings.
  • Find out about volunteer opportunities at hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities.
  • Look through a sample MCAT to get an idea of what the test is like.
  • Read magazines, newspapers, essays, novels, etc., to enhance your reading and verbal skills.
  • Get to know your professors. Remember some of them will be writing reference letters for you.
  • Get off on the right foot in classes; form study groups or ask your professor or TA for help if necessary.

Sophomore Year

  • Find out about research opportunities and summer internships; check with the pre-medical advisor.
  • Order The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and begin your MCAT preparation in earnest.
  • Participate in AED and other organizations that have service activities.
  • Hone your writing skills by drafting a personal statement (as required for your AMCAS application) and ask the pre-medical advisor to critique it for you.
  • Make sure that you are on track to finish all required courses for medical school by your junior year.
  • Take a good look at yourself. Are you meeting the goals you have set for yourself?

Junior Year

Fall Semester

  • Attend an Illinois medical school admissions seminar.
  • Remind your professors that you will be asking them to write letters of recommendation for you. Give them a resume or fill out the informational form available in the pre-med fffice.
  • Increase your volunteer or shadowing activities; try doing something different from past years.
  • Work on MCAT preparation. You will want to have MCAT prep materials and take as many practice exams as you can. Be sure these are timed exams.
  • Participate more in AED activities. Run for office. Act as a mentor to younger students.
  • Start researching sources of financial Aid for medical school, and investigate possible medical schools.

Spring Semester

  • Step up your MCAT preparation.
  • Take the AED mock MCAT in February.
  • Send in your MCAT application before the deadline.
  • Get more information about medical schools and narrow your application choices appropriately.
  • Ask evaluators to write letters for you and have them sent to the chair of the Pre-Medical Studies Committee. Use the student information sheet to provide them with specific information. They will write a composite letter to be sent to medical schools once you receive supplementary applications.
  • Take the MCAT!
  • Fill out the AMCAS application and have it ready to mail on June 1 or soon thereafter. Don’t forget your transcripts.
  • Meet with the pre-medical advisor before you leave campus in May. Ask questions and listen to advice given.

Senior Year

  • If your haven't done so already, complete your reference letter file with the pre-med advisor by Sept. 1 and fill out the reference letter requirements along with the waiver form.
  • Complete and return all supplemental applications from medical schools promptly. Confirm that schools have received all your application materials, including letters of reference.
  • Visit the schools when invited for interviews.
  • May 15 — this is your deadline to decide on a medical school if you have been accepted by more than one. Make sure all your work toward your baccalaureate degree is completed by August. Submit your final transcripts.
  • Celebrate your acceptance to medical school — the pre-med advisor will celebrate with you!