Pre-Med Timeline: 4-Year MCAT Plan

Pre-Med Timeline: 4-Year MCAT Plan
Thinking about a career in medicine? This handy guide will help you count down the steps to medical school. Use this step-by-step checklist to find out what you need to do in terms of research, planning, MCAT® prep, interviews, and applications.

Your Journey to Medical School

GO TO: Freshman • Sophomore • Junior • Senior

Pre-Med Freshman Year

Introductory Medical Career Research

Is Medical School Right for You?
The decision to pursue medical school and become a doctor is a difficult one to make. Find out if medical school and life as a physician are a good fit for you.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Doctor?
Becoming a doctor is a long and arduous process, so be sure to familiarize yourself with exactly how the next several years may look.

Requirements and Prerequisites

The Prerequisites of Med School
Be sure to map out which courses you will need to take, and when you will take them in order to set yourself up for a successful Medical School application. Some of the most critical that you’ll want to get out of the way now are [1 year of]…
- Biology, General Chemistry, English, Calculus/Statistics
Pre-Med Majors: Choosing Your Specialty
Although a science-focused major may overlap with your pre-med course requirements more than an English or Theater major, for example, it’s generally believed that medical schools aren’t looking for any particular major in their applicants.

What Else to Focus on During Your Freshman Year of Pre-Med

Meet with your pre med advisor to plan out your undergraduate career.

Cultivate relationships with professors who can eventually write letters of recommendation.

Begin a healthcare volunteer program, internship, or job.

Talk to upperclassmen to hear about the MCAT and the medical school application process, first-hand.

Join a pre-med student organization.

Start researching how to gain clinical experience.

Kaplan’s Quick MCAT Pop Quiz and MCAT 20-Minute Workout

Our quick, free 4-question pop quiz and 20-minute workout are the best way for you to gauge exactly where you stand as you enter your sophomore year of pre-med, when you’ll start planning for the MCAT.

Pre-Med Sophomore Year

Required Medical School Coursework

1 Year of Organic Chemistry
We detail what’s tested on the chemistry (and physics) section of the MCAT. Know where you stand with our pop quiz.
1 Course of Psychology / Sociology
Let us walk you through what’s tested on the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT. And get a feel for where you stand with our free practice questions.

Recommended Experience to Pursue

How to Find Clinical Experience Opportunities
Clinical volunteer work and shadowing experiences are crucial to your medical school application, but it can be difficult to find opportunities that make you stand out from other applicants.
Top Tips for Shadowing a Physician
This may seem like a daunting task, but there are plenty of ways to easily find opportunities to shadow a physician.

Planning for the MCAT

When to Take the MCAT: An Ultimate Guide
We’ll walk you through everything to keep in mind when choosing your MCAT test date.
MCAT Test Dates & Score Releases
Be sure to register for the MCAT early so you can select your first-choice location, date, and time.
What’s Tested on the MCAT?
Now is the time to start taking a holistic view of the test matter so you have plenty of time to prep for everything that will come your way.

Medical School Research and Planning

Evaluating Medical Schools
First and foremost, you’ll need to decide what’s important to you in a medical school. We’ll walk you through everything to consider.
Average Doctor Salaries by Specialty
One of the key decisions you’ll need to make is your medical school specialty. We have data on average salaries for all top specialties.
The 3 Phases of Applying to Medical School
You’re getting closer to taking the MCAT next year. It’s time to get a bird’s eye view of applying to medical school.

Take Our Free MCAT Practice Test

How would you score on the MCAT today? You’ll receive a detailed score analysis and answers and explanations.

Get The Test

Get Our MCAT Question of the Day

Build prep into your daily routine with exam-style questions delivered directly to your inbox.

See Today’s Question

Pre-Med Junior Year

You’ll spend your junior year preparing for and taking the MCAT, researching medical schools, and working through your med school applications. Below, we provide resources to help fine tune your MCAT study timeline, application requirements, and more.

MCAT Prep Essential Reading List

MCAT Study Guides and Resources

Med School Application Essentials

Med School Application Requirements

Work with Admissions Experts for 1-on-1 Support

Your consultant has worked in med school admissions, so they know the process inside and out. They’ll help you distinguish your application, giving you a competitive advantage.

Learn More

Pre-Med Senior Year

Apply To and Interview For Medical Schools

What is the Real Cost of Medical School?
The time has come to submit your application to the medical schools you have selected. First and foremost, be sure you plan for any and all costs that may come from interviews and applications, so you’re not caught off guard.
Medical School Secondary Applications
It’s time to turn your attention to that growing pile of emails—no, not acceptances (just yet!), but secondary applications.
The Medical School Interview Process
The quality of your interview may make the difference. Remember, once granted an interview, your fate is in your own hands. So by all means, be prepared.
The Hardest Medical School Interview Question
The one subject that you should be an expert on is yourself. You’ve certainly spent plenty of time with yourself and have hopefully reflected on the qualities that you want to convey during your medical school interview.

Assess Your Application Results

Should I Retake the MCAT?
While retaking the MCAT isn’t the norm, it’s certainly not an anomaly.
Accepted, Waitlisted, or Rejected? What to Do Next.
Regardless of your application outcome, you’ll need to be practical about your next steps. Come up with a game plan for what to do if you don’t get accepted immediately.

Planning for Medical School

A Week in the Life of an M1
- by Ashley Keating Stahl, Michigan State University
A Week in the Life of an M2
- by Tara Tavakoli, University of Florida
A Week in the Life of an M3
- by Cindy Tsui, SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
A Week in the Life of an M1
- by Hanna, Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Kaplan MCAT Prep on YouTube

On the Kaplan MCAT channel, you’ll find information on the MCAT, how to get into medical school, and medical careers. Video clips feature MCAT experts and special guest admissions officers from top medical schools around the country. We cover MCAT strategies, medical school admission trends, and the medical school application process.

See More Videos On

Starting MCAT Prep

THE SUMMER MCAT

RETAKE THE MCAT

RE-APPLY TO MED SCHOOL

APPLICATION TIPS

CHEMISTRY REVIEW

Personal Statements

PHYSICS REVIEW

Follow Along on Social

The best guarantee is one you won’t need. But you get it anyway.

Score higher with Kaplan,

or get your money back.

Higher Score Guarantee: Conditions and restrictions apply, for complete guarantee eligibility requirements, visit kaptest.com/hsg.