Preparation and Application  

Becoming a health care professional can be a long journey. This guide will help you plan ahead, so you’ll be ready for the next step when you graduate. 

First year

During that initial year, we suggest you:

• explore career options
• shadow a practitioner in the field you are considering or conduct an informational interview to gain a realistic view of the profession
• join a club or organization on campus
• discuss your major and degree with your academic advisor
• take prerequisite courses for your premedical professions program

Second year

During your sophomore year, we suggest you:

• continue taking your prerequisite courses
• maintain an updated and detailed timeline of your next few years of preparation, including:
  • courses and entrance exams to be taken
  • plans for clinical experience
  • application cycle deadlines
• continue or begin gaining clinical experience in places such as:
  • Flagstaff Medical Center Hospital
  • North Country Healthcare
  • Northland Hospice
• consider undergraduate research or other clinical or community service
• visit the Office of Student Financial Aid and/or your academic department website for scholarships

Third year

Fall term

During your fall term, we suggest you:

• make an appointment with a premedical professions advisor to discuss your application plans and schedule for your committee letter, if applicable
• sign up to take your entrance exam
• prepare for your entrance exam
• begin working on your personal statement
• research schools to which you intend to apply
• continue gaining clinical experience, and any research or community service

Spring term

During your spring term, we suggest you:

• continue taking prerequisite courses, as well as those needed for your degree plan
• prepare for your entrance exam
• take your entrance exam
• prepare for applications, which typically open between May and June
• sign up for and obtain your committee interview if you are a medical or dental student
• begin asking individuals for letters of recommendation from academic faculty and from your clinical experience

Summer after junior year

During summer, we suggest you:

• send in your primary application
• consider taking your entrance exam
• make sure your letters of recommendation are arriving at the premedical professions office
• anticipate the arrival of secondary applications
• apply for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)  program

Fourth year

Finally, in your senior year, we suggest you:

• continue completing degree and prerequisite courses
• continue anticipating the arrival of secondary applications
• anticipate invitations for interviews
• continue gaining clinical experience, and any research and community service
• anticipate receiving acceptance, denial, or wait list decisions during the spring
• plan for reapplication or alternate plans in case you are not admitted
• make an appointment with your premedical professions advisor for consultation about your plans