By your junior year, it’s important to be familiar with the application process for any medical or health profession schools that you’ll be applying to so that you can plan for all aspects of your application, as well as take any entrance examinations, in a timely manner. Depending on the schools and programs you will apply to, the application process may include the following:
- A personal statement
- Letters of recommendation (from professors, employers, and other professionals)
- Documentation of any required volunteer or observation hours and direct patient care experience
- A primary application submitted through a central application service. These central services include the following (click on links to be taken to central application services’ websites):
- A secondary application, which will be requested by individual schools if they wish to consider you for admission after they review your primary application
- Admissions interviews by schools
- Admissions tests (click on links to be taken to each exam’s informational website) — when planning to take admissions tests, keep in mind the deadlines and timeline for your overall application process, in addition to any courses that you may be required to complete before sitting for the exam
More about admissions tests
- In addition to testing science concepts, admissions tests require reading comprehension, problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing skills.
- Create a study plan and begin studying early — allow several months to prepare.
- Keep books and notes and notes from your undergraduate courses.
- Explore test preparation materials. A good place to start is with official test prep resources from the organizations that administer exams.
- Take practice tests.