The traditional path of becoming a physician consists of the following stages:

Undergraduate education: Four years of undergraduate education at an accredited university. Students take the required pre-medical courses before graduating. Typically students take the MCAT exam at the end of their junior year.

Medical School: Four years at an accredited medical school. Students are required to successfully pass the USMLE 1, usually taken after the second year and USMLE 2, usually taken in your fourth year. Students are required to take a clinical assessment test as well.

Residency Training: Four to seven years of post-graduate training. Medical students are required to do a residency after medical school before they can be licensed to practice. Students take the USMLE 3 exam during the residency.

Fellowship: One to three years of training for students interested in additional training in their specialty.

Undergraduate School Years

 1st Year

1. Plan pre-med and MCAT prerequisite courses (classes needed in order to take the MCAT):
   2 semesters of Biology with lab
   2 semesters of Physics with lab
   2 semesters of Chemistry with lab
   2 semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab
   2 semesters of English
   1 semester of Calculus
2. It is not necessary to have a science major.  Actually the matriculation rate into medical school of non-science majors tends to be higher than the matriculation rate of science majors.
3. Talk to other pre-meds about their impressions of the courses. Other students can be invaluable in their advice.
4. Pursue summer employment in the health field.
5. Consider volunteer opportunities/extracurricular activities you want to join.
     

2nd Year
    

1. Strategize workload so that the prerequisites are taken before April of your junior year. The spring junior semester should be devoted to MCAT studying. Also, the courses taken before the completed AMCAS application are the grades medical schools will use to evaluate you.
2. Consider taking summer science courses to complete pre-requisites if you want to leave room to study for the MCAT during the year. However, taking a big load of science pre-requisites during the summer may cause medical schools to question your science competency. Summer courses tend to be more relaxed than courses taken during the school year. 
3. Find out about research opportunities and summer internships.
4. Become familiar with the MCAT. Decide if you want to enroll in MCAT review course.

3rd Year
          

February 

1. Request AMCAS and AACOMAS applications 
2. Register for the MCAT 
3. Begin studying for MCAT 
4. Start thinking about which med schools are good schools to apply.
   

 Mid-March 

1. Be sure to register for MCAT in time. Be sure to release your scores!
2. Before the end of the spring semester, meet with the pre-med advisor to open your applicant file and request recommendation forms to give to evaluators.
3. Compile a resume to give to your faculty evaluators. This should include your GPA, major, campus activities, community service, medical experience, honors & awards, paid work, and a statement on why you desire to become a physician. Verify that the recommendations have been received by pre-med department. Each school has a different policy as to the type of recommendations needed. It is best to individually contact each school to verify information. 
4. If you did any coursework at any schools other than your current institution, you can start submitting transcripts from those schools to AMCAS and AACOMAS at this time
   

Mid-April 

•  Take the MCAT
  

 May

1. Start working on your applications (start earlier than this if possible, especially on your personal statement) 
2. If you wish to apply for an AMCAS or AACOMAS fee waiver, applications are accepted beginning May 15. 
3. Early Decision: This may be an option for students who are certain of their first choice medical school. At most medical schools offering an early decision program, the application deadline for both application and official transcript submission is August 1, with notification of acceptances announced on October 1. If you are interested, check with individual schools about their procedures. 
    

 June 

1. Submit your applications! Since most schools use rolling admissions policies, the earlier the better. Try to make sure your application is the first to arrive electronically.  Verify that transcripts have been received.

Seniors

July-December 

1. Complete and return your secondary applications as you receive them. Some may come before this time, some may even come after.  Request recommendations and ensure you have all the recommendations needed. 
2. Start preparing for your interviews
   

September-February 

1. Turn in financial aid material as you receive it. Tax returns must be filed as early as January. 
   

 March-May 15 

1. If you have the luxury, consider the pros and cons of each medical school you are considering.  
2. Start seriously thinking about how you're going to pay for medical school. Review the financing and scholarship section of this website.
   

May 15 

1. By this date, if you have been accepted at more than one school, you must choose just one school, and drop all others. 
   

May-September 

1. During this time many medical schools will try to complete their freshman medical school class by inviting students from their waitlist. If you are still considering a school at which you are waitlisted, by all means send a professional letter stating your interest! 
    

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