Pre-Health
As a pre-health student, you immerse yourself in the demanding world of science, focusing on biology, chemistry, and anatomy to prepare for your future in healthcare. You dedicate your time to extracurricular activities like volunteering, shadowing professionals, and participating in research, gaining valuable hands-on experience. You understand the competition for admission to health professions programs, motivating you to maintain stellar grades and excel in admissions tests like the MCAT or DAT.
Beyond academics, you strive to develop essential skills such as empathy, communication, and critical thinking, recognizing their vital role in patient care. Your journey as a pre-health student is marked by resilience, passion, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact through healthcare.
The Pre-Professional Advising Center works with you every step of the way to ensure you are successful no matter what pre-health track you pursue.
Preparation & Application Timeline for Pre-Health Students
How you plan for health professions school and prepare your application is similar, regardless of what pre-health track you choose. The following timeline contains important steps you can (and in some cases must) take to be a successful applicant.
Your Career Path
- Attend a Pre-Health Introduction Workshop, and make a one-on-one appointment with a PPAC advisor.
- Visit the UC Learning Commons for supplemental instruction, tutoring, academic coaching, and more.
Your Academics
- Enroll in PD 1000: Exploring Health Professions.
- Focus on attending classes and understanding coursework.
- Review the prerequisites for your desired program.
- Work towards earning a 3.5 GPA or higher.
Your Community
- Attend your professors' office hours and start building faculty relationships.
- Join campus organizations and volunteer in your community.
- Sign up for and read the PPAC weekly Newsletter.
- Attend the Health Professions School Fair in Spring semester.
Your Career Path
- Schedule time in your breaks (fall, winter, spring, summer) to shadow, volunteer and/or work.
- Use the Experience Log to help you track, record, and reflect on your experiences.
- Explore your health profession and know the professional competencies expected.
- Consider getting healthcare exposure and work experience.
Your Academics
- Read in addition to required class readings.
- Track your pre-health course progress in Catalyst.
- Continue to utilize the UC Learning Commons.
Your Community
- Talk to your professors about research opportunities.
- Meet with your PPAC advisor each term and explore parallel plans.
- Attend the Health Professions School Fair in the spring and meet professional school admissions reps.
Fall
- Continue and expand your involvement in activities relevant to your health profession school application.
- Research health profession schools to find the best fits.
- Attend a PPAC Health Professions Application Workshop Part 1: Planning.
- Attend a PPAC Personal Statement Workshop and begin your application writing process.
- If applicable, attend the MCAT Mania event in October and learn more about your medical school admission test.
- Plan your testing prep and timeline.
- Strengthen your GPA and take upper-division science courses beyond the pre-requisite courses.
- Read, tutor, and work with your peers on course materials so you are simultaneously learning and growing your skills in the academic material.
- Start thinking about who to ask for recommendation letters.
- Complete your self-assessment and discuss it with your PPAC advisor.
Spring
- If applicable, prepare for the MCAT (start in December/January).
- Attend a PPAC Health Professions Application Workshop Part 2: How-To.
- Continue working on your personal statement and meet with the Academic Writing Center for feedback.
- Ask for recommendation letters.
- Meet with your PPAC advisor.
Summer
- If applicable, take the MCAT – when you are ready.
- Continue fine tuning your personal statement.
- Submit your application early in cycle.
- Secure recommendation letters (follow up with your professors).
- Complete secondary applications.
- Continue health career activities and rigorous courses throughout the year
- Attend a PPAC Interview Workshop early.
- If you receive an interview offer from a health profession school, schedule a mock interview with PPAC (you must complete the PPAC Interview Workshop first).
- Research financial aid and complete your FAFSA application by October.
- Meet with your PPAC advisor in fall and again in spring.
- Continue with parallel plans.
- Consider meeting with a career coach for additional resume writing, elevator pitch practice, and mock interview help.