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High School Student Checklist

It’s never too early to start preparing for medical school. Below is a list of suggestions to make sure you're on track in high school.


  • Freshman Year
    • Meet your guidance counselor to talk about career paths you are interested in

    • Look for volunteer opportunities and choose extracurricular activities

    • Focus on studying and making good grades

    • Begin searching for health-related opportunities

    • Keep track of activities and accomplishments from High School in a journal

  • Sophomore Year
    • Meet with guidance counselor to make sure you are still on track with course schedule

    • Take PSAT and begin preparing for ACT

    • Stay on track with courses and keep up with grades

    • Plan volunteer and job shadow opportunities for spring and summer

    • Join clubs within your high school and community

    • Begin drafting personal statement for college applications

    • Update your journal with activities and accomplishments

  • Junior Year

    Fall Semester:

    • Meet with guidance counselor to make sure you are still on track to talk about college and majors

    • Start studying for the ACT/SAT 

    • Take the ACT or SAT

    • Continue studying for the ACT if you wish to retake the ACT

    • Continue to focus on grades 

    • Make a list of colleges and universities you would like to attend

    • Begin attending college fairs and speaking to college recruiters

    • Begin planning campus visits for Spring Semester

    • Stay involved in extracurricular and volunteer activities 

    • Seek to obtain leadership roles on or off campus

    Spring Semester:

    • Start narrowing down college choices

    • Retake the ACT to improve score (if needed)

    • Meet with guidance counselor to prepare class schedule for senior year

    • Continue researching scholarship opportunities

    • Contact letter of recommendation writers to ask for letters

    • Apply for summer internship or job

    • Set up appointments at top college choices to view the campus

    • Finalize your personal statement

    • Write down a list of deadlines for scholarship opportunities, FAFSA, and admissions applications

    • Update journal with activities and accomplishments

  • Senior Year

    Fall Semester:

    • Continue to visit campuses at colleges or universities you are interested in

    • Stay on track with grades and extracurricular activities

    • Meet with counselor to discuss scholarships and admissions options

    • Ask for letters of recommendation

    • Start applications to the college/university of your choice

    • Check that colleges have received all materials: applications, letters of recommendation, test scores.

    • Submit financial aid forms (including FAFSA) at the beginning of October.

    Spring Semester:

    • Keep an eye out in the mail or email for notifications from college

    • Choose your school: Notify colleges and universities by May 1st  of your acceptance 

    • Continue to apply for scholarships

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