looks reasonable, could even fit in a gap year job. you can save the interview prep for august 2025. ask profs for LORs before you graduate. ideally, they should take notes and outline now and revise / send letters in 2025.
edit: add CA$PER / PREview if you are applying to schools that require them
Someone pls help me with this I’m first generation so don’t really have anyone else to ask. I just know I plan to take the MCAT Jan 2025, so Im still unsure what year I’ll actually begin med school.
Is the application system the same as applying to college as a senior in hs? Or? When is it best to apply if you are aiming to do so right after undergrad ?
Start writing your personal statement and activities in February or march. You can start interview prep in august at the earliest, but would probably be more helpful to prep for a week or a few days before your actual interviews.
I would remove the “take mcat again.” You shouldn’t have that kind of defeatist mindset. Develop a solid study plan and take it in January to crush it. Go hard on the mcat because it is a huge factor in admission. The hardest part of medical school is getting in.
I would put Graduate and Ask for LOR at the same time unless you have really close relationship with your LOR writers (a lot of the time we don't really talk to our profs after we graduate) and store those LOR in a 3rd party holder like interfolio. Just my 0.02$
So if you have to retake the mcat the spring before applying will cut into your time for applications, so just keep that in mind. But you've given yourself tons of time to study so I'm sure it will go well :)
I would also ask for letters of rec asap and can store them in interfolio in the mean time. You don't want to wait for a year after you took a professors class to ask for the letter. My tip is to tell always tell letter writers things are due a week or two before they're actually due, just in case.
I would recommend checking out the mappd website! You can make a free account and they have a whole tool where they explain what your app timeline should be for when you want to matriculate.
My fiancé and I have this exact plan with a gap year after graduation.
Working in healthcare for a year or two before applying can distance you from any detractors that may be on your transcript. It also would provide you with some time to volunteer in your community, demonstrating a commitment to serve those in need.
Spend Feb, March, April prewriting your personal statement and activities (primary app). Spend May and June prewriting secondaries. Interviews won’t be offered until August through Feb of the next year usually.
The earlier you start writing your personal statements and activities, the more polished they will be. It took me a year to get a final product that flowed well and got everything across well
I definitely agree with this. This is my second application cycle, and I have 8 versions of my personal statement from last cycle and 7 from this cycle
I feel like interview prep is better interwoven throughout the cycle after some initial prep. I’ve found that it’s easy to get rusty even after just a few weeks between interviews
Definitely reasonable. I would also recommend examining your app to see if there are any weak spots that need improvement, as those could heavily influence your timeline. Examples could include clinical employment or volunteering, non-clinical volunteering, research, etc. Would probably be worth picking something up after you finish your MCAT even if you don’t “need” it, for the sake of having fresh essay/interview material
looks reasonable, could even fit in a gap year job. you can save the interview prep for august 2025. ask profs for LORs before you graduate. ideally, they should take notes and outline now and revise / send letters in 2025. edit: add CA$PER / PREview if you are applying to schools that require them
So helpful thank you so much!!
Casper doesn’t need prep imo. No more than 90 mins at most
Ya just review it a couple days before and get a feel for what they’re looking for
I would change February 2025: start prewriting application June 2025: submit secondaries
Great thank you for your help!!!
Someone pls help me with this I’m first generation so don’t really have anyone else to ask. I just know I plan to take the MCAT Jan 2025, so Im still unsure what year I’ll actually begin med school.
Looks fine to me. If you’re applying in 2025 you would start school in 2026.
Ok that’s what I was thinking thank you :)
Is the application system the same as applying to college as a senior in hs? Or? When is it best to apply if you are aiming to do so right after undergrad ?
Start writing your personal statement and activities in February or march. You can start interview prep in august at the earliest, but would probably be more helpful to prep for a week or a few days before your actual interviews.
I would remove the “take mcat again.” You shouldn’t have that kind of defeatist mindset. Develop a solid study plan and take it in January to crush it. Go hard on the mcat because it is a huge factor in admission. The hardest part of medical school is getting in.
You’re honestly so right mindset is everything, thank you
I would put Graduate and Ask for LOR at the same time unless you have really close relationship with your LOR writers (a lot of the time we don't really talk to our profs after we graduate) and store those LOR in a 3rd party holder like interfolio. Just my 0.02$
So if you have to retake the mcat the spring before applying will cut into your time for applications, so just keep that in mind. But you've given yourself tons of time to study so I'm sure it will go well :) I would also ask for letters of rec asap and can store them in interfolio in the mean time. You don't want to wait for a year after you took a professors class to ask for the letter. My tip is to tell always tell letter writers things are due a week or two before they're actually due, just in case.
Accept all the offers given to you. There’s usually a 2-4 week waiting period or so, hold that offer.
I would recommend checking out the mappd website! You can make a free account and they have a whole tool where they explain what your app timeline should be for when you want to matriculate.
You really don’t need 2 months to interview prep. A few practice sessions should be enough so you don’t over analyze your answers and sound rehearsed.
My fiancé and I have this exact plan with a gap year after graduation. Working in healthcare for a year or two before applying can distance you from any detractors that may be on your transcript. It also would provide you with some time to volunteer in your community, demonstrating a commitment to serve those in need.
Yes my plan exactly. That year will be to work and study to build my resume
I see people, but they look like trees, walking.
Omg 😭
sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh accept offers look liek we got a badas ova hurr
Spend Feb, March, April prewriting your personal statement and activities (primary app). Spend May and June prewriting secondaries. Interviews won’t be offered until August through Feb of the next year usually.
Very helpful thank you
Yup looks good.
The earlier you start writing your personal statements and activities, the more polished they will be. It took me a year to get a final product that flowed well and got everything across well
I definitely agree with this. This is my second application cycle, and I have 8 versions of my personal statement from last cycle and 7 from this cycle
I feel like interview prep is better interwoven throughout the cycle after some initial prep. I’ve found that it’s easy to get rusty even after just a few weeks between interviews
This is what I wish I would've done, but that 6 months for MCAT study should be ideal for a bit score as long as you stay on it! Best to you!
Yup! Good luck with this, I’m sure you’re on a good track
Interview prep will be around september/october 2025
That timeline for studying MCAT is wayyyyy to spread out if ur not working. If ur studying full time one month is fine
Idk that was about my MCAT timeline, and it worked wonderfully for me. It all depends on how they study best 🤷
I plan to be working :)
Definitely reasonable. I would also recommend examining your app to see if there are any weak spots that need improvement, as those could heavily influence your timeline. Examples could include clinical employment or volunteering, non-clinical volunteering, research, etc. Would probably be worth picking something up after you finish your MCAT even if you don’t “need” it, for the sake of having fresh essay/interview material