Timetable for Medical School
When you enter college as a freshman you will likely think that you have a long undergraduate university career ahead of you and much of your energy will be focused on making a smooth transition from high-school to college. We encourage freshman students to take things slowly in the their first semester but, you will be surprised at how quickly time passes. Before you know it, you will be studying for final exams at the end of your first-year wondering how it all went by so quickly. For those students who would like to see a 4-year plan, see below.
Premed is not a major but a curriculum that fulfills the requirements of medical school candidates while making sure that premed students are prepared to be successful when they take the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) before their final year. Everyone does not fit into standard plan of study. Some of you will enter with AP credit or completed college credits. Some of you will have time obligations with extra-curricular activities (athletics, band, pledging a sorority or fraternity) which may affect your decisions about when to take more difficult classes. It is possible to take some classes over the summer and fit volunteer work and health-profession experience into winter breaks or summer vacation time to lighten the load. Regardless, you will need to take the MCAT and apply to medical school before you enter your senior year, so much of your preparation will take place in your first 3 years on campus!
Below is a general guideline for most premedical students in a traditional 4-year undergraduate program of study. We strongly urge you to receive specific advice throughout your student career from your premedical advisor.
Freshman Year
- University Chemistry I and II
- Principles of Biology
- Mathematics
- English Composition I and II
- Get started on other University and College core requirements
- Join a Registered Student Organization
- Start volunteer work by second semester
Sophomore Year
- Organic Chemistry I and II
- Biology courses ( at least 2)
- University and College core requirements
- Elective courses
- Volunteer work/ community service
- Health-Profession experience
Junior Year
- College or University Physics I and II
- Biology courses
- Biochemistry (CHEM 3813 offered in fall and summer semester I only)
- Meet with advisor before spring semester to go over degree audit
- MCAT preparation
- MCAT exam in April and/or August
- Begin writing "Personal Statement" for medical school application
- Attend a workshop given by premed advisor on "How to apply to Med School"
- Obtain copy of UAMS College of Medicine catalog on-line
- Begin application process to medical school using AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service)
- The Premedical Advisory Committee at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville requires a copy of your completed AMCAS form (see below under AMCAS).
- Schedule appointment with the College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences beginning mid-July. You may choose to wait until you have scheduled your interview with the Premedical Advisory Committee on campus so that interview can be used as a preliminary interview with time for feedback before your interview at any College of Medicine.
- Volunteer work/community service
- If you are in the Honors Studies program you should already have arranged to do Honors research with a faculty advisor, typically someone from the department of your major.
Senior Year
- Complete all degree requirements
- Continue volunteer work/community service
- Submit medical school application to AMCAS (An applicant may submit their completed application to AMCAS as early as June 1. This is important if you are applying to any schools with "rolling admissions" (see below). The deadline for receipt of applications is November 1 for UAMS. The deadline for submission to Dr. Allison, as Chairman of the Premedical Advisory Committee, is the last week of August BEFORE you begin your senior year. The actual date for submission to the UofA committee will be posted under "Important Dates" as soon as it is available.
- Prepare for medical school interview and schedule your interview with UAMS. The medical college in Little Rock will start accepting calls to register for an interview beginning mid-July. There are interviews conducted from August to January, however, November 15 is typically the last day that you can call to schedule an interview. Some students prefer to schedule their medical school interview for a date after they have had the campus Premedical Advisory Committee interview at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.