My colleagues have done a phenomenal job in suggesting things you should do as you are about to apply and while in a particular application cycle. I am going to suggest some thigns to do at the front end of the process to get you to that point.
1)
Attend your college's pre-matriculation program.
If your college has summer pre-matriculation program, be sure to participate in it. If you can request permission to attend then be sure to do that as well. College is "a different world," it is important that you are well prepared to succeed in your classes and in adjusting to your new living/working environment.
A pre-matriculation program offers just the opportunity to become acquainted with the college, the dormitories, your future classmates, the instructors and finding out where to go to get help when you need it. It is ALWAYS best to get help before you need it, so being in the pre-Matriculation program should afford you time to adjust your study habits, form study groups or find study partners and become aware of the academic support services at your institution. Most pre-matriculation programs are 6 weeks in length and you take a sampling of college courses during that time period.
If the college suggests that you attend the pre-matriculation program, then consider it a blessing and not a curse. You will be that much further along to adjusting to college life.
2)
Write down your 2 year plan.
For more on this read this thread==>
The Importance of High School
3)
In your freshman year of college, you should focus on doing the following things:
Hone your study habits.
Get tutoring right away. Do not wait for things to go wrong to get help.
Maximize your GPA.
Get involved on campus, but not too involved that it takes time away from your studies and your preparation for class.
Find a shadowing opportunity to learn more about the different members of the healthcare team.
Acquaint yourself with the pre-professional advisor at your institution. Find out from him/her what programs and other opportunities are available for you given your career goals.
Over the summer following your freshman year of college, do something to accentuate your interest in the healthcare professions. This could either be research or some other summer program that would further your development to becoming a healthcare professional.
An excellent opportunity especially designed for 1st and 2nd year college students is the
Summer Medical and Dental Education Program.
Another option is participating in a summer program that is available on your home campus.
4)
Sophomore year is much like the freshman year.
Continue to sharpen your study habits.
Get tutoring right away. Do not wait for things to go wrong to get help.
Maximize your GPA.
Get involved on campus, but not too involved that it takes time away from your studies and your preparation for class. You should be moving along the track to assume leadership positions in student organizations.
Find a shadowing opportunity to learn more about the different members of the healthcare team.
Nurture the relationship with the pre-professional advisor at your institution. Find out from him/her what programs and other opportunities are available for you given your career goals. Discuss what do over the coming summer.
A listing of summer research opportunities is available
here.
The summer following your sophomore year of college is a good time to get involved in a research project. You will have completed some science classes and have or should have a cursory understanding of things that are going on in a lab such that things are not over your head conceptually.
Check your 2 year plan to see how well you are progressing and whether you need to adjust it or not.
Prepare your plan for your next 2 years of school.
5)
Getting to the meat of the sandwich.
In your Junior year or 3rd year of college, you should have the core curriculum completed, if your university has one, and well on your way to completed your major courses. At this point, you should have completed most of the prerequisites, if not all, for the MCAT. These prerequisites include, at a minimum,:
1 year of General Biology with lab
1 year of General Chemistry with lab
1 year of College mathematics (some medical schools require calculus check the MSAR to find out for sure)
1 year of General Physics with lab
1 year of College English
1 year of Organic Chemistry
Some medical schools require the following couirses as well: Genetics, Statistics, and/or Biochemistry. A course in Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology can be helpful to you as well. Check the MSAR for more details on the course requirements for the MCAT and for particular medical schools.
6)
Take the MCAT when you are ready to take it.
If you have not successfully completed the prerequisites for the MCAT (at a minimum), then you are not ready to take the test. Complete the courses and strive to ensure that you will perform the best on that test. Use review books and maybe even enroll in a commercial review course if your finances allow for it.
7)
Continue to get "healthcare experience", do research, keep involved in your extra curricular activities and community service.
8)
Work on your AMCAS personal statement.
If you have kept a journal from high school detailing your interest in being a physician, then this will be relatively easy or at least a bit easier than writing it with nothing to start with in the first place. Why do
you want to be a doctor?
Review your personal statement with your pre-professional advisor and the healthcare professionals you have been shadowing over the years. Consider their advice wisely and use accordingly.
9)
Secure letter of recommendations.
Get LORs from science teachers who know you well and your preprofessional advisor, who by this point knows you fairly well. Get letters from the individuals whose labs you have worked in over the summer.
10) Follow the pointers listed by the other posters of applying early and spell checking your essays and other items taht are listed on your applications.
Attention to detail is a MUST!!!!
Good luck!!!!
