Eastern Illinois University :: Health Professions

Timetable for Pre-Medical Students

The following outline should serve as a useful guide for pre-med students looking to make the most of their time at Eastern Illinois University:

Meet with the pre-health professions advisor and make sure they know you.
Attend Alpha Epsilon Delta meetings.
Find out about volunteer opportunities at hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities: EIU Civic Engagement and Volunteerism.
Look through a sample MCAT to get an idea of what the test is like.
Read magazines, newspapers, essays, novels, etc., to enhance your reading and verbal skills.
Get to know your professors. Remember some of them will be writing reference letters for you.
Get off on the right foot in classes; form study groups; ask your professor or TA for help if necessary; attend FREE Tutoring

Find out about research opportunities and summer internships; check with the pre-health professions advisor.
Order The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and begin your MCAT preparation in earnest.
Participate in AED and other organizations that have service activities.
Hone your writing skills by drafting a personal statement (as required for your AMCAS application) and work with EIU Writing Center staff.
Make sure that you are on track to finish all required courses for medical school by your junior year.
Take a good look at yourself. Are you meeting the goals you have set for yourself?

Fall Semester

Remind your professors that you will be asking them to write letters of recommendation for you. Give them a resume and/or your personal statement.
Increase your volunteer or shadowing activities; try doing something different from past years.
Work on MCAT preparation. You will want to have MCAT prep materials and take as many practice exams as you can. Be sure these are timed exams in an environment that mimics the MCAT (think about reserving a study room at the Booth Library).
Participate more in AED activities. Run for office. Act as a mentor to younger students.
Start researching sources of financial aid for medical school application process, medical school tuition/fees, and investigate possible medical schools.

Spring Semester

Step up your MCAT preparation.
Take the AED mock MCAT in February.
Send in your MCAT application before the deadline.
Get more information about medical schools and narrow your application choices appropriately.
Ask evaluators to write letters for you and have them sent to the chair of the Pre-Medical Studies Committee. Use the student information sheet to provide them with specific information. They will write a composite letter to be sent to medical schools once you receive supplementary applications.
Take the MCAT!
Fill out the AMCAS application and have it ready to submit on June 1 or soon thereafter. Don’t forget your transcripts - order through your PAWS account.
Meet with the pre-health professions advisor before you leave campus in May. Ask questions and listen to advice given.

Complete and return all supplemental applications from medical schools promptly. Confirm that schools have received all your application materials, including letters of reference.
Visit the schools when invited for interviews.
May 15 — this is your deadline to decide on a medical school if you have been accepted by more than one. Make sure all your work toward your baccalaureate degree is completed by August. Submit your final transcripts.
Celebrate your acceptance to medical school — and notify the pre-health professions advisor so they can celebrate with you!