Junior & Senior Years

Apply when you are MOST READY not JUST READY. If you have a weakness, work in it and apply next year.

The Junior and Senior years are very important to build the last parts of your application. If you want to start medical school right after undergraduate with no delays, then you need to submit your application in JUNE between your junior and senior years. This means, you will need to be on task during your junior year and make sure all of the parts of your application are in order and everything is strong.

If you want to take a gap year, then you will apply in June right after you graduate. This means that you have a little more time to assemble your application and fill in any gaps or weaknesses in your application.  The average age of medical school matriculants in about 24/25 yrs. so don't worry about taking a year off. Honestly, it can only enhance your application in this competitive process. 

• Meet with Premed/Prehealth Advisor and check in. Get feedback on how your are progressing with your coursework, activities and how competitive do you look at this point? Do they see any weakness or areas that need attention? Discuss when is the best time to apply and review timeline. 

• Review all required premed courses. Have you completed them? If not, what is your plan? Ex.: Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Biochemistry, English, do you have the correct number of labs, do you need any extra sciences because certain schools require them? Purchase MSAR to check. 

• Determine who will write your letters of recommendation. You are looking for at least 5 letters: 1) At least 2 science teachers (who have taught you in science classes), 2) 1-2 non-science teachers who have taught you, 3) 1-2 other letters from a research mentor, doctor, osteopathic doctor if you are applying DO, employer or other. If you cannot identify 5 people who know you well and could write you a glowing letter of recommendation, then go look for more people this year to get to know. Don’t overlook this very important part of the application.

• Determine when you will apply. How does your application look now? Get feedback from Newport and your premed advisor. Are there any weaknesses that need to be addressed? Is your science GPA above 3.2? If not, consider a postbac science program to raise science GPA. Do you have enough clinical experiences? Do you have enough clinical, volunteer, leadership, research and other experiences to fill the 15 entry experience section on the AMCAS?

• Determine when you will take the MCATS.

• Do you have a research experience (science or non-science)? If not then go find a research opportunity this year. Although research is not required, it can be very beneficial to your application.

Are you a Senior?

Are you applying to medical school the summer after Senior year? If the answer is NO, then continue studying hard, demonstrating your leadership, building your service portfolio, and gathering clinical experiences. Plus determine what you are going to do for the next 2 years.

If the answer is YES then this is the MOST IMPORTANT year to finish off the last parts of your application. Plus you need to determine what you will be doing of the year following graduation. You can work, study or volunteer. Go to the next section for specifics.

APPLICATION TIMING

Please refer to the following Newport pages on preparing the application for medical school. No matter when you apply, you need to submit your application in JUNE, nearly 14+/- months before you matriculate.

• Fall Preparation of Application Year

• Spring Preparation of Application Year

• Submit your application EARLY...I can't stress this enough! Early is considered June/early July. Late is anytime after August 1.

• Apply when you are most ready. Don't rush an application just to apply and see how it goes. Being a re-applicant is a tough uphill battle. 

MCAT

Please refer to the MCAT page for more details on the MCATs.