Pre-Health Timeline
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Freshman Year
Fall Semester:
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Meet with your academic advisor to discuss a tentative four-year academic plan. This is especially important if you are considering a semester or year of study abroad or an Early Assurance application to medical school.
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Get to know your professors and let them know you. They can help you reach your goals!
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Make use of Lewis & Clark’s academic resources: the Writing Center, Symbolic and Quantitative Reasoning Center (SQRC), SAAB Tutoring, and departmental help centers.
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Participate in Student Leadership and Service (SLS) activities
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Discuss spring course choices with your academic advisor before pre-registration in November.
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Investigate “Alternative Spring Break”. It’s both fun and a great service opportunity!
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Consider planning a week-long shadowing experience or volunteer work during winter break.
Spring Semester:
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Make an appointment with one of the Pre-Health Advisors between November and February to explore opportunities for health-care-related experience over summer break.
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Write or update your resume. Consider adding or subtracting campus activities.
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Discuss schedule with advisor before pre-registration in April.
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If considering a semester or year abroad, make an advising appointment with the Overseas staff.
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Attend relevant programs on health-related topics.
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Honestly evaluate your academic performance and see your academic advisor to discuss making adjustments.
Summer After First Year:
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Engage in a health-care-related experience or research position, if possible. Volunteer work in a healthcare setting is also an option.
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Consider the possibility of an EMT or CNA course, if available.
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Fall Semester:
Re-evaluate your campus involvement. Are you spending time on activities that are meaningful to you? Investigate a wide range of health professions. Attend campus events like the OHSU Admissions visit, the Healthcare Professionals Panel, CPR training, and activities organized by the Pre-health Professions Club Plan how you’ll use your breaks (e.g. conduct an informational interview, shadow a healthcare professional, research potential internships, etc.) Meet with a Pre-Health Advisor to discuss local clinical, internship, and volunteer opportunities available through L&C connections, including:
Spring Semester:
Declare a major. Discuss your plans with a Pre-Health Advisor. Continue to evaluate your extracurricular commitments. Finalize summer plans for research, service, or clinical position. Finalize study abroad plans.
Sophmore Year
Fall Semester:
Spring Semester:
Identify and contact potential recommenders. It’s a great idea to write a brief profile or bio about yourself to help your recommenders write the best letter possible. Finalize plans for health-related summer position. Continue test preparation. If planning to apply to professional school in the summer: Collect letters of recommendation to send in September of your senior year.
Junior Year
Finalize school list and complete AMCAS/AACOMAS/AADSAS/VMCAS etc. applications. Medical and dental school admission is “rolling.“ The earlier the better! Research financial aid options. Make sure you have a professional interview outfit/suit. Take/retake the MCAT/DAT/GRE, if necessary.
Summer Before You Plan to Apply
Fall Semester:
Once AMCAS/AACOMAS/AADSAS/VMCAS etc. applications have been filed, promptly complete secondary applications. If you plan to work for a year or two before applying to professional school, update resume and begin process of looking at potential jobs. Contact Pre-Health Advisor to arrange a mock professional school interview. Make time for interviews.
Spring Semester:
File FAFSA. Stay in contact with your Pre-Health Advisor throughout the application process. Develop a strong “Plan B” while waiting to hear from professional schools. Compare schools where you have been admitted.
Senior Year
email communityglobalHEAL@lclark.edu
Jerusha Detweiler-Bedell
Director
Professor of Psychology
jerusha@lclark.edu
Carolyn L. Zook
Associate Director
Pre-Health Advisor
carolynzook@lclark.eduSchedule a meeting
Alexis Rehrmann
Community Engagement Coordinator
Healing Social Suffering through Narrative
alexisr@lclark.edu
Community and Global Health
Lewis & Clark
615 S. Palatine Hill Road
Portland OR 97219