Planning Cont. 

4. Study Strategies and other notes: 

• Review previous assignments/take and make practice tests

• Make visuals if needed to help you understand, ex, a flow chart

• Practice practice practice

Other notes and tips

• Create a spreadsheet to log experiences, including volunteer hours, work hours, dates of impactful events, awards, and research hours, as needed. This helps you during the application phase to remember the activities you have done, when you did them, and for how long. For those interested in becoming a physician, regular hours for a competitive application include 500 service hours and 1,500 research hours, with some clinical experience preferred.

5. Excel in your prerequisite courses: Bio, Chem, Anatomy, Physio, Psych.

• Start developing good study habits so you don't struggle later on in your science-heavy courses.

• Get some clinical exposure early with shadowing and volunteering

• Engage in service and community work. Healthcare is a commitment to service, so showing that you are early on is valuable; it shows leadership and empathy

• Develop relationships with faculty for strong letters of recommendation for scholarships, future jobs, and or advancing in school

• Work on communication and leadership skills through clubs, peer mentoring, or TA-ing

• Plan academically with your counselor to map your prereqs, try to adhere to them, and plan your courses smartly with your SEP

• Those interested in RN/NP might find it helpful to get a CNA certification to get more hands-on learning and experience

• PA interested people may want to get an MA/CNA or other certifications to start accumulating their direct patient care hours. EMT and phlebotomy are also common

• MD/DO get involved with summer research, clinical, or lab. Seek long-term volunteering in a clinical setting to show your commitment. Those interested in a DO path should consider shadowing and obtaining a letter of recommendation from a DO since most schools for DO’s require one.

• Common foundation: science excellence, clinical exposure, service, leadership, and strong relationships with mentors.

• Nursing/NP: hands-on patient care early (CNA/EMT).

• PA: accumulate hours + broad shadowing.

• MD/DO: research + shadowing (including DOs if considering osteopathy).

6. Timeline

Community College (Years 1–3)

• Academics take core science prerequisites:

• General Chemistry I & II, Biology I & II, Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, Psychology & Sociology (common prereqs for nursing, PA, med school), Statistics & College Math (Calc may be needed for MD/DO depending on transfer school). Keep GPA high (3.5+ competitive for PA/MD/DO).

• Clinical Exposure: Get entry-level certifications: CNA, EMT, phlebotomy, or medical assistant. Volunteer at hospitals, nursing homes, or free clinics.

• Shadow: Try to see a nurse, PA, MD, and DO to compare styles.

• Extracurriculars Join pre-health, MESA, or science clubs. Seek leadership (secretary, treasurer, event coordinator).

• Other Key Steps

• Build relationships with professors for future recommendations.

• Research transfer agreements (TAGs, nursing prerequisites, pre-med tracks).

• If MD/DO track → start exploring summer research internships (REUs, NIH, Kaiser programs, etc.).

• Finish upper-division coursework: Organic Chemistry I & II (MD/DO/PA required), Biochemistry (MD/DO, many PA programs), Genetics, Cell Biology, Physiology (recommended for MD/DO, some PA).

• For Nursing (BSN/NP path): complete any program-specific courses (nutrition, pathophysiology, pharmacology). Maintain strong GPA (3.5+ for MD/DO/PA; 3.0+ for nursing competitive).

• Nursing: Apply for BSN clinical rotations.

• PA: Accumulate direct patient care hours (1,000–3,000) — often from EMT, CNA, MA work.

• MD/DO: Deepen shadowing and volunteering — aim for long-term commitment.

• All paths: Continue service work (underserved communities, health education, etc.).

Research (MD/DO especially) Join a lab or clinical research project. Present at undergraduate conferences if possible.

Standardized Tests

• Nursing: May need TEAS test (varies). PA: GRE required at some programs.

• MD/DO: MCAT (start studying in junior year, take by end of junior/summer before senior year).

Grad School

Nursing:

• Apply to BSN programs (if not direct-entry).

• Graduate → Take NCLEX → Work as RN.

• Later: MSN/DNP for NP.

PA:

• Apply to PA programs (CASPA application).

• Ensure you meet patient care hours + prereqs.

MD/DO:

• Apply through AMCAS (MD) or AACOMAS (DO).

• By this point: strong GPA, MCAT, research, shadowing, volunteering.

• MCAT (start studying in junior year, take by end of junior/summer before senior year).