Applicant Planning Guide

For Professional School Entrance in 2011

The following gives you a list of what you should be doing during the one and one half to two year period before you plan to start your professional school program. It is intended as a "to do" list. Links to additional information regarding the tasks outlined here is available through our "Pre-Health Information Central" D2L site available to all U of A students. Plan early, plan often.

FALL, 2009

    1. Outline your Personal Statement.
    2. Generate a list of prospective letter writers for Letters of Recommendation.
    3. Prepare statements for letter writers.
    4. Begin identifying which schools to which you will apply
        (use MSAR, AADS, etc. available in the Pre-Health Professions Advising Center Resource Area).
    5. Start planning your budgetfor the application process.
    6. Prepare/study for admissions tests.

SPRING, 2010

    1. Register on-line for admissions tests (MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT, GRE).
    2. Centralized applications are available on-line begining May 1 (check application service policy on sending transcripts).
    3. Review the instructions for using our Letter of Recommendation Service, available through Pre-Health Information Central
        If you are not a current student at The University of Arizona, please call the Pre-Health Professions Advising Center and request an appointment.
    4. Contact letter writers. Writers may submit letters between January 2 and June 30, 2009.
    5. Attend workshops:
        • Personal Statement Workshop
        • AMCAS Workshop
        • Interviewing Techniques

SUMMER, 2010

    1. Order unofficial transcripts to use when completing centralized applications.
    2. Order official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended to be sent directly to the application service
         (AMCAS, AADSAS, etc.).
    3. Order passport-size photos.
    4. Complete and send secondary applications which may be received as early as July.
    5. Look into resources for Practicing the Interview.

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