How to Prepare for Medical School 
Guide to a Competitive Application

Preparing for medical school involves academic planning, clinical experience, leadership development and a thoughtful application strategy. This guide outlines key steps students can take throughout their undergraduate education to prepare for the medical school admissions process.

Laying the foundation for a successful medical school career begins your first year of college and continues throughout your undergraduate studies. Our guide to a competitive medical school application includes the following 10 steps:

Step 1: Focus on academic performance

Academic performance is one of the most important components of a medical school application. Students should focus on maintaining a strong GPA while completing prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry, physics and related sciences. You can find the list of required and advisable courses for PCOM's osteopathic medicine program on our DO program application requirements page. 

Strong applicants often demonstrate:

• Consistent academic performance
• Success in science coursework
• Effective study habits and time management
• Intellectual curiosity and discipline

Students should also work closely with academic advisors to ensure they complete all required coursework for the medical schools they plan to apply to.

Step 2: Gain clinical experience

Clinical experience helps students better understand healthcare environments, patient care and the day-to-day realities of medical practice.

Students may gain experience through:

• Physician shadowing
• Hospital or clinic volunteering
• Medical scribing
• EMT or paramedic work
• Certified nursing assistant (CNA) positions
• Other patient-facing healthcare roles

Meaningful exposure to healthcare settings can help students confirm their interest in medicine while strengthening their applications.

Step 3: Participate in extracurricular activities

During your first two years of undergraduate studies, carefully select extracurricular activities on campus and in your local community that are of interest to you. Choose a wide variety of activities; however, do not get so involved that you jeopardize your academic performance. Do not join an activity because you think it will “look good.” Rather, do what you enjoy. Gain experience working with others and building leadership skills. Reflect on those experiences and consider how they will assist you in a future career in medicine.

As you work toward the completion of your undergraduate degree, stay involved in your selected extracurricular activities. If you haven't volunteered or experienced the healthcare field, now is a good time to do so. If you have already, keep up the good work! Remember, interesting cases increase your exposure and help you develop insights around the complexities of American medicine. Keep an experience journal for use in the application process. Look for DO physicians to shadow. You should also seek leadership roles and responsibilities within the organizations in which you are involved. 

Step 4: Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills

Physicians regularly communicate with patients, families and healthcare teams. Medical schools therefore evaluate more than academic achievement alone.

Students can strengthen interpersonal skills through:

• Volunteer experiences
• Leadership opportunities
• Team-based activities
• Mentorship roles
• Public speaking or teaching experiences

Experiences that demonstrate empathy, professionalism and collaboration can help strengthen a medical school application.

Step 5: Prepare for the MCAT

In February of your junior year, apply for a spring MCAT exam date. Plan ahead and apply early to reserve your seat. Students preparing for the MCAT should:

• Complete prerequisite coursework before testing
• Create a structured study plan
• Use practice exams to monitor progress
• Allow adequate preparation time
• Register early for preferred testing dates

Many students begin preparing for the MCAT several months before their planned exam date.

The MCAT exam dates, times and locations can be found on the AAMC website. Be sure to request your scores be sent directly to AACOM. You can also access your scores online at aamc.org.

Step 6: Build relationships for letters of recommendation

Begin building relationships with your faculty early in your studies. When it is time to request letters of recommendation, they will be able to speak to your abilities as a student and future physician. Letters of recommendation provide medical schools with insight into a student’s academic abilities, professionalism and readiness for medical school.

Strong letters often come from:

• Science faculty
• Academic advisors
• Research mentors
• Physicians or supervisors familiar with the student’s work

During your junior year, be sure to follow deadlines set by your advisor/committee regarding the request for a recommendation letter(s).

Step 7: Research medical schools

Medical schools vary in curriculum structure, mission, clinical opportunities, campus culture and geographic setting. When researching schools, students may consider:

• Admissions requirements
• Academic support resources
• Clinical training opportunities
• Research opportunities
• Campus environment and location
• Institutional mission and values

Students exploring medical school pathways may also wish to learn more about osteopathic medicine and PCOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program.

Suggested related resources:

• DO vs. MD: What’s the Difference?
• What Is Osteopathic Medicine?
• Explore PCOM’s DO Program

Step 8: Submit your medical school application

Submit your AACOMAS application as soon as possible during your final year of undergraduate studies. The PCOM AACOMAS deadline is February 1, but do not wait for deadlines! PCOM has a rolling admission process and early applications are strongly recommended. Interviews for the DO program begin in the summer term and will be conducted through the spring term.

If possible, obtain a letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician. While not required, this document is strongly recommended.

Step 9: Prepare for medical school interviews

Interviews provide applicants with an opportunity to discuss their experiences, motivations and preparation for a career in medicine.

Students can prepare by:

• Practicing common interview questions
• Participating in mock interviews
• Researching schools beforehand
• Preparing examples that demonstrate leadership, resilience and communication skills

Strong interview preparation can help applicants communicate confidence and professionalism.

Step 10: Confirm receipt of your application materials and submit all supporting materials

Be sure to check with AACOMAS to verify that all of your transcripts have been received and verified so that the processing of your application is not delayed. It is your responsibility to ensure a completed application!

Please pay the PCOM institutional application fee and submit all supporting materials (including letters of recommendation, MCAT score reports, etc.) to PCOM in a timely manner. For more information regarding application deadlines, please see our admissions requirements page.

Med School Preparation Tips

There are several actions you can take to better prepare yourself for the rigors of medical school. Consider the following tips for your post-baccalaureate, graduate or gap year(s):

1. Enhance your science GPA and scientific knowledge: Choose a curriculum that provides science coursework at the graduate level.
2. Focus on your studies: Post-baccalaureate programs offer the opportunity to complete the undergraduate prerequisite courses for medical school. Focus on your studies during this time period. Learn more about applying to PCOM as a non-traditional student.
3. Take the MCAT: Consider repeating the MCAT exam. PCOM will accept scores from MCAT exams taken within three years of the desired date of matriculation.
4. Gain additional experience: Make the most of non-academic periods by expanding your experiences in clinical settings, research and/or community service.
5. Create a new email address: PCOM recommends creating a separate email address to be used only for the medical school application process. Important email reminders and application updates will be less likely to get lost in the shuffle if you have an exclusive email for your applications.
6. Be patient: If the committee wishes to meet with you for a personal interview, you will be contacted by email. PCOM conducts interviews from mid-September through the end of March.
7. Consider career alternatives and/or alternative paths: Many students opt for post-baccalaureate or graduate work. PCOM offers a graduate program in biomedical sciences that serves a stepping stone to our DO programs. Candidates who meet minimum criteria are assured an interview for the DO program and many biomed students do enter our DO programs each year.

Frequently asked questions

Next Steps

Visit our Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) application requirements page to learn about admissions requirements, the application process, interviews, affiliated programs and much more. We also encourage you to tour our locations or attend an open house to learn more about our programs.

Additional medical school application resources

Need more information? We're here to help:

• Contact the Office of Admissions
• Learn more about PCOM from our students
• Explore our locations

DOWNLOAD PRE-MEDICAL STUDENT'S GUIDE TO A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION