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How should I prepare for medical school if I switched majors halfway through college?

Good morning everyone, I recently decided to go on a career path to become a physician. I'm currently in my 2nd year of college and will transfer to a 4 year university (UTA Arlington) in the Spring of 2026. I'm currently attaining my Associates of Science and have taken a majority of science classes and some math classes. When I transfer to a 4 year, I will need to take only math and science classes since I've finished all my core classes. While researching, I found that people on the pre-med track take the MCAT during their junior or senior year. I'm soon to be a junior in college, but I haven't prepared for the MCAT as I recently decided to head on this career path. Because of this, will I have to take it in my senior year or take a gap year before applying to med school so I can study for the MCAT? Other than the MCAT, I found that students would already be doing research during their undergrad or have apprenticeship/internships. I haven't done any of those yet, but I've been researching opportunities near me. I found a PCT apprenticeship near me, but there are currently no openings. In the meantime, I plan on getting a certificate in BLS/CPR. Are there any other ways I should prepare myself for med school? Thank you for your time.

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Perry’s Answer

Hello Nina,

You have already done a lot of "homework" which can only help you, and you already have a good sense of the various things that need attention going forward.

A few thoughts:

---Take the MCAT in the Spring of your junior year. I took it in the Fall of my senior year and that turned out to have given me a tremendous disadvantage because medical schools had already started reviewing and accepting applicants before my MCAT scores had come in ! Believe it or not, you have already basically learned the subject matter that you will be tested on in the MCAT. All you will need to do is spend a couple of months reviewing the material right before the test. The best way to do this is to take one of those MCAT review courses; Stanley Kaplan was the gold standard, if it is still around.

---Make sure you know the course requirements for the medical schools and complete them. There may be some minor variations between schools. Again, you have probably already done most classes that you will need.

---Regarding research, think of what topics [preferably medical or biological] interest you, get to learn the university and one department or the other a little bit, and then make an appointment with the professor doing a study that is close to what you like [even if not exactly so]. If that professor can't help you, then move on to another one. If there are TAs [grad students] at Arlington, they would be of great assistance to help steer you to the right professor.

You're on your way, and with your diligence and staying in front of things as you do, you can't help but succeed.

I hope this helps.

Perry
Thank you comment icon You rock! This advice is very helpful. Nina
Thank you comment icon Hi Nina, A couple of other things: ---Volunteer a while [a few hours one day a week] at some medical clinic. Choose the specialty that you like, it almost doesn't matter which one you choose. ---Do some other extracurricular activities at college, but these should be things that you personally LIKE. Things that have nothing to do with medical school. Things that you would do whether you were applying to medical school or not. I can't stress this enough. If everything you do is with an eye on medical school, the medical school admissions committees will see right through you and that will hurt your chances. Perry Zuckerman
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James’s Answer

I agree with Perry. You seem to have taken what is important for the MCATs, but the time and money to take a review course to prepare is usually worth the effort. Medical schools (and residencies after that) are usually interested in well-rounded students. Yes, you need exemplary grades and test scores, but it helps to also say you played an instrument, were on a sports team, volunteered for some non-profit helping others in your community...
Having some research experience is a plus, so do keep seeing if you can connect with one of your professors, or look into the many excellent hospitals in Dallas.
Take courses that have no obvious connection to medicine. Being a physician means you have to connect to your patients. Knowing something about art, literature, agriculture, mining... just about anything broadens your understanding and helps you make those connections.
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