Freshman year sets the trajectory for your entire pre-med career. The decisions you make in the first two weeks (course registration, advising appointments, organization memberships) have a compounding effect over four years. This plan tells you exactly what to do and when.

First two weeks

Schedule a pre-health advising appointment. Most universities have a pre-health advising office separate from general academic advising. Find yours during orientation week and book your first appointment. Ask: What is the recommended course sequence for pre-med students? Does this school offer a committee letter for medical school applicants? What resources are available (MCAT prep, mock interviews, application workshops)?

Join 2-3 organizations. One pre-med or health-related (such as the American Medical Student Association pre-med chapter, a pre-health society, or a specialty interest group). One community service (a sustained volunteering commitment, not a one-time event). One personal interest (anything you genuinely enjoy that is not about medicine).

Expert Advice
Pre-health advisors have seen thousands of students through this process. They know which professors are best for pre-med, which research labs accept freshmen, and which pitfalls to avoid. This single meeting can prevent mistakes that delay your timeline by a year.

Course selection: fall semester

Biology I (with lab). This is your first required pre-med course. Take the version designed for science majors, not the survey course for non-majors. If your school offers honors biology, consider it only if you are confident in your study habits.

General Chemistry I (with lab). Some students take biology and chemistry simultaneously freshman year. Others take biology first semester and chemistry second. Ask your pre-health advisor which sequence your school recommends. Both approaches work.

English or Writing. Medical schools require English coursework. Take a composition or literature course that develops your analytical writing.

Math. If you need Calculus I or Statistics (most medical schools require one or both), take it now while your math skills from high school are fresh.

Be Careful
Do not overload your first semester. Four courses (12-15 credits) with one or two science courses is the right pace. A 3.8 GPA with a manageable load is better than a 3.2 GPA from taking five hard courses. You cannot undo a bad first semester GPA.

Course selection: spring semester

Continue your science sequence (Biology II or Chemistry I, whichever you did not take in fall). Add your second required English or humanities course. Take a course in an area that interests you outside of science. Medical schools value breadth, and you may discover a passion that shapes your application narrative.

Start clinical volunteering

Contact your university hospital’s volunteer services office in the first month of school. The application process (background check, orientation, immunization verification) often takes 3-4 weeks. The earlier you start, the more hours you accumulate by application time.

Target: 3-4 hours per week of clinical volunteering. At this rate, you will have 100+ clinical hours by the end of freshman year alone.

Find a research opportunity

Research is not required for all medical schools, but it significantly strengthens your application, especially for competitive programs. Freshman year is the right time to start looking.

See our How to Find a Research Lab guide for email templates and strategies. The short version: identify 3-5 professors whose research interests you (read their lab websites), send a brief, personalized email expressing interest, and be prepared for some to say no. Persistence pays off.

Tip
You do not need to do groundbreaking research as a freshman. Showing up consistently, learning techniques, and understanding the scientific process are what matter. Many students start by washing glassware and managing data. That is normal and expected.

Study habits that matter

College science courses move faster than high school. The study techniques that worked before may not be enough. Adopt these now:

Use active recall for every exam (close your notes, write everything you know, check what you missed). Form or join a study group for your hardest science course. Visit office hours at least twice per month, even when you do not have a specific question. Professors remember students who show up. Start using Anki (free flashcard app with spaced repetition) for memorization-heavy courses like biology.

Study Tip
The biggest academic mistake freshmen make is studying the same way they did in high school. Rereading notes does not work for college-level science. Active recall and spaced repetition are not optional. They are the foundation of how you will study for the MCAT.

What not to worry about yet

Do not worry about the MCAT (that is two years away). Do not worry about your personal statement (that is three years away). Do not worry about choosing a specialty (that is seven years away). Focus on grades, one clinical commitment, and one or two organizations. That is enough.

For Parents
Parents: your student is managing their own schedule for the first time. Resist calling their advisor or emailing their professors. Offer support by asking “How can I help?” rather than “Did you do X?” The transition to independence is part of the education.
Last verified: April 2026