Junior year is the most consequential year of high school for college-bound students. Your grades this year carry the most weight on applications. Your test scores happen now. Your college list takes shape. This plan breaks it down month by month.
Course selection
Science: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, or AP Physics (take whichever you have not taken yet at the AP level). If you are aiming for BS/MD programs or top pre-med universities, doubling up on science courses is common. If that would tank your grades, take one AP science and one regular.
Math: Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus. If your school offers AP Statistics, it is an excellent choice for pre-med students because medical research relies heavily on statistics.
Humanities: AP English Language is strongly recommended. The analytical writing skills transfer directly to the MCAT Critical Analysis section and to your college application essays.
Month-by-month timeline
September to November
Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October (this is the qualifying round for National Merit Scholarships). Begin your college research. Create a spreadsheet with columns for school name, location, acceptance rate, pre-med support (does it have a pre-health advising office?), research opportunities, cost, and application deadline. Aim for 15-20 schools on your initial list.
December to February
Register for the SAT or ACT. Take whichever test you score better on (take a free practice test for each on Khan Academy and the ACT website to compare). Most students take the SAT/ACT for the first time in March or April of junior year, leaving time to retake in May, June, or fall of senior year if needed.
Start SAT/ACT preparation. Use free resources first: Khan Academy for SAT (official partnership, free, personalized), and CrackACT.com for free ACT practice tests. Study 30-45 minutes per day, 4-5 days per week, for 8-12 weeks before your test date.
Apply to summer programs and internships for the summer between junior and senior year.
March to May
Take the SAT or ACT. Take AP exams in May. Begin narrowing your college list from 15-20 to 8-12 schools. Visit campuses if possible (many offer free virtual tours if travel is not feasible). Ask your two strongest teachers if they would write recommendation letters for your college applications (ask now, even though you will not need them until fall).
June to August (summer)
This is your last pre-application summer. Use it well. Pursue one substantial experience: a research internship, a pre-med summer program, or intensive clinical volunteering. Continue any ongoing commitments. Retake the SAT/ACT if your first score was below your target. Begin drafting your Common App personal statement.
Clinical experience targets
By the end of junior year, aim for 50-100 hours of clinical volunteering or shadowing. This is not a hard rule, but it demonstrates sustained interest. Quality matters more than quantity. Ten hours of attentive shadowing where you asked good questions and reflected on what you saw is more valuable than 100 hours of sitting in a waiting room.
Leadership positions
Run for leadership in your primary organization. Club president, team captain, event chair, or project lead. If you have been active since freshman year, you are a natural candidate. If you do not win, take the committee chair or vice president role. The title matters less than the responsibility.
BS/MD programs
If you are considering combined BS/MD programs (earn your bachelor’s and MD in 6-8 years instead of 8), junior year is when you research them. These programs are highly competitive (many accept fewer than 5% of applicants). See our BS/MD Programs Overview for the complete list and application requirements.