Working with your advisors

First-years and sophomores who intend to apply to health professional school should work with their academic advisors in the Berick Center of Student Advising (CSA) to set forth a course of premedical studies. Upon declaring a major or concentration during the sophomore year, students will be assigned faculty advisors. Students will consult their faculty advisors with concerns about major requirements.  In addition to their faculty advisors, prospective health professional school applicants should also schedule an appointment with a prehealth advisor in the CSA.
 

Application Timing     

Application to health professions schools (medical and dental school) begins in the late spring/early summer (May/June) for matriculation in the following summer.  While students may apply at the end of their junior year to begin medical school a few weeks after they graduate, most Columbia students choose to apply to medical school after they have graduated. In fact, on average 85% of the applicants to medical school from Columbia have already graduated from college and take one or more years between college and medical school. Many prospective applicants want to strengthen their experiences and/or academic record before applying and the extra time will help to ensure that they feel prepared and have a strong application. Medical schools appreciate the maturity, perspective, and depth of experiences that can accrue during the time between college and medical school. Alumni will continue to have access to all preprofessional advising services no matter their application timing.