Sample Schedules and Activities at PCC

For Students Considering Medical and Dental Schools

These sample schedules are intended to serve as a general guide to help you plan your classes. The samples include classes required for many health professions students, including those that are required for medical school, dental school, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, optometry, and physical therapy. The sample is based on three “typical” cases depending on your Math assessment. You can decide for yourself which scenario is most like your own situation. In all cases, the sample schedule is based on the assumption that you will be a full time student. Taking classes on a part time basis, while possible, will lengthen the entire process. Please keep in mind that it is better to complete two or three classes per semester with As and Bs than to complete four classes with Cs. Courses completed with Ds or Fs will need to be repeated.

Begin the process of choosing a major in your first year if you have not already done so. Many students who want to enter a health profession assume that they must complete a bachelor’s degree in Biology or Chemistry. That is not true.

You actually have many choices. A degree in Biology or Chemistry is perfectly appropriate if those are fields of real interest to you, or if they appear to be good alternatives to a career in the health professions. Many successful students choose to complete bachelor’s degrees in fields such as Psychology, History, Engineering, English, or other majors.

Possible First Year Classes

  • For students who initially place in Math 005A, English 001A, Chemistry 001A

Fall Semester
Chemistry 001A
English 001A
Math 005A
Psychology 001

Spring Semester
Chemistry 001B
English 001B
Biology 010A
Sociology 001

  • For students who initially place in Math 008, English 001A, Chemistry 022

Fall Semester
Chemistry 022
English 001A
Math 008
GE Class

Spring Semester
Chemistry 001A
English 001B
Math 005A
Psychology 001

  • For students who initially place in Math 003, English 001A, Chemistry 022

Fall Semester
Chemistry 022
English 001A
Math 003

Spring Semester
Chemistry 001A
English 001B
Math 008

Activities During First Year:

Possible Second Year Classes

  • For students who initially place in Math 005A, English 001A, Chemistry 001A

Fall Semester
Chemistry 008A
Biology 010B
Physics 031A
GE Class

Spring Semester
Chemistry 008B
Biology 010C
Physics 031B
GE Class

  • For students who initially place in Math 008, English 001A, Chemistry 022

Fall Semester
Chemistry 001B
Biology 010A
Sociology 001

Spring Semester
Chemistry 008A
Biology 010B
GE Class

  • For students who initially place in Math 003, English 001A, Chemistry 022

Fall Semester
Chemistry 001B
Biology 010A
Math 005A

Spring Semester
Chemistry 008A
Biology 010B
Sociology 001

Activities During Second Year:

  • Check-in with the Health Science counselor to assess your academic progress
  • Select your major
  • Consider universities you want to apply, join university tours
  • Continue being an active member of the Caduceus Club
  • Visit the Transfer Center located in CC-203
  • Volunteer in a health setting, shadow healthcare professionals
  • Consider research opportunities on campus
  • Start learning about the specifics regarding the entry exam required for your field, such as Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT), Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PDAT), etc…

Possible Third Year Classes

  • For students who initially place in Math 005A, English 001A, Chemistry 001A

Fall Semester & Spring Semester
Upper division classes in your major at the university of choice 

  • For students who initially place in Math 008, English 001A, Chemistry 022

Fall Semester
Chemistry 008B
Physics 031A
GE Class

Spring Semester
Biology 010C
Physics 031B
GE Class

  • For students who initially place in Math 003, English 001A, Chemistry 022

Fall Semester
Chemistry 008B
Physics 031A
Psychology 001

Spring Semester
Biology 010C
Physics 031B
GE Class

Activities During Third Year:

  • Student placed in English 001A and Math 005A should have transferred by this point
  • Know the deadline for each school you are applying to
  • Begin application process for medical school, dental school, etc…
  • Request and organize your letters of recommendation
  • Continue your participation in meaningful health experiences, volunteer work,

    research and/or leadership roles on campus

  • Continue being an active member in the Caduceus Club and other campus activities
  • If you are prepared and ready, take the entry exam for your health profession

Fourth Year:

  • Send secondary applications to medical school, dental, pharmacy, etc.
  • Prepare for your interviews and campus visits
  • Go for interviews at schools
  • Receive acceptances