Am I Ready to Apply?

Applying to a health professional program is an exciting milestone—but it’s important to ensure the timing is right for you. This readiness flowchart is designed to help you reflect on your preparedness across multiple domains: academic metrics, experiential preparation, and more. This tool is not prescriptive, nor is it a checklist to rush through. Rather, it’s a guide to help you determine when you are most likely to be a competitive and confident applicant.

Next Steps

Congratulations!

You may be ready to apply to your health graduate school.

You are encouraged to participate in our Application Readiness Program and, if applicable, Letter Packet service.

You may be a stronger applicant if you take additional time to address areas for improvement before applying.
While it can feel discouraging to wait, please know that deferring your application is not a setback—it’s often a strategic decision. Our office does not recommend deferring lightly. We recognize your eagerness to move forward in your career and are here to support you in making the best decision for your long-term success.

Applying to health graduate programs is a demanding process—emotionally, financially, and logistically. In our experience, the most successful applicants are those who have taken time to reflect, prepare thoroughly, and meet the readiness guidelines.

At Northeastern, the vast majority of our applicants—over 85%—take at least one gap year between graduation and starting a health professional program. Nationally, the average age of matriculants to health graduate programs is in the mid-twenties.

Taking time before applying can allow you to:

Strengthen your academic record
Gain meaningful clinical, research, or service experiences
Clarify your motivations and career goals
Position yourself for a confident and competitive application

To explore your options, visit our Gap Year webpage.

And remember—you don’t have to make this decision alone. The Northeastern PreMed and PreHealth Advising Team provides lifelong advising support. Whether you plan to apply immediately after graduation or years later, we are here to help you create a timeline, prepare strong materials, and feel confident in your next steps.