Pre-Med Application Guide
Students are encouraged to apply early in the application cycle, as medical schools operate on a rolling admissions process.
Students are encouraged to apply to public schools in the state of residency
Students are encouraged to focus primarily on private schools in other states when applying.
The AAMC provides a list of “Questions I wish I would have asked” from prior applicants to aid in identifying salient criteria that
students can use to identify good target schools.
Prior to Applying:
Meet with your letter writers to discuss what you would like them to emphasize in their letters. Reference the AAMC’s
Brochure for Letter Writers for detailed descriptions of the core competencies med schools seek in successful students.
Complete coursework that will be covered on the MCAT exam, including Biochemistry, Statistics, Psychology & Sociology.
Prepare for and take the MCAT exam (AAMC takes a month to process your score, and it is valid for 2-3 years).
Consult the websites of your target schools or the Medical School Admission Requirement website to learn more about what
your target schools are looking for in terms of required and/or recommended coursework.
Enroll in GEN ST 297 Application Seminar in the winter or spring.
April/May:
Create profile in AMCAS and/or ACOMAS application system.
Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended.
June/July:
Make final decisions on which medical schools to apply to and submit primary application, ideally by July 4
th
.
Send official transcripts to AMCAS.
Have letters of recommendation sent to AMCAS - check individual schools for specific criteria.
AMCAS verifies primary application.
AMCAS notifies applicants of verified primary applications or additional information needed for verification.
Medical school review primary application and/or send secondary application to students.
Applicants should complete and submit responses to secondary questions within two weeks of receipt.
September – March:
Medical schools review primary and secondary applications to determine who to invite for interviews.
Medical school admissions committees meet and decide status: accept/reject/waitlist.
May – June:
Applicants who have received offers must notify AMCAS/ACOMAS and medical schools where they plan to matriculate.
Applicants must withdraw from consideration at other schools if they received multiple acceptances.
Applicants on waitlists may receive admission offers as additional spots open up.
August – September:
Medical school orientation and school year begins.
