Apply to Allopathic Medical School

There are 3 general steps in applying to medical schools: the primary application, the secondary application, and the interview.

• AAMC: Pre-Med Events Calendar (Application Due Dates)
• Sample Application Timeline
• AAMC Medical School Application Overview Recording
• AAMC AMCAS How-To Tutorials
• AAMC AMCAS Applicant Guide
• Med School Coach AMCAS Application Guide (with screenshots)

1. Primary applications

• American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS) 
• Opens in early May. Applications can be submitted in late May
• Includes personal statement (5,300 characters) and requires letters of recommendation (LOR).
  • Personal Statement Advice
  • "Why Medicine?": What admissions faculty think about common answers.
    
  • Prompt: "Use the space provided to explain why you want to attend medical school."
• Application fees: $175 for the first school and $46 for each additional school.
  • Application Cost Estimator 
• Submit the primary application as early as possible.
• Primary Application Deadlines
• Application Service Overview
• How to Apply to Medical School with AMCAS
• Letter of Evaluation Preferences

2. Secondary applications or supplementary forms are specific to individual schools; medical schools send these to applicants only after they have received the AMCAS application. Both frequently request additional information, essays, letters of recommendation, and/or fees. Some schools screen applicants before the applications or forms are sent out. The cost for secondary applications can range from $0 to $150.

• Secondary Application Information
• Secondary Application Essay Prompt Library

The AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam is a non-academic test that assesses core competencies known to predict success in medical school students and practicing physicians. Many schools are now incorporating this exam into their application process.

• Programs that Require the PREview Exam
• AAMC Prepare for the PREview Exam
• Kaplan PREview Prep Course 
• Jack Westin PREview Strategy Course 

Test Breakdown: 

• ~90 minutes (secured by live remote human proctor)
• Location: anywhere (i.e. home, library, etc.)
• Offered March - October
• Can only take 1 time/year
• When you send your score to schools, they will see all previous scores.

Scoring:

• Available 30 days after the test date
• Score 1 - 9

Cost: $100 flat rate fee. For those with Fee Assistance Benefits, $0.

CASPer (Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is an online situational judgment test that assesses collaboration, communication, empathy, equity, ethics, motivation, problem-solving, and professionalism.

• Programs that Require CASPer

Test Breakdown: 

• 90 minutes long, including an optional 15-minute break halfway through
• 12 scenarios: 8 video-based and 4 text-based, each followed by 3 open-ended questions

Scoring: Each scenario will be scored by a unique scorer. Schools will receive a cumulative z-score based on the scores of the 12 unique scorers. Applicants will not see their scores.

Cost: CASPer costs $10 as a base fee and an additional $10 per school.

3. Interviews: After reviewing the primary and secondary applications (or supplementary forms), medical schools invite promising applicants to interview. Applicants are responsible for all costs incurred while interviewing, including airfare, lodging, ground transportation, professional attire, and meals.

• Interview Information
• AAMC Interview Preparation Guide
• AAMC Interview Resources
• Sample Interview Questions
  • A common question asked: "Tell Me About Yourself." There are many different ways to approach this, but it is highly recommended to consider the outline below to construct your response: 
    • Present: What is your current role? What does your scope of practice include? Share any recent big accomplishments. 
    • Past: Brief summary of how you became interested in medicine. Any previous experiences relevant to applied jobs or companies?
    • Future: Transition into your plans, explain why you're interested in this career field, and state how you are a suitable candidate. 
  • Another common question asked is, "Why Medicine?"
    • Read what admissions faculty from America's top medical schools think about common answers.
• Random Interview Question Generator
• Health Professional School Interview Room Reservation Request: Applicants can submit a reservation request for a classroom with wifi access on campus.

AAMC Application and Acceptance Protocol: AAMC has provided a set of recommendations to help ensure that all applicants receive timely notification about the outcome of their application and to protect schools and programs from having unfilled positions in their entering classes. These protocols are often referred to as “Traffic Rules.” These recommendations include prompt and accurate communication with medical schools to which applicants have applied and promptly withdrawing their application should they decide before April 30th not to attend a medical school that has offered them an acceptance.

Reapplicants: Many applicants may not be admitted to the professional school they desire on their first try. However, if and when applicants choose to re-apply, there are many things to consider before re-submitting another application in the following cycle.

• Reapplicant Information
• Non-Traditional Applicant Information

Reapplicant Statistics:

• ~60% of applicants are not successful in any given cycle.
• ~25% of every applicant pool is made up of reapplicants.
  • Many medical schools will not classify you as never to be admitted but as not yet ready for admission.

Tips:

• The more applicants know about the school, the better their chances of acceptance.
• Most application questions can be answered by reading the MSAR.
• Review individual schools’ websites to find out how they handle:
  • Advanced Placement (AP) credits
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) credits
  • College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits
  • Military credits
  • Courses taken at a community college
  • Non-US coursework
  • Courses taken for credit/no credit instead of a grade
  • Residency issues
  • Time limits on prerequisite science courses

Please note that if courses are retaken because medical schools may not accept Advanced Placement (AP), online, or community college credit, your financial aid and/or scholarship status may be affected.