As a resident, I can safely say that applying to medical school has undoubtedly been one of the most stressful (and confusing) processes throughout my medical career so far. Between the timeline, essays, activities list, the entire process can be overwhelming. In fact, after opening AMCAS and AACOMAS for the first time, I actually didn’t look at the application again for another month because of the anxiety I felt thinking about it. The only thing that gave me motivation was knowing that these applications were just one more step between me and my goal of becoming a doctor. If you’re applying to medical school, this is where I recommend starting.
Medical School Application Timeline
The most important thing about the application is knowing the deadlines and getting ahead of those deadlines. The top mistake that I see is that medical school applicants don’t realize how quickly deadlines for MCAT scores, letters of recommendations, and secondaries approach. Here are some of the important dates that you need to know:
AMCAS
- May 2, 2024: AMCAS application opens for the 2024-25 cycle
- May 30, 2024: Earliest date you can submit your AMCAS application for the 2024-25 cycle
- MCAT: Last recommended day to take the MCAT is June 27, 2024, but I recommend taking it by April
- CASPER: Recommend taking it by April
AACOMAS
- May 4, 2024: AACOMAS application opens for submissions the 2024-25 cycle
- Medical schools will receive and process applications immediately
TMDSAS
- May 1, 2024: TMDSAS application opens for submissions the 2024-25 cycle
- May 15, 2024: Earliest date you can submit your AMCAS application for the 2024-25 cycle
Letters of Recommendation
I always recommend getting letters of recommendations early. This is arguably one of the most stressful parts of the application process because this is entirely out of your control. I suggest getting 5 letters of recommendations: 2 science letters, 1 non-science, and 2 miscellaneous (including work, research, volunteer, etc). Some schools may provide a composite letter, which will compile these letters. Talk to your school’s pre-health advising team to see if your school provides the composite letter.
You do not need this many letters to apply; however, having back up letters is important in case your letter writes don’t follow through or ghost you. You don’t need to submit your letters with the primary application, but I recommend having them on hand. Letters of recommendations can be stored in a dossier like Interfolio. Make sure the letters are dated within 1 year of your application (so if you’re applying in 2024-2025, then your letters should be from 2023 or 2024).
MCAT, Casper, AAMC PREview
Standardized tests are probably the bane of every premed’s existence, but are highly valued by many medical schools. The ideal time to have all of these exams completed is April. Especially with the MCAT, this allows you to target schools within range for your MCAT. I suggest checking out the MSAR to help with this. For CASPER, a lot of the tips I listed in this guide are relevant in regards to ethics (yes, CASPER can be studied for!). AAMC PREview is relatively new and is a different way to test ethics, for which the AAMC provides some great practice tests to guide you.
Making a Medical School List
When you’re creating a medical school list, don’t just mass apply. Yes, applying to more schools will theoretically give you a higher shot, but you would be wasting time and money applying to schools that would never consider you in the first place. Here are some things to consider when making your school list:
- In-state vs out-of-state preferences
- MCAT and GPA averages and cut of schools
- Profile Preferences: Community vs research
A good range to apply to is 20-30 medical schools between both MD and DO programs. I would not recommend exceeding 40 medical schools. The key is finding balance with targets and reaches within your list (for this purpose, I would rarely say there is a safety school given the competitive nature).
Need help making a school list? Check out our Strategy Consultation
Medical School Personal Statement
Knowing where to start with a medical school personal statement can be challenging. How could you possibly convey your life’s story in 5300 characters? The medical school personal statement should ideally be completed by March prior to the opening of AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS.
If you don’t know where to start, I suggest writing down all the reasons why you want to be a doctor. Then, write down stories that have had an impact on your decision to pursue medicine. These stories don’t have to be the typical sob stories or about shadowing and research. The medical school personal statement just needs to be authentic to who you are and what your personal journey is. Make sure these are well written and edited prior to submission.
Suggested Reading: From No Invites to Interviewing at UCSF- Reapplying to Medical School
Getting Ready for Secondaries
One thing that I wish I knew when I was applying was how quickly the flood of secondaries came in after submitting AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS. After spending weeks perfecting your medical school personal statement, you’ll likely feel a wave of relief and be tempted to take a short break. However, I encourage you to start on those secondaries immediately. Secondaries may come as soon as 2 weeks after you submit your application.
While many schools will write that you have a few months to submit the secondaries, ignore those deadlines. Your personal deadline should be within 1 week of receiving the secondary. Many schools will not consider your application if you don’t return their supplemental application within 2 weeks, as it suggests that their program was not a priority for you.
So how could you possibly return that many secondary applications within such a short time frame? Pre-write everything. I like to warn my students that the first 5 schools you apply to will be the worst since you have to think of new content each time. Once you get over this hump, a lot of your essays can be recycled.
Final Thoughts
Applying to medical school is a year-long, anxiety-filled process. Stay organized and keep on top of the essays to help mitigate some of the stress of applying. These pieces of your application will determine whether or not you secure a medical school interview invite. Therefore, make sure your essays are polished and reflect your voice and experiences. If you need help with any aspect of your application, learn more about how Application Architect can help you through the process.
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