While applying to medical school through the traditional route is incredibly competitive, I would argue that BS/MD’s are even more competitive to get into. Over the past few years of working with applicants applying for BS/MD, I have seen many qualified students get rejected from their top schools. However, the process can also seem random; one student got into Brown PLME even though she was rejected from her top 2 programs. Another thing that always surprises students is the number of essays. For those who plan to mass apply to BS/MD’s, be prepared to write upwards of 50 essays. If you want to work with me during the application process, click here to get started.
If you’re applying to BS/MD and BS/DO programs, keep reading to understand what you need to know to get started on BS/MD applications.
BS/MD & BS/DO 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 BS/MD applicants don’t realize how quickly deadlines for essays approaches. Here are some of the important dates and tips that you need to know:
Common App
- August 1, 2025: Common App opens for the 2025-27 cycle
- Some programs have deadlines in October, like Penn State PMM
- The majority of BS/MD programs have deadlines of November 1st or 15th
- Make sure to send all transcripts and standardized testing scores BEFORE the submission deadline.
- Common App only allows you to submit to 20 schools. If you want to submit more, you can do so through Coalition App.
- Some BS/DO’s like LECOM have rolling admissions- submit these as soon as possible!
- Some schools may use their own portals instead of Common App
Standardized Testing
- SAT: Last recommended day to take the SAT is August 23, 2025, but I recommend taking it by June 7th.
- ACT: Last recommended day to take the ACT is July 12, 2024, but I recommend taking it by June 14th.
- CASPER: Recommend to take it by November
- Hofstra: Last day to take it is usually in January
- Drexel: You won’t need need to take it unless you get an interview invite
Other important dates (outside of BS/MD)
UC Application
- August 1: UC application opens for submissions the 2025-2026 cycle
- January 15: UC application due
Early Decision I & II
- Early Decision I: Typically due by November 1 or November 15
- Early Decision II: Typically due by January 1st
Making a BS/MD School List
When you’re creating a BS/MD school list, don’t just mass apply. There is a limited time to produce a large number of well-written essays, so you want to maximize your chances by spending your time wisely. Therefore, you will want to spend time wisely on programs that will seriously consider your application. For example, if you’re applying to Brown PLME, you will need that “stand-out” factor. For UPitt BS/MD and Penn State BS/MD, you will need to be at the top of your class with high SAT scores (over 1520). Here are some things to consider when making your school list:
- SAT/ACT and GPA averages
- In-state vs out-of-state preferences
- Profile Preferences: Community volunteering vs research
- BS/MD vs BS/DO
Many students will typically apply to 15 BS/MD programs between both BS/MD and BS/DO programs. I would not recommend exceeding 25 schools in total, including your regular undergraduate programs. 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).
Are test-optional schools really test-optional? While it was previously thought that all BS/MD’s require an SAT or ACT score, I did see a student who applied test-optional this past cycle interview at Penn State’s BS/MD (PMM). However, the rest of her provide did match the rigor of typical profiles that I have seen from previous PMM admits.
Read more: Complete list of BS/MD schools for 2024-2025
Read more: Complete list of BS/DO schools for 2024-2025
Need help making a school list? Check out our Strategy Consultation
Letters of Recommendation
I always recommend getting letters of recommendations early. Since junior year is so busy, many students tend to ask teachers for letters of recommendations in the summer. However, I always suggest students to ask their teachers in February or March since it gives them a head start writing your letter. I suggest getting 5 letters of recommendations: 2 science or math letters, 1 non-science, and 2 miscellaneous (including work, research, volunteer, etc).
After your writers agree to provide a letter of recommendation for BS/MD, make sure to send them your resume and a sample letter that they can edit. Your letter should include specific stories that demonstrate your qualities and characteristics. This could include, but is not limited to, leadership, teamwork, being proactive or taking initiative, and altruism. Letters of recommendations will often be stored in SCOIR or Naviance, but some BS/MD’s like UCONN will ask for letters to be sent directly to a designated admissions office email.
BS/MD Personal Statement
Considering many application profiles tend to look similar, great essays can help you stand out among the application cohort. Two of the most important aspects of applying for BS/MD is your Common App personal statement at the BS/MD Why Medicine essays. These two essays should be approached differently.
For the Common App personal statement, I generally recommend students to think more in an abstract manner. This should not necessarily convey why you want to pursue a career in medicine. Rather, this should capture your story: hardships, personal development, your interests. Of note, not all personal statements have to be sob stories; they just have to be authentic to your life, interests, and aspirations.
The BS/MD Why Medicine, on the other hand, should be demonstrate why you want to become a physician. One mistake that I commonly see is the lack of a clear vision for what students want to do in medicine. Medicine as a career is incredibly challenging; without clearly showing admissions that you have a goal, it makes it difficult to convince them that you’re adequately prepared to enter a rigorous 6- to 8-year program. I suggest drawing from your experiences and reflecting on how they contributed to your decision to become a physician.
Read More: Where To Start For A College Personal Statement
BS/MD Supplements
While finishing the personal statement seems like a huge feat, it is just scratching the surface. I encourage you to start writing the BS/MD supplements as soon as possible. As many schools tend to have the same deadlines, the early October and November deadlines can quickly sneak up on you.
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.
Read More: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing BS/MD Supplements
Create A Resume
When applying for BS/MD, some programs will ask for a one or two page resume. Make sure your resume is organized, concise, and easy to read. For each activity on your resume, make sure to have no more than 2 bullet point.
Longer resumes are not necessarily better. A few years ago, I had a student with a 16-page resume. A lot of it was very obviously fluff and included things like where she had traveled or single day activities. Given how many applications admissions officers have to read each cycle, they will not likely look past the first two pages.
Final Thoughts
Applying for BS/MD medical school can be a confusing and stressful process. If you are applying for the upcoming cycle, utilizing your summer efficiently will be important to getting your applications polished and submitted prior to your deadlines. I recommend a strong application strategy, from a tailored school list to well-thought out essays, to maximize your changes throughout this incredibly competitive process. 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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