Timeline

The Process

1. Compile Everything

   • • Compile everything to make sure that you have all the requirements and prerequisites. You should have your transcripts from all the schools you attended (community college/4-year university), a list and description of your extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, your finished personal statement, and test scores (MCAT/CASPer).

2. Create A List of Medical Schools

   • • It is important to compile a list of medical schools that you will be applying to. The application process can be expensive but it is also important to apply to a number of schools to increase your chances of getting in. A smart applicant applies to a couple of reach schools, a fair amount of target schools, and a few safety schools.

       1. • Fee Assistance Program: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/fee-assistance-program/

     • Be sure to review a medical schools "Mission Statement" to see if you're a good fit for the school. If their mission statement revolves around research and you've done no research, it's best to save your money and not apply to that school.

     • Make sure that you've met all the requirements and prerequisites for the medical schools you're applying to.

       1. • Medical School Admissions Requirement (MSAR) Data: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/medical-school-admission-requirements/

3. Proofread and Review Everything

   • • Double and triple check your entire application before submitting it! This even means checking over the grades you inputted to make sure everything is correct.

     • Take note of weird formatting issues.

4. Use An Appropriate Email

   • • Your email should be professional looking. Make sure not to use your middle school email "rainbowdragons101". If anything, create a new email that is specifically for medical schools so that nothing gets lost.

       1. • Professional emails should have some variation of your name in them. Here's a resource for you to use when crafting your new email name: https://consultantjournal.com/blog/professional-email-address-ideas-for-common-names

5. Apply Early

   • • The deadline for submission should not be your goal. If your GPA and MCAT scores are lower, think about submitting early.

     • Medical school admissions is based on a rolling admissions system, the sooner you get your application in, the better your chances are since there are more spots available.

     • Your application needs to be verified before it gets sent to the medical schools. Most students submit later on in the cycle, so it could take up to 2-4 weeks for your application to be verified. You should take this into consideration.

6. Secondary Essays

   • • After submitting your primary application (Personal Statement/Transcripts/Letter of Recommendations/GPA/MCAT Score/Activities List), medical schools will follow up with a secondary application. The secondary application will consist of a couple school specific essays.

     • Some medical schools send the secondary almost immediately after receiving your primary application, other schools will put your application through a screening process that looks at your GPA and MCAT score. If you do not meet their minimum requirements, they will not send you a secondary application.

     • You will have 2 weeks to write and submit your secondary application after receiving it. Chances are, most medical schools use similar secondary questions. You can pre-write generic essays ahead of time so that you have less work to do when the secondaries come in. Be sure to edit them to fit the school!

7. The Interview

   • • If you've received an interview, that means the medical school likes you on paper. The interview is the perfect time for you to show them your dazzling personality. Think of the interview as a way for them to show you their school and for them to see if you would fit in with their current students and faculty.

     • Be sure to do your research before attending the interview. Chances are they will ask you questions about why you think their school is a good fit for you. Also, come up with some questions you can ask the interviewer.

     • Depending on the school, they may interview you in a traditional panel format, or they may utilize the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI).

       1. • • Different Interview Styles: http://blog.cambridgecoaching.com/medical-school-interviews-one-on-ones-panels-mmis

     • Follow up! After your interview be sure to send a "Thank You" note to the admissions committee.

8. Getting Your Medical School Admissions Offers

   • • Hooray, you received some acceptance offers! Congratulations, you're going to be an amazing doctor!

     • Before committing to a school, look at the financial aid they offered you. If your dream school did not offer any financial aid, but another school did, contact your dream school to see if they'd be willing to match the other schools offer. This might seem weird, but there's no harm in trying!

     • Make sure to meet the deadlines for accepting/declining your offers.

Resources

Podcasts

• https://medicalschoolhq.net/pmy-233-5-common-med-school-interview-questions-and-how-to-answer-them/

• https://medicalschoolhq.net/pmy-396-am-i-ready-to-apply-to-medical-school-a-new-series/

• https://medicalschoolhq.net/pmy-394-how-to-convey-your-story-through-the-med-school-application/

• https://medicalschoolhq.net/adg-59-how-should-you-approach-certain-questions-in-your-interview/

Websites

• https://medicalschoolhq.net/pmy-128-9-tips-to-successfully-submit-your-med-school-applications/

• https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/tips-from-a-medical-school-admissions-officer/

• https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/5-application-tips-admission-officers/

Books

• "Making Pre-Med Count: Everything I Wish I'd Known Before Applying (Successfully!) to Med School" Elisabeth Fassas

• "Cracking Med School Admissions 2nd Edition: "How to Get In": Advice From Stanford Med Students and Doctors" Rachel Rizal, MD

Interview Questions

• https://www.princetonreview.com/med-school-advice/medical-school-interview-questions

• https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/must-know-medical-school-interview-questions/