Before applying to med school, you need to be prepared to give yourself the best shot. Applying to medical school is without a doubt, one of the most expensive, disheartening, challenging, and frustrating things that I have ever done. However, there is a sense of accomplishment when you finally getting that First acceptance. You feel this relief that all those trials and tribulations were worth it.
I had the joy of reliving this experience twice 🙃 but had I been privy to the following information, I would have probably only had to do this once… But, experience is the best teacher and everything happens for a reason! The following list is are suggestions from my experience plus some research. Here are the top things to keep in mind:
1. There are 3 Different Application Services
Before applying to med school, decide which service is best for you. Applying to medical school is similar to applying to the colleges on the CommonApp. The majority of the schools you are looking at are on one platform. This platform sends your entire application to whichever schools you choose. The most well-known of these services is the American Medical College Application Service, AMCAS for short.
AMCAS Application
This is the home to most allopathic medical schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. These schools offer M.D. degrees and combined Dual Degree programs (like M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.B.A., M.D./MPH, M.D./J.D.). You log in to the current application cycle and complete your demographic information, schools attended, school work completed, etc. Then, you will document all of your shadowing and clinical experiences, volunteer hours, research, leadership and any other extracurricular activities you hope will enhance your application. Lastly, you will add your your personal statement.
This is also the place where your letter writers will upload their letter of evaluation once. Then when your MCAT scores are released, your application updates automatically. The most grueling part about this service (and all the services) is that you have to manually enter your coursework. This includes the course name, semester taken, credit hours, and final grade. When you are done, you will choose all the schools you want this application to go to.
AACOMAS Application
The next application service is the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). All 36 schools on this application service are osteopathic medical schools. Osteopathic medicine differs from allopathic medicine in its approach to medicine. Their practice is more holistic and patient centered. As of July 1, 2020 both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools will be unified under the same accredited Graduate Medical Association (GME). So, the only difference is in the type of medicine you would like to learn, but not the quality of medical education. Similar to AMCAS, you will fill out everything for your primary application once and send it to all the osteopathic schools at once, saving you time on repeating this information.
TMDSAS Application
The final application service is the Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service (TMDSAS). This application service collects the same information as the other two, but is exclusive to Texas healthcare system schools. The schools on this application service include:
- Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio
- McGovern Medical School
- Sam Houston State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Texas A&M University College of Medicine
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
- The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
- The UT Southwestern Medical Center
- The UT Medical Branch at Galveston
- The UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
- University of North Texas – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- *Baylor College of Medicine is not included, but a member of AMCAS*
The convenient thing about TMDSAS is that you pay a flat fee and can apply to as many schools as possible. The other two services operate differently (See #3 Below). This service asks you about state residency, entrance exams, different types of experience, and more. Once you complete it, you are able to choose which schools you would like to send your application to. If at any time you want to add to that, email them through the portal and they will get that school added for you.
It is important to note that Texas schools have a residency preference and 90% of their seats have to go to Texas residents. It is certainly not impossible as a non-resident, but having a Texas residency greatly increases the odds of being admitted to these schools
2. Start Applying Early
Starting early is the most advised tip in medical school applications. This is why you need a plan before applying to med school. You’ll be off to a better start than other applicants. The early bird gets the worm is not a guarantee, but it certainly may increase your odds. AMCAS application cycle opens May 4th, 2020 at 9:30 am. You can begin submitting your application as early as May 28th, 2020. Schools start receiving your applications as early as June 26th, 2020. AACOMAS opens their application on May 2nd, 2020 and start sending applications to medical schools June 15, 2020. TMDSAS opens their application May 1st, 2020 at 8 am.
The are several benefits to starting early. The first one is that receiving transcripts, verifying grades, and processing all letters of evaluation takes a lot of time. The last thing you want is for your application to be delayed over a technical issue.
The next benefit to starting early is that interview slots disappear quickly.
So, if you are in the first round of applications, then you have more seats to compete for than those students who get their applications turned in at the last minute. Now this does also depend on what type of admissions the schools is doing. With rolling admissions, the earlier the application, the better. Other schools choose randomly from a pool of applicants. Therefore, the date that you send in your application is not necessarily important. Either way, being in the earlier group helps your application be in slightly less competitive pool and allow more breathing room for par grades and MCAT scores.
3. Applying is EXPENSIVE
Another example of why poor people can’t be doctors due to institutional barriers. You’ll need to budget appropriately before applying to med school. The process is expensive and fee waivers are hard to come by. If you qualified for the Fee Assistance Program for the MCAT, then you automatically qualify for fee waivers for AMCAS schools. However, as previously stated, it is really difficult to qualify for this program. Below are a list of the application service fees:
AMCAS Application fees:
- $170 for the first school
- $40 for each subsequent school
AACOMAS Application fees:
- $195 for the first school
- $45 for each subsequent school
TMDSAS Application fees:
- $185 flat fee for all schools
Other fees to include are transcript fees, MCAT Testing fees, and secondary applications. Most schools, regardless of the application service, require a secondary application to get a better look at the applicant. These fees range from $0-$100 and are required for your application to be complete and processed. Finally, if any schools require the CASPer test, then that is an additional fee of $12 to take the test and $12 per school to send scores to.
4. Know your Application Deadlines
This is single-handedly the most important thing when applying to medical school (in my humble opinion). If you miss application deadlines then you’re completely out of the running. Every school has their own deadlines for MCAT scores, Primary Application, Secondary Application, Recommendation Letters, CASPer test, Transcript, etc. Before applying to med school, it is imperative that you know these deadlines and get everything submitted ASAP. A few important deadlines to keep in mind:
- AMCAS Early Decision Program – August 1st, 2020, complete application (with exception of transcript which is normally due 15 days after application submission)
- Submitted AMCAS Application – 11:59 PM on the date set by the school
- AMCAS Regular Decision Primary Application – September 3, 2020-January 31st, 2021; a majority of deadlines being October 1, October 15, November 1, or November 15. Please check with individual schools to determine their deadlines.
- TMDSAS Complete Application – October 15, 2020, includes transcript and recommendation letters along with primary application.
- AACOMAS Application Deadlines vary by school, but a majority are in the Spring 2021. The full list can be found here.
Secondary Applications
After turning in the primary application, secondary applications are sent out to all applicants or by invitation only. Each school differs, but a majority of schools provide all applicants with secondary applications. This way they get a holistic picture of the applicant. Check with each school to determine their deadlines for secondary applications.
I know this is an overwhelming process and it can be hard to keep track of all the deadlines of all the schools. So, I have created an excel sheet to assist with this process. Accumulate as many tools as possible before applying to med school.
This file should assist with keeping everything you need for tracking your applications in one place. So download it, print it, fill it out, whatever you gotta do so this process is so much easier.
5. The Pen is your Mightiest Sword
Outside of standard entries that highlight your academic prowess, essays are your selling points to schools. Everyone enters the same type of information when filling out academic information, volunteer, etc. However, your Medical School Personal Statement is entirely your own voice. It is the only way, essentially, to speak with these schools before the interview round. So you better stand out.
You want to highlight all of your best features. Talk about how your experiences and accolades will enhance your ability as a doctor. This is similar to an elevator pitch except on paper. And you get about 5300 characters to do it. Make it personal, highlight your medical experience, and really tell these schools how you would add to the medical world as a doctor.
In addition to selling yourself, you also have to show why you chose that specific school. No school wants a template essay that you went and just changed the school name then hit submit. They want to know what about their school made you spend your money applying. Before applying to med school, you need to do your research on the school. Be informed of the school, their program, and what exactly they offer. Then write about why you would want to be a part of that.
6. A Strong and Well-Rounded Resumé is a Must
Medical schools do not want scientific robots that lack social skills. They want someone with diverse experiences. HOWEVER, this does not mean they want someone who was involved in every club or activity under the sun. I made this mistake and was involved in so many activities because I believed that would make me a stronger applicant. “So what if I got a C in that class. I was president of three organizations at the same time. At least I got a C…”
Nope.
Wrong.
Ignore at all costs.
It is true that there is a lot in your application that medical schools are looking for. But, there is a way to do this where you’re still focused and oriented towards your end goal.
Medical schools admissions are looking for you to have the following things done well:
- Strong academics
- Physician Shadowing
- Clinical Hours (with patient interaction)
- Medical and non-medical volunteer hours
- Demonstration of leadership skills
- Research
- Work and activities
This shows medical schools that you can balance all of these activities and perform them all well. When I applied to the University of Kentucky and was denied, I called their admissions office to see why. My biggest weakness was my GPA (3.27 overall and 2.89 science). I tried reasoning with her by reminding her I had been in all these activities. That should have added up to something right? Her response was, “Well we look for students to do all these activities well…”
This helped me understand I had stretched myself thin trying to do all these activities. In reality, I let what was really important suffer. So remember you want a well-rounded resumé that is also focused and done well. It’s better to do a few things well than to do a lot of things mediocre.
7. Academics Must be on Lock
This was the piece of advice I just kind of turned a blind eye to. I figured my extracurricular activities would allow medical admissions to do the same…nope. Getting a 501 on my first MCAT and having a GPA lower than 3.0 just sabotaged my application efforts. Schools look at your undergraduate GPA as a predictive measure for how you will perform at the medical school level. Therefore, if you were slacking or struggling during undergrad, then it is hard to believe that you will be okay in medical school. Your transcript needs to have mostly A’s, a few B’s and only a couple of C’s, if any. Way before applying to med school, you need to take a realistic look at your academics. If your grades need a boost, handle it ASAP.
I had a great time in college and did everything I wanted to do. I was involved in student government and joined a sorority. Also, I worked for the women’s basketball team and traveled all around the country with them. One summer, I studied abroad in Barcelona. Every weekend I attended every party, football game, basketball game, and social function I could. I wouldn’t change my experience for anything. BUT if I could go back and do it again, I definitely would have limited time spent doing activities that detracted from my medical school application. I also would have asked for help in classes I was struggling with way before it was too late.
8. Fill out the FAFSA ASAP
The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, opens October 1st of every year until June 30th of the following year. Fill this out and add schools even if you haven’t heard anything back from them. Make sure you choose the medical school and not the university if they are separate. After you fill it out, schools you’re accepted to will send a financial aid package. It will include any scholarships you apply for (normally requires a separate application sent to you by the school) and what loans you qualify for.
The most popular loans for medical students are Unsubsidized Loans and GradPLUS student Loans. There are limits for these loans that also include your loans from undergrad. The limits are:
- $40,500 per year for Unsubsidized Loan
- $224,000 life time limit for Undergraduate and Graduate
- Up to cost of attendance for Grad PLUS loan
Loans are intimidating, but do not be intimidated by them. YOU’RE GOING TO BE A FREAKING DOCTOR 🤑 but do be sure to only borrow what you need. If you can cut back on any expenses without cutting into your quality of education, DO IT.
9. Get Ready to Interview
There is no feeling that can compare to getting your first interview request, LITERALLY NONE. I got my first one from the University of Kansas and I literally burst into tears. After a whole year of getting rejected, then a whole year of reconstruction, getting that interview felt like I broke through a barrier that was impossible before.
Depending on where your interviews are, you could have travel costs that take you by surprise. In person interviews are required. You must go to the interview to be considered. Some schools use the interview as an exclusionary measure, so not showing takes you out the running. Make sure you budget for potential flights, hotels, Ubers and more.
You also want to prepare yourself to answer questions. The best way practice is to find a bank of potential interview questions. Practice in the mirror, with friends or family, record yourself, whatever. Get some feedback on how you interview. It’s important. You want to be confident, short and to the point, but also personal. Schools use different interview formats. What I can say from the interviews I’ve been on is that they look for a straightforward answer and then move promptly on to the next set of questions.
Interview day is also where you meet some potential classmates. You learn a lot of information about the school, meet some current students and staff, and envision yourself attending that institution. Be relaxed, be professional, be on-time, and be yourself.
To feel even more prepared, check out my Sweet 16 Rules to Rocking Your Medical School Interview!
10. Give yourself some Grace
This process SUCKS and is hard. Before applying to med school, have a plan, but be prepared for it to possible change. Do not beat yourself up and do not panic. The first day of school isn’t going anywhere so you might as well enjoy the time you have until then. It is a long and arduous process that may not produce results until you are about to throw in the towel. BUT DONT. It is going to be okay and it is a learning process for sure. Even if you do not get in, do not give up on yourself. You may be able to call the schools’ admissions offices and figure out how to strengthen your application for the next round. The more informed you are the better.
And remember while you’re waiting, be positive and remain hopeful. I am a full believer in the power of manifestation. This whole year all I’ve been saying is “I’m going to be in someone’s medical school next year. I’m not sure whose, but someone’s”. And look at me now. I’m in a couple of someone’s medical schools and all it took was faith in God, patience, determination, and positive thinking.
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