The AMCAS system may be open for several months, but it’s to your advantage to apply earlier rather than later so that med schools can consider your application when they have more seats available to fill. On the other hand, you don’t want to submit your application before it’s truly ready to be sent in. How can you tell when your application is ready to submit?
Don’t hit submit just yet…
Here are four things we advise that you do before you submit, to make sure that your app is in tip-top sending off shape:
- Check that your application paints an impressive, holistic, and accurate picture of you.
Each section of your application – your essays, your CV, all those boxes and fields, your letters of recommendation, your MCAT score – should provide a snapshot of who you are. Double check that all information is accurate and that your snapshot presents you in the best light. The sections of your application should complement one another, similar to a puzzle, where each piece works together to create a complete, cohesive, unified picture.
- Recruit/hire someone to review your essays.
Your AMCAS essays and secondary essays aren’t done until another person (or other people) have looked them over. Have a friend, family member, or an experienced Accepted consultant read through your essays, check for errors and inconsistencies, and offer constructive criticism. No, it’s not fun to have someone point out your mistakes, but your essays will be better because of it, and as a result, so will your chances of getting into your top choice med school. (Caution: You want 1-3 people to review your essay – not the entire world. This is definitely a case where too many cooks can spoil the broth – or, more precisely, confuse matters hopelessly.)
- Proof your entire application.
Applicants spend so much time proofing their essays (which is great) but often forget that they need to proof the rest of their application as well (which is not great). Proofread every component of your application – your personal statement, the boxes, the experiences…everything. Check for proper spelling and grammar and correct any errors. The entire application package should be neat and clean and error-free. Try reading your application aloud – it’s an excellent way for your ears to catch mistakes that your eyes may have missed.
- Think about timing AND quality.
While it is important for medical school applicants to submit early in the process, it is better to send in the application a day or two later and present something that is polished and excellent, rather than submit a sloppy and rushed AMCAS app at the beginning of the process. So don’t procrastinate; there is no time to waste. At the same time, don’t compromise on quality in a rush to submit.
Never submit a sloppy AMCAS application!
Once you’ve completed these four items then it’s time to confidently hit that “Submit” button. Remember – while your goal should be to submit your application as close to the AMCAS open date as possible, it is NEVER a good idea to submit a sloppy application. So go on and check and double check that application to ensure that it’s a quality package of writing – a masterpiece of an application that you’re proud to present.
Want one last final check to make sure that you’ve done the best you can do to create a sparkling gem of an application? Our Application Final Check will give you that last-minute feedback that can turn your nearly-ready application into one that’s truly ready to be submitted. Learn more about our Application Final Check service here.
For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental school, veterinarian school, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and many more. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• Create a Winning AMCAS Application, a free webinar
• Is Your AMCAS Application Ready?
• Can You Submit Your AMCAS Application BEFORE Taking the MCAT?
