Planning to apply to medical school in the upcoming cycle? With so much to do and so many deadlines to stay ahead of, the next few months can be a hectic time. Here are ten tips to help you hit the ground running.
1. Get cozy with AMCAS and AACOMAS (and TMDSAS, if you’re in Texas).
Medical schools in the United States use centralized application services that process your transcript(s), verify your coursework, and calculate your GPA before distributing your primary application to your chosen schools.
The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is the primary gateway for allopathic medical programs. If you’ve taken the MCAT or applied for fee assistance, you will already be registered with the AMCAS; if not, you should register immediately.
Osteopathic medical applicants apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), and Texas medical schools have their own application service – the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).
Each service has different timelines and requirements, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with their guidelines for completing your applications:
You’ll spend lots of time on these websites this year – whether you’re inputting your primary application, adding programs for submissions, or checking the status of your applications – so take time now to explore them.
2. Apply for fee assistance.
Applying to medical school is expensive, and each program you target comes with a hefty price tag. But don’t let the costs unfairly limit your choices. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Fee Assistance Program and the AACOMAS Application Fee Waiver can help defer the costs of applications and the MCAT.
Note that the AAMC’s program is good for an entire year (applications open in early February), and you are encouraged to apply early. By contrast, the AACOMAS fee waiver is only valid for two weeks, so be ready to submit your application when you apply.
Make sure you’re approved before you submit your application or you won’t be reimbursed.
3. Register for the MCAT.
If you haven’t already done so, go claim your MCAT slot. Spring and summer dates are in high demand, since ideally, you want to have your score in hand by June so you can make smart decisions about your school list. And if you require any accommodations, be sure to get your request in early.
If you’re waiting to get your MCAT score before submitting your application, don’t! You only need your MCAT score to identify your target schools. Submit everything else for verification as early as possible. This will make the process go much more quickly once your scores are available.
4. Sort out your recommendation letters.
Hopefully, you’ve already contacted the people you would like to write your letters of evaluation. If not, think about who can write about your suitability for medical school. When you request their help, supply them with an up-to-date copy of your resume or CV, along with notes as to any specific areas you’d like them to address.
Recommendation letters are also collected and distributed by a centralized service, whether you’re applying through AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS. While individual schools have their own requirements for letters, these services will allow you to collect more letters. You can then pick which letter goes to which schools.
Don’t postpone submitting your application while you’re waiting for your recommenders to complete their letters. If a recommendation arrives after your application has been verified, it will be sent immediately to your selected medical schools.
5. Apply early.
Schools set their own deadlines, and some of those deadlines might seem far away. But don’t wait! There is less competition early in the season, so applicants who wait to apply until later are at a disadvantage. Also, keep in mind that your application must be verified by your application service before it’s even forwarded to the med schools. AMCAS can take up to six weeks during peak season – and longer, if any issues arise – so budget that time into your timeline.
Also, remember that you do not need your MCAT score or your letters to submit your primary application. You don’t even need a full school list; the verification process can begin with a single school. With that in mind…
6. Decide where to apply.
One of your biggest decisions will be how many programs to target. With 51,946 unique applicants submitting nearly a million applications to allopathic schools during the 2024 cycle, the average candidate submits applications to 18.6 programs. If your GPA and MCAT score are above average, then you’re safe targeting fewer schools, but if in doubt, spread your chances out. To guide your decision, be sure to study each program’s website to understand its specific admission requirements and, in the case of allopathic schools, the Medical School Admissions Requirements (usually released in April).
You can find additional program information compiled in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Medical Schools list, but always take such rankings with a grain of salt. Many medical schools do not participate in the rankings, and deans are quick to point out that every accredited North American medical school provides a comprehensive medical education.
7. Start completing secondary essays.
After you have submitted your primary application, you might be tempted to take a break, but a better use of your time is getting started on your secondaries. Although some programs “screen” and invite candidates to submit secondaries only after reviewing their application, most programs automatically release their secondaries to you if you select their school. This means that you’re likely to get a deluge of secondaries shortly after you apply. Heed the “apply early” rule here, too – the general guideline is a two-week turnaround, but some programs have even shorter turnaround times. Prewriting some of your secondaries will ensure that you don’t miss a deadline or get flooded with a lot of new essays to write all at once.
8. Prep for interviews.
If you applied early in the season, you should start getting interview invitations by late August, and September-November is usually the peak of interview season.
Getting your first interview invitation is exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking. Interviews do get easier with practice, which is why we always recommend that you start preparing early. It can take some time to increase your level of comfort in talking about yourself, and it’s best to practice with someone who will give you honest feedback.
9. Don’t worry until you need to.
The medical school application process is long – it’s often compared to a marathon rather than a sprint – and your patience will be tested. In most cases, there is little you can do but wait. But what happens if January rolls around and you haven’t heard anything? Chances are you’ll need to start thinking about reapplying. However, there’s still one tactic at your disposal: submitting updates and letters of interest. This should not be done indiscriminately, though. Only submit additional materials if the program allows, and focus on substantive updates rather than repeating things you’ve already said.
10. Carry on carrying on.
Don’t put your life on hold while you apply for medical school. Keep doing what you love, whether that’s sports or volunteer work or community activities. Not only will you be a lot happier and a lot less anxious about the whole admissions process, but you’ll also have something to share if and when you get those coveted interviews.
If you’re applying to medical school in the 2025-2026 season, this next year could change your life forever. Get started right, and stay on top of things, and you’ll be able to make sure the year is both enjoyable and momentous.
Since 2001, Cydney Foote has advised hundreds of successful applicants for medical and dental education, residency and fellowship training, and other health-related degrees. Admissions consulting combines her many years of creating marketing content with five years on fellowship and research selection committees at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She’s also shared her strategy for impressing interviewers in a popular webinar and written three books and numerous articles on the admissions process. Want Cydney to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources: