If you are a medical school applicant with the goal of matriculating in the fall of 2025, it is time to submit your primary application! The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) opened on May 1, 2024, and fully completed applications can now be submitted (as of May 28, 2024).
If you are still working on your primary application, however, don’t worry. It is best to take a bit of extra time to ensure that every written piece you submit is of exceptional quality. Additionally, you should be aware of what is new on the 2025 AMCAS application.
#1. Biographic Information
In the optional self-identification section, AMCAS has expanded the range of race-ethnicity categories and encourages applicants to “check as many categories and subcategories as may apply.” If you have a broad and diverse background and elect to disclose this information, you now have more options through which to do so.
In the optional tribal affiliation section, AMCAS now offers a question that allows applicants to disclose whether they are affiliated with an American Indian or Alaskan Native tribe.
#2: Mandatory Sections
All mandatory sections are now denoted by a red asterisk. This differs from prior years, when just mandatory fields were indicated by a red asterisk. As I went through the application, I found this incredibly helpful in identifying specific items that needed attention.
#3: Updated List of PREview Participating Schools
More schools are “requiring” or “recommending” the AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam for the 2025 application cycle. AMCAS provides an updated list of the programs that use this tool in their holistic review process. A link to this list (updated as of May 31, 2024) can be found here.
The strategy for your primary AMCAS application is to submit it as early as possible but also when it is as strong as it can be. Being aware of and preparing for the new elements of the 2025 AMCAS application will help you submit your most competitive application.
As the former assistant dean of student affairs and career development at the William Beaumont School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Wherley worked directly with the dean of the School of Medicine, the associate dean of student affairs, the associate dean of clinical curriculum, and the assistant dean of admissions, as well as with Year 4 students on both residency application reviews/critiques and mock interview preparation. Work with Valerie! Schedule a free consultation today!
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