Sadly, the frustrating truth is that there’s no rule governing when a medical school must respond to your application. However, in this blog post, we’ll try to mitigate some of that frustration by answering some of the big questions you might have as an anxious med school applicant, including the following:

• How long does a medical school have to send you a secondary application?
• When can you expect to receive interview invitations (or a response of “Thanks, but no thanks”) from a medical school?

When to Expect Secondaries

Most medical schools send a secondary application to candidates soon after receiving their primary application. If you haven’t received your secondary shortly after submitting your primary application, be sure to visit the school’s portal to 1) confirm that your primary application is complete and 2) look for secondary application instructions on the portal.  

Some medical schools screen applicants before sending secondaries. If eight weeks have passed since you applied and you still haven’t received a secondary, you should do three things:

1. Confirm that the school accepts communications and/or additional materials from applicants. Some programs are very clear about not wanting anything but a candidate’s primary and secondary applications, and you should always follow a school’s instructions.
   
2. Check to see whether you fall within the school’s range of accepted students. Are your GPA and MCAT score below the school’s lowest accepted scores? If so, then you’ve likely been screened out.
   
3. If the school accepts communications from applicants and your GPA and MCAT score are within the ranges of those of its matriculants, consider sending a letter of interest. Be sincere, succinct, and direct in stating why you are drawn to the program and how you would be an asset. These letters are most effective when you have a strong connection to the school or its locale. Your reasons for this might be a connection to a graduate, a special fit with the program’s research efforts, familiarity with the locale, or even having friends in the program who have raved about what they’re learning. Or it might simply be that the school has always been your dream school and therefore you want to give it your best shot.
   
   In any case, your letter of interest should demonstrate an understanding of the program that goes beyond the ordinary (i.e., what’s on its admissions website) and show that you’ve done your research. If you do a good job of showing your fit for a program – by highlighting your unique qualities in a way that might not have come across as clearly in your application – a letter of interest might give you the boost you need.

When to Expect an Interview Invitation

If you’ve submitted your secondary and are waiting to be invited for an interview, the wait can seem interminable – especially if you’re constantly refreshing your email to see whether the school has contacted you. It’s even more difficult when others are receiving invitations and you haven’t heard anything. Although it might be tempting, don’t call the school to check on your status; this is sure to backfire on you. Trust that the admissions committee is working through applications as quickly as they can.

There’s no uniform schedule for med school interviews. Many programs start sending out interview invitations shortly after they receive their first round of secondary applications. Others seem to dole them out more gradually, and their season can stretch well into the new year. However, the bulk of interview invites are issued between September and January. The earliest tend to go to applicants who not only submitted secondaries early but who also have 1) high stats and 2) very specific reasons for attending the program. There are always applicants who get later interviews, however, so don’t give up hope.

If you submitted your application early and haven’t heard anything by November, you should think about sending a letter of interest. Follow the steps presented earlier in this post, keeping in mind that showing your genuine connection with and interest in the school is essential. Have you learned something new about the program that has further piqued your interest? Have you been in contact with alumni of the school? 

Combining your letter of interest with an update can make it even more effective. Emphasize any new activities as well as your strong fit with and genuine enthusiasm for the program.  

And if you are waiting for an extended period of time, don’t limit yourself to a single letter of interest/update. Most programs want to know when you have substantial accomplishments to share, and you can use each one as a chance to demonstrate your genuine interest in the program.

Of course, you don’t want to overwhelm the admissions committees with letters, and you should always follow each program’s instructions about providing additional materials. Some schools want you to keep in touch and continue to show your interest, while others only consider materials that are submitted as part of a candidate’s primary and secondary applications and do not accept any additional communications. And some schools allow updates but only after an applicant has interviewed. Be sure to check individual school policies on their websites and admissions portals as you plan your strategy. 

Post-Secondary, Pre-Interview: Planning Ahead

As the September–January period comes to a close, medical school interviews tend to wind down, though some programs continue to extend invitations late into the spring. However, if you still haven’t received an interview in this time frame, you should begin thinking about your game plan for the next year. Start by taking a good, hard look at your application:

• Is your MCAT score competitive at your chosen programs? Are your grades strong? Would your quantitative profile be strengthened through additional postbaccalaureate coursework or retaking the MCAT?
• Are you confident about how you presented yourself in your primary application? Did your personal statement make you stand out? Did your experiences and meaningful experiences reflect a well-rounded candidate? And did you apply as early as possible in the season? 
• Were your secondary application essays tailored to offer specific answers for each particular program, or did you merely “recycle” generic answers? Did you demonstrate your level of interest by turning your secondaries around within two weeks?
• Are your recommendations the very best you can get?
• Did you apply to schools where you were truly competitive? Did you apply to a wide range of schools, or were your applications weighted toward programs with very low acceptance rates (e.g., Mayo, Georgetown) and out-of-state schools?

Remaining Optimistic

The medical school application season can be long and nerve-wracking. During this time, it’s more important than ever that you focus on other interests, especially ones you are passionate about. When you finally get invited to interview and are asked about your recent activities, you’ll want to have more to say than “checking my email.” And if you’re serious about medicine and can convey your enthusiasm in your application, you’ll make it.

Do you need help with your medical school application? Work one-on-one with an Accepted advisor who will help you create a strong, successful, admission-worthy application. Request your free consultation today! 

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. 

Related Resources

• How to Answer Questions That Stump You in a Medical School Interview, Accepted YouTube video
• Med School Admissions Officers Reveal Interview Timeline, Admissions Straight Talk podcast
• 12 Med School Interview Questions You’ll Likely Face—and How to Prepare