Applying
Where do I submit my application?
Most medical students will submit their application through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). AMCAS is the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service and primary application method for first year entering classes for the majority of medical schools in the US.
What Extracurricular Experience Do I Need to Get Into Medical School?
Although Work and Activities is the fifth section of nine on the medical school application, it’s often the section that admissions committees start with to get a better sense of who you are and your unique interests.
It’s important to think strategically about what to include in this section. Admissions committees want to see that you have experience in a few core areas: clinical exposure, research, and community involvement. This demonstrates that you have the relevant interests and well-rounded experience to understand whether or not you really want to become a physician.
It’s not necessary for you to spend equal time in all of these areas. Passion is what the admissions committee is most interested in since you are much more likely to take on a leadership role in an activity you feel passionate about. Leadership is one of the most important traits in prospective physicians, so choose activities you are genuinely interested in.
When Should I Take the MCAT?
If you plan on attending medical school immediately after college, we recommend taking the MCAT during the summer after your sophomore year. If you plan on taking a year off after college, we recommend you take the MCAT during the summer between your junior and senior year.
What does CPR stand for?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
What is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men?
Prostate cancer
What’s the Difference Between AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS?
There are three medical school application services used in the United States: the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), and the Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service (TMDSAS).
AMCAS is the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service, which means the vast majority of medical schools across the US use this service.
AACOMAS is the centralized application service for the US colleges of osteopathic medicine. It’s the primary application method for students who want to study osteopathy.
TMDSAS is the primary application service for most medical schools located in Texas, including dental and veterinary schools.
How Many Letters of Recommendation Are Required?
The number of letters of recommendation required varies from school to school more than it does from one application service to the next. Regardless of the application service you’re using to apply, it’s most important to find out how many letters are required for each individual school.
You will generally be covered if you acquire 4-5 strong letters of recommendation across science, non-science, and extracurriculars. If you are exclusively applying to medical schools in Texas, you only need 3-4 letters of recommendation.
Are there required courses or prerequisites I need to take before taking the MCAT exam?
All of the content on the MCAT exam is covered in introductory courses at most colleges and universities, including introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and first-semester psychology, sociology, and biochemistry. Research methods and statistics concepts on the exam are used in introductory science labs as well as introductory psychology and sociology courses. You are encouraged to reach out to the prehealth advisor at your institution who can help you determine the specific coursework you will need to meet your educational goals.
What S-word is defined as "a lateral curvature of the spine"?
Scoliosis
What, along with heart disease and cancer, accounts for 64 percent of U.S. deaths?
Strokes
Can I Submit My Application Through Multiple Services?
Yes. You can apply through AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS, but you will need to submit separately, and there are slight differences in the application requirements between services such as personal statement length and letters of recommendation requirements.
What Makes a Good Personal Statement?
A personal statement is your chance to tell an admissions committee your story and demonstrate how your unique experiences shaped your desire and drive to study medicine. Who are you beyond your grades and achievements? Why do you want to become a doctor, and what personal strengths, qualities, and experiences make you uniquely qualified to study and one day practice medicine?
The operative word here is story. A good personal statement presents a cohesive narrative from start to finish. It’s not just forming your CV and extracurriculars into complete sentences, and it’s not simply stating that you have a passion for medicine and helping people—you have to demonstrate your personal strengths and unique qualifications through narrative examples from your life. Plus, you have to do so in 5300 characters or less.
How often can I take the MCAT exam?
There are testing limits on how many times you can take the MCAT exam. Voids and no-shows count toward your lifetime limits. Remember that you can only be registered for one seat at a time.
Single testing year: The MCAT exam can be taken up to three times.
Two consecutive-year period:The MCAT exam can be taken up to four times.
Lifetime: The MCAT exam can be taken up to seven times in a lifetime
What's the common term for a cerebrovascular accident?
Stroke
What do leukemia patients have too many of?
Leukocytes
When Are Primary Applications Due?
The AMCAS application typically opens during the first week of May for the following year’s medical school class.
As AMCAS submissions don’t open until the end of May or early June, you have a month or so to prepare the application.
For example, if you want to begin medical school in the fall of 2024, you’ll need to start the application process in the spring of 2023.
What GPA and MCAT Score is Needed to Get Into Medical School?
The GPA and MCAT score required varies from state to state and school to school, so it’s important to check the specific averages for the programs you’re most interested in attending. That said, these are the general averages:
GPA and MCAT averages of matriculants:
AMCAS Overall GPA Average: 3.74
AMCAS MCAT Score Average: 511.90
AACOMAS Overall GPA Average: 3.54
AACOMAS MCAT Score Average: 504.31
TMDSAS Overall GPA Average: 3.79
TMDSAS MCAT Score Average: 510.80
What does an optional break mean?
You are not required to take a break between sections of the MCAT exam. You may go on to the next section in the exam once you finish the previous section or you may take the optional 10 or 30 minute break. You may also leave the testing room during the break to access food, drink, or medicines, or to use the restroom.
The remaining time from a section you finished early or a skipped break will not carry over to the next section of the exam.
What syndrome does SIDS stand for? (Hint: child care experts would know)
Sudden infant death syndrome
What disease is the focus of oncology?
Cancer
When Are Secondary Applications Due?
You will likely receive a secondary application within two to four weeks of submitting your primary application. It’s imperative that you complete your secondaries within 7-14 days of receiving them. It’s a short turnaround window by any stretch of the imagination, which means it is vital that you prepare well in advance to ensure you submit a quality response quickly.
What If My Grades or MCAT Scores Aren’t Good Enough?
You must be realistic about your likelihood of acceptance to the medical schools of your choosing. You are going up against thousands of qualified and dedicated med school applicants, and some programs are more cutthroat than others.
A solid GPA and high MCAT score are certainly important, but not as important as you think. Plus, it’s important to keep in mind that there’s no guarantee you’ll perform any better if you retake the MCAT.
Investing in MCAT tutoring from the beginning will evaluate your strengths and weaknesses to provide a study strategy tailored to your individual needs. But it’s not only about your MCAT score. If your grades are lacking, work to improve other aspects of your application, such as your personal statement, and hone your interview skills. A stellar applicant with a perfect 528 on the MCAT can ruin their chances of acceptance with a bad interview, a poorly written personal statement, or by submitting their application late.
Does preparation for the MCAT exam differ for examinees applying to MD-granting or DO-granting medical schools?
MD- and DO-granting schools utilize similar curricula to prepare their students for entry into ACGME-accredited residency training programs. Preparation for the MCAT exam does not differ for examinees applying to either school.
The MCAT exam tests concepts in the natural, social, and behavioral sciences and critical analysis and reasoning skills that are essential to entering students' success in medical school. The exam was designed by a diverse group of medical school educators, administrators, and leaders; undergraduate faculty and advisors; and a medical student and resident. The MCAT exam was informed by quantitative and qualitative research, including data and recommendations from experts about what entering medical students need to know and what is taught widely at undergraduate institutions.
What does AAO stand for?
Alert, awake, and oriented
What hereditary blood defect is known as "the royal disease"?
Hemophilia