Application basics
When does the medical school application open?
Around the end of May each year
How many sections are there in the MCAT?
Four: Chem/Physics, CARS, Bio/Biochemistry, Psych/Soc
You need a 90th percentile MCAT and GPA to get in!
NO, but aim high!
Ideal time to take the MCAT
Summer between sophomore and junior year. The next best time is January of junior year. Latest June/July of Junior year.
If I don't submit my application right when it opens, I will drastically reduce my chances of getting in because the application process is on a rolling basis
Yes! Not necessarily after Day 1 exactly, but the longer you wait the worse your chances are.
How many medical school application systems are there in the U.S.?
Three! There's the AMCAS (MD), AACOMAS (DO), and TMDSAS (For Texas medical schools)
How long do you have to wait before your MCAT scores are released?
One month
Taking gaps years can strengthen your application
Yes if you have a plan!
I should probably start drafting my personal statement during this time
Beginning of application calendar year. It will take a few months, especially if you're asking people for feedback.
I cannot submit my application unless I have received my letters of recommendation, MCAT score, and added all the schools I want to apply to
No, you just need one school listed on the application to be able to submit it and you can add additional schools throughout. Once you receive your letters and MCAT score, they will be added to your application. *schools will not consider your application until then though*
Name the standardized test required by all schools and the other two that are school-dependent
MCAT, PREview, and Casper.
What times of the year can you schedule the MCAT?
January - September
If a school sends me a secondary application, that means they like me :)
Not necessarily, they send them to everyone who meets their basic requirement cutoffs.
I should probably start reaching out to my letter writers, asking for a strong letter of recommendation, during this time
Beginning of application calendar year. Give them time so they do a good job!
I should apply to this many schools to maximize my chances
25-30. Having a curated list of schools that you align with and have better chances with is crucial. Don't just apply to the most prestigious or local schools. You should be happy going to any of them on your list
When does the medical school application close?
WE DON'T CARE BECAUSE WE ARE APPLYING ON TIME
What classes should you take before taking the MCAT?
Intro Bio, Biochem, Gen Chem, OChem, Physics, Gen Psych, Physiology, Sociology
I'm a strong applicant, I'll definitely get in somewhere
NO! You need a well-rounded application with strong letters of recommendation and impressive extracurriculars! (ps. don't sleep on the personal statement either)
This is the time I can use to pre-write my secondaries
After you submit your application, around June before you get them in July
Explain the Extracurricular Requirements in depth
Volunteering - 400+ hrs
Shadowing - 100 hrs
Research - 100+ hrs (bonus: presentations/publications)
Leadership - 200+ hrs
Clinical Exposure - 100+hrs
List the components of a medical school application.
Coursework, Work/Activities, Letters of Recommendation, personal statement, and impactful statement.
How long should you study for the MCAT?
3-6 months
If I don't hear from school I applied to by Christmas, I should consider my application cycle over
Nope! You can hear back from a school and be interviewed anytime for their designated cutoff (typically around April)
I should make sure to send in my secondaries within this much time after receiving them
No more than 2 weeks!! Rolling admissions!
Describe what the PREview and Casper Exams are
The PREview Exam is a situational judgment test assessing eight professional competencies like cultural competence through 30 text-based scenarios, scored from 1-9. Casper evaluates 10 competencies like empathy via 12 video and text scenarios, with video/typed responses