Medical School Application Timeline

Students wishing to apply to medical (and most health professional) schools must begin the application process almost two years before intended matriculation. That means, if you wished to enter medical school in the fall of 2009, you must have started the process in the fall of 2007.

Medical school applicants must assemble three main credentials: the application form (administered through AMCAS), the MCAT score, and the premed committee recommendation. To get full consideration from the largest pool of medical schools, the MCAT must be taken by about April one calendar year before intended matriculation. (Most medical schools fill slots on a rolling basis, starting late summer based on applications submitted as early as June 1.) That means, if you wish to enter medical school in the fall of 2009, you must take the MCAT by about April 2008. Other health professions follow similar time line.

See the "upcoming meetings and deadlines" link on the right for test dates and Premed committee due dates.

Graphical depiction of timeline for 2007-8 applicants


PDF version of timeline

Step 1: Be considered by the committee and take the MCAT

• Early in fall semester two years before matriculation: Information meeting held to outline the application process. Premedical advisors are assigned after meeting. Alumni and those off campus need to contact premed office to activate credentials file, obtain materials, and get added to e-mail list.
• Mid-to-late fall: students should set up a meeting with advisors and start soliciting recommendation letters.
• Late fall-early spring: students should work on and finish autobiographical statement and other materials; see committee page for details on submitting documents.
• Late fall through mid-spring: study for and take MCAT. (The MCAT is administered by computer and is offered several times a year.)
• Mid-to-late spring: students are given preliminary evaluations by the committee on a rolling basis. Letters containing the evaluation level are mailed after each evaluation meeting.
• Late May: the committee assigns final evaluations after spring grades are recorded.
• Late summer: the committee mails recommendation letters to medical schools on a rolling basis.
  
  

Step 2: Formal application process

• May: complete application materials for on-line application (through AMCAS for MD schools; the AACOMAS application for for DO schools may not be ready until June; see "Useful links" link on left of page for links to AMCAS and other health professional organizations). Make application decision after receiving MCAT result. Make sure to notify your advisor of your application decision so she or he can write your letter. Letters are written on a rolling basis and take considerable time.
• Early June: learn MCAT results and make application decision; decide which schools to apply and send in AMCAS application as close to June 1 as possible. Apply as early as possible; most medical schools have "rolling admissions" which means they start considering (and accepting) applicants as applications are submitted. (Note: DO applications usually open July 1.)
• July - August: receive and complete secondary application materials from schools. Bring addressed envelopes with separate stamps, to Premed Office so recommendation letters can be mailed out (or follow other directions given by the Premed Office).
• Early fall-following spring: interview at medical schools; hear results; accept one school. If you are certain you will not go to a school in which you are accepted, let school know so your place can go to another student.
• Following fall: enter medical school.