Aspiring Docs

FAQs and Resources

Applying to Medical School

  • How does the application process work for medical school?

    Applying to medical school is a three-step process. First, you complete an application. Second, if contacted by a medical school you've applied to, you complete that school's supplemental application materials. And, third, after submitting all the application materials, a medical school may invite you for an interview. Here's an overview of these steps.

    Application process:   When you applied to college, you probably filled out a different application for each school. When you apply to medical school you may use a common application. For most U.S. medical schools, you can use the AAMC's American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) , a centralized application service. The service collects, verifies, and transmits application information and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT®) scores to each school you identify.  AMCAS does not make admissions decisions; each participating school is responsible for making its own individual admissions decisions. 

    AMCAS has all you need to get started with the application process, including an application worksheet, an application timeline, important FAQs, and other resources. The AMCAS®: Participating Schools - Free Resource!  currently participating in AMCAS is available online as well.

    A small number of schools require application through different processes. For the public medical schools in Texas, you'll need to apply through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) .  You must apply separately for University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, and the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

    Supplemental applications:   Once schools have received your initial application, they may contact you to request additional information in the form of a supplemental application. Supplemental application materials vary from school to school and may include letters of recommendation, an essay, other school forms, a fee, or a combination of additional information. 

    Interviews:   Most medical schools require an interview, though the specific processes differ among schools. Interviews can take place on or off campus. Interviews can be conducted by an admissions committee member, by multiple members of the admissions committee, or by off-campus interviewers, such as practicing physicians. Generally, the interviewers complete evaluations that are added to the other application materials. 

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  • What's the application timeline, and what materials will I need to send in?

    The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) process begins on or about May 1 of each year for the following year's medical school class (e.g., May 1, 2014 for the class that begins in 2015). In addition to completing the application, you will need to request that official transcripts be forwarded to AMCAS by the registrar of every postsecondary school (e.g., colleges or universities, junior college, community college, trade school or professional school - regardless of whether credit was earned) at which you have ever been registered. 

    You'll need transcripts, too, if you took college courses while you were still in high school.  After your AMCAS application has been completed, interested schools may contact you to request a supplemental application that can include letters of recommendation, an essay, and other materials.

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  • Is there financial aid available for the application process?

    The AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) provides applicants to medical schools with an application for fee assistance for both MCAT® registration and the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS®) application. The FAP assists those whose family incomes are 300 percent or less of the federal poverty level; in other words, those whose inability to afford the full MCAT registration fee or the AMCAS application fee would prevent them from applying to medical school. The FAP application asks for personal and parental financial data. Once an applicant is granted provisional approval, the FAP requires documentation, such as W-2 forms, tax returns, etc. The FAP provides:

    • Reduced Registration Fee ($85 instead of $240)
    • A free copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam ($30 value)
    • Waiver for all AMCAS fees for up to 14 medical schools ($500+ value)
    • Complimentary access to MSAR Online for one year from the date of activation ($15 value)

    FAP decisions must be made before you submit your MCAT registration or AMCAS application. The Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR®) and the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) - Free Resource!  both contain FAP deadlines that coordinate with scheduled MCAT administrations and AMCAS applications.

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  • How do I know which medical schools might be right for me?

    Accredited medical schools in the U.S. and Canada offer a variety of excellent educational experiences in a variety of settings. Some schools are public and some are private, and they vary in size, curriculum, and character. To find out which schools might best meet your needs and goals, begin by consulting the AAMC's Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR®) .

    Your pre-health advisor may be able to put you in contact with students from your school who have recently begun medical school. If your mentor is a physician, he or she might recommend you speak with colleagues who can tell you about their medical school experiences. 

    Medical schools' Web sites also offer a good deal of information about their curricula and medical student life. Links to all AAMC-member medical schools can be found at Member Medical Schools .

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