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, the process takes less time, and you may use a common application. For 117 of the 126 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. 

The AMCAS Web site has all you need to get started with the application process, including an application worksheet, an application timeline, important FAQs, and other resources. The list of schools currently participating in AMCAS is available online as well.

A small number of schools require application through different processes. For the six public medical schools in Texas, you’ll need to apply through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).  For the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, you can apply online and you can also apply online for 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. 

For More Information:

• Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™)
  Published by the AAMC, this book is the most authoritative guide for applying to medical school. This accurate, thorough, and reliable resource is the only complete guide to U.S. and Canadian medical schools fully authorized by the schools themselves. In it you will find information on application procedures and deadlines, selection factors (including MCAT® scores and grade-point average), medical school class profiles, education costs and financial aid packages, and much more.
  
  

• Minority Student Opportunities in United States Medical School (MSOUSMS)
  This guide is designed specifically for minority students to be used as a companion to Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR^TM). It presents information from individual medical schools about recruitment, admission, academic support programs, financial aid, and more.