Time Line for Medical School

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  • Sophomore Year
  • Junior Year
  • Senior Year
  • Admissions Tests
  • How Schools Receive your MCAT Scores
  • MEC Evaluations
  • AMCAS-The Application Process
  • Where to Apply
  • Application Guidelines

    • Winter (Sophomore Year)

    1. Coordinate efforts with pre-medical advisor and DOA.
    2. Develop a plan.
    3. Participate in DOA.

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    Spring

    1. Coordinate efforts with pre-medical advisor.
    2. Develop a plan.
    3. It will not hurt to begin looking over MCAT material and taking a registering for the real MCAT in August.
    4. Take practice MCATs.
    5. Participate in DOA.

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    Fall (Junior Year)

    1. Coordinate efforts with pre-medical advisor.
    2. Take August MCAT.
    3. Participate in DOA.

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    Winter

    1. Begin MCAT prep.
    2. Verify accuracy of transcript.
    3. Seek out letters of recommendation.
    4. Coordinate efforts with pre-medical advisor.
    5. Lighten spring course load to permit MCAT prep.
    6. Participate in DOA.

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    Spring

    1. Register for April MCAT.
    2. Get letters of recommendation.
    3. Finish MCAT prep.
    4. Take the MCAT (April).
    5. Begin AMCAS application (and others, if necessary).
    6. Get medically related job or internship for summer.
    7. Participate in DOA.

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    Summer

    1. Submit AMCAS application (and others, if necessary).
    2. Register for the August MCAT (if necessary).
    3. Continue MCAT prep (if necessary).
    4. Continue and complete medically related job.
    5. Take the August MCAT (if necessary).
    6. Complete and return all secondaries promptly.
    7. Participate in DOA.

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    Fall (Senior Year)

    1. (One year before Med School begins.) Complete and return all secondaries promptly.
    2. Prepare for medical school interviews.
    3. Begin interviews at medical school.
    4. Participate in DOA.

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    Winter

    1. Interview at medical schools.
    2. If on medical school waiting list, maintain contact and interest in school--update school of new activities if necessary.
    3. Apply for financial aid. Complete the FAFSA no earlier than January 1st but no later than the campus and/or state deadline.
    4. Submit any forms required by your school's financial aid office.
    5. Participate in DOA.

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    Spring

    1. Get info on medical school waiting list, maintain contact and interest in school--update school of new activities if necessary.
    2. Receive award letter and, if necessary, consider educational loans to bridge the gap between financial aid awarded and total educational expenses.
    3. Start medical school.
    4. Participate in DOA.

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    ADMISSIONS TESTS

    For allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, you must take the Medical College Admission Test. For some MD/PhD programs, you must also take the Graduate Record Examination. Do not miss the registration deadlines. They are never waived. You can contact any officer to obtain the appropriate registration materials. You can also contact the Testing Center on campus (504-549-2094).

    MCAT Test Dates Registration Dates (Postmark Deadline) Late Registration (last chance)

    April 15, 2000 March 10, 2000 March 24, 2000

    August 19, 2000 July 14, 2000 July 28, 2000

    If you wish to request an MCAT fee reduction, you must have that request approved before submitting your test registration form. If you are reading this before the MCAT registration booklets are available, you can download a Fee Reduction Request Form via the internet at the following URL: http://www.aamc.org/stuapps/admiss/mcat/mcatfr.htm.

    It is to your advantage to take the test in the spring. Admissions deans agree that students who take the spring test have an advantage over the fall test takers because their applications become complete early. It is very unusual for a student who takes a fall test to hear about interviews before the winter break. By this time, many acceptances have already been offered.

    You should study for the test. It is an aptitude test and a test of your knowledge. Many students take review courses, which are quite costly. Others make use of software or study guides (there are several in the Delta Omega Alpha office) which can prepare you equally well but require you to discipline yourself. Whatever route you choose, plan to spend time preparing for the test. If you do not do well, you should retake the test. If you are uncertain about whether or not you should retake the test speak to a DOA officer.

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    HOW SCHOOLS RECEIVE YOUR MCAT SCORES

    AMCAS schools automatically receive your scores on the "new" MCAT (1991 on); however, you must have them sent to non-AMCAS schools. Use the 6 free score-reporting slots on your MCAT form for non-AMCAS schools.

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    MEC EVALUATIONS

    SLU, like many schools, has a Medical Evaluation Committee (MEC) that evaluates medical school applicants. One person from the committee interviews the applicant. The recommendation letter is written and then signed by the MEC. Dr. Dunn or any other qualified professor hand delivers the applications to LSU in Shreveport and New Orleans. The professors that are a part of the MEC sign an agreement that they will not write individual recommendation letters. Currently, MEC evaluations are due the first week of school in the Fall semester.

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    AMCAS-THE CENTRAL APPLICATION

    The central application used by most of the 125 medical schools in the country is known as AMCAS. Osteopathic medical schools use AACOMAS. All central applications will be available in the DOA office in April. Because the vast majority of students use AMCAS, that will be discussed here. Students using the other services, such as AACOMAS, will find tremendous similarity to AMCAS. In addition, all services provide explicit directions; please read them!

    AACOMAS: The AACOMAS application is available in paper or electronic format. You can request an application from http://www.aacom.org/applic.htm

     

    AMCAS: AMCAS accepts applications after June 1 but not later than the deadline of a given school to which you are applying (from October 15 to December 1). (Although some schools accept AMCAS applications as late as December 1, we recommend that you send in your AMCAS application and your supporting material by the end of the summer. Even if you will not take the MCAT until the Fall, it is helpful for the medical schools to file your application early.)

    The AAMC now has an electronic version of the AMCAS application, called AMCAS-E. For more information see the following:

    http://www.aamc.org/stuapps/admiss/amcase/start.htm. Students have had wonderful experience with the AMCAS-E. You can even download a copy from http://www.aamc.org/stuapps/admiss/amcasreq/download.htm.

    If you use the paper version of AMCAS, you will benefit from reading carefully the thorough instruction booklet provided by AMCAS. If you have very specific questions about the AMCAS application, you can call the AMCAS customer service number: 202-828-0600 or send an email message to amcas@aamc.org.

    To activate the AMCAS application, you must submit official transcripts. Contact any other U.S. or Canadian schools where you have studied (including pre-freshman college programs) and have them send transcripts to AMCAS.

    The first page of basic information is fairly straightforward; answer concisely and type neatly. The two most commonly asked questions about this page involve state of residency and listing of activities. As a full-time student you are a resident of the state where your parents or guardians reside. Your activities should be listed neatly, including years of involvement and any positions held, e.g., Kite and Key (97-99), president 98-99. If you cannot fit all of your activities, try to abbreviate each activity, trying to highlight the most important ones.

    AMCAS Academic Record: You must list all your courses and categorise them according to the standard AMCAS categories. You will need a copy of your transcript(s) because AMCAS wants the course description given on your transcripts, not what the catalogue says. Follow the directions carefully! A few key points:

    • if you are not sure whether a course is a science, decide based on course content

    • the gpa calculating sheet does not include AP, CC, or PF courses; all others should agree with the academic record (see page 6 of this booklet for a guide to converting Penn course units to semester hours)

    • do not send any additional material to AMCAS

    When you submit your AMCAS application you send along a designation sheet on which you indicate the schools to which you wish to apply. You can add schools later on an additional designation form. After AMCAS processes your application AMCAS forwards it to those schools you designate, and a copy to you for your records. When the schools receive this, they will then send you supplementary applications requesting their application fee, letters of recommendation and additional essays, etc.

    The application sequence for AMCAS schools:

    1. 1) Complete and mail your application to AMCAS (keep a copy)
    2. 2) Within 3 weeks you will receive an acknowledgement card - call if you don't (202-828-0600). It is your responsibility to verify that AMCAS received your application.
    3. 3) Within 6 weeks you will receive a copy of your processed application - the transmittal notification.
    4. 4) Soon after that, medical schools will send you supplementary applications requesting letters of recommendation, application fee, and any other information. These applications vary in length. Allow time for this part of the process.

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    WHERE TO APPLY

    You will decide on your final list of schools in June, when you have your spring grades and your MCAT scores. Prior to that time, you should compile a tentative list, which you can discuss with your Pre-Med Advisor. You will choose the schools to which you will apply; your advisor will offer guidelines and suggestions. The Association of American Medical College's Medical School Admissions Requirements book is a valuable resource in choosing your list of schools.

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    SOME APPLICATION GUIDELINES:

    • Consider each school's in-state/out-of-state ratios; your state schools automatically give you preference. It is in your interest to apply to medical schools in your state.

    • Apply to a range of schools; your list should include your most likely acceptances as well as your "long shots."

    • Apply to multiple schools but don't go overboard. Nationally, students apply to an average of 9 schools. You can apply to more schools, but rarely do you increase your chances of acceptance by applying to more than 15 schools. Realise that it can become very costly to apply to a lot of schools, since each AMCAS school charges a secondary application fee in addition to the primary AMCAS fee. PLEASE discuss your choice of schools with your Pre-Med Advisor. You should NOT need to apply to more than 15 schools. If you are having trouble limiting your list, ask for help.
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