The first step in applying to medical school is completing the primary application. There are three centralized online application services that administer the primary application process for US medical schools:
PRIMARY APPLICATION COMPONENTS
All three application services collect the following information:
- Biographical and Identifying Information
- Schools attended
- College coursework
- Work & Activities
- Letters of Evaluation
- School list
- Essays
- Test Scores
- Application Fees
APPLICATION TIMELINE
The three primary application services follow roughly the same timeline.
- Early-May: Primary applications open
- Late-May: Primary applications open for submission
- Late-June: Application service sends verified applications to medical schools
RECOMMENDED PRIMARY APPLICATION DEADLINES
Mid-June:
- Submit primary application
- Request transcript(s). It is important to wait to request your transcripts until your spring grades are posted.
Late-June:
- Letters of Evaluation submitted
- Test Scores received
Submit your primary application within the first 2 weeks of June so that it can be verified in a timely manner. Verification is the process by which the application service providers compare the information you entered in the College Coursework section of the application to your official transcript(s). Verification can take 2-6 weeks.
RESOURCES
AMCAS Bootcamp: Held the first week of May, these virtual and in-person bootcamps offer applicants a chance to drop in and ask questions about AMCAS, work on the application with advisers on hand, and listen to the questions and concerns of their peers.