How to Apply to Med School

If you want to become a physician, your next step after completing your undergraduate degree is to apply to a med school. This education will expand your knowledge of medicine and anatomy while you achieve the necessary qualifications to become a general or specialized practitioner.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Appropriate undergraduate degree
• Application
• Fees
• Transcripts
• Premedical committee appraisal or letters of recommendation
• MCAT score

1. Complete an application with the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), which most U.S. medical schools require. Visit www.aamc.org to fill out the application, which can be submitted via the Internet (see Resources below).

2. Apply individually to each med school that you are interested in attending. This process requires that you also include a fee for applying, usually $100.

3. If you are a member of a minority group, sign up for the Minority Medical Applicant Registry to increase your chances of acceptance.

4. Turn in two letters of recommendation with your application and fees. Additional letters are also accepted and must be from your professors or research advisor.

5. Take the MCAT either prior to submitting your application or after turning in paperwork. Remember that scores must be no more than 3 years old at the time you apply.

6. Wait patiently for any final decisions from the Med School, which usually come in the mail in the form of an acceptance, a wait list notification or rejection. It may take a few months before you receive your response.

7. Respond within 2 weeks of receiving an acceptance to ensure your place for the upcoming academic year. Your response should include a formal acceptance letter and small deposit.

8. Complete all admission requirements, including a physical examination. At this point, you can start planning for the school year, such as housing and textbooks.

Tips & Warnings

• An MD/PhD Program track requires a different application process than a regular med school program.
• Start planning at least a year in advance of the date that you want to begin med school.
• Pay specific attention to the key deadline dates that each med school lists on its application. Missing these deadlines will force you to wait until the next application period.
• Remember that not all application processes are the same, so carefully read the instructions from each school or your application will be rejected.

Resources

• AAMC website for medical school admission requirements

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