AAMCAS Application Process? for those who have applied

[bostonmedical]

So I hear the application will be available on AAMCAS in June. But what is the process like?

I know that I will get on there and fill out my grades. But is it one central application. One generic essay for all the schools?

If there is no one generic essay do some schools tend to have the same essay?

How many essays/personal statements per school?

Do we send our letters of recommendations to AAMCAS and they send it out to the schools for me?

What are secondaries?


How many LORs are asked typical minimum? does it vary by school?

Are there links on this forum with answers to my questions. I have searched for a bit but can't seem to find any.

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[Jolie South]

step 1:
read this for a general overview of the process.

step 2:
i suggest you visit the aamc website and read all the information that you can regarding AMCAS. they do explain things pretty well and in deep detail.

step 3:
return with specific questions later.

 

[Luxian]

You can find much more about this elsewhere, but here's the quickie answer.

The primary (aka AMCAS) application is a common app that includes one general statement of purpose essay, all your grades, and your MCAT scores. You'll have to get your school to send an official transcript, which may take weeks for them to verify. In general, if you can send things in May. June is when they can release your info to the schools once you have everything set up. One upfront cost with ~$30 per additional school.

The secondary apps are school specific. Some schools ask for additional essays, some ask for specifics about your extra-curriculars (ECs), and any other additional things they want. These vary from $80-$130 a pop.

All secondaries will also require two or three letters of recommendation (LORs). If you want to make your life easier, use Interfolio or some other mailing service. They will accept a packet from your premed advisory committee or individual letters from your recommenders. Then for $4-5 per school, they will send it to as many schools as you want.

Keep in mind throughout that the earlier you apply, the better. Almost all the school are rolling admissions, and the earlier you get them in, the more likely you are to get invited to interview.

That should get you going for now! Good luck!

 

[LikeClockWork]

step 1:
read this for a general overview of the process.

step 2:
i suggest you visit the aamc website and read all the information that you can regarding AMCAS. they do explain things pretty well and in deep detail.

step 3:
return with specific questions later.

I love it. Well done.

 

[deuce924]

step 1:
read this for a general overview of the process.

step 2:
i suggest you visit the aamc website and read all the information that you can regarding AMCAS. they do explain things pretty well and in deep detail.

step 3:
return with specific questions later.

Yea trust Jolie and follow these steps. On another note, where is this document for Step 1? I never knew this thing existed.

 

[bostonmedical]

Thanks.

I guess I did not persuse the AAMCAS website. Enough

NO MORE POSTS till I read the information. SORRY for posting something I should have been able to find the answers for. I will go check those links now.

 

[dan1]

step 1:
read this for a general overview of the process.

step 2:
i suggest you visit the aamc website and read all the information that you can regarding AMCAS. they do explain things pretty well and in deep detail.

step 3:
return with specific questions later.

Ok so in here they refer to "5 tiers" of schools. Where do I find the schools separated like this? All I've ever seen are like US news rankings and overall MCAT and GPA averages....

 

[deuce924]

I don't think the rank medical schools into tiers.Like you said you can get ranking from US news but tiers don't exist for med schools like they do law schools.

 

[Jolie South]

I didn't know it existed until today either.

anyways, i know the document isn't perfect, but I though it would put the OP on the right track.

what i disagree with is what he says the application timing as well as the tiers. i believe the author talks about finishing secondaries in the fall. i think you should finish them before even thinking about fall semester (i.e. before august). as far as tiers go, i think we all know that every school will provide you with an adequate education, but that some are more presitigious than others. you all are right in that the author doesn't even provide a list of tiers.

 

[bostonmedical]

So the LOR are only asked for schools that give secondaries? or before?

 

[riceman04]

I love it. Well done.

Jolie South always knows how to respond...that's why she's a mod!!!
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yeah!!!!

 

[elderjack21]

So the LOR are only asked for schools that give secondaries? or before?

Only for schools that give secondaries.

 

[mdgator]

Some advice, and I absolutely cannot stress this enough. DO. EVERYTHING. EARLY. Start your personal statement now. Have the AMCAS application finished the week it opens. Get your letters of rec requested NOW. When you start getting secondaries, in general you should finish them all within a week of receiving them. (If you apply to Duke, or somewhere like it where they require you to write a novel, you can give yourself a couple of weeks.)

If your philosophy professor says that your term paper is due on Dec 1st, and you turn it in on October 1st, you are extremely early. However, if UX College of Medicine says your secondary is due on Dec. 1, and you turn it in on Oct. 1, you are NOT early. In fact...you may be too late to get an interview.

Again...get on the ball! I wish I could go back in time and give myself this advice about a year and a half ago. I did not even get the chance to apply to many schools that I wish I had applied to, because I didn't understand how AMCAS works. I didn't get the fact that it would take them a month to verify my application after everything was submitted. Good luck.

 

[Jolie South]

Thanks.

I guess I did not persuse the AAMCAS website. Enough

NO MORE POSTS till I read the information. SORRY for posting something I should have been able to find the answers for. I will go check those links now.

sorry, i didn't mean to put it that way. it's just easier if you've got a general idea of what's going on first. for one of us to write out the whole process here would be time consuming.

feel free to ask the questions that you would like.

 

[Jolie South]

So the LOR are only asked for schools that give secondaries? or before?

all schools (pretty much) have secondaries.

the LORs are submitted at the same time that you submit your secondary.

 

[bostonmedical]

all schools (pretty much) have secondaries.

the LORs are submitted at the same time that you submit your secondary.

Thanks. I think more of the detailed questions I have/will have I may be able to find.
But yeah. I was asking all these questions because I did want to get the writing early.

I also wanted an idea of what kind of questions are asked on the secondary applications. But I read in another random post that there is a "sticky" or a whole post on secondary questions. I did a quick search on it but did not find it immediately. I will check again. If anyone knows the post they could post the link or I will just search in the future.

 

[Jolie South]

here is the link to secondary prompts.

 

[bostonmedical]

here is the link to secondary prompts.

Thanks for this one.