Applying to med school for dummies

[chemnerd9460]

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Okay, so basically, I am totally confused about the whole process of applying to medical school as a traditional student as far as the application and stuff like that goes. I get that you take your MCAT in the summer and applications are due late summer (I think?) I guess what I am trying to figure out, is when do I start my primary application? I have a friend who is applying to be a PA and she already started her application as far as filling out basic info goes.

P.S., Yes ive used the search bar but its still not answering my questions.

So heres my list. Try to be as specific as possible. Thanks! 😀

1) When do you start filling out the primary application
2) What the heck is a personal statement anyway? Is there a specific topic?
3) When do you take the MCAT? When do you take the MCAT if you need to retake the MCAT?
4) When do you submit your primarys?
5) How do you submit a letter of recomendation thats a hard copy? I have a LOR from a surgeon I worked with over the summer in Austria. Its an amazing letter, but I only have about 8 signed copies.

Thanks for the help guys! So happy to have a support network. 😍

 

[MedPR]

Okay, so basically, I am totally confused about the whole process of applying to medical school as a traditional student as far as the application and stuff like that goes. I get that you take your MCAT in the summer and applications are due late summer (I think?) I guess what I am trying to figure out, is when do I start my primary application? I have a friend who is applying to be a PA and she already started her application as far as filling out basic info goes.

P.S., Yes ive used the search bar but its still not answering my questions.

So heres my list. Try to be as specific as possible. Thanks! 😀

1) When do you start filling out the primary application
2) What the heck is a personal statement anyway? Is there a specific topic?
3) When do you take the MCAT? When do you take the MCAT if you need to retake the MCAT?
4) When do you submit your primarys?
5) How do you submit a letter of recomendation thats a hard copy? I have a LOR from a surgeon I worked with over the summer in Austria. Its an amazing letter, but I only have about 8 signed copies.

Thanks for the help guys! So happy to have a support network. 😍

1. Whenever AMCAS opens.
2. Your chance to explain why you are a good fit for medicine.
3. Depends.
4. AMCAS.
5. LORs need to be submitted by the writer.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[mzarrowsmith]

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/175214/data/timeline.pdf

 

[mzarrowsmith]

https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/

 

[Josh7]

P.S., Yes ive used the search bar but its still not answering my questions.

That's probably because most people would just use Google...

 

[Lollygag]

Okay, so basically, I am totally confused about the whole process of applying to medical school as a traditional student as far as the application and stuff like that goes. I get that you take your MCAT in the summer and applications are due late summer (I think?) I guess what I am trying to figure out, is when do I start my primary application? I have a friend who is applying to be a PA and she already started her application as far as filling out basic info goes.

P.S., Yes ive used the search bar but its still not answering my questions.

So heres my list. Try to be as specific as possible. Thanks! 😀

1) When do you start filling out the primary application
2) What the heck is a personal statement anyway? Is there a specific topic?
3) When do you take the MCAT? When do you take the MCAT if you need to retake the MCAT?
4) When do you submit your primarys?
5) How do you submit a letter of recomendation thats a hard copy? I have a LOR from a surgeon I worked with over the summer in Austria. Its an amazing letter, but I only have about 8 signed copies.

Thanks for the help guys! So happy to have a support network. 😍

1) As soon as it opens which I believe is sometime in May, check AMCAS

2) Just like a PS for college, but its for medical school and you should take it much more seriously. I believe the prompt is something very basic like, Why do you want to go to medical school?

3) There are several MCAT dates throughout the year. You can take it during the school year or in the summer. Generally speaking when you want to submit your app very early, it is recommended to take it before May. Taking it June through mid July will still put you in a good spot. Taking it late July is risky. August and after will result in a late application and should be avoided unless you are not applying that summer (admissions process is rolling). Some people take a March or April MCAT so that if they need to retake, they can take it June or July and still be in a good place. Prepare to do your best the first time and this shouldn't be a problem.

4) In the past, the first submit day is June 1st, however people submit all throughout the summer. It takes a few days to be verified in June, but can take up to 6 weeks in August and September, this is why it is recommended to apply early. It's not so much about when you submit, but when AMCAS is verified that matters, this is why you want to submit early.

5) No experience with that, sorry 🙁

 

[Caesar]

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/175214/data/timeline.pdf

Check out the AAMC timeline and This thread that is stickied in the forum.

 

[TheShaker]

Okay, so basically, I am totally confused about the whole process of applying to medical school as a traditional student as far as the application and stuff like that goes. I get that you take your MCAT in the summer and applications are due late summer (I think?) I guess what I am trying to figure out, is when do I start my primary application? I have a friend who is applying to be a PA and she already started her application as far as filling out basic info goes.

P.S., Yes ive used the search bar but its still not answering my questions.

So heres my list. Try to be as specific as possible. Thanks! 😀

1) When do you start filling out the primary application
2) What the heck is a personal statement anyway? Is there a specific topic?
3) When do you take the MCAT? When do you take the MCAT if you need to retake the MCAT?
4) When do you submit your primarys?
5) How do you submit a letter of recomendation thats a hard copy? I have a LOR from a surgeon I worked with over the summer in Austria. Its an amazing letter, but I only have about 8 signed copies.

Thanks for the help guys! So happy to have a support network. 😍

Ideally...

1. Whenever it opens (around May).

2. Do some reading around but in general you express your motivations about entering a career in medicine. This is a very important essay though, do your research. I used this book: http://www.amazon.com/Essays-That-M...+essays+that+will+get+you+into+medical+school

3. Whenever you're ready, but around May or June is good. It gives you time to retake in July/August if you do badly even though this will make you a bit late.

4. Early June. Don't wait until past August because you will be late and at a significant disadvantage. Take a look at the Panic Thread to see what happens to otherwise qualified applicants to apply late.

5. That I don't know. 😛 I suggest you use Interfolio though, it costs 20 dollars and it holds documents for you for a year. The paper documents can be scanned by them and AMCAS accepts it.