I'm still a little confused about the process i.e. cutoffs and if they screen multiple times (after AMCAS and/or after secondaries).
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. 🙂
As the other posters have said, there are a number of schools (a minority, but I'd say a significant number nonetheless) that screen the primary application before sending secondaries. Many of these are state schools that screen for ties to the state as well as GPA and MCAT scores; some are explicit about the criteria they use, but most are not. In addition, there are a number of private schools that screen, such as Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Loyola, etc.
One thing to keep in mind is that the screening process can take quite a while (it averaged 3 weeks to a month at the 5 screening schools I applied to, although my app was a bit late). Yet another reason why it's wise to apply early.
It's important to remember that getting a secondary from a screening school doesn't mean that you're going to get an interview (except at Vandy, which only sends them to interviewees). Of the 27 schools I applied to, 5 screened secondaries: Toledo, Kansas, Loyola, VCU and EVMS. I got secondaries from them all, but only one interview. (I did get 5 other interviews at non-screening schools.) Again, the relative lateness of my app probably hurt me at the screening schools.
