Hello, I plan to re-take MCAT in Spring, and will be out of the country for an extended period of time immediately after. So I wonder if all steps involved in the application process could be done on-line? Of course, I would return for any interview invites at all. Also, would there be any correspondence of mails (such as request for secondary essays) between applicants & schools during the process that cannot be done via emails? Thanks.
Do you need to be physically present in the US for application
- Thread starter aurora001
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I am in that position, and it's tough. Make sure you have a rock-solid friend or family member back in the states to pull for you and get the paperwork moving. Also, plan for mail/phone problems, and call to confirm everything.
If you have a good reason for being out of the country or unavailable, med schools will give a bit to make things work. Of course, I'll tell you it's possible once I succeed.
-CJ
If you have a good reason for being out of the country or unavailable, med schools will give a bit to make things work. Of course, I'll tell you it's possible once I succeed.
-CJ
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You will need:
a reliable internet connection and the ability to check email & web regularly
reliable courier service for delivery of hard copy materials
a US credit card to pay application fees and requests for transcripts
If you plan to apply in 2011 to start classes in 2012 your ideal timeline will look something like this:
April-May 2011 recruit letter of recommendation writers, open an Interfolio account
May 2011: prepare AMCAS application
June 2011: submit AMCAS application, request transcripts, have letters submitted (letter submissions may go on through August)
July-August: prepare and submit secondary applications and fees
August - March: receive and respond to invitations to interview
September - April: interviews (most in September through February).
October - March: respond to offers of admission
15 May: final decision required to every offer of admission
Can you push the AMCAS application off to August or September given medical school deadlines? Yes, but you are reducing your chances at getting an interview (many of the invitations to interview will be issued before you even submit your application). Without an interview, you can't get admitted.
You should plan in advance to be in the US for interviews for a period of at least 3 weeks excluding the last 10 days of November, the last 15 days of December and the period in January before the first Tuesday after New Years Day.
a reliable internet connection and the ability to check email & web regularly
reliable courier service for delivery of hard copy materials
a US credit card to pay application fees and requests for transcripts
If you plan to apply in 2011 to start classes in 2012 your ideal timeline will look something like this:
April-May 2011 recruit letter of recommendation writers, open an Interfolio account
May 2011: prepare AMCAS application
June 2011: submit AMCAS application, request transcripts, have letters submitted (letter submissions may go on through August)
July-August: prepare and submit secondary applications and fees
August - March: receive and respond to invitations to interview
September - April: interviews (most in September through February).
October - March: respond to offers of admission
15 May: final decision required to every offer of admission
Can you push the AMCAS application off to August or September given medical school deadlines? Yes, but you are reducing your chances at getting an interview (many of the invitations to interview will be issued before you even submit your application). Without an interview, you can't get admitted.
You should plan in advance to be in the US for interviews for a period of at least 3 weeks excluding the last 10 days of November, the last 15 days of December and the period in January before the first Tuesday after New Years Day.
Thanks a lot everybody!! LizzyM - wow, the timelines are very informative, looks like ideally I should be around between Aug-Apr (or until i received the last rejection letter, lol!), would have to sort out a few contigency schedules...thanks SO much for the detailed info, this is immensely helpful!! 🙂
I second what everybody has already said. I left for Asia in the beginning of June. I tried to do as much as possible before leaving (took passport pictures, submitted primary on June 1, had all of my LOR lined up, and had someone in the States who was willing to submit the paper apps (Rosalind Franklin, GWU, and U. of Arkansas are the 3 I can think of). Having everything organized before leaving is key, and LizzyM's timeline looks really helpful. Good luck!
