Idiots Guide to Applying to DO school

[redwings54]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have searched the forums and talked to my medical school advisor and still have a few questions about applying to medical school. I was hoping to get kinda a step by step guide to applying. So far I have filled out the application, contacted my people for LoRs, taken the MCAT and finished college. How do I get my transcript sent to AACOMAS? DO I have to alert the MCAT people to release my MCAT scores or does it automatically do that? Do my letter writers send to the schools I am applying to or to AACOMAS? I am finishing up two classes ending the beginning of August and am hoping to send in my app in mid August. Any help or direction in what you might have done or what I can do would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[tkim]

How do I get my transcript sent to AACOMAS?

You have your school send official transcripts.

DO I have to alert the MCAT people to release my MCAT scores or does it automatically do that?

You have to specify who to release the scores to. If you've already taken the MCAT, this should have been a choice you already have made. If you didn't, you can go back and have them send the scores to AACOMAS.

Do my letter writers send to the schools I am applying to or to AACOMAS?

Generally, you have the LOR writers send to the schools directly. If your school has a career or premed center that handles LOR, then your LOR writers send the LOR to them, and they send out copies to the school you apply to. This is the way you should be going about it, since most schools also send out a premed committee LOR and frequently look over the individuals LOR written for you before writing the committee LOR.

If you don't have a premed office that receives then sends LOR to the schools for you, then using a resume site like interfolio.com might be your best bet. This way, the LOR writers only have to send the LOR once, and for a fee, the resume site will resend copies of the LOR as needed.

 

[tkim]

One other thing: don't wait to finish those two classes. Send your application, secondaries, etc., as soon as you can. You can always update your application by sending updated transcripts to AACOMAS, which will recalc your GPA, etc., and it also gives you a reason to send an update letter to the schools you are interested in.

Bottom line: apply as early as possible. Good luck!

 

[MJB]

Perfect Thread...and a needed one...a one stop question shop, if you will!

 

[Sweetlill1]

I was working on my application and noticed that there is not a space to list extra curricular activities that are not work or volunteer or honors, such as a sorority or participation in a sport. Do I just leave these off?

Just wondering...

 

[markboonya]

I was working on my application and noticed that there is not a space to list extra curricular activities that are not work or volunteer or honors, such as a sorority or participation in a sport. Do I just leave these off?

Just wondering...

Question #15 on the aacomas says: List volunteer positions, internships, etc. (include dates):
i think your sorority and sport qualifies for the "etc." part. did u hold a postion in ur sorority? were u team captain in you sport. put that down too.

 

[SarahBelle]

I wrote a letter to my registrar's office asking them to send my transcripts.

Here is the address:
AACOMAS
5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301-968-4190

Be sure to include which class you are in (ie: class of 2006), SSN, and a phone number and/or email address where they can contact you if they have any questions.

Good luck!

 

[Raven Feather]

I sent my transcripts a while ago and never have been notified of the receipt of them. Are we supposed to call and check? I havent submitted my application yet. Thanks