Information shared here taken from the AAMC's 10 Things to Do to Prepare for Applying to Medical School. We also encourage you to take a look at the following pages:

• Anatomy of an Applicant
• Getting into Medical School
• Post Undergrad: Getting Ready for Medical School or a Gap Year

Here are ten things to keep in mind this year, whether you’re applying to medical school, taking a gap year, or just starting to pursue a career in medicine.

1. Partner with your advisor.

If you haven’t met with a pre-health advisor, be sure to get an appointment on their calendar. Work with them to develop a plan to get to where you want to go—it’s a good idea to ask detailed questions about the timeline for applying to medical school. Ask which courses are required for medical school, and the best order in which to take them at your school. Your advisor may also have ideas to help you gain health-related experiences, internships, and lab experiences.

2. Attend career/health professions fairs.

Career fairs give you the opportunity to learn about multiple schools, programs, and admissions requirements at one event. It can be expensive and time-consuming to visit every school that you are thinking about attending, so participating in career fairs can help you narrow down your medical school selections and be more cost effective.

3. Seek out on-campus resources and mentors.

Make connections with mentors in various academic departments who can guide you through the application process, help you reach out to colleagues for volunteer, lab, or shadowing opportunities, or just give you their perspective on applying to medical school. Your campus may also have a career center and/or a health professions advising office where you’re likely to have access to guidebooks and web resources in addition to an advisor. Plan on becoming a regular visitor to these offices.

4. Increase your activity and responsibility in clubs.

When admissions committees look at your experiences, the kinds of clubs you belong to are just one part of the equation. They also like to see growth in various areas—like activity level and responsibility. Of course you don’t need to be the president of every club (and probably shouldn’t be), but taking on a leadership role, planning large events, or helping to shape the direction of a club highlights your leadership abilities.

5. Get experience in the lab, volunteering and/or shadowing.

Summer Programs

For an unparalleled summer learning opportunity, look into the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP). SHPEP is a free, 6-week enrichment program for first and second year college students interested in attending medical or dental school.

Research Experience

Check the science department bulletin boards or websites for opportunities to assist with faculty research projects. Also, check with your academic advisor or your pre-health advisor, as they may already have relationships with faculty or labs. The best time to look for positions is during the middle of the semester, or a week or two before midterms.

Shadowing

Shadowing a health care professional gives you a better understanding of what their typical day is like, and whether it would be something you enjoy. Ask your own doctors if they know of shadowing opportunities. You can also ask your teachers, professors, and pre-med or academic advisors as they might know doctors who have allowed other students shadow them.

6. Prepare for the MCAT exam.

All medical schools in the United States, and many in Canada, require MCAT scores for regular admission to medical school. Only you and your advisor know when it’s best for you to take the exam. Our best advice? Take it when you are ready. The AAMC has a number of free and low-cost test prep materials to help you prepare. If you have already taken the exam and are unhappy with your scores, speak to your advisor. Create a plan for working on your problem areas and then decide when it would be best to retest.

7. Ask for Letters of Evaluation.

Speak with your advisor or anyone else who you’ve asked to write a letter on your behalf (i.e. a professor you’ve had for several classes, or the person supervising your lab work ) early in order to give them time to write a letter of evaluation for you. This is especially important if the letter needs to address any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your grades, or provide perspective on challenges you may have encountered.

8. Loop in your parents.

You may need information from your parents for your financial aid application. To be considered for financial aid you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Generally, students complete the FAFSA in January prior to the year in which they are applying for medical school. Even though you may be considered independent by federal regulations, some school’s may still require your parental information to award institutional scholarships, grants, or even loans. Be aware of the school’s financial aid deadlines and processes, as this information may have an effect on the aid you are awarded.

There is a lot of information available to help you understand the financial aid process. Check out the available resources and tools on AAMC’s FIRST website. Here you will find videos, fact sheets, and tools specifically created for medical students and applicants.

9. Familiarize yourself with AMCAS.

The American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®) is the AAMC's centralized medical school application processing service. No matter the number of medical schools you want to apply to, using AMCAS, you just submit one online application and everything gets disseminated to the schools you’ve chosen. The application is extensive, and not the kind of thing you’ll complete in one sitting. You’ll need to enter personal statements and all the coursework you’ve taken, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with what’s involved so you can be ready and organized when it’s time to get started.

10. Relax. Have fun.

Visit with family and friends, travel, or participate in hobbies you may not have as much time for once you are attending medical school. Use this time as a chance to relax, reflect, and energize yourself for the years to come.

Information shared here taken from the AAMC's Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students page.

Medical students must possess a broad range of competencies to successfully learn and develop in medical school and become effective physicians. The premed competency model includes professional, thinking and reasoning, and science competencies, and serves as a roadmap for students as they prepare to succeed in medical school.

The premed competencies, formerly core competencies for entering medical students (view previous competencies), were updated in 2023 to reflect expectations for medical students. Medical schools will begin using these competencies in the 2024-2025 application cycle to evaluate applicants’ readiness for medical school. (View the printer-friendly Premed Competencies.)

To learn how the premed competencies were updated in 2022-2023, read Refreshing the Premed Competencies: The Process Used to Update the Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

SCIENCE COMPETENCIES

THINKING AND REASONING COMPETENCIES

Research Opportunities

Shadowing Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

Information shared here taken from the AAMC's Applying to Medical School page.We also encourage you to check out The Parts of Your Medical School Application.

How do I start the application process?

To apply to most medical schools in the United States, you will need to use the AAMC’s centralized application processing service, the American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®).

AMCAS collects, verifies, and delivers application information and MCAT® exam scores to each school you choose. AMCAS does not make admissions decisions; each participating school is responsible for making its own individual admissions decisions.

To apply to an MD program at a public medical school in Texas, you will need to apply using the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).

How much does it cost?

There is an application fee to process your application and this includes one medical school designation. For each additional medical school selection there is a separate cost. For all current AMCAS application fees visit the AMCAS website and review the information below the “AMCAS® Application Fees” subheading. AMCAS fees may vary from year to year.

Applicants in need of financial aid may apply to AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program. Fee Assistance Program awardees receive a waiver for AMCAS fees (for up to 16 medical schools), reduced registration fees for the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®), and more.

What is a secondary application?

This is an additional school-specific application completed after a medical school receives your primary application. It helps explain why you’re interested in that particular institution; how your goals, experiences, and plans align with their mission and goals; and how/what you would contribute and develop as a learner at that institution. Basically, it’s an opportunity to answer the question, “Why this school?” A secondary application will likely have an associated application fee. Fees and required forms will vary from school to school.

Will I need to interview?

Most medical schools require an interview, though the process varies by school. Interviews can take place on or off campus. They can be conducted by one admissions committee member, by multiple members of the committee, or by off-campus interviewers, such as practicing physicians. Generally, the interviewers complete evaluations that are added to the rest of your application materials.

We have more information on interviewing on our website, and in The Official Guide to Medical School Admissions as well as the Medical School Admission Requirements website.

What is the timeline for applying?

The AMCAS application typically opens during the first week of May each year for the following year’s medical school class. Since AMCAS submission doesn’t open until the first week of June, you’ll have about a month to begin working on your application before you can submit it. You’ll begin the application process in the spring in order to begin medical school in the fall of the following year.

For specific application dates and deadlines, visit the Medical School Admission Requirements, the AMCAS website, and the websites of your potential medical schools.

How do I choose the right medical school for me?

U.S. medical schools offer a variety of excellent educational experiences in a variety of settings. Some schools, whether public or private, vary in size, curriculum, and character. To find out which schools might best meet your needs and goals, you can read more on deciding where to apply and use the Medical School Admission Requirements.

The American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®) is the AAMC's centralized medical school application processing service. Most U.S. medical schools use AMCAS as the primary application method for their first-year entering classes.

Taken from the AAMC's website. For more information on the AMCAS®, including how to how to apply to medical school through AMCAS®, program-articipating medical schools and deadlines, and FAQs, visit the AAMC's page on the database.

The Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess your problem-solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine.

In April 2015, the AAMC launched the current version of the MCAT exam. Scores are reported in four sections:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

All U.S. and many Canadian medical schools require MCAT scores for regular admission to medical school. Many schools do not accept MCAT scores that are more than three years old.

Taken from the AAMC's website. For more information on the MCAT®, including how to register, get test scores, and access the MCAT® Official Prep hub, visit the AAMC's page on the database.

The Medical School Admission Requirements™ (MSAR®) is an online database that enables you to browse, search, sort, and compare information about U.S. and Canadian medical schools and more.

Selecting a medical school will be one of your most significant decisions. Over the years, we have helped thousands of applicants navigate the application process and select the medical schools that fits best their goals and preferences.

Taken from the AAMC's website. The MSAR® is a subscription service. For more information on the MSAR®, including how to start a subscription, visit the AAMC's page on the database.

The PREview® professional readiness exam was developed and is administered by the AAMC. It is a standardized exam designed to assess examinees’ understanding of effective professional behavior across nine premed competencies for entering medical school.

Taken from the AAMC's website. For more information on the PREview®Professional Readiness Exam, including eligibility, registration, scores, and more, visit the AAMC's page on the exam.