Medical School Application Cycle...What is it and How Does it Work?

So you know what you're going to need to apply to medical school. But do you know what the application cycle actually entails? I didn't know and I want to share what I have learned as I am currently on this journey.

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First things first, if you are unsure of the basic things needed to begin your application, click here to read my post about the basics.

The first thing that everyone should know and should be prepared for, is that the med school application process is a year long process. They are called "cycles". I am currently applying this cycle for admissions into the entering class of 2024 (starting in the summer of 2020). Why is it a year long? Well keep reading and I'll explain why.

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There are 3 application services where you are going to start filling out primary applications: AAMCAS (MD schools), AACOMAS (DO schools) and TMDSAS (Texas MD schools). For all three services, you are putting together all of your basic information. It is essentially a common application, if you remember anything about common applications when applying to undergraduate schools, it's similar to that. The primary application will include a personal statement (5,300 character limit), demographic information, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and all of the schools that you wish to apply to. For each service there will be a service fee which includes the cost for one school. You then have to pay for your primary application to go to additional schools which there is a fee per school *this is where it starts getting expensive*.

Ok, you might think you're done now huh? NOPE, if you are far into your undergraduate career, you have probably at least heard of secondary applications. Each school will receive your primary application and will review that first. If you've read my post about the basics of the application process, you saw me mention screening. Some schools will screen for either MCAT scores, GPA, or both while some probably won't screen at all. If they do screen, they will only send secondary application to students who meet their minimum GPA or MCAT requirement. For some school the MCAT requirement can be as low as a 496 while the GPA requirement can be a 2.75. You'll have to dig for some research on what each school does, I suggest going to their FAQ page. A lot of schools won't screen and will send secondary applications to everyone who sent a primary application. For those schools, and even some who do screen, they may do what is called a "holistic review". This means that although they are going to look at your numbers, they will take the time to review your entire application in depth before making a decision. In this review, a lot schools will also only review your last 30-60 credits of undergrad to determine your GPA. So you can start to imagine why the cycle can last so long.

Back to the secondaries: what does this include? Well they definitely include MORE ESSAYS. You thought that personal statement was it? El-Oh-El. These extra essays can be anywhere from 1 to even 5 essays with a varying range of character and word limits. The limits are all usually lower than what the personal statement had. These also dig deeper into you as an applicant. Some schools will ask "why us?" and some DO schools will ask "why DO?". The Secondary application is a chance to really get admission committees to look at you. They want to know more about you that you didn't mention in your primary application. Hopefully you have had a chance to visit some schools or speak with someone from the admissions office, because you're guaranteed to speak to why you see the school being a great fit for you and vice versa. Some schools are now requiring a test called CASPer, it's like a character or personality test. You answer different questions via video, audio and written. Schools use this on top of your application in their holistic review to further see if you will be a good fit. This test is $10 to take, and an additional $10/school to send your score. Learn from my mistakes regarding this test: do your research! I had assumed that because this test was online, I could take it whenever. When I finally logged on to get ready to take it, I learned that the test is only offered on certain days at certain times. I had also learned that it can take 2-4 weeks for the score to be sent to your schools of choice. And also read up on what the schools require as well: most schools that require this test will not review your secondary application until your CASPer score has been received by them. So, don't be like me. You also don't get to know how you scored...so yeah, there's that.

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Ok, so you paid almost $1000 in primary applications and probably another $1,000+ in secondary fees, what's next?

It's time to play the waiting game while you constantly check your emails and application portals. You're waiting for someone to give you the chance to come interview for a spot in their incoming class.

Application cycles begin in May, with the first day you being able to submit a primary typically being that last week of May or first week of June. The cycle goes all the way to Spring, meaning schools are always reviewing applications. For the most part, schools are following a rolling admissions: they review applications/interview until the class is filled (which aren't huge, the most I've seen is around 400). You ideally want to take advantage of the rolling admissions so APPLY EARLY. I started submitting my application mid-late June, my last few were submitted early July. Submitting early works in your favor because while some people are submitting later in the summer (and subsequently getting verified in the fall), you are receiving secondary applications come July and interview invites come August. In the end, you are getting accepted/rejected/wait-listed hopefully by December. When you wait to submit, admission committees have tons of applications they have already received and you risk your application being looked over. Especially if you are like myself and may not have a competitive aspect of your application, you definitely should be applying early in the cycle. Try to avoid checking your email 10 times a day everyday, it will drive you nuts.

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The medical school application cycle is extremely long winded and like I previously said, it is emotionally, physically, and spiritually draining. But it is totally worth it when you get that "yes". It comes with sacrifices made starting in undergrad, but your support system hopefully will understand and be there with you until the end. You got this, so keep pushing.