Applying for medical school may seem to be a daunting task with all the different requirements and deadlines it involves. Many medical schools will have a set of requirements that is unique to their institution, and for each requirement there may be a separate deadline. In truth, though, there are a number of steps for applying to medical school that are common to most schools.
Step 1: Selecting and preparing
The first step to applying to medical school is to decide which schools to apply to. One helpful tip for choosing schools is to use the Internet to visit the homepages of the institutions of interest. Take down some notes and read reviews on the schools to determine which ones to select. Keep in mind that application fees normally reach between 35 and 100 dollars. Prepare for the application procedure by gathering information on the requirements and deadlines of each school.
Step 2: Completing the requirements
The next step to accomplish for application is to complete the requirements. Here is a list of some of the most common requirements needed for application to medical school:
* Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores
* Official college transcripts
* Recommendation letters
* Resume and other documents
* Personal statements
Regarding personal statements, it is advisable to go over sample medical school personal statements to get an idea of what is expected from applicants. Sample medical school personal statements can help applicants think of themes and topics for their own essays.
Step 3: Submitting requirements and application forms
There are various ways to submit an application to medical school. Perhaps the easiest and most convenient way is to make use of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), which is a service offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). This service provides access to approximately 90% of the medical schools in the US. Applications submitted to AMCAS are sent to the schools listed during application. Interested schools will contact applicants for the supplemental application. These secondary applications will involve requirements specific to the institution itself.
Step 4: Wrapping up, waiting, and making follow ups
The final step regarding your application to medical school is to wrap up the application by sending all of the requirements, including the letters of recommendation. Then, wait for the replies from the institutions applied to. Normally, schools that are interested in an applicant will ask them to come in for an interview. Schedule the interview at a convenient time and, while waiting, it would be a good idea to seek advise from professionals and advisers on how to do well on the interview. Once the interview is done, be sure to follow up through e-mail or by telephone. Applicants who are on the waiting list of medical school should also continue to follow up on their status.
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