Jessica Chanza is an Oakwood University 2020 graduate. She will be attending Loma Linda University School of Medicine in the fall of 2020.

Congrats on working hard enough to make it to this point! Now, lets get right into it.

Applying early to medical school is incredibly important because you want to be one of the first applications that admissions committees review. This timeline is not a “one size fits all” but gives a good idea of the tasks you should strive to accomplish each month before submitting your application. If you find that you are a month or two behind the steps outlined on the timeline, there is no need to panic because not everyone’s journey will be the same. However, following this timeline will definitely help you to be in the best position possible by the end of the application season. 

Application Timeline

December before Application Year

• Register for an MCAT preparatory course
• Preview potential MCAT Exam Dates to establish a studying timeline 
• Create a rough draft for MCAT Study Schedule 

January-April of Application Year

• Request Letters of Recommendation from at least three individuals (2 science, 1 non-science) 
• Complete MCAT preparatory course (Kaplan, Princeton etc.)
• Complete 8-9 Practice Exams before your MCAT test date 
• Consult the MSAR to look at stats for prospective MD/DO schools
  • Depending on how many schools you apply to, a prospective budget may also be helpful in order to plan for how much money you will need to spend on applications and traveling for interviews 
  • Begin drafting Personal Statement 

May of Application Year

• Take your final MCAT 
• Draft Work and Activities Section 
• Fill out AMCAS Demographics Section 
• Draft list of Medical Schools to apply to by consulting MSAR 
• Apply for application fee waiver if needed 

June of Application Year 

• Release MCAT score to each application system 
• Finalize list of Medical Schools to apply to
• Complete and Submit your AMCAS 
• You want to submit your AMCAS as early as possible without sacrificing quality

July-August of Application Year 

• Consult websites such as Student Doctor Network or Reddit for previously used Secondary Application Questions to prepare your answers ahead of time
  • Most medical schools reuse the same Secondary Application questions. If you look them up ahead of time you can complete your answers and return your Secondary Application just as quickly as you receive it. 
• Begin preparation for medical school admissions interviews
  • Preparation is absolutely key. Practice multiple interview styles with a variety of people to best simulate a realistic interview. 

September-May of Application Year 

• Continue to sharpen your interview skills to build your confidence 
• Review all admission decisions and financial aid offers 
• Attend “Second Look” activities at respective universities 
• Choose a program best suited to you