AAMC Medical School Application Process – Overview
Medical schools prepare aspiring doctors and surgeons for the healthcare industry. Nursing programs are typically separate from medical schools. Traditionally, medical schools in the United States have a four-year curriculum, starting with a one-and-a-half- to two-year pre-clinical phase of foundational science training.
Under this, you will learn about basic medical concepts, functions and structures of the body, different diseases and their diagnoses and treatment.
If you have been searching for a guide to the AAMC medical school application process, you’ve come to the right place. This article outlines the different aspects and stages of applying to a medical school in the United States.
Different stages of applying to a medical school in the United States
Step 1 – Before Applying
Read the AMCAS Application Guide on the AAMC official website to gain an edge and complete your AMCAS application more efficiently.
You must also certify that you have read the terms and AMCAS application guide before submitting your application.
The AMCAS processing fee is USD 175, which includes one medical school designation. Each additional school designation costs $45, and these fees may vary yearly.
The AMCAS Fee Assistance Program reduces the costs of taking the MCAT and applying to medical schools, helping applicants face financial hardships.
Eligibility for the Fee Assistance Program is determined based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty level guidelines and additional criteria specified on the AAMC website.
To learn more about the Fee Assistance Program, visit the official website at https://students-residents.aamc.org/fee-assistance-program/fee-assistance-program.
2 – Providing Background Information
After completing the first stage, you must input your basic background information, such as name, birthday, schools attended, ethnicity, citizenship, race, etc.
Section 1 requires you to enter basic information about yourself and any ID numbers that may appear on the transcripts sent to AMCAS by the schools you attended.
While AMCAS requires information on post-secondary education, detailed high school information is generally not required, except under specific circumstances, such as for applicants with a GED. If you have a GED certificate, were homeschooled, or attended high school in a foreign country, you can find specific instructions in the AMCAS Application Guide at this link: https://students-residents.aamc.org/media/11616/download?attachment.
Section 3 requires applicants to fill in biographic information, such as contact details, legal residence, citizenship, languages spoken, race, ethnicity, and family information, including parents/guardians and siblings.
The contact information required is the email address you primarily use to communicate with AMCAS and medical schools.
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3 – Coursework
In this stage of applying for AAMC medical schools, you must enter your transcripts and any information related to your coursework.
The Transcript section requires one full transcript from each U.S., U.S. Territorial, or Canadian post-secondary institution at which you completed coursework that appears on your AMCAS application, regardless of credit earned. You can consult the AMCAS Application Guide to determine if an official transcript is needed from your undergraduate institution.
AMCAS accepts transcripts in electronic and paper formats. Electronic transcripts must be sent through approved vendors like National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, or Credential Solutions.
The institution must send transcripts directly through approved electronic methods or mail. AMCAS does not accept transcripts via secure email or fax.
However, AMCAS does not accept transcripts that are sent by fax. To prevent delays in your application process, it is recommended that you submit your transcripts electronically. If this facility is unavailable at your institution, you can mail the transcripts on paper directly to AMCAS.
This will require you to attach the matching AMCAS Pre-barcoded Transcript Request Form. You can find this form within the application itself.
4 – Work and Activities
At this stage of the application process for AMCAS medical schools, you must include any work experience, extracurricular activities, awards, etc.
Include any work experience, extracurricular activities, honors, awards, or publications you wish to highlight for your application.
5 – Choosing Medical Schools and Programs
In this stage, you will list the medical schools you wish to apply to and select the program type, such as Regular MD, MD-PhD, Combined Bachelor/MD, Graduate/MD, Deferred Matriculation, or Other Special Programs.
Conclusion
Before applying, proofread your application carefully to avoid errors. Use the “Print Application” feature to review a hard copy of your AMCAS medical school application before submission.
See Also
How to Get Into Harvard Medical School
How Much Does Medical School Cost
Best Dental Schools in California
How Many Medical Schools in the US
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