Many of you undoubtedly have high aspirations for the coming year, and if you’re reading this then it’s likely that “Get into medical school” is at the top of your list. However, just as with any other resolution, getting it done is going to take a fair amount of dedication, a lack of tolerance for excuses, and perhaps most importantly, a concrete plan to take you from today to your goal. Now is the time to create that plan and put it into action, before you get distracted by classes, research, and the myriad other diversions that the school year holds.
The most successful med school applicants are the ones who are best prepared, and being prepared means knowing what lies ahead of you. You probably already know that you should be submitting your medical school application in June 2015 to start medical school in the fall of 2016; but do you know why? The rolling admissions cycle used by most medical schools means that your chances of getting to the all-important interview stage are better when you submit your application at the beginning of the cycle, rather than waiting until the application deadlines in the fall.
Having a complete application ready for submission in June is harder than it sounds, and there are several pieces of the application that you’ll want to start working on now in order to be ready in time:
- MCAT Scores: It goes without saying that your MCAT score is a critical part of your application; in fact, a recent Kaplan survey of medical school admissions officers found that it was rated as the most important admissions factor. The AAMC, along with most schools, recommend studying for at least 3 months prior to taking the exam, and many students with busy schedules find that they need even more time. Regardless of when you’re planning to take the MCAT this year, now is the time to think about how you’re going to prepare.
- Personal Statement: A few weeks ago we published an article about the role of the Personal Statement in admissions and the importance of starting it early. After the MCAT, this crucial essay is the most time-consuming part of your application, so be sure to give yourself a head start to produce an excellent essay and to avoid additional stress in the spring.
- Transcripts: While this may seem like the easiest item on the list, the procedures used by AMCAS to verify your transcripts can make it a lengthy process. Not only will you need to input each and every class you’ve taken at all of the colleges you’ve attended, you’ll also need request that an official copy of your transcripts be sent to the AAMC; the official versions will be used to verify the information you’ve submitted online, a process that can take several weeks at best.
- Letters of Recommendation: While Letters of Recommendation typically don’t take as much effort on your part, they can still take a significant amount of time to collect. Not only do you need to decide who your letter-writers will be, you’ll also need to provide assistance and stay on top of them throughout the writing process to make sure that your letters aren’t neglected.
So there you have it! While there are certainly many other things you’ll need to do in the coming months to get ready for medical school, getting an early start on these key components of your application will make sure that you’re on the right path for the next medical school admissions cycle.
