Applying to med school

How do I apply for medical school?
Allopathic medical school applications are handled through a central application process known as the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Application to osteopathic medical schools is done through American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Site (AACOMAS).

How much does it cost to apply?
AMCAS charges $160 for one medical school designation and $31 for each subsequent designation. AACOMAS fees are based on a graduated scale that starts at $155 for one school and increases by increments of roughly $35 for each additional school (see AACOMAS application fees). Schools receive and screen all the applications they receive from AMCAS and AACOMAS and send out secondary applications. The fees attached to these secondary applications vary by school but usually start at about $30.

How many schools should I apply to?

I feel it is always best to apply as broadly as possible. Even though it does get expensive applying to many schools, not getting in because you didn't apply to the right schools is much more taxing both financially and emotionally. If you're applying with an MCAT score anywhere from the low to mid 20s and a GPA in the range of 3.0 to 3.4, I would suggest applying to no fewer than 40 schools, with an even mix of both MD and DO. With an MCAT score in the high 20s to low 30s and GPA between 3.4 and 3.8, you could probably afford to apply to fewer DO schools but I would still recommend applying to 40 or so schools. For those of you with a stellar application - high MCAT/GPA, lots of extracurricular work, volunteer work, etc. I would still recommend applying to a good number of schools. Maybe 40 schools is a little over the top for someone with a solid application, but the way I see it, the price you pay for a few more designations is a drop in the hat compared to what you pay if you over-estimate yourself.

What schools should I apply to?

As I have mentioned before on this site, the best way to find out which schools you have the best chance at acceptance is to compare your scores with the average scores of the students who are accepted to that particular school. You can find a list of each school and the average MCAT/GPA of accepted students at that school here.

When should I apply?
In case you haven't heard this already, AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! The very first day the admissions cycle opens up if you can (which is usually around July 1st). Most medical schools have a rolling admissions policy which means no matter how awesome your application is, applying late in the season will put you at a huge disadvantage since most schools will have issued most of their acceptances by that time. The same rule follows for completing secondary applications - finish and send them back as quickly as you can.

What is the most important aspect of my application?
This varies by school as well but in general, and in no particular order, the most important aspects of your application are:

MCAT score
GPA
Volunteer work
Personal statement
Interview
Other extracurriculars

Some schools place more emphasis on a solid academic history. Some schools are more concerned about volunteer work and extracurricular activities. The bottom line is, to give yourself the best chances at acceptance, you need to be strong in all of these areas. However, if you are weak in one area, make sure you compensate by excelling in another. Also, realize that even though much emphasis is placed on MCAT/GPA, it is not the only aspect of your application and is not even given the most weight among all other factors by many medical schools. I have known individuals who had a great MCAT/GPA so they felt they needed nothing else. They applied to medical school and found themselves re-applying a year later. On the other hand, I have known people who had a much lower than average MCAT/GPA but lots of volunteer work and ECs to make up for it and were accepted into great programs.

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