[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By: Alessandra Santiago

Welcome to the inaugural article for our 2021 Med School Application Guide! Over the next ten months, we will walk you through the timelines, deadlines, and requirements on the American Medical College Application System (AMCAS). We will offer insight into each component of the AMCAS application, from when to sign up for the MCAT to when (and from whom) to request letters of recommendation to strategizing your secondary applications.

Over the course of this next academic year, it is critical for pre-med students to break their application timeframe down month-by-month. Enumerating what is due, when to submit, and how to access the information you need is critical to the success of your med school application, and we hope that this free guide will offer guide posts along the path to receiving acceptance offers to med school.

To start, let us first take a bird’s eye view of the overall timeline for applying MD/DO.

While it is still early in the academic year, there are timelines coming up that require some pre-planning on your part. Here is how the next few months typically unfold from an admissions perspective:

This is the general structure of the overall application and admissions cycle. Beginning in May 2020 and ending in May of 2021, the process is a long one, but with the right preparatory tools in place to anticipate any upcoming deadlines, you will succeed.

Our application breakdown will make clear what tasks to complete and when over the course of this academic year. Starting with selecting your letters of evaluation writers and considering when to take the MCAT, the beginning of the academic year is the time to start familiarizing yourself with the overall application process.

Each week of this course, we will provide you with ‘assignments’ to complete before the next article is posted. In total, there will be 19 assignments before the end of the course, so the aim is to keep you on track for the opening of the May primary application. This year will pass by in a flash, so staying disciplined and on target is key.

So, let’s get started!

Assignment #1: Take a look at the calendar above and see where you are in the process of being ready for applying. Have you completed all of your required coursework? Are there any recommended courses you might consider taking? Is there any extra volunteer work you might want to take on before you apply? Consider meeting with your pre-health advisor to discuss your progress.

Stay tuned for our next article that will release on September 9! If you are interested in learning more about the application process or how to navigate the Pre-Med journey go to our Getting Into Med School: Tips and Tricks Blog.