The Medical School
Timeline and Application
Process
Timeline: When to Start?
For Fall 2008 Entering Class:
•Spring 2007: Register for and take MCAT (go to
www.aamc.org and click on MCAT link for more info)
•March or April 2007: Schedule committee interview
with Dr. Engstrom if interested in using the committee
letter for recommendations
• May 1, 2007: Primary application becomes available
online (for AMCAS, go to www.aamc.org and click on
AMCAS link to create a user account and for
AACOMAS, go to aacomas.aacom.org)
Timeline Continued
• June 1, 2007: First day to submit primary application on-line
• Allow four to six weeks for processing of primary application
• June-August 2007: Pick-up recommendation forms from Dr.
Engstrom and disperse to letter writers
• July-October 2007: Receive, complete, and submit
supplemental materials to individual medical schools
(supplemental application deadlines vary from October 1March 1, but applying early is key!!!)
Timeline Continued:
• Beginning mid to late September: Personal interviews and campus
visits
• Admission decision: Typically within 2-4 weeks after the date of
interview for schools with rolling admissions
The
Application
Process
The Committee Interview
• Held late March or early April
• For students interested in having a committee letter
written for them by NIU
• Mock medical school interview with the committee
• Talk with Dr. Engstrom for more info and to create a
recommendation file in the LAS office
The Primary Application
• Allopathic (MD) schools participate in the AMCAS application
service and Osteopathic (DO) schools participate in the AACOMAS
application service
• You fill out only one primary application, which will then be sent by
AMCAS or AACOMAS to the individual schools you have
designated on your application
• Available online in May at www.aamc.org for the AMCAS application
and aacomas.aacom.org for the AACOMAS application
Primary Application Continued
• The application is rather self-explanatory, but there are a
few tricks on the course work section.
• Using the “Help” link on the application menu or calling
an AMCAS representative at (202) 828-0600 can help
you navigate through the course work section and
answer any questions you may have.
• Submit application online and allow 4-6 weeks for
processing.
Letters of Recommendation
• If you have not started asking professors to write
recommendations, the time while your primary
application is being processed is a good time to start.
• Letters will need to be sent with your supplemental
applications, so you want them to be ready.
• If you are having a committee letter written, you should
schedule an appointment with Dr. Engstrom at this point.
Letters of Recommendation Cont.
• Dr. Engstrom will give you the form that you will need
your letter writers to fill out.
• Once your letter writers have filled out the form, have
them send it directly back to the LAS office at NIU.
• Call the LAS office to check whether all expected
recommendations have been returned and are in your
file.
Supplemental Applications
• Once AMCAS and AACOMAS have finished processing, your
primary will be sent to the schools you designated.
• If you meet their minimum requirements, the individual schools will
send you a supplemental application.
• All schools require letters of recommendation. When you receive
the supplemental, go the LAS office and request that your
committee letter be sent by filling out a form with the addresses of
the medical schools. The LAS office can take up to two weeks to
send the letter, so make your request early.
• Return the completed supplemental, the application fee, and any
other requested materials. It is your responsibility to make sure your
application file is complete and ready for review!
Review Process and Interview
•
Frequently check the status of your application online.
•
Be advised, however, that schools may take a while to process and review
your supplemental. Be patient!
•
If you are invited to interview, be prompt about scheduling the interview!
•
Prepare for the interview by reviewing both your primary application and the
supplemental for that school. Also, do your research. Visit the school’s
website and come up with 1-2 specific questions about the school to ask
during the interview. This shows interest!
•
After the interview, schools with a rolling admissions process will typically
inform you of their decision in 2-4 weeks.
Questions?