Professional
School
Primary Application
Service processes the primary
application.
Once this processing is
complete, the Service sends
the primary application to the
schools selected by the
applicant.
At this point, the school takes
over the application.
Complete online application
Send college transcripts
Letters of Recommendation sent here
Pay application fee
Secondary
Application
Upon invitation from
the school:
Submit additional
letters of
recommendation
Submit additional
writing samples
Send updated
transcripts if necessary
Pay additional
application fee if
required
Interview
Schedule
interview date
upon invitation
from the school

Medical: www.amcas.org
◦ https://www.aamc.org/students/download/277594
/data/quickstartguide.pdf
◦ https://aacomas.aacom.org/

Dental: portal.aadsasweb.org
◦ www.godental.org

Opt: http://www.optomcas.org/
Go to the sites and read up. They
usually provide instruction sheets
and tips.
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May: Many services open and allow you to
build you application. (May 1 for MD)
June: service “goes live” and you can
submit the application
◦ Apply early; many programs work on rolling
admissions
◦ Consider the EAP, if available!
◦ Deadlines around October for some services or
schools

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August-November: interview
December-April: wait for decision

Each service is slightly different, but
all will require similar materials
◦ Transcripts for every school attended (or
for all college credit…HS dual credit?)
◦ Standardized test scores
◦ Personal Statements
◦ Recommendation letters
◦ Resume/Experience
 Each
school MAY require a
supplemental application

MEDICAL (MD)

◦ MCAT >30
◦ GPA > 3.7

MEDICAL (DO)
◦ MCAT > 25
◦ GPA > 3.6
DENTAL
◦ DAT average >20
◦ GPA ~3.6

OPTOMETRY
◦ OAT >320 cumulative
◦ GPA ~3.6
If your scores are
significantly below these,
DON’T APPLY!

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Be personal, tell about you
Tell a coherent story, not just a list of
experiences
Use proper grammar
Be yourself! Don’t try to appear super smart!
Have a few others read and comment.
◦ Use the Writer’s studio!
◦ Have someone who knows you comment

All Services Accept Electronic Letters
◦ Typically, you will enter the name and email of
the faculty or professional and the service will
send an electronic form to be used by the
evaluator.
◦ Faculty should be approached FIRST!
 Get permission
 Provide the packet to the faculty member
 http://www.butler.edu/pre-graduate-advising/premed/applying-to-medical-school/
 Need 2 science and one non-science
 For DO, a second science will serve in place of a
premed advisor
◦ Letters of support from professionals
 Work experience, shadowing, mentoring, etc.


Section on the online application where you will fill
in your MOST SIGNIFICANT activities and
accomplishments
◦ There is limited space, so choose those items that
best reflect who you are
◦ Align these activities with the goals of the schools
to which you will apply.
◦ Shadowing, research, volunteerism, work related to
health care)
DISCLOSE EVERYTHING!!!

You saw how it went down!
◦ Know your school, their mission, and how you can
fit in.
◦ Repeat the question. Indicate that you understand.
Ask for clarification.
◦ Stop and think for a minute.
◦ Share your PERSONAL experience.
 Even if you don’t have an experience from which to
draw, think of a similar circumstance and discuss how
it might relate or inform what you would do.
◦ Relax!
◦ Showcase integrity and humility
◦ Be Yourself!!
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/depts/grad_scho
ol/programs.htm
http://www.pbhealth.iupui.edu
http://smp.georgetown.edu/
http://grad.medicine.iu.edu/body.cfm?id=185
1
http://www.msms.iu.edu/body.cfm?id=6994&
SubDomain=true

Do your research (MSAR, school websites,
etc)
◦ Decide if you should apply
◦ Get familiar with the application service website
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Get official copies of ALL transcripts
Letters of Recommendation…start asking
Write your personal statement…begin
tonight
Develop a resume of activities and
accomplishments
Start working on the application as soon as
it becomes available on-line!