AMCAS and AACOMAS: Medical School Application Guide and Tips

Episode 96.

This episode is based on the 2024 application cycle. Some dates for deadlines may change from year to year; however, many of the details of the application itself will remain the same, so this episode is helpful if you applying during future application years as well!

Pay attention to the date when schools can start reviewing your application. Aim to have your application submitted and verified by that date so that you can be in the first batch of applications. It may take weeks for your application to be verified, so the earlier you can submit, the better. If you don't have everything ready in time for that date, it is still worth applying that cycle, but you are likely not to receive as many invitations for secondaries and interviews. Most schools have rolling deadlines and will continue to review applications after the initial release.

Work on your personal comments essay (personal statement) and the work & activities section ahead of time. You don't have to wait for the application to open before drafting these statements. These essays are one of the most important if not the most important part of your application, so it is very much worth it to invest in professional services to look over this part of your application. See episode 92 for more tips for the personal statement and a timeline of the application season.

Make sure you enter your coursework correctly by referring to your official transcript so that there are no errors that could delay your application's verification.

Works & Activities on AMCAS: 15 experiences, 700 characters each (select 3 as most meaningful with an extra 1325 characters)

Experience types: Clinical Community Service, Non-Clinical Community Service, Extracurricular Activities, Leadership,
Clinical Employment, Non-Clinical Employment, Shadowing, Research, Presentations/Posters, Publications, Advocacy, Teaching/Tutoring, Hobbies,
Artistic Endeavors, Honors/Awards, Athletics, Conferences, Military Service, Other

AACOMAS Experiences section: unlimited experiences, maximum 5 achievements, 600 characters each

Experience types: Healthcare experience, Non-Healthcare Employment, Non-Healthcare Volunteering, Extracurriculars, Research, Teaching

For more info, visit AAMC.org and AACOM.org

Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod

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Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.