That would be great REL! Thanks in advance!
As you noted the time to begin to construct your application is near. AMCAS should open up sometime in the third week of May. As soon as you get your AMCAS ID, have original copies of all college transcripts sent to AMCAS so that when you complete your AMCAS app and SUBMIT, then they can begin to verify your application. They advertise that it will take 4-6 weeks to complete the verification process --- but it cant start until they have all of your transcripts.
What can you do before AMCAS opens?
1. Work with your premed advising office to ensure that you are on track to build a LOR package. If your school does a premed committee letter, that is great, often that takes the place of faculty letters and is really more desired than a packet of individual letters if available. If your school does not do premed committee letters, often the office will help to coordinate your package and provide instructions on how to get the package submitted. Most med programs will ask for 3 faculty letters, or 1 premed committee letter package, AND 2 character/peer letters. It is important that you get to your authors and ensure that they write letters (which you cant see) that include some substance, more than grades and "was present for class every day." It would be good to have some sentences which address "who" you were in class; how you worked with others, etc.
2. MCAT by the end of July
3. Remember that the interview season is Sep-March. Meeting a Nov 15 or Dec 1 deadline really means that you are late. Why? Because if you complete by Dec 1 you have already missed possible interview opportunities in Sep-Dec. Your app, completed by the deadline, really makes you available for interview Jan-Mar ---- and of course everyone has a completed app by then. Unless you have a primo app, your chances will be much less than a completed app in the Sep-Dec pool with less applicants in the sea.
So let's look at a SAMPLE general timeline:
- Begin AMCAS end May
- Submit AMCAS June 15
- AMCAS verified July 15
- Supplemental App (each program has one) complete July 30
- MCAT score available July 30
- School reviews complete package by Aug 15. (Makes decision to absolutely interview, possibly interview, do not interview)
- School begins pool review to create interview groups early Sep. (Often offering a date 2-3 weeks later)
- In the best case, you are in the absolutely interview. School offers you interview for initial interview group in 3rd or 4th weeks of Sep.
- School Admissions Committee meets 10 days after interview and tells you of decision. ((**AMCAS traffic rule says that programs cannot offer acceptances or tell you your acceptance status until Oct 15 at the earliest.))
Imagine where an applicant would be if they applied the above to those apps that met the Dec 1 deadline.
The above DOES NOT fit every school process, but I do believe it to be generally accurate for most programs. Hope it helps.
