Pre-medical Application Information
How and when do I apply to medical school?
The application process for medical school begins more than a year before the proposed matriculation (expected entrance in to medical school) date. AMCAS (see below) will begin accepting applications in June, and interviews normally take place between October and March for acceptance the following fall.
You would begin by completing the AMCAS application and submitting it along with official college and university transcripts. AMCAS begins accepting applications in June, and the specific deadline for each medical school varies (deadlines are published in the AMCAS information booklet). AMCAS standardizes the information from the application and forwards it to the medical schools that you indicate. (If you are applying to any non-AMCAS schools, contact those schools directly for information and application materials). The individual medical schools then review your application.
If you meet their minimum criteria for acceptance, they will send you a secondary application in which they request letters of evaluation, updated personal statements, updated transcripts, and an additional application fee. Once your file is complete, your application is forwarded to an admission committee for review.
How do I get letters of evaluation?
Letters of evaluation are an important part of your application to medical school. Since the admission committee members at the medical schools do not know you personally, they rely heavily on the comments from people who do know you and are in a position to comment on your potential to complete the medical school curriculum and become a competent and caring member of the medical profession.
Most medical schools require a minimum of three letters of evaluation, or a Committee Letter. Committee letters of evaluation are generally preferred, but if a student opts to obtain individual letters of evaluation, it is advisable to include at least two academic evaluations (at least one from the sciences) and at least one non-academic evaluation (employer, volunteer coordinator, a physician under which you have worked). Portland State University does have a Health Sciences Advising Committee.
Non-Academic Letter Request Form
What is the Health Sciences Advising Committee?
Students typically send their evaluation letters to medical schools by using PSU's Health Sciences Advising Committee (HSAC) Letter service. The HSAC consists of pre-medical and pre-dental advisers and other faculty members from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. A Committee Letter of evaluation is essentially a cover letter written by the student's adviser followed by all indiivdual evaluation letters submitted to the advising office by instructors and non-academic evaluators (such as work and volunteer supervisors and physicians). The cover letter includes the HSAC's rating for the student in three categories: 1) academic accomplishment, 2) clinical exposure, and 3) extracurricular, research, and community service activities. The Committee's ratings are based on the HSAC's review of the student's HSAC file, which includes information such as GPA, MCAT scores, transcripts, relevant activities, and personal statement. Students must meet certain minimum requirements in order to request a Committee Letter. See a pre-medical adviser for more information on the Committee Letter service and the application process.
What is AMCAS?
AMCAS is a non-profit, centralized service developed by medical school admission officers to facilitate the process of applying to participating U.S. medical schools. AMCAS does not render any admission decisions or advise applicants where to submit applications. Each participating school is completely autonomous in its admission decisions. AMCAS only provides the processing service. Most medical schools participate in AMCAS.
The AMCAS application usually becomes available in May and the earliest that applicants can submit the application is June 1st. The AMCAS application is available at http://www.amcas.org.
What are the important dates and deadlines?
For fall matriculation at U.S. medical schools, here are some important timeframes:
MCAT: It is ideal to take the MCAT by May of the year in which you are applying to medical school, but some students take it in June, July, or even August in order to study more.
AMCAS: Available online at www.amcas.org in May. The earliest you can submit is the first week of June. Most PSU students wait until spring term grades post (third week of June) to submit their application. As long as one submits the application by the end of June, one is applying early in the application process.
Health Sciences Advising Committee (HSAC): Information and request packets are available in 387 Cramer Hall. The deadline to submit a request for a Committee Letter of Evaluation is generally the end of April. All required materials outlined in the HSAC packet, including all letters of evaluation, must be received by the April deadline.
What GPA and MCAT scores do I need to be competitive?
There is no set of magic numbers that guarantee acceptance to medical school. Successful applicants have a background which supports an ability to complete the medical school curriculum. Medical school admission committees use college GPA and MCAT scores as an indicator of student potential for success.
Competitive applicants typically have a GPA of 3.5 or better and double digit MCAT scores (10 or higher) on each of the individual sections.
Does it matter where I do my undergraduate degree?
No. Medical schools consider applicants from any accredited college or university that satisfy the medical school prerequisites.
How do I choose which schools to apply to ?
Information regarding specific U.S. and Canadian medical schools can be found in Medical School Admission Requirements (AAMC Publication)
Residency: Public medical schools give significant preference to residents of that state. Residents also pay lower tuition rates.
Cost: The cost of medical school can vary a great deal.
Location: Are you willing to and able to relocate?
Curriculum: The focus and approach of the curriculum should be investigated to ensure it matches your philosophical views. Curricular approaches vary among institutions.
Religious Affiliation: Some schools give preference to applicants of particular religions.