Timetable for Medical School Application Process
January - February 2009
*Attend an information session at Academic Support and pick up the health professions questionnaire (also available on the health professions website) to begin the process to request a Health Committee letter.
*Open a recommendation file with Interfolio at http://www.interfolio.com/ IF you are applying to medical school. For all other health professional schools, please consult with a Health Professions adviser in Academic Support. Information about Interfolio is available at the Career Center or on their website at http://www.rochester.edu/careercenter/students/recommendation/index.html
* Begin to request letters of recommendation (3 to 4 in addition to the Health Committee letter).
*Check out MCAT registration materials online at www.aamc.org/mcat .
*Check out DAT registration materials online at http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp .
*Start researching schools using printed directories (available in the Career Library and Academic Support) and Web information.
*Registration for the June and July MCAT tests opens in February 2009.
March - April 2009
* Download the AMCAS application material from the AAMC website ( www.aamc.org ) - available towards the end of April/early May.
*Request the most recent bulletins of the schools you are considering, as well as application materials from any that are not AMCAS (allopathic medical school application service), AACOMAS (osteopathic medical school application service) or AADSAS (dental school application service) participants.
*Turn in your completed health professions questionnaire to begin the Health Committee letter request process by March 20, 2009 and schedule an appointment to review it with a health professions adviser. The Health Professions Advising Team consists of: Kate Sgabellone, and Scott MacPhail. (Submitted questionnaires will not be accepted without the signed expectation sheet). If the HPQ is submitted by the March 20 deadline, you may expect your HC letter to be ready no later than August 31, 2009. All individuals applying to vet school must submit their HPQ at this time to be in accordance with VMCAS deadlines. Applicants applying to dental school are strongly encouraged to submit their HPQ by this deadline to allow for AADSAS processing time.
*Work on your AMCAS/AACOMAS/AADSAS essay and ask for comments and suggestions from anyone you believe will be helpful, particularly the College Writing Fellows.
*Registration for the August and September MCAT tests open in April 2009.
May - June 2009*When your spring semester grades are in, request a copy of your transcript from the Registrar. (If you've taken courses at any other college in the U.S. or Canada, request that transcript as well. Medical schools require an official transcript from every U.S. or Canadian college a candidate has attended, even if only for one summer course.) You will need it for reference when completing applications, and you'll want to check it for accuracy before having it sent out. If you find any errors, discrepancies or oddities, contact the Registrar or Academic Support. It is essential that your transcript be error-free before you have it sent.
For allopathic medical school (AMCAS):
Once you're satisfied that your transcript is in order, print out the AMCAS Transcript Request Form from AMCAS. Bring the completed AMCAS form to the Registrar and attach this form to a completed UR Transcript request form. Please note that you will need both forms to request a UR transcript be sent to AMCAS and any non-AMCAS schools to which you plan to apply. PLEASE NOTE THAT SUBMITTING BOTH FORMS, the AMCAS transcript request form and the UR form, will expedite how the application service processes your request.
*AACOMAS does not have a transcript request form. Request your transcript using the UR transcript form.
For dental school:
Once you're satisfied that your transcript is in order, print out the AADSAS Transcript Request Form from AADSAS. Bring the completed AADSAS form to the Registrar and attach this form to a completed UR Transcript request form. PLEASE NOTE THAT SUBMITTING BOTH FORMS, the AADSAS transcript request form and the UR form, will expedite how the application service processes your request.
* Applicants who submit their HPQ by March 20, 2009 must meet with a Health Professions Adviser by May 1, 2009. Applicants must also submit their Interfolio Recommendation Cover Sheet (if applicable) no later than May 1, 2009.
* The AACOMAS and AADSAS application materials become available in mid-May.
*Work on the AMCAS application and plan to have it completed and sent before the end of June
(It may be submitted in the beginning of June). Do the same with applications to non-AMCAS schools.)
*If you need assistance in interpreting your MCAT test scores or are wondering whether you should repeat the test contact Kate Sgabellone, or Scott Macphail in CCAS. Don't send the AMCAS application or other initial applications till you have your MCAT scores; the scores may alter your choice of schools, and if you plan to take the test again you'll want to indicate that on the application.
*Check with Interfolio regularly on the contents of your recommendation file if you are applying to medical school (ongoing until you have had your recommendation package sent). Letters of Recommendation are sent directly to the medical schools and usually due when you submit your secondary applications.
July - August 2009
* July 10 is the LAST OPPORTUNITY to submit the completed Health Professions Questionnaire to request a Health Committee letter. For the time period between March 21 and July 10, a late fee of $25 will be charged for questionnaires submitted during this period. Letters will not be written if the late fee is not paid. The HPQ will not be accepted without the signed expectation sheet. If HPQ submitted by the July 10 deadline, you may expect your HC letter to be ready no later than the last week of November 2009.
* Applicants who submit their HPQ by July 10, 2009 must meet with a Health Professions Adviser by August 7, 2009. Applicants must also submit their Interfolio Recommendation Cover Sheet (if applicable) no later than August 7, 2009.
*If you were prompt in sending your AMCAS and other initial application materials, you'll be receiving secondary materials now. Complete and return them as soon as possible.
*Once you have confirmed with Interfolio that your Committee letter and other recommendations are in your file, arrange to have your recommendation package sent to your schools.
September 2009 - Spring 2010
*If you took the MCAT in spring and were prompt in completing your application materials, you may begin to hear about interviews shortly after Labor Day. All interview invitations should receive a reply as soon as possible. On a less cheerful note, rejections may also come through at this time. Interviewing usually concludes in late April/early May.
*Remember to send brief thank-you notes to interviewers.
*Some schools send out their first acceptance letters in October. If you're accepted, you will not be expected to make a final decision; all any school wants to know at this stage is whether you wish to hold a place. No deposits are required at this point.
*Read up on financial aid policies and procedures at the schools that invite you for interviews. Keep very careful track of deadlines for financial aid applications.
FOR UPDATES, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND APPLICANT RESULTS, USE THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS WEBSITE AT http://www.rochester.edu/College/CCAS/healthprofessions.html
INFORMATION RELATED TO THE AMCAS, AACOMAS, and AADSAS APPLICATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CONSULT THE:
AAMC WEBSITE AT www.aamc.org PERIODICALLY FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
AACOMAS WEBSITE AT www.aacom.org PERIODICALLY FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
AADSAS WEBSITE AT www.adea.org PERIODICALLY FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
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