Once you’ve submitted your AMCAS, what can you do next to best prepare for what’s to come in the medical school admissions process?Here are a few tips:
1. Start to draft secondary essays. Even if you haven’t yet received the prompts, you can begin to craft responses to common themes like “how would you add diversity to our school?” and “describe an extracurricular activity that might be of interest to the committee.” Good writing takes time, but if you wait for the onslaught of secondary applications, you won’t be able to impart your essays with your highest quality effort.
2. Get a head start on preparing for the medical school interview. Practice, practice, practice. Start mocking up answers to interview questions so that you distinguish yourself.
3. Consider what you want. Do some soul searching to determine what you are really seeking geographically, philosophically, and educationally. You want to make considered decisions when the time comes.
Just a reminder that AMCAS opens on May 3, and you can submit your AMCAS as early as June 7. This application cycle’s AMCAS Processing Fee is $160 (which includes one medical school designation). Additional medical school designations are $38 each.
