MD Application Deadlines of the Top 50 Medical Schools was originally published on Leland.
Application deadlines for MD programs are different from other graduate degrees because of the role of the American Medical College Application Process (AMCAS), a centralized service for processing application materials. Most schools have potential students submit a standard application through AMCAS and then a second application with supplemental materials, like letters of recommendation, directly to the school. This article will provide the AMCAS and schools’ deadlines for the top 50 MD programs in the US.
Overview of the Medical School Admissions Process
Though these are the final dates at which you can submit your application, most programs highly recommend getting them in as soon as possible after the application opens up. For AMCAS, the application becomes available in May and opens for submission in early June. For the supplementary materials, the application is usually available in June and open for submission in July. Interviews and acceptances are often extended on a rolling basis so the earlier you submit your application, the more seats there are available in the class.
This application timeline is the ideal one. AMCAS closes at the end of the year, but your chances of admissions drop considerably after August. With that being said, it’s still possible to submit a strong application after these dates.
- Take the MCAT; it takes over a month to receive results back so you want to give yourself a significant buffer in case you don’t get your target score the first time around
- Complete any remaining course requirements
3-6 Months Before Applications
- Figure out what schools you want to apply to–compare pros and cons, specialties, locations, financial aid, and other factors
- Decide on your evaluators
- Start brainstorming your personal statement essay
~3 Months Before Applications
- Reach out to evaluators
- Start drafting/editing personal statement
- Start compiling your experiences and polishing your resume
May (AMCAS Opens)
- Start filling out AMCAS
- Polish your personal statement
- Check-in with evaluators
June
- Submit AMCAS
August-September
- Start on the school’s secondary application if it’s available (some programs provide this application by invitation only)
- Submit secondary application
- Start studying for interviews–these are extended on a rolling basis so we recommend that you start studying once you’ve submitted the supplementary materials
MD Program Application Deadlines
Here are the AMCAS and secondary application deadlines for the top 50 medical schools.
Early-Decision Deadlines
A few medical schools offer early application deadlines through which applicants can receive a decision much earlier than traditional applicants.
Get Into Med School With the Help of an Expert
As you put together your medical school applications, the best thing you can do to make them as compelling as possible is to work one-on-one with an expert coach. Below are three of our top MD program admissions coaches. They are graduates of some of the best programs in the country and will be able to help you navigate the difficult process.
Read these next:
- The Best 50+ Free Resources for the MCAT
- The Ultimate Guide to the Medical School Application Process
- How to Write a Powerful Personal Statement for Medical School
- Acceptance Rates & Class Profiles of the Top 15 Medical Schools
- MD Application Deadlines of the Top 50 Medical Schools
- The Top 10 Medical Schools in the US