Like many things, it wouldn’t hurt to try going to one, and see how you actually react by attending. Some students get inspired and motivated by going to these talks, but it’s true that some find it stressful. We do try to choose admissions representatives who are accessible to students and interested in helping you out, and sometimes seeing them in a smaller group setting can make the idea of interacting with them less intimidating when it comes time to apply. Many of the admissions speakers are also willing to communicate directly with students who have come to information sessions, which can be a nice connection if a specific question comes up and you want a second opinion beyond HPA’s about an aspect of your candidacy.

That said, it’s absolutely fine to wait a while before you start coming to these information sessions—we will continue to offer a few every semester, so you’ll be able to catch some when you’re ready! We do hope that juniors and seniors who are closer to the application process choose to attend at least a couple of these info sessions, since it can help them get into the mindset of applying, and help them see how schools highlight certain aspects of what they offer to students (e.g., location, curriculum, patient care opportunities, global health offerings), and use that information to decide where to apply and how to craft their application materials for schools of particular interest.

Every school has its own process and timeline – they may not have even reviewed your file once at this point, they may have reviewed it and put it ‘on hold pre-interview’ meaning that they could revisit it later, or they may have decided not to pursue your candidacy and haven’t told you. There’s no way to know which situation you face at any given school, so best to just assume that an interview is still possible. In the meantime, stay productive in your activities, consider people you may ask for one more letter of recommendation if needed, seek out more information about the schools so that you can send messages describing your continued interest with new details, and be in touch with us at HPA so that we know which schools you’re particularly interested in hearing from in case we’re in touch with the schools. Over 200 interview invitations were extended November and later last application cycle, so keep hanging in there! 

There are different kinds of letters that you can send, the most serious of which is the letter of intent. You should wait to write this letter, however, after you have finished most, if not all, of your interviews - you wouldn't have much credibility if you told a school they're your first choice when you've only visited one or two (and you might change your mind with more interviews)!

Apart from the letter of intent, you can send new information about your activities or accomplishments, updates when you have new grades, and otherwise indicate your continued interest with the schools where you have not been invited to interview or have not heard anything at all, but do not make a commitment as you would in a letter of intent. Again, keep the letters brief and to the point.

For schools where you have interviewed, some will let you know when you interview what kinds of additional information they might want (or you can ask if they don't bring it up). Generally, it's fine to send updates of significant information (grades, publications, etc).

As they say, "It ain't over 'til it's over."  Some of your medical schools will request a fall transcript and you should comply with this request.  So, yes, your fall grades "count," meaning they may be scrutinized by some of your schools.  For the medical schools that do NOT make such a request, you can send an update with your grades proactively if your performance is on par (or better) than previous semesters (you can include grades within an update letter and offer to send an official transcript upon request, perhaps including some information about upcoming classes and activities). Also, if you're a non-science major who has the minimum of science classes OR a student with a borderline science GPA, then your performance in additional science this fall should be shared with medical schools.  The most common situation in which a medical school asks for a fall transcript is when the applicant has been put "on hold" or officially waitlisted; in some cases, schools may even request a spring transcript, though most admissions decisions will be made by the time you complete the spring term.  Make sure you have the Registrar send a transcript that's "official," not merely a printout of the grades you access online. 

Schools handle wait lists differently. Check MSAR and school websites to see if any wait list policies are described; if not, check with the admissions office to see if they’ll share any information, and reach out to students at schools where you’re wait listed to see if they have any advice from their own experiences and those of classmates. 

Work with us to talk about wait list strategy—when to communicate to schools, how to craft your letters of interest, whether or not to send a letter of intent. Continue to learn as much as you can about the school—show your interest by further combing their website, attending events they host, talking with our alums and others you’re connected with at the school—and weave some of the insights you gain into your continued communication.

Last year, we saw applicants accepted from wait lists from February through July, with the majority in the last week of April and first week of May. Wait list movement can happen until the day that classes begin (check MSAR/Choose DO Explorer for start dates for schools where you’re waiting). Anecdotally, one of our applicants shared that she has a classmate who had already moved to one city for medical school before receiving a call two days before classes started and moving across country to attend her program. 

In most cases, reapplying right away does not provide enough time to make significant enough changes to your candidacy (especially if academic metrics were an issue and you haven’t addressed it this year). Most of our reapplicants who are accepted take at least one year between applications. That said, if you do decide to reapply, early in the cycle is best—read through our information for reapplicants on our website and be in touch!

Starting October 15 for medical school, and December 1 for dental school (others schools’ dates vary), you may begin to receive acceptances from schools. A few DO schools are sending acceptances starting in late summer. First of all, if you’ve just been accepted, congratulations! Go and celebrate, and then come back to this answer!

This may sound obvious, but accept the first seat you’re offered, even if it isn’t at one of your top choice schools and you’re confident that you’ll receive another – it’s always better to have one seat than none at all. If you later get accepted by another school that’s higher on your list, send professional letters 1) withdrawing from the first school, and 2) accepting the second school’s offer (this is a good time to become familiar with the AAMC’s traffic rules if you’re applying to MD programs).

Many schools will give you specific instructions on how to respond to an offer of admission. If you are offered a seat at a school and do not receive specific instructions, the basic first step is to write a letter to the Dean of Admissions, stating that you accept the position. Include your name (obviously) and your relevant contact information for the time from acceptance to matriculation, as well as any other information that you are asked to provide. If you haven’t done so already, this is a good time to get a permanent (non-Princeton) email account, so you won’t have to send an update when your Princeton account expires (please use a professional username). Most schools require a deposit, which is often refundable, to hold your seat. Send your response by certified mail, with a return receipt, so that you will know when the school receives it. At this point, you should also send letters withdrawing your candidacy from any school that you haven’t heard from, that you would not attend given your current acceptance. This gives them a more realistic idea of their applicant pool, and may be of benefit to others who are still waiting for interviews and acceptances. It’s okay to hold off on sending such a letter to schools you still wish to gather more information about – there is nothing wrong with staying in the applicant pool for numerous schools even after gaining an acceptance.

Also note that acceptances are contingent on continuing to do well. Maintain your good academic and disciplinary standards, and in general avoid doing things that could result in having your acceptance rescinded.   

If you are certain that you would attend one medical school over all others – and you have interviewed at that school – it is appropriate that you write that school and say so. This is commonly called a "Letter of Intent". You would write the dean or director of admissions (always check proper titles, name spellings, in the MSAR online). If you really hit it off with your interviewer, he/she may be copied on that letter. While we would have told you several years ago that these letters had to be snail-mailed, we are hearing more and more from medical schools that email is fine. We don't think a mailed letter on good quality paper can hurt, but follow the school's advice for communication. We are happy to read over your letters before you send them. Please also forward a copy of your letter to HPA so that we have a heads up about your interest - medical schools are in touch with us about applicants from time to time.

This should be more than an I-really want-to-come-please take-me-letter. You should describe why you and the school are a good match. Be succinct; don't say the same thing three times. These are busy people. If you have grades to send, such a note could “introduce” those. Indeed, it is a good idea to send an update note whenever something of note happens in your academic or professional life. Finally, follow this letter up with brief notes, still expressing your interest, to the admissions dean/director every three to four weeks. At the end of the day, medical schools want applicants who want them, and they will be gratified if you have expressed a commitment to them.

As a postscript to our larger audience, if you are not ready to commit to one school this way, that is FINE. But you can still write letters of interest to the medical schools that you particularly like. 

Saying no is just part of this process for many applicants, and medical schools accept it and don't take it personally -- they want you to attend the school that's the best fit for you, and they have plenty of other eager applicants to fill your spot! Follow the instructions that you were given, if they were given -- often this will mean uploading something into an online portal or sending an email. If you weren't told specifically what to do, you could do both. Address your correspondence to the dean/director of admissions. If you have already accepted a seat in their entering class, simply say something like, "Thank you very much for your offer of admission, but I have decided after considerable thought and discussion with my family to attend another medical school. I am very grateful for the time spent considering my application.  Sincerely . . ."

If you were interviewed but still don't have a final decision from the school--and still know you'd like to go elsewhere--, you can say, "I write to withdraw my application from further consideration at XYZ School of Medicine. I am grateful for the time spent considering my credentials and the opportunity to interview.  Sincerely . . ."

Remember that AAMC "traffic rules" dictate that you choose ONE school by April 30.