I’m hoping to apply to medical school next year. What application dates and deadlines should I have in mind as I plan for the year?
There are parts of the application process where you have an advantage if you do things before deadlines and others where it’s fine to have things done at the deadline. Our countdown google sheet outlines our recommended timing on key components of application preparation that will give you the best shot at getting interviews and offers. There's also an overview of the steps on our webpage.
The most important date to remember is to submit your common application in early June of your application year, over a year before you hope to start medical school. Submitting the common application early means schools can consider your candidacy while all of the interview invitations and medical school seats are still available.
For example, last year NYU School of Medicine received over 8,000 applications and interviewed just over 800 applicants to fill their class of 106. They started sending out interview invitations in July. So, by October (their application deadline), many of those interview opportunities were already taken by early applicants.
This also means that you want all of the components of your candidacy—academic preparation, experiential preparation, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores—to be competitive for your schools of interest by June of your application year. You will continue to build your candidacy during the year that you wait for interviews and offers, but everything should be solid before you hit the submit button and pay the money to apply.
Watch our recorded info sessions to learn more:
- Evaluating Your Candidacy: Academics, Metrics & Goals (login required)
- Evaluating Your Candidacy: Activities & Narratives
- How to be a Competitive Direct Entry Applicant
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