Application Process

Health Professions Applicant Handbook

VI. Interviews and Beyond

The last piece of the application process is the medical school interview. In August, you will receive a letter from Carol with reminders about deadlines, a handout on preparing for interviews and a date and time of the Interview Preparation Meeting always scheduled for September. At the meeting we will discuss the interview in depth - its purpose, what to expect, how to prepare. The most important thing you can do to prepare now for interviews is to read a daily newspaper. This will not only inform you about what is happening in your world but will also give you a good indication of the issues facing our health care system. 

For the present, you should know that no medical school will accept a student without first interviewing him/her. Those interviews generally take place between September and April with decisions being made on a rolling basis throughout that time period. Again you can see the advantage of being an early applicant and possibly interviewing in September before any acceptances have been offered, versus February when many have been. Do yourself a favor over the summer and read the newspaper, as well as other material on health care, so you are prepared to discuss it intelligently at an interview.
 
Allopathic medical schools will not act on a student’s application until all materials have been submitted, including MCAT scores. However, there is much clerical processing that can be taken care of while waiting for MCAT scores, so it is still best to submit all other materials in the summer. 

Medical school etiquette is governed by the “traffic rules” agreed upon by the admissions deans at all medical schools. You will accept any offer of admission and you may hold multiple acceptances as you decide which school to attend. Once you do receive an acceptance you should withdraw in writing from any school that you would not choose over the school that accepted you. This is a courtesy to the school and a kindness to your fellow applicants. 

You may hold multiple acceptances as you wait to determine financial aid packages, but by late spring AMCAS distributes a list of those holding multiple acceptances to the medical schools. By May, schools have the right to ask you to make your final choice or lose your place in their class. It behooves you, therefore, to take early and appropriate steps to learn of your financial aid package and/or any other information you need to make a choice.

This process varies for osteopathic schools, which often ask for large, non-refundable deposits. You will often not have the luxury of holding multiple acceptances or waiting a long time to make your decision. The same is true for dental and other health professions schools.