The medical school application timeline lasts approximately 1 year for each application cycle, beginning in spring and lasting through the following spring (at the latest). The timeline will vary somewhat for each individual depending on when they submit their primary and secondary applications, when they schedule their interviews, etc. Applicants should note that this timeline is different for early decision applicants, applicants should check with their individual schools of interest regarding early decision deadlines as these vary from program to program. But we’ve broken down each main step:
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The Ultimate Med School Application Timeline Breakdown
The Application Cycle Overview
The general application timeline begins with taking the MCAT, usually in the spring. But students can take the MCAT whenever they feel most prepared and do not need to retake the MCAT for each new application cycle. Read more here about taking the MCAT. Or read more here about the traditional pre-med timeline.
Students can begin submitting primary applications through AMCAS in June. After this point, certain parts of the application cycle can overlap. Meaning some students may still be submitting their primary applications while others have already received or submitted secondary applications. Some students may still be completing secondary applications while others are already interviewing. This is okay and every student’s timeline will be slightly different. But applicants should try to submit their materials as soon as possible.
Spring
Students may take the MCAT as late as mid-May, but usually take the MCAT around mid-April in order to leave enough time to retake the exam as needed. It is not uncommon for students to retake the MCAT (learn more here) but it is not necessary for students who are satisfied with their score. Of course students can also take the MCAT earlier than April or may use their MCAT score from the previous application cycle if they are reapplying.
AMCAS opens the primary application in early May of each year. At this time, students may begin to enter their information but cannot yet submit their primary application.
| Important 2022 dates and deadlines | |
| May 3 | AMCAS primary applications open |
| May 19 | Last day to take the MCAT without delaying application |
Summer
Applicants can begin submitting their primary applications in late May or early June of that application cycle. It then takes AMCAS approximately 4-6 weeks to process these applications before they are received by the indicated medical schools. Applicants should plan accordingly and submit their applications as soon as possible to avoid any delay. Ideally, primary applications should be submitted by the end of June.
Once primary applications are processed and reviewed by medical schools, applicants generally begin receiving secondary applications by mid-July. While primary applications includes standard demographic information and a general essay, secondary applications are different for each school depending on what information that specific school is interested in from applicants. It’s advised that applicants complete and submit their secondary applications within 2-3 weeks of receiving them.
| important 2022 dates and deadlines | |
| May 31 | Earliest date applicants may submit primary applications |
| June 24 | Earliest date medical schools will receive processed applications |
Fall
Medical school interviews generally begin in early September. Applicants often schedule their own interviews with the school based around their schedule and should have at least 2-3 weeks to prepare. Following their interview, applicants receive decision letters within 2-3 weeks of their interview.
For students behind in the application cycle, the deadline to submit primary applications is usually around mid-October with secondary application deadlines following shortly after in mid-November. But this varies from school to school and generally it is not ideal to wait until a school’s deadline to submit an application.
| Important 2022 dates and deadlines | |
| primary and secondary application deadlines for each school can be found here |
Winter
By winter most primary and secondary application deadlines have passed. Medical school interviews often continue through February, but some schools may interview as late as March. The final decision letters are released 2-3 weeks following the final interviews. Most applicants have received decisions by February.
| Important 2022 dates and deadlines | |
| April 30 | deadline to indicate medical school choice through AMCAS “Choose Your Medical School” tool |
Final Thoughts
Again, students can take the MCAT whenever is best for them and do not need to repeat the MCAT for each application cycle. Learn more about retaking the MCAT here. The exact timeline will somewhat vary between applications depending on when they receive their MCAT scores, when they submit their primary applications, etc. But it’s generally recommended to submit all application materials, including primary and secondary applications, as soon in the application cycle as possible. Learn more about the full pre-med timeline here.
