Collects one set of official transcripts from all applicants
Verifies academic records and calculates an AMCAS GPA
Distributes application data to participating medical schools
Collects & distributes letters of recommendation
Facilitates criminal background checks for accepted applicants
Application Timeline
May 5, 2011*
AMCAS application opens & AMCAS begins accepting transcripts and letters of recommendation
June 1, 2011*
Applications can be submitted and AMCAS begins verifying coursework
June 10, 2011*
Initial transmission of application data to medical schools
For the 2012 entering class
*subject to change
Application Deadlines
Vary by medical school, but generally fall between October 1 and December 15
Deadlines are posted on AMCAS website and within the online application
Official transcripts are due within 2 weeks of the application deadlines
AMCAS does not grant deadline extensions. Applicants seeking an extension should contact the medical schools directly.
Application Fees
$160 processing fee which includes one medical school
$32 for each additional school (2011)
Refunds are available to applicants are not in verification or processed status. Applicants will receive refund for all deadlines that haven’t passed with the exception of the AMCAS processing fee
Use accurate biographical information during registration:
The AMCAS Application
9 Sections:
Identifying Information
Schools Attended
Biographic Information
Coursework
Work/Activities
Letters of Evaluation
Medical Schools
Essays
Standardized Tests
The AMCAS Application
Identifying Information:
Legal/preferred names
ID numbers
Date of birth
Sex
The AMCAS Application
Schools Attended
High school
Colleges
You must list every post-secondary institution where you were enrolled for at least one course, even if credits were transferred, no credits were earned, or you withdrew
Previous Matriculation to US Med School
Institutional Actions
The AMCAS Application
Biographic Information
Contact info
Citizenship
Legal residence
Race & Ethnicity
Languages
Family info – dependents/parents/siblings
Felony/misdemeanor/military discharge
The AMCAS Application
Changes to the Disadvantaged Section
The questions that have been buried beneath the disadvantaged question will be brought to the top level and presented to all applicants.
We will continue to allow applicants to self-identify as disadvantaged and write a brief essay.
The AMCAS Applications
Changes to Parental Information
Applicants will be required to provide information about their parents or guardians
Expanded occupational & educational categories
The AMCAS Application
Coursework
The AMCAS Application
Work & Activities
Enter any work or extracurricular activities, awards, honors or publications you would like to bring to the attention of medical schools
Applicants will be asked to indentify up to three experiences they consider to be the most meaningful
When considering which experiences are the most meaningful applicants will be prompted to consider the transformative nature of the experience, the impact made while engaging in the activity and the personal growth experienced as a result of participation
The AMCAS Application
Letters of Recommendation
Letters do not have to be entered before submission of the application.
Application processing is independent of letter receipt
Be aware that medical schools have letters deadlines
Medical schools may require letters to be on letterhead and have a signature
Letter Request Form
Applicant’s identifying information
The author’s address
Used by AMCAS to attach the letter to the application
Methods the author can use to send their letter to AMCAS
Many medical schools require that recommendations are on official letterhead and bear the signature of the author
Define how letters should be distributed to your designated medical schools
Only schools whose deadlines have not passed will appear in the drop-down list
You can come back to this section and add additional schools at any time
The AMCAS Application
Essay/personal statement
You may wish to include information such as:
Special hardships, challenges or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits.
Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application.
The AMCAS Application
Standardized Tests
MCAT scores earned in 2003 and later will be automatically released to AMCAS and will appear in this section of your application
You may also enter scores from other tests such as GMAT, LSAT or GRE
The AMCAS Application
Submission Certification:
Revised
Statement is now bulleted and requires acceptance to each statement rather than one paragraph. Easier for applicant to read certification statement and highlights importance of statement
New
Applicants must certify that all written passages have been written by them.
AMCAS Application Post Submission Changes
Very few changes are permitted once the application has been submitted. They are:
Name and Contact Information
Required and Alternate IDs
Indication of MCAT test date
Letters of Evaluation can be added and assigned to medical schools, but NOT deleted
Applicants may indicate that a letter will not be sent
Verified AMCAS GPA broken down by science & non-science courses and by academic status
Note that medical schools do not just see your GPA. They receive all of the detailed information that you entered in the coursework section of your application.
AMCAS Verification
AMCAS Verification
Application Tips
Early is good. Error-free is better.
Before submitting your application, print it out and review it very carefully for missing courses or grades as well as for typos and errors.
Monitor the status of transcripts & remember that transcripts must be official
Review verified coursework immediately after AMCAS processing is complete
Overview
About AMCAS
The AMCAS Application
Monitoring your Application Status
The Verification Process
AMCAS Letters of Evaluation
Criminal Background Checks
Fee Assistance Program
Resources & Information
Q&A
Criminal Background Checks
The AAMC recommends that all US medical schools procure a national background check on all accepted applicants
AMCAS facilitates this process for schools that choose to participate.
There is no additional fee to the applicant for background checks conducted through AMCAS
Details about the types of searches conducted and the list of participating schools can be found on our website
Criminal Background Checks
After January 1, accepted/waitlisted applicants to a school that participates in the AAMC CBC service will receive an email from Certiphi Screening asking to provide consent to conduct a Criminal Background Check
If accepted to an Early Decision Program applicants background checks are done immediately
Results will be made available for review prior to their release to medical schools to which have accepted the applicants.
Applicants have 10 days to review the report and contest the accuracy of the results
Criminal Background Checks
The report procured during this process will not be released to any party other than the medical schools requesting this report.
On the report, history including infractions and juvenile records will be displayed to the applicant but medical schools vary on the content they can and will view.
Overview
About AMCAS
The AMCAS Application
Monitoring your Application Status
The Verification Process
AMCAS Letters of Evaluation
Criminal Background Checks
Fee Assistance Program
Resources & Information
Q&A
Fee Assistance Program (FAP)
Assists applicants who, without financial assistance would be unable to take the MCAT or apply to medical schools through AMCAS
Fee Assistance Program
Benefits
AMCAS fee waiver for up to 14 medical school designations (>$500 savings)
MCAT Fee Reduction from $235 to $85
One free copy of
The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam
The Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR)
Most medical schools waive supplemental application fees for applicants who have been granted fee assistance by the AAMC
Fee Assistance Program
Eligibility Criteria
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or have refugee/asylum status
Total family income 300% or less of the federal poverty guideline
Example:
Poverty level for a family of 4: $22,050
FAP threshold: $66,150
Fee Assistance Program
Important policies
FAP does not distinguish between dependent & independent applicant status
FAP is not retroactive
Overview
About AMCAS
The AMCAS Application
Monitoring your Application Status
The Verification Process
Criminal Background Checks
Fee Assistance Program
Resources & Information
Resources & Information
Support for Applicants and Advisors:
10 dedicated staff
Office hours 9 am -7 pm ET M-F
Applicant Website: www.aamc.org/amcas
Telephone: 202 828 0600
Email: amcas@aamc.org
Facebook.com/amcasinfo
Resources & Information
To find out more about specific Medical Schools & programs
Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) guide
