How to Apply to Medical School – Everything You Need to Know

Applying to medical school is a big deal. It’s exciting, overwhelming, and honestly...kind of confusing. There’s the MCAT, essays, letters, multiple application systems—each with its own quirks—and it can feel like you’re supposed to already know what you’re doing before you even start.

So first: if you're feeling a little lost, you're not alone. Everyone feels that way at the beginning.

The good news? Having a clear plan makes a huge difference. This guide is here to walk you through the full process—from timelines and required documents to costs, strategies, and a few things I wish I knew when I was in your shoes.

What You Need to Know Before You Apply to Medical School

Applying to medical school isn’t the kind of thing you want to figure out as you go. The medical school application timeline stretches over more than a year, and there are a lot of moving pieces. Knowing what’s coming can save you from scrambling, missing deadlines, or submitting something you're not proud of.

A few mistakes to avoid make when applying to medical school:

• Submitting late (rolling admissions = fewer interview spots the longer you wait)
• Rushing or writing a vague personal statement
• Forgetting to request transcripts or letters on time
• Thinking they can “just wing it” and then panicking in May (my personal experience)

Why it’s so worth planning ahead:

• You’ll write better and more meaningful essays when you’re not panicked
• You’ll have time to ask your letter writers nicely (instead of begging them last minute)
• You can breathe a little—and that matters, this process is long and keeping calm and collected matters

When to Apply to Medical School: Your Step-by-Step Timeline

If you’re hoping to start medical school in Fall 2026, your app cycle starts in Spring 2025. Most application systems open in May, and it’s smart to submit as early as possible—ideally in June.

How far in advance should you start preparing?

About a year ahead is ideal. That gives you time to:

• Get some solid clinical, research, or volunteer experience under your belt
• Study for and take the MCAT (with room for a retake if needed)
• Think about your personal story and goals
• Ask for letters of recommendation way in advance

Medical School Application Systems: What’s What

There are three main application platforms for U.S. medical schools:

• AMCAS – for MD (allopathic) schools
• AACOMAS – for DO (osteopathic) schools
• TMDSAS – for public medical schools in Texas (yes, Texas does its own thing
• If you’re looking at Caribbean medical schools, those applications are handled separately through each school’s website.

Should you apply to both MD and DO medical schools?

A lot of students do. There’s no downside to applying broadly, and it gives you more options. Just be ready to manage a few different application systems and requirements.

(pro tip: in your DO applications, be able to explain what you know about osteopathic medicine and why you are considering pursuing a career in that field).

What You'll Need to Gather for Your Medical School Application

You’ll need to pull together quite a bit of info, including:

• Official transcripts
• Basic background info
• Personal statement
• Letters of recommendation
• Work & Activities section (AMCAS)
• MCAT scores
  
  

Quick letter of recommendation advice:

• Ask 3–6 months before you apply
• Choose people who really know you—professors, mentors, doctors you’ve worked with
• Once your app system opens, you’ll send your writers a link to upload their letters (you don’t upload them yourself)
  
  

How Much Does Applying to Medical School Cost?

Let’s be real—this part can be expensive if you’re not expecting it. Here’s a general breakdown:

Primary application fees: (cost as of May 2025)

• AMCAS: $175 base fee + $47 per school
• AACOMAS: $198 base fee + $55 per school
• TMDSAS: Flat fee: $230
• Caribbean schools: range from $75-$200

Other stuff to budget for:

• Secondary applications ($50–$150 each)
• MCAT registration ($345)
• Transcript request fees (via Parchment, Clearinghouse, etc)
• CASPer or other assessments
• Interview travel (if not virtual)
• Optional: prep courses, essay review, coaching services

💡 Tip: Check out the Fee Assistance Program (FAP) through the AAMC if money’s tight. It can cover a lot of the costs.

How Many Medical Schools Should You Apply To?

There’s no perfect number, but most applicants apply to 15–25 medical schools. The right number depends on your GPA, MCAT score, and overall competitiveness. Applying too narrowly can limit your chances, while applying too broadly can get expensive fast. A balanced list should include a mix of reach, target, and safety schools, including both MD and DO programs if you're open to them. Be strategic—quality over quantity matters, so only apply where you’d genuinely consider attending.

When Should You Submit Your Medical School Application?

MD schools work on applications after the submission deadline, which is usually sometime in late fall. 

Most DO schools work on rolling admissions, which basically means: submit sooner than later 

For 2026 matriculation:

• AMCAS opens: May 1, 2025
• Submit starting: May 28, 2025
• AACOMAS and TMDSAS open around the same time

Once you submit, your app goes through verification, which can take a few weeks. Then come secondaries...and hopefully, interviews.

The Personal Statement: Tell Your Story

This is probably the hardest (and most personal) part of your medical school application. It’s also your best chance to show why medicine, and why you.

What works:

• Honest, reflective writing about why you want to be a doctor
• Real stories that show your growth - write about things you are truly proud of and want to showcase, not just things you did to boost your CV
• Focus on insight—what you learned, not just what you did

What to avoid:

• Saying “I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was five” (they hear that a lot)
• Listing accomplishments without any personal reflection
• Trying to sound overly formal or using big words just to sound impressive

If you’re applying to DO medical schools, be sure to mention what draws you to osteopathic medicine.

How to Study for the MCAT (without Losing Your Mind)

Yes, you can submit your medical school app before your MCAT score is back—but your application won’t be reviewed until it is. Below is general advice for MCAT preparation, but check out these blogs for a deeper dive.

MCAT tips:

• Give yourself 5–6 months of prep if you can
• Mix content review with full-length practice tests
• Don’t cram—it’s a beast of an exam and needs strategy
• Resources like Sketchy, or AAMC’s official materials can really help (bonus Sketchy has a bundle that includes official AAMC materials)

Scores are sent directly to AMCAS/AACOMAS if you linked them when registering.

How to Apply to Medical School and Stand Out (Beyond Your GPA)

Grades and MCAT scores matter, but med schools want to see real-life experience too.

Strong experiences include:

• Clinical work (scribing, EMT, volunteering, shadowing)
• Research (especially with a poster, paper, or publication)
• Volunteering, especially with underserved communities
• Leadership roles or long-term commitments

Use the Work & Activities section to show what these experiences meant to you—not just what you did. Your 3 “most meaningful” entries are where you should really reflect.

How to Stay Organized (and Sane) When You Apply to Medical School

There’s no sugarcoating it—this process has a lot of parts. The key is to build a system before it gets chaotic.

Tools that help:

• A spreadsheet (or Google Sheet) to track schools, deadlines, and submissions
• Trello, Notion, or Airtable if you like visual checklists
• Use calendar reminders for things like transcript requests or MCAT score releases

Reminder:

Verification takes 2–6 weeks, so submit early to stay on track.

Final Thoughts: You Got This

Applying to medical school is tough. It’s long. It’s stressful. But it’s also incredibly rewarding—and you’re closer than you think.

A few things to remember:

• Start early. You’ll thank yourself later.
• Don’t try to be perfect—just be honest and thoughtful.
• Ask for help. Talk to advisors, mentors, or med students you know.
• You don’t have to be “the ideal applicant”—just the real one.

One last thing:

Take care of yourself. Seriously. Burnout is real, and you’re still a person first. You’re going after something big—and that’s something to be proud of.