Applying to Medical School

Before scheduling an MCAT exam, check to see if you qualify for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program. Also read MCAT Essentials prior to scheduling.

There are 30 MCAT testing dates (in the U.S.) between January and September.

All exams start at 8:00 a.m.

Scores will be released 30-35 days after the test date. 

Arrange letters of recommendation

• Contact letter writers to verify that they are willing and able
• Letter requests will be generated through the PMAC application form. These requests only apply to PMAC; you will request letters for AMCAS, TMDSAS, and AACOMAS separately.

Assemble college transcripts

Schedule appointments with Career Development Center

• Headshot photo
• Mock interview(s)

Work on AMCAS or other application

PMAC timeline 

What you need:

• Completed AMCAS (TMDSAS, AACOMAS) form
• Headshot photo (jpg, png)
• PMAC committee letter waiver form

What you do:

• Watch this video.
• Fill out the PMAC application form. It will ask you to upload the items listed above. 
• You must submit the PMAC form and have letters sent in by 11:59 p.m. on the announced date for each cycle.

Submission of your PMAC application is the prerequisite for the PMAC interview. Interviews will be scheduled by program advisors and communicated to applicants via email. 

PMAC interviews consist of a 20 minute interview with members of the Premed Advisory Committee. Interviews will be in-person or virtual.

We generally recommend that you submit your primary application (to AMCAS and/or AACOMAS) after your PMAC interview.  In some cases, it is better to submit earlier. For Texas residents applying through TMDSAS,  submitting before August 1 is  highly recommended. 

Once you've clicked submit, it is now an excellent time to thank your individual letter writers. Thank you notes, thank you emails, and thank yous in person are all appropriate. 

Committee letters are based on application materials, interviews, and MCAT scores. (Note that MCAT scores are not required to submit forms or for the PMAC interviews themselves.)  Applicants are evaluated as soon as all materials are available, during regularly scheduled meetings of the PMAC.  Committee letters are typically uploaded to application services within 10 days of the evaluation (not the interview) for applicants who have submitted their primary applications to AMCAS, TMDSAS, or AACOMAS. 

The time line of these processes will vary by medical school.