Application Timeline

Assemble materials in preparation for completing your application (spring transcript from IU, transcripts from all other universities attended, list of activities or resume).
Work on writing personal statement. Keep a journal throughout the application process, and use it for ideas for your personal statement and secondary applications.
Research medical schools. Consult the Medical School Admissions Statistics chart available from the HPPLC office, which shows in-state and out-of-state acceptance rates, and the average grade point averages and average MCAT scores of accepted students.

Begin working on the AMCAS application as soon as it becomes available.
Order transcripts from every school attended for AMCAS/AACOMAS. Use the AMCAS Transcript Request form to order transcripts for AMCAS.

Check on the recommendations in your file and adhere to the June 15 priority deadline for completing your recommendation file and requesting your composite. Submit a "Request to Create Faculty Composite Letter" by June 15 at the latest if you would like us to prepare a composite for you.
Submit your primary AMCAS application as early as possible. Your letter of recommendation file does not have to be complete before you submit your primary application.
Begin working on the AACOMAS application as soon as it becomes available.
After you submit your AMCAS/AACOMAS application you should periodically log in and monitor the status of your application. You should call and check with AMCAS/AACOMAS regarding any transcripts that are listed as not having been received and then check with the Registrar's office to see if there was a problem with the order.

As you receive secondary application materials from each medical school, you should follow their instructions and submit the secondary applications as quickly as possible, in order to keep your application moving into the next stage of the admissions process. At most schools your application will not be reviewed until all materials are received; bottom line: if you have not submitted all secondary materials you have not applied.
Send recommendations as requested by the medical schools and confirm that they have received them.
Prepare to re-take the MCAT exam, if appropriate in your case.
Double check on everything. Be sure that secondary applications and recommendation packets have been received by each school. Admissions offices receive thousands of documents and it is easy for one to get misfiled. Check everything by phone or on the school website if there is one dedicated to applicants and application status.
Research the programs and characteristics of the schools to which you have applied.
Prepare for interviews. Continue to keep your journal, and review it for ideas to emphasize to an admissions committee. Consult the Medical School Interview Questions handout from the HPPLC office and prepare for questions you may be asked. Review questions and information on the format of medical school interviews at studentdoctor.net.

Attend one of the HPPLC Interview Skills Workshops to be held in the fall semester.
Visit with the representative of any medical school to which you have applied who visits campus. Medical schools that usually visit our campus each year include: The University of Chicago, Washington University at Saint Louis, Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Cincinnati, and Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.
Most schools will allow you to send additional recommendations in December or January from professors from your fall classes if you have not yet received an acceptance and would like to try to strengthen your application. Check with the schools about their policies.
Most schools request that you submit updated transcripts at the end of the fall semester directly to them if your application is still under consideration. Check the instructions from each individual school. You should not send updated transcripts to AMCAS or AACOMAS after your application has been processed.
Attend the HPPLC-sponsored Health Programs Fair. Meet with any representatives of any schools where your application is still under consideration.
Remain in contact with schools if you have filed applications and have not heard back. A polite email or phone call to inquire about your status is generally acceptable.
Prepare alternate plans if your admission to medical school is in doubt. Remember that there are many possibilities for a career in healthcare if that is what you desire.