The year-long application, month by month

1Calendar

Dates change every cycle. Official dates come from each application service for the cycle shown. "Your to-do" items are recommendations, not requirements. Always confirm dates with the application service and each school.

2Why timing matters

Most medical schools use rolling admissions, reviewing applications and offering interviews as files arrive instead of all at once after a deadline.⁵ That's why advisors recommend submitting early in the cycle, as long as the application is strong.

What we couldn't find. We looked for national data showing acceptance rates by submission date, such as "applicants who submitted in June were accepted at X%." Neither the AAMC nor TMDSAS publishes this, and the numbers that circulate online come from self-reported surveys. We'll add percentages here only if a reliable source releases them.

3Letters of recommendation

Ask your writers early, usually January to March of the year you apply, and give them at least six to eight weeks. The letters guide covers how to collect letters with Interfolio, what to give your recommenders, and the AAMC's guidelines and 17 premed competencies.