Applying to Medical School: Overview

Williams students and graduates are encouraged to communicate with the advisor as they contemplate a medical school application. It is a good idea to make contact 18-24 months before planned matriculation. June of a given year is nearly too late to make initial contact, if the plan is to matriculate in August of the following year. Limited support services may be available to those who make late contact.

Download our interview advice document here.

A common application submitted in June of 2007 is for matriculation in August of 2008. Most students begin planning and writing six or more months in advance of submitting the common application.

After the common application, students complete school-specific secondary applications. The HP office collects, summarizes, and transmits packets of evaluation letters. A complete paper application consists of the primary, the secondary, an MCAT score and the letter packet. Schools screen this file by various means, then invite certain applicants for an on-campus interview. Everyone interviewed is, in some way, deemed admissible. Depending upon the school, between twenty and fifty percent of interviewed applicants will eventually be offered a seat.

Schools work with a true rolling process, or they interview through the fall and early winter, then mail decisions in February or March. Guidance on interviews can be found here (thanks to my colleagues at Amherst). Feedback on interviews at specific schools can be found here.

An applicant who applies to fifteen schools and is offered five interviews has done very well, given the odds. For many Williams students, the medical school application process will be a first experience with multiple rejections. Knowing this is the first step to maintain your confidence through this process.