Apply to Graduate School

1. Primary Application

Each health profession program has its own application process and may or may not use a centralized application service. The most commonly used centralized application service for MIT applicants is the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). The AMCAS is a centralized application processing service for applicants to participating U.S. medical schools. Primary applications, such as AMCAS, AADSAS, assemble your application components, verify all information and forward the application to your designated list of medical or health profession schools.

• Biographical Information
• Transcripts: Applicants must send an official transcript from each college of registration in the United States and Canada
• Exam Scores: Send your exam scores directly to the application service. Note: AMCAS automatically has a copy of MCAT scores.
• Experience Information: Similar to your resume. Provide brief descriptions of extracurricular activities, internships, research, and jobs.
• Personal Statement / Essay: This sample of your writing ability is more heavily evaluated than the writing portion in the standardized exam.  
• School Designation: Applicants may add additional schools to their list even after submitting their AMCAS application.

MD-PhD Application Process

• Separate applications may need to be submitted for both the MD and PhD programs at particular medical schools.
• Letters of recommendation will be expected from each of your research experiences. In some instances, the MD and PhD program at a given school may have different recommendation requests.
• Interviews are more in-depth and can be two days in length.

• AAMC Applying to Medical School
• AAMC Applying to MD-PhD Programs
• American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS )
• ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS)
• AAMC Early Decision Program (EDP)
• Selecting a Medical School 
• Prehealth Workshop slides

2. Secondary Application 

Most medical schools and some other health profession schools may request an additional application referred to as the secondary application. Submitting a secondary application and letters of recommendation completes your application to be considered for an interview invitation.

• Short essays: These should be tailored to the individual school or program.
• Prerequisite course fulfillment information
• Secondary application fee
• Letters of recommendation (Due around the time of submitting your secondary application.)

3. Interview

• Staying on campus with a host (optional)
• Meeting students
• Campus nterview with faculty, administrators and/or staff
• Research presentation (joint PhD applicants only)

• Research the school.
• Contact Admissions offices to identify who your interviewers will be, if possible, and learn more about them through web research.
• Conduct informational interviews with MIT alums who attended the school.
• Practice sample interview questions out loud and with an audience.
• Participate in a mock interview.
• Work with your current professors/faculty  to organize your interview schedule around your class schedule and assignments.

1. Why do you want to enter an MD-PhD program?
2. What career do you hope to pursue with your MD-PhD?
3. Describe your research experiences.

• Interview Workshop slides
• Sample Interview Questions
• Thirty-Five Questions I Wish I Had Asked provided by the AAMC
• Mock Interviews
• Studentdoctor.com
• MD/PhD Interview process

Update Schools (when and if applicable)
 

Update letters are accepted by some schools; however, it is important to follow each schools specific direction regarding these communications. If you think you have a significant update for your application, first consult with a Prehealth Advising staff member to determine the best approach for sharing the new information.

• Share new information or developments that have not already been provided. Ex. new publications, volunteer experience, awards, competitions, etc. 
• Clarify the value of your new experiences/developments; both for you and for the school/program. Think to yourself: Why would the school be interested to know that I’ve been volunteering?  What did I learn or gain as a result of my participation in this experience which makes me a more qualified applicant (for their school)?
• Send fall or spring semester transcripts. Sending new transcripts is not required by all health profession schools during the application process. However, if you had a recent successful semester that you would like to share ask the MIT Registrar to send your official fall transcript(s) to each medical school individually. 
• Restate/affirm interest in the particular school. As much as possible try to point out features of their program that are uniquely appealing to you and why. (Geography, research opportunity, dual degree options, and hospitals/medical centers that the clinical practicum takes place, etc.).

• Appointment with Prehealth Advising Staff

4. Decide What School to Attend

Congratulations on being accepted to a health profession school. If accepted to more than one school important decision making is required. Thorough research conducted before application and during the interview process will help guide you. Things to know about accepting an offer to a health profession school:

• Acceptances are offered throughout the spring and summer, therefore you may remain on waitlists if desired.
• Applicants may accept more than one offer but will need to release all acceptances, except one, by May 15th. More detail about the AAMC policies.

Timeline
If applying to medical school, all applicants must narrow down their acceptances to one school by May 15^th.

• Alumni Database for conducting Informational Interviews
• Selecting a Medical School
• Medical School Admissions Requirements
• AAMC Traffic Rules for Medical Schools
• ADEA Traffic Rules for Dental Schools