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 California State University, Fullerton

Allopathic: AMCAS

Updates

Before You Apply

  • AMCAS website: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/
  • AMCAS instruction manual: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf
  • The application opens May 1st, 2013 and submissions open June 4th, 2013
  • June 28, 2013 is the earliest date/initial transmission that letters of evaluation can be uploaded to medical schools
  • July 15, 2013 is the last day the HPAO will upload a committee packet. In order to meet this deadline you are required to submit:
    • A copy of your AMCAS application
    • Any additional letters of evaluation not previously received
  • We cannot stress this enough, apply as EARLY as possible!
  • You are required to obtain a username and password before beginning the application.
    • It may be to your benefit to make a username early on and familiarize yourself with the application and the website.

Fee Assistance Program (FAP)

Fee Assistance Program (https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/fap/)

  • This program reduces registration fee from $240 to $85
  • If you are applying for FAP, don't submit your application until a decision on your FAP has been determined. If you submit before a decision is made, you will automatically be denied for this program.
  • Applicants who qualify for the Fee Assistance Program will be given a free copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam, complimentary access to MSAR Online, and a waiver of AMCAS application fees for up to 14 medical schools
  • Benefits cannot be applied retroactively, so apply for FAP before registering for the MCAT or submitting an AMCAS application
  • FAP is only valid for the one calendar year in which it is granted

Early Decision Program (EDP)

This allows applicants to secure an acceptance from an EDP medical school by October 1. To learn more about the EDP program, please visit AAMC Frequently Asked Questions page. 

MCAT

Your MCAT score is automatically released to AMCAS. You can submit your application without your score. Please keep your testing date updated during the application process. You should notify AMCAS if your testing date has changed. Most medical schools require that MCAT scores are no more than three years old, but always check specific requirements for the schools to which you apply.

Course Work

AMCAS always counts repeated courses

Letters of Evaluation

  • Letters of recommendations are required to be sent from your letter writers or the HPAO - don't have your letter writers send letters that the HPAO sends.
  • The AMCAS system allows up to 10 letter entries
  • Letters are delivered electronically to the medical schools on a rolling basis
  • You do not need to enter your letters in your AMCAS application prior to submission, but please note that applications and letters will be made available to medical schools after processing is complete, regardless of whether or not all letters have been received.
  • The Health Professions Advising office will transmit letters of recommendations to AMCAS in either a letter packet or a committee packet.
  • You should not list each individual letter writer on your application; you should only insert one entry, either letter packet or committee packet. You should only have one Letter ID. Christina A. Goode, Ph.D., Director of Health Professions, information should be entered in under the contact information. You should use the office's contact information for the phone (657-278-3980) and mailing address (800 N. State College Blvd. Health Professions Advising. Fullerton, CA 92834-6848) and use Dr. Goode's email address, (cgoode@fullerton.edu).
  • The Letter ID is a 7-digit ID number that is provided for every letter writer included on your application. This is different from your AAMC ID. It is important that you provide your letter writer or the HPAO with these IDs, in addition to your AMCAS ID.
  • You should provide the HPAO with your Letter Request Form and AAMC and letter IDs

Transcripts

Submit official transcripts directly from the registrars' office. Make sure to print out the transcript request form when submitting to the registrars’ office. You must submit a transcript from every educational institution attended after high school, even if the course(s) appear on another transcript
  • We suggest that you request two copies of your transcripts, one to be mailed to AMCAS and one to be mailed to you. The copy of the transcript mailed to you directly can be utilized to complete your AMCAS application. There is a section which asks you to input all coursework completed which will be much easier if you have a official transcripts to reference.

For those who participated in a study abroad program and/or took courses outside of the United States, please refer to the instruction manual. The URL can be found above.

If you are currently enrolled in the spring 2013 term please do not submit your transcript(s) until your spring 2013 grades are posted.

Essays

Every applicant is required to submit a Personal Comments essay. The available space for this essay is 5300 characters (spaces are counted as characters), or approximately one page.

Applicants who apply to an M.D./Ph.D. program must complete two additional essays: the M.D./Ph.D. Essay and the Significant Research Experience Essay.

You should use the Personal Comments essay as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Some questions you may want to consider while writing this essay are:

  • Why have you selected the field of medicine?
  • What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
  • What do you want medical schools to know about you that hasn't been disclosed in another section of the application?
  • Any special hardships, challenges or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits.
  • Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application.

Dr. Goode is available to review personal statements if you desire her input on it. If you would like to do this please schedule a 40 minute personal statement review appointment with her online.

The Writing Center in the Pollack Library is also another wonderful resource to aid students in composing and editing their personal statements. The Career Center can provide you with an additional review of your personal statement by their professionally trained counselors. Only current CSUF students are able to utilize the assistance of the Writing Center. Current students and recent alumni (less than one year since graduation) can utilize the experienced counselors of the Career Center.


Submitting your Application

Deadlines vary from September-December; to learn more about the specific medical school deadlines, please visit the AAMC AMCAS deadlines page.

  • Please note that there are some non-participating schools that do not work with the AMCAS application service. These schools require a different application and process. For a list of non-participating schools please see the link: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/participating_schools/

PROOFREAD EVERYTHING!! You have the ability to "print application" and proofread a hard copy.


After Submission

It takes up to 6 weeks for AMCAS to process during peak period; last year's peak period was between July 22nd-October 7th. The processing does not begin until everything has been submitted, including all transcripts.

  • Check your application status often!
  • No delays or recharge to resubmit application

There are only a few things that can be changed. These are your required and alternative IDs, name, contact information, date of birth and sex, letters of evaluation, and next MCAT test date You can also add schools and change existing program type, and release application information to your pre-health advisor.

Reapplying

If you applied in a previous year (excluding those who withdrew), your information will automatically be rolled over to the current application.

To successfully become a re-applicant, you must first determine why you were not accepted. It is very important to apply to schools that match your GPA and MCAT scores. Double check the GPA and MCAT requirements to the medical school's you plan to apply. Strengthening your application is going to take some time, so make sure to plan ahead. You may want to retake the MCAT, increase your clinical or community experience, take on a leadership role, receive stronger letters of recommendation, rewrite you essay, strengthen your communication, reading, and writing skills, and reapply early!

Resources

The AMCAS website has many resources posted for its users. Please take a moment to explore the site to become familiar to the application process. Below is link to the site:

https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/

Additionally, students can call 202.828.0400 and speak to an AMCAS representative about specific questions pertaining to their applications. We strongly encourage you to always remain polite and professional when speaking to any member of AMCAS (and HPAO) staff.


Information provided by the 2013 AMCAS Instructional Manual and the 2013 AMCAS PowerPoint Presentation for Advisers.