The Application Process
The application process varies among different health professions. While this section focuses on medical school, much of the information is appropriate to other fields, specifically dentistry, veterinary science, and osteopathic medicine. Other fields in the health area, such as public health and clinical psychology, have admission requirements and deadlines more similar to graduate schools in the arts and sciences. In fields such as pharmacy, optometry, and podiatry, requirements fall somewhere in between these two. Students applying to medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, or podiatry will work directly with an advisor from the Medical Professions Advisory Committee. The Chair of this Committee is the Director of Medical Professions Advising. If you are interested in applying in these fields, please contact the Medical Professions Advisory Committee Coordinator, Ellen Schneider. For specific information on other fields, check literature in that field and consult Ellie Perkins, Director of Fellowship and Pre-Professional Programs, in the Center for Work and Service.
- Selecting Schools: Apply Widely and Wisely
- State Residency
- Early Decision Programs
- Foreign Medical Schools
- For Minority Students
- For International Students
Selecting Schools: Apply Widely and Wisely
It is important to apply to a substantial number of schools. Successful applicants from Wellesley usually apply to approximately 15 schools. There is, however, no magic number. As a rule, apply only to those schools which offer a program compatible with your interests and to which you have a reasonable chance of gaining admission. Your Medical Professions Advisory Committee (MPAC) advisor can be very helpful in assisting you in determining a list of schools which meet these criteria.Factors to examine include:
- multi-track curriculum
- introduction to clinical work in the first or second year
- options for independent work, pass/fail grading
- number of electives
- opportunity for independent work
- community involvement
- record of graduates
- the school’s basic philosophy
By studying published data and visiting specific schools, you can identify schools which have the type of program and curriculum of interest to you. For example, some medical schools are known for training practicing M.D.’s, others for training research-oriented doctors or specialists. A number of medical schools offer the option of completing training in three years while others grant advanced standing to students with Ph.D.’s and/or offer varied dual degree programs in selected departments (i.e., M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.P.H.). To ascertain the availability of such programs consult the latest edition of the AAMC Curriculum Directory.
Careful application can make a difference. The list of medical schools to which you apply should be the result of careful research on your part. Generally, the following guidelines are helpful:
- Apply to your state medical school and/or schools.
- Apply to the private schools in your state and/or region.
- Apply to a selective group of private schools out of your state and region that vary in competitiveness for admissions.
- Apply to schools whose selection criteria fit your personal qualifications, including those where students from your undergraduate institution have a good record of admission.
- Do not apply to state medical schools which take 90% state residents if you are not a resident of that state, unless you have some special qualifications such as grade point average, family, or personal history.
- Do not apply to so many schools that you cannot keep up with the detailed application process.
State Residency
State residency is probably the most influential factor in the school selection process. Applicants should always apply to public schools in their home state or regions since these schools give preference to state residents. In addition, since private schools get state funding and often give preference to state or regional residents, they are also a strong choice for application. Some states, such as Massachusetts, will not even read applications from residents of another state. Others, such as Vermont, have a limited number of spaces allocated to students from particular states or give second preference to students from the region. When identifying the medical schools to which you should apply, look carefully at the percentages of in-and out-of-state applicants accepted at each school, both public and private. The MSAR spells out these rates in detail. If you are not a resident of a state with a medical school, it is particularly important to talk to your advisor about regional preference. If you do not have state residency, careful application is even more important. Note: Legal definition of state residency varies from state to state. Therefore, it is best to check with a specific program concerning its residency requirements.Enrollment as a full-time student in another state does not ordinarily affect resident status in your home state as long as you maintain your permanent address in that state. It is possible, however, to be eligible for legal residency in more than one state, depending on the requirements of those states. If you are in this position, carefully research medical school admissions, regional and state residency requirements, and contractual arrangements. Some states have more opportunities to study medicine than others.
Financial considerations are often reason for applying to state schools. Many states have opened their doors to more out-of-state students; in addition, after completing one year of medical school, these students are often considered in-state residents for tuition payments.
It is also important to check the profiles of entering classes and guard against applying only to schools that fit the same pattern of selection, both state and private. In all cases, careful selection can improve your chance of acceptance.