When Is It Too Late to Apply to Medical School? (2024)

TheAmerican Medical College Application Service–the universal primary application for American medical schools–opens in early May each year. All your hard work and preparation will pay off as you submit your transcripts, enter in your Work and Activities, and write a personal essay with heart and enthusiasm.

But the start of the decade brought a lot of changes when everything shut down due to COVID-19. So, the question is, when do you apply for medical school during a global pandemic that’s left you unprepared? That’s the question we will seek to answer in this article because, sometimes, pre-med advising and medical school admissions consulting means handling the unprecedented.

The Ideal Time To Apply To Medical School

The ideal time to submit yourAMCAS applicationis right when it opens in May. It typically takes about a month to thoroughly and completely fill out the application, although some people may be quicker or slower. Submitting your primary application by late May is perfect, though. It takes about six weeks for AMCAS to process all the applications. So, you can anticipate receiving invitations for yoursecondary applicationsaround early July.

Applying Later In The Summer

The AMCAS doesn’t close until September. But most medical schools operate with arolling admissions system, so the later you apply, the less of a chance you have to get in.

But even with the rolling admissions systems, COVID-19 changed the timeline for when admissions began accepting students. How? Because your MCAT score is required to get into medical school. But since testing centers closed down and many students were unable to take the exam, a lot of medical schools encouraged students to submit their applications without their test scores. But until test scores were submitted, no one would be offered admissions. Because of that, it would be safer to apply later in the summer. Everything was essentially halted.

Is July Too Late To Apply For Medical School?

Early July is when most medical schools start sending out secondary applications. So, you’ll most likely miss the first round of interviews, which will automatically reduce your chances of getting in. But your chances are nowhere near shot. You’re still early enough in the application cycle to have a good chance at getting interviews.

What About August?

August is not past the deadline for applying to medical school. Remember that the AMCAS doesn’t close until September. But many students will have been able to take the MCAT and submit their scores by then. So, your chances are much, much lower than they were even in July. That rolling admissions system will ultimately bite you!

So, When Do You Apply For Medical School?

Apply as soon as you possibly can. Check the admissions pages on the websites of the schools to which you’re applying. See what their COVID-19 guidelines are. If you can submit your application with your MCAT or other supplemental parts of your application (an unfinished internship, a Pass/Fail grade instead of an A-), go for it. Know that you’ll be amongthousandsof students whose preparations were interrupted by COVID-19.

What If It Is Too Late?

If you have to wait, then cross your fingers that it won’t be too late once you’ve taken your MCAT and/or met other requirements. But if it is, then you’ll just have a gap year. You can use that time for pre-med advising and medical school admissions consulting. You can up your game. Take extra courses to help yourself stand out. Of course, it wouldn’t be ideal, but your chances of getting into medical school are by no means gone!

Conclusion

Don’t let COVID-19 drag you down or steal your dreams. Seriously, though. The pandemic has caused enough damage. Schedule and take your MCAT exam as quickly as possible so you can receive offer letters. But turn in your applicationsnowif you can. There’s no shame in submitting an incomplete application, especially when it’s not due to any fault of your own.

If you need advice or have questions you need answered, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. IMA is here to guide you through the admissions process. That includes when difficulties arise. Clickhereto get started.

Not sure where you want to apply to medical school? Many students face the same dilemma. That’s part of why we created our definitive series of guides for getting into medical school. Check out these schools and other resources on our blog. Good luck!

CUNY School of Medicine
SUNY Downstate Medical School
NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
NYU Long Island School of Medicine
TOURO College of Osteopathic Medicine
Albany Medical College
Norton College of Medicine atUpstate Medical University
Jacobs School of Medicine at the University at Buffalo
Hofstra Zucker School of Medicine
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
University of Rochester Medical School
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
University of Toledo College of Medicine
Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Ohio State University College of Medicine
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM)
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS)
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU)
A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
University of Missouri Medical School
Kansas City University (KCU)
UMKC School of Medicine
New York Medical College
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
University of Wisconsin Medical School
VCU School of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Case Western Medical School
University of North Carolina Medical School
University of Florida Medical School
Emory University School of Medicine
Boston University College of Medicine
California University of Science and Medicine
UC San Diego Medical School
California Northstate University College of Medicine
Touro University of California
CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
UC Riverside School of Medicine
USC Keck School of Medicine
UT Southwestern Medical School
Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
UT Austin’s Dell Medical School
UTMB School of Medicine
McGovern Medical School at UT Health
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
McGovern Medical School at UT Health
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
UNT Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
University of Houston College of Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medical School
Baylor College of Medicine
George Washington University School of Medicine
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (in Pennsylvania)
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Western University of Health Sciences (in California)
Drexel University College of Medicine
Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine
Perelman School of Medicine
UCLA Medical School
NYU Medical School
Washington University School of Medicine
Brown Medical School

FAQs

When Is It Too Late to Apply to Medical School? ›

So, when is it too late to apply to medical school? The best time to apply to medical school is in June or July. August and September are considered late in the cycle.

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How late is too late to apply to medical school? ›

1. How late is too late to apply to medical school? We would not recommend applying to medical schools that have rolling admissions in September and beyond. By this time, most programs have filled up their spots, greatly reducing your chances of getting an interview invite.

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Is mid July too late to submit AMCAS? ›

The AMCAS doesn't close until September. But most medical schools operate with a rolling admissions system, so the later you apply, the less of a chance you have to get in.

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Is July 28 too late to take the MCAT? ›

If you take the MCAT in June or July, your MCAT score will delay your application because it takes about a month to receive your score after taking the MCAT. The latest test day for the MCAT during any cycle year is early to mid-September, but waiting that long will disadvantage your application.

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Is it okay to apply to medical school in July? ›

Yes. If you haven't submitted your application by the end of summer, you are better off waiting until the following application cycle to apply. Your chances of acceptance are much better the earlier you submit, so it's a good idea to wait until the following application cycle.

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Is it bad to submit secondaries after 2 weeks? ›

Just like the primary application, the earlier you submit your secondaries, the better. Most schools are on rolling admissions, so the sooner you complete your primary and secondary, the sooner you are eligible for an interview. You should submit your secondary applications within 1-2 weeks of receiving them.

Is it worth applying to medical school in August? ›

The best time to apply to medical school is in June or July. August and September are considered late in the cycle. But with a strong application, you can still be accepted when applying late.

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Is it bad to submit AMCAS mid june? ›

Submit your AMCAS primary as early as possible, when it is as strong as it can possibly be. This might mean later in June or even July.

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Is August too late to submit AMCAS? ›

Because AMCAS must verify your application prior to its transmission, the wait typically is shortest in May, when it is just a few days. By the end of July, the delay may be several weeks long. In short, September is simply too late to submit an application to med school, and August is borderline.

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Is submitting primary in July too late? ›

As you can see on the graph, the time required for verification increases rapidly as time progresses, with a peak in verification time around early August. This means that if you submit your application late July/early August, it can take almost 5-6 weeks for your application to be processed and verified.

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Which medical schools do not have rolling admissions? ›

Medical Schools Without Rolling Admissions

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Duke University School of Medicine.
Harvard Medical School.
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Yale Medical School.
Weill Cornell Medical College.

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Jan 1, 2024

Is June 16 too late for MCAT? ›

While you can technically take the MCAT any time, you should take it during the summer after sophom*ore year at the earliest, and April of your application year at the latest.

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Is May 13 too late for MCAT? ›

Take the MCAT as early as you can, no later than mid-May. This is because AMCAS application submissions start in June. You should aim to take the MCAT during your sophom*ore year of undergrad. This timing allows you to have completed most prerequisite courses, giving you a solid foundation for the exam.

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What month do most people get accepted to medical school? ›

October Through May. Medical schools decide whether to admit, reject or waitlist applicants on a rolling basis throughout the fall and spring. With holidays and other factors, applicants should be prepared for delays. It's a long process and schools have a lot of information to filter through, Khubchandani says.

How late is too late to take the MCAT? ›

How Late Can You Take the MCAT? You should take the MCAT for the final time no later than August of your application year. For example, if you want to enroll in medical school for Fall 2025, you will need to take the test no later than August 2024.

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What is the best month to apply for medical school? ›

You may start the primary application process as early as April and, ideally, you should complete it by June or July.

Keep Reading ›

Is 25 too late to apply to medical school? ›

There are many aspiring physicians who wonder whether becoming a doctor later in life is a realistic option. How old is too old for medical school? While many physicians enter Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs shortly after graduating from college, you can pursue a medical degree at any point in life.

Get More Info Here ›

How late is too late to submit AMCAS? ›

Because AMCAS must verify your application prior to its transmission, the wait typically is shortest in May, when it is just a few days. By the end of July, the delay may be several weeks long. In short, September is simply too late to submit an application to med school, and August is borderline.

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Is 30 too old to apply to medical school? ›

While there is nothing to stop you from starting medical school at 30, 40, or 50 years of age, there are some important factors to consider: Length of educational process – Medical school is typically four years, but residency is another three to eight years.

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How long can you wait to apply to medical school? ›

Aspiring medical students typically apply in the spring/summer of their junior year. If you plan to take a gap year, you can apply at the end of your senior year.

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