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Application Process to Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Schools.

     The application process to medical, dental, and veterinary schools is very complex and time-consuming.   There are primarily three stages to the application process:

 
·        The initial universal application
·        The secondary application from each independent school
·        The interview

The initial universal application: The medical (AMCAS), dental (AADSAS), and veterinary (AAVMS) schools each have their own application service that standardizes the initial application to these professional schools.  The initial applications require biographical information, conversion of College of Wooster transcript grades into a standardized course work grade system, an official College of Wooster transcript, standardized test scores, a personal statement, additional information concerning extracurricular activities, work experience, research experience, and a school designation form.  The completion of this application for medical and dental school is done electronically. 

The secondary application from each independent school: This application is sent directly from the medical, dental, or veterinary school to the applicant.  Some schools routinely send secondary applications, while others are more selective, so receiving a secondary application does not guarantee that you will be granted an interview.

Although secondary applications vary among schools, they often require additional short essays and proof of state residence.  Letter(s) of recommendation are submitted at this stage of the application process.  Most schools require 2 letters from science faculty, and 1 letter from a faculty member outside of the sciences.

In regard to letters of recommendation, you have the option of sending a "committee letter" written by the Chair of the Pre-Health Advising Program, who will use the individual faculty recommendations, along with a personal interview, to compose your letter.  If you choose to use a committee letter, the letters of recommendation from each professor should be sent in a sealed envelope to the Chair of the Pre-Health Advising Program.  Alternately, you can request that each faculty member send their letter of recommendation directly to the professional schools, or you can ask specific professors to submit letters in addition to the committee letter.  Many medical, dental, and veterinary schools prefer a committee letter, so you should look carefully at each school's catalog to determine which type of letter to use.

The interview: The interview process is designed to provide the admissions committee with a sense of whether the applicant has the character and motivation that will allow them to succeed in the pursuit of a career in the health professions.  There are several models of interviewing that schools may use, and you can familiarize yourself with these models by examining "The Medical School Interview," a pamphlet that is available from the Chair of the Pre-Health Advising Program or the Career Services Office.  In preparing for this important final stage of the application process, you should also make an appointment with the Career Services Office to arrange mock interviews that will help sharpen your presentation skills.

Special Applications:

Early Decision Programs (EDP)

Some medical, dental, and veterinary schools provide the option of applying for early-decision.  If you choose to apply for early-decision, you are only allowed to apply to that particular school during the specified early-decision period (e.g., until October 1 for medical school), and you agree to attend that school if accepted.  You are allowed to apply to other schools once you have been notified that the EDP school has not accepted you, or once the EDP deadline has passed.

Dual Degree Programs

Many schools offer dual degrees that combine medicine and other academic disciplines.  Students who are interested in pursuing a medical education but would prefer to do research or teach, rather than practice medicine, should consider applying to schools that offer the MD/Ph.D. in the various biomedical sciences.  This option is particularly well suited to students who would like to continue their I.S. research while attending medical school.  Dual degree programs are also available in other health-related fields, such as public health and health service research, and some schools offer degrees that combine the study of medicine and other professional fields, such as the law (MD/JD) and business administration (MD/MBA).

NOTE: Applicants for dual degree programs usually must submit applications simultaneously to both the medical school and the other degree-granting program.