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Pre-Health Advising

Vassar College

Application Timeline for Medical, Podiatry, and Dental School

For planning worksheets that you can complete to keep track of your progress please visit our Worksheets for Planning and Preparation for a Healthcare Career page.

The Year Leading up to Submitting an Application

Summer

Fall

  • Login to Handshake to schedule an appointment with the Pre-Health and STEM Advisor to discuss your plans.
  • Complete "Self-Assessment: Am I Ready to Apply?" (this is a fillable PDF file that you need to download onto your own computer)
  • Before December 15: Complete the "General Applicant Information" and "Self-Assessment for Readiness" sections of the Request for a Committee Letter Application. Use this document for detailed instructions.
    • Please Note: if you are planning to apply in the upcoming cycle and it is after December 15 - please contact the Pre-Health Office to make arrangements for what is needed.
  • Before December 15: Make a list of people you would like letters of recommendation from and ask them if they will write one.
    • Add these names and email addresses to your Request for a Committee Letter Application (Due Dec. 15).
  • Schedule your MCAT/DAT (if not already scheduled).
  • Work on the the Activities and Competencies Worksheets (these are fillable PDF files that you need to download onto your own computer).
  • Before or during winter break, begin working on Personal Statement.

Spring

  • Before March 1, complete the "Experiences & Activities" sections of the Request for a Committee Letter Application - much of the information can be copied and pasted from the Activities and Competencies worksheets!
  • Before April 15, complete Near Final Draft of Personal Statement and upload your transcripts of the Request for a Committee Letter Application.
  • Before April 15, Submit Request for a Committee Letter Application as soon as all of the sections are complete.
  • Take the MCAT/DAT/GRE (if you haven't already).
  • Meet with your Pre-Health Faculty Advisor once assigned.
  • Research schools you may be interested in attending - use the School Organizer tool to take notes. Please see the Choosing Where to Apply page for more information.

May

  • Begin filling out the application as soon as it opens
  • Request ALL transcripts to be sent to the application service (check “after spring grades are released” if still in school).
    • Be sure to have transcripts sent from any college level work you have done (not just Vassar) - even if courses were taken during high school. You do not ned to request anything for AP courses.
  • Submit application within one week after submission is available (please note: the deadline is June 30 for receiving a committee letter).
  • Once you submit and pay for your application, inform your Pre-Health Faculty Advisor and Lisa.
    • Send the Letter of Recommendation Request Form from AMCAS to Lisa if applying to MD schools.
    • AADSAS, AACOMAS, and AACPMAS will send an email.
    • On all applications you should request a "Committee Letter" to be uploaded by Dr. Lisa Pace at prehealth@vassar.edu.
      • Important note: The committee letter does not get written until you complete your Intent to Request a Committee Letter, all letters have been received, and you submit and pay for your application. In most cases the letter will be completed and submitted before your application is verified, in some cases it may be a short time after, this will not negatively affect your application.
      • You are expected to submit your application before June 30 to receive a letter of support from the committee.

The Year After You Apply

Summer

  • Be sure you have submitted your application(s) as early as possible
  • Complete secondary applications thoughtfully but as quickly as possible – shoot for a 2 week turn around.
    • Prioritize your top schools.
  • Wait for interview invitations and prepare for scheduled interviews - schedule a mock interview with the Pre-Health Advisor which can be over Zoom.

Fall

  • Continue with any secondary applications that arrive.
  • Continue to wait for interview invitations and schedule a mock interview if still needed.

Spring

One Last (but important) Note

In order to receive the full support of the committee (applicable to pre-med and pre-dental students), which includes a composite letter of recommendation, the following items must be satisfied:

  • The primary application must be submitted to the respective application service by June 30 (August 30 for podiatry applicants).
  • You must have completed the MCAT by the end of May, before submitting your application (end of July for Podiatry students).

If these conditions aren't met, the committee reserves the right to not provide a formal composite letter of evaluation. The individual letters of recommendation in your file will be forwarded to the schools with an accompanying general cover letter.