Application Timeline

Review the AAMC Timeline for Admission to Medical School

January

Login to Handshake to schedule an appointment with the director to discuss your plans
You must request at least three letters of recommendation from Vassar faculty by January 15 for your file, additional letters should also be requested at this time
Open a file in the Pre-Health Advising Office
Start requesting letters of recommendations
Formalize your plan for studying for the MCAT
Review "Getting Organized" on the AAMC website

February

Indicate your preferences for a faculty pre-health advisor
Start thinking about your personal statement
Start compiling your list of activities
February 19: Medical schools can run an aggregate report to find out how many applicants in their pool have selected “Plan to Enroll” at their school versus another school.*

March

Begin studying for the MCAT (if you haven’t already)
Meet with your faculty pre-health adviser to discuss your application

April

Letters of recommendation due in the office April 1
Dental applicants should register for DAT and take the test no later June
Take the MCAT by the end of June to have the primary completed early

May

Study Week: Attend meeting on campus with the premed interns
Access AMCAS (MD) and begin filling out the application
AACOMAS (DO) and ADDSAS (dental) submission opens in May
TMDSAS application is available online (Texas medical and dental schools)
Request transcripts to be sent to the application service (check “after spring grades are released”)
Be sure to have transcripts sent from any college level work you have done (not just Vassar)
Check the status of your file on Moodle for letters of recommendation…often!

June

AMCAS application opens for submission ~June 1
Send Letter of Recommendation Request form from AMCAS to the office
Register the office through ADDSAS (dental), AACOMAS and TMDSAS
Letters of recommendation received after June 30 may not be included in the original composite letter but will be sent as a separate attachment

In order to receive the full support of the committee, which includes a composite letter of recommendation, the following items have to be satisfied by June 30:

you must have requested at least three letters of recommendation from Vassar faculty;
your primary application must be submitted to the respective administrative service;
and you must have completed the MCAT by the end of June of the year you are applying

Otherwise, the committee reserves the right to not provide a formal composite letter of evaluation written by your premed advisor and reviewed by the committee. The individual letters of recommendation in your file will be forwarded to the schools with an accompanying generic cover letter.

July-August

Submit secondary applications…don’t wait for the deadlines to submit…early is better!

September - December

Continue with secondary applications as directed by the schools
Respond to interview invitations …schedule a mock interview with a prehealth adviser (Skype is an option for alumni), we can offer mock MMIs for local applicants and those on campus
Acceptance notifications begin

January

Send fall transcripts and other updates to schools still considering your application
Discuss your plans with your prehealth faculty adviser and Ms. Kooperman

April

April 15 Applicant protocols ask applicants to narrow their acceptance offers to three. Applicants holding more than three offers should narrow their offers of acceptance to three, with no limit on alternate-list offers. Review the Choose your Medical School Tool
Beginning April 30, accepted applicants will have two options to select: “Plan to Enroll” and “Commit to Enroll.” Selecting “Commit to Enroll” indicates that the applicant has made a final selection and withdrawn all other applications.
April 30: Medical schools can run detailed reports to identify accepted and alternate-list applicants who have selected “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” at their school versus another school.

AMCAS Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service: You should complete the LOR section in AMCAS indicating that you will receive a “committee letter,” list your faculty premed advisor as the author. After doing so you will indicate in the application which schools should have access to your letter; send a PDF of the letter request form to fellowships@vassar.edu.

AACOMAS, TMDSAS and ADDSAS letter request: Complete the evaluation request in the respective system using fellowships@vassar.edu and send your ID to the office (AACOMAS, TMDSAS, DentPin)

The Premed Applicant Moodle Site is a place for you to monitor your letters of recommendation and gain access to a variety of resources intended to support you through the application process. Shortly after your adviser assignment is made you will have access to the site, log on and check it out!

Go to the “Grades” function and look at your user report, there you will see the name of the person you requested a letter from, if it says “yes” next to the name we have the letter…otherwise we do not. It’s that easy!

The Composite Letter Queue You will enter the “queue” when your file in the office is complete (we have received all of your letters) and your primary application is submitted. The date you enter the queue will be listed in Moodle. You can check the status of your app in the respective application system anytime. It can take 4-6 weeks for your app to process so be sure to submit early! Your letter will be sent within ~3-4 weeks after you enter the queue.

Please be sure to allow your information to be released to Vassar College. We will not have access to your actual app, but will be able to download your list of schools, check on the status of your application and view statistics for Vassar College. This is important to us since we are supporting your application!

This timeline is subject to change. Please consult with your adviser often and stay in touch with the pre-health advising office.

Updated February 2023