In completing your AMCAS application, finish it as soon as possible. Many medical schools provide acceptances on a rolling basis. The sooner you turn your application in, the better chance you have of receiving admission.

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
2450 N Street NW Washington DC 20037-1123;  Phone Number (202) 828-0600

AMCAS 2009 Instruction Book (AMCAS)

AMCAS 2009 Application Worksheet (AMCAS APP)
Helps students prepare for AMCAS related questions.

Non-AMCAS Schools
Brown Medical School (BMC)

University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMKC)

Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TAD)

Premedical Career
In choosing classes, be particular about picking classes you will do well in. You do not have to be a science major to get into medical school. In fact, the AAMC Medical Handbook statistics for matriculating students is higher for non-science majors.  The best advice is to major in a field which you like in addition to finishing your prerequisite classes. Obviously, it is in your best interest to do well in all your classes because it is difficult to compensate for low grades. If you take the class again, AMCAS will require you to put both grades on the application. In the end, the more classes you take, the more classes you will need to improve your GPA.

2009 Application 

• Applicants must submit the AMCAS application over the web. The AMCAS application is entirely web-based. That means that you will use your computer (or one at school) to go to an internet website where you type in all the required information about yourself, including two essays. (if you are applying as a disadvantaged student, three essays)  It's a big project, however you are allowed to do part of it, save it on the AAMC web server, and come back and do the rest later.  You can modify your application as needed.

• When you are finished and ready to submit your application, you "certify" that everything you have put on the form is true, and that you are ready for medical schools to begin evaluating your application. "Certifying" is the electronic equivalent of signing the application and dropping it in the mailbox. Students are given accounts on the AMCAS servers. Applications are saved until completed. Then student selects application to be certified and ready for submission to designated medical schools.
  
• A short essay, called "practice vision essay." Half page response to the statement, "Describe your life and your medical practice as you envision it 10 years from now."
  
  
• Applicants who consider themselves "disadvantaged" will be asked, "Briefly describe any social or educational challenges that you believe have affected your educational pursuits." No longer than ? a page.
  
  
• AMCAS will allow you to note, majors and minors; other tests scores other than the MCAT and two contact names. It offers unlimited space for list of post-secondary experiences.
  
  
• It is important to state the correct e-mail address. AAMC will directly correspond to you at that e-mail address.
  

Transcripts

            Transcripts from all the post-secondary schools you attended need to be submitted. AMCAS accepts transcripts starting on or about May 1. Transcripts are due 14 calendar days after the deadline date.  Transcripts in support of an Early Decision Program (EDP) application are due on August 1, the EDP application deadline. Request transcripts early!

Essay

• Physicians and pre-med advisors should read through rough draft. Remember to ask non-physicians to look at the essays because an English professor could be very helpful in pointing out grammatical errors.
  
  
• When requesting help, give the essays to the person a few months in advance to allow for revision.  In the essay, medical schools want to see a story unfold on how a student decided to become a doctor.
  
  
• The essay should illustrate the student's individuality and show commitment.
  
  
• If you are a non-traditional student, it helps to minimize your other job experiences without excluding them.
  
  
• Overall, you want to show the admissions committee you are confident and unequivocally interested in medical school. 

When composing your essay it's best to covert the essay to text-only format so that you can easily cut and paste it to your AMCAS application

The following are questions to consider when formulating an outline for the essay:

What obstacles have I overcome?
Why do I want to be a physician?
What extra-curricular activities show I value helping others?
What are my future goals?
How will a medical degree help me reach my goal?
Which opportunities show my depth of involvement which eventually lead to  honors/awards.
Emphasize extra-curricular activities but refrain from listing your activities.
Desire for knowledge to implement against disease
Show evident passion for the ill and empathy towards others.
Work well with people under stressful circumstances.
Understand the sacrifice of time that accompanies a physician's life.

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