Medical School (MD/DO & Podiatry)

Application Timeline

Preparing for your Giant Leap

purdue.edu/preprofessional

Before You Apply—fall semester/early spring of application year

• Check with schools about any questions on coursework, for example, will they accept CHM 12901 on its

own? Will they accept it with the CHM 11500 credit exam? Do you need to do something else?

• Plan for Letters

o Verify that the letters you intend to get will meet the needs of the schools at which you intend to

apply BEFORE you apply to those schools.

o Meet with and ask letter writers for letters no later than spring break.

o For MD and DO letters, consider using the PPA letter service

https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8tUiTIJAoWSwx5Y?_ga=2.208620882.1504932

845.1645021865-884794210.1629920876

• Allow 3-4 months to prepare for the MCAT and consider taking it early if possible (see MCAT, below).

• Become familiar with the application process. Read the medical/podiatry school websites and the

AMCAS Applicant Guide, the AACOMAS Help Center (application instructions) and/or the TMDSAS

Handbook (links below).

• Always use the same form of your name in all documents that you send for your application.

• When it comes to all application materials, read and follow all instructions. Carefully edit materials that

you submit and save a copy of everything you turn in to programs.

• Research Schools

o Go to individual school websites to research schools.

o For MD program information, you can consider purchasing access to the

Medical School

Admission Requirements (MSAR) https://students-residents.aamc.org/medical-school-

admission-requirements/medical-school-admission-requirements-applicants

o For DO program information, register for the Choose DO Explorer https://choosedo.org/choose-

do-explorer-registration/

o Podiatry Colleges information https://aacpm.org/colleges/

AMCAS, AACOMAS and TMDSAS open in early May. The exact dates for the 2023 application (the

entry year for the application cycle have not yet been announced). Typically, you have several

weeks to about a month to work on the application before you can submit your application. Plan

to submit in June or early July. AACPMAS opens in early August. Plan to submit in August or

September.

• Learning More About the Application

o Applying to Medical School with AMCAS

(AAMC) https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-

medical-school-amcas/applying-medical-school-amcas

o Applying to Osteopathic Medical College (AACOM) https://www.aacom.org/become-a-

doctor/how-to-apply-to-osteopathic-medical-college

o Podiatry Admissions https://aacpm.org/becoming-a-podiatric-physician/admissions/

• Common Applications (AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS all open in May; AACPMAS opens )

o AMCAS (for MD programs): The 2023 Applicant Guide (application instructions) is not yet

available. The instructions do not change year to year. For now, this is the 2022 Guide

https://students-residents.aamc.org/media/11616/download

Application Timeline

Medical School (MD/DO & Podiatry)

Preparing for your Giant Leap

purdue.edu/preprofessional

o AACOMAS (for DO programs): AACOMAS Application Instructions

https://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/how-to-apply-to-osteopathic-medical-

college/aacomas-application-instructions-and-faqs

 AACOMAS Help Center (the instructions on the application site)

https://help.liaisonedu.com/AACOMAS_Applicant_Help_Center

o TMDSAS (for MD and DO programs in Texas): TMDSAS Handbook

https://www.tmdsas.com/PLAN/references/application-handbook.html

o AACPMAS (for podiatry programs) Help Center (application instructions)

https://help.liaisonedu.com/AACPMAS_Applicant_Help_Center

Once the Application Opens

• Start filling out your application immediately—it is important to send your transcripts as early as

possible since Purdue only sends PAPER transcripts which is a slower process as they need to be

mailed. Purdue does not use the online distribution systems for transcripts required to send e-

Transcripts.

o On AMCAS

 Get to the Schools Attended Section and enter all colleges from which you earned college

credit

 For each college/university you will then obtain from AMCAS a Transcript Request Form

 The Transcript Request Form needs to be sent along with each transcript to help with

matching that school’s transcript to your application

 If you need to transcripts from schools other than Purdue, contact those schools to find

out how to send them the Transcript Request Form and send the transcripts following the

AMCAS instructions.

 Instructions for sending Purdue transcripts ON PAPER are attached below.

 You will also want unofficial transcripts to work with when entering your course

information on AMCAS.

o On AACOMAS and AACPMAS

 Get to the Academic History section and enter all colleges from which you earned college

credit

 For each college/university you will then obtain from AADSAS a Transcript ID Form

 The Transcript ID Form needs to be sent along with each transcript to help with matching

that school’s transcript to your application

 If you need to get transcripts from schools other than Purdue, contact those schools to

find out how to send them the Transcript ID form and send the transcripts following the

AADSAS instructions.

 Instructions for sending Purdue transcripts ON PAPER are attached below.

 You will also want unofficial transcripts to work with when entering your course

information in AADSAS.

 There is no need to pay extra money to have someone do this for you.

o On TMDSAS

 Do not send transcripts to TMDSAS.

 When they are ready for you to send them, they will reach out to you and request them.

 Follow directions for sending them once this occurs.

Application Timeline

Medical School (MD/DO & Podiatry)

Preparing for your Giant Leap

purdue.edu/preprofessional

• Recommendation Letters--Ask early in the spring semester—ideally by spring break

o PPA Advisors are happy to talk to you about choosing appropriate letters

o MD/DO (Including Texas Schools)

 We highly recommend using the PPA Letter Service

https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8tUiTIJAoWSwx5Y?_ga=2.208986450.1

504932845.1645021865-884794210.1629920876

 Be sure to ask letter writers early to provide them adequate time to write their letters

 Research schools at which you are applying to be sure you have appropriate letters

o Podiatry

 Check with individual schools to make sure you have what they require

 Meet with your letter writers and finalize your letters

 Offer them the PPA Letter Writer Guide

to provide them with tips for writing letters

https://www.purdue.edu/preprofessional/Documents/Letter%20Writer%20Guide.pdf

 You can have a maximum of 3 letters for your application, if you want to include more

those will need to be sent directly to schools.

What else do you need to do?

• Ensure all documents arrived at your application—transcripts and letters

• Thank your letter writers

• Keep up with volunteering, research, and shadowing.

• Check to see if any of your schools require the CASPer

situational judgement exam and take this during

the summer/early fall. https://takealtus.com/casper/

• Keep up on health news in preparation for interviews—check for Health News Sources here

https://www.purdue.edu/preprofessional/Documents/Health%20News%20Resources.pdf

• Some MD and DO programs may also suggest the AAMC Professional Readiness Exam called PREview. If

you decide to participate, do this in the summer or early fall. https://students-residents.aamc.org/aamc-

preview/aamc-preview-professional-readiness-exam

• If you are eligible for U.S. Federal Loans, submit your FAFSA even before you know you have been

admitted.

Medical College Admission Test—take as early as summer before application year to April, May or

June of application year

• Register well in advance for your MCAT as dates do fill. https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-

mcat-exam/register-mcat-exam

• Typically, registration opens in October for the Spring dates and in February for the July-September

dates.

• If you need to request accommodations

, this will take additional time—plan ahead. https://students-

residents.aamc.org/mcat-exam-accommodations/mcat-exam-accommodations

• The Fee Assistance Program can help with costs for both the MCAT and the application, but you must be

granted assistance BEFORE registering for the exam. Again, plan ahead. https://students-

residents.aamc.org/fee-assistance-program/fee-assistance-program-fap

• Plan on 300-400 hours of prep time and include several full-length timed practice tests as part of your

preparation.

Application Timeline

Medical School (MD/DO & Podiatry)

Preparing for your Giant Leap

purdue.edu/preprofessional

• Do NOT blow off studying for the CARS (reading comprehension section). This section has the worst

score nationwide.

• Remember that Khan Academy

has free prep materials for the MCAT. PPA also has access to a

discounted online program for Purdue students. Email us for information.

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat

• You can take the MCAT up to 3 times in a single testing year, but we recommend talking to a PPA Advisor

before retaking the MCAT.

Ordering Transcripts from Purdue—order transcripts early in the application process (ideally in

May)

• Follow instructions in the Schools Attended (MD)/Academic History (DO/Podiatry) section of your

application to obtain the

Transcript Request Form/Transcript ID Form—this Form ensures that your

transcript will be matched with your CASPA application.

• For Purdue, you need to order an OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT to be sent on PAPER and attach a PDF of the

Transcript Request Form/Transcript ID Form to this request.

• This is all sent to AMCAS/AACOMAS/AACPMAS and the address is in the Schools Attended/Academic

History section.

• Current Purdue Students follow these steps to order your transcript:

o Login to MyPurdue

o Click on Academic Tab

o On the bottom left corner click on order OFFICIAL Transcript

o Request that they send a PAPER COPY (do not send it electronically)

o Attach an electronic version (PDF) of the Transcript Request Form/Transcript ID Form

• Former Purdue Students follow these steps to order your transcript:

o Use this e-transcript link to set up an account to order your OFFICIAL transcript

https://sswis.mypurdue.purdue.edu/eTranscript/login/auth;jsessionid=C2CE2C70DAC3F265E3

9C2B534E2ACC1E

o Be sure to attach the Transcript Request Form/Transcript ID Form

o Request that Purdue send a PAPER copy (do not send an electronic copy of your transcript)

• You will need a separate Transcript Request Form/Transcript ID Form for any other schools at which you

have college credit and will need to determine how to send these forms to the appropriate offices at

those schools and how they distribute transcripts (using appropriate electronic systems or on paper).

• Be sure to get an unofficial copy for yourself to use to enter all your coursework into your application!

Pre-Professional Advising is here to help you throughout your application process. We know that

you have worked hard to reach the point of application and we are honored to have the

opportunity to help you through this next part of your journey toward professional school.