Frequently Asked Questions
Mentorship Program
When do mentor and mentee applications open? When do they close?
Mentor and mentee applications open in late January for the upcoming cycle. Applications close when capacity has been met, which occurs once all mentees have been paired or there are no available mentors. Both are welcome to apply as long as the applications remain open.
I am not applying this cycle, can I still apply to be a mentee?
Congratulations on your decision to apply! Currently, our mentorship program is best suited for individuals planning to apply in the upcoming/current cycle, as your mentor can then guide you through your application process. If you plan to apply sometime in the future, we recommend exploring our website for helpful reading about the application process.
I have been accepted to medical school, but am not a medical student yet. Can I apply to be a mentor?
Yes, and in fact, incoming first year medical students make up the majority of our Bridging Admissions’s mentors!
Medical School Applications
What does the application process look like?
See a timeline of the overall process
What is the primary application and what does it consist of?
The primary application is completed on AMCAS for MD schools or AACOMAS for DO schools. This application is sent to all medical schools you choose to apply to. Both the AMCAS and AACOMAS primary applications are similar and ask for background information, your college courses, a personal statement, and descriptions of your extracurricular activities (called the Work and Activities section in the AMCAS and Experiences and Achievements in the AACOMAS).
What are secondary applications and what do they consist of?
Secondary applications are school-specific applications that are sent after a school receives your primary. Some schools may “screen” and review your primary application before deciding to send you a secondary application; other schools will automatically send you their secondary.
These applications are unique to each school, and usually contain short essay prompts for you to answer. Here are some commonly used secondary prompts.
In addition, the secondary application is when you will need to send letters of recommendation to a school and complete any school specific requirements (such as the CASPer test).
How many letters of recommendation do I need to apply to medical school? How do i ask for one? When do I ask?
See our article for answers to all your LOR questions.
How much does it cost to apply to medical school?
Applying to medical school can be pricey. For 2024, the initial AMCAS processing fee (which includes the cost to submit your primary application to one school) was $175, with additional schools costing $45 per school. AACOMAS has similar costs, with the initial primary submission costing $198, and additional schools $55 each.
Secondary applications fall between $40-$200, with the average secondary priced around $100. The cost of interviews will vary, but will include the cost of a suit, flights or other transportation costs, accommodations, and food.
There are also some “hidden costs” of applying. These can include costs to order your college transcripts, fees for the CASPer test, and any preparation you may pay for. For a detailed breakdown and to read our tips to keep costs down, see this article.
Can I get financial assistance for the application process?
The Fee Assistance Program (FAP) offered by the the AAMC helps applicants with the financial burden of applying to MD schools. Benefits include a reduced MCAT fee, free subscription to MSAR, a waiver for the initial processing fee plus free submission to up to 20 medical schools. In addition, many schools will waive their secondary application fees if you receive FAP, although this is school dependent. For more information, visit the official website.
The AACOM does have an application fee waiver that covers the cost of the initial application fee to one school ($196) but currently it does not cover beyond that. For more information, visit the official website.
What is the CASPer test?
The CASPer test is an online situational judgement test that is required by some MD and DO medical schools. Currently, it costs $85 to take and distribute your score to 7 schools; additional schools are $16 each. Your score is evaluated with other elements of your application. Visit the CASPer website to see what schools currently require the CASPer test.
When should I take the CASPer?
You do not have to wait until you are asked by a school to take the test. The test be taken anytime you have downtime in your application process and you can send your results to any schools that ask for it later.
I won’t be applying this cycle, what can I do to get a head start?
If you would like to apply in the future (perhaps not this year’s cycle, but the next), there are numerous ways you can prepare now! Here are some ideas:
Take your MCAT. Trying to balance studying for the MCAT and preparing your medical school application at the same time can be challenging. Having your MCAT completed and scored before you begin your primary can ease the burden of applying.
Save money. The process is expensive and can easily cost thousands. If you’d like to apply in the future, it can be helpful to start saving now.
Ask for LORs. If you will be asking professors, think about their schedules (midterms or finals may not be the best time to ask!). You can use a service like Dossier by Interfolio to store confidential LORs for free until you are ready to apply.
Think about your personal statement. The personal statement can be one of the most daunting aspects of the primary application. It can be helpful to start brainstorming and thinking about ideas you’d like to write about.
Read up on the process! The “Applying to Medical School” tab on our website has many helpful articles detailing various aspects of the application process. The more you know, the less scary the process will seem.
Have another question you don’t see here? Contact Us and we will get back to you as soon as we can!