Overview
Applying to medical, dental, PA or other health profession school is long and very time consuming so it is important for you to consider your candidacy and if you are ready to apply this application cycle. The readiness module in the Pre-Health Guide is the prerequisite for the Application Modules (medical, dental and physician assistant) and will help guide you as you consider your individual readiness. This module will walk you through components of readiness and culminates in a readiness self-assessment. The self-assessment is designed for your own reflection and consideration, and has no impact on your ability to progress to the Application Modules or submit an application this cycle. HPAC fully supports all applicants in making well-informed and thoughtful decisions about their application.
Broadly, the following components are involved in applying (please check directly with your program of interest for specifics and keep in mind not all components may be required depending on your pre-health track):
These, such as AMCAS/AACOMAS/AADSAS/TMDSAS/CASPA/AACPMAS, are used to gather candidate information, which may include a verification process, after which an application is transmitted to admissions. Portal / platform / service open dates can differ from when you may submit a completed application.
- Demographic information about candidate
- Grades and transcript
- Work and activities section
- Personal Statement (an additional research statement for dual degree candidates)
- Standardized entrance exam scores
- CASPer/PREview scores (Situational Judgement Test)
Cornell utilizes the Letter Packet, a service provided by HPAC to support applicants to schools of human medicine. It is a single PDF document that includes:
- a cover letter from HPAC that introduces you, lists your letters of recommendation (LORs), and summarizes the achievements of all Cornell applicants in and out of the classroom
- two to five LORs, selected by the applicant
Additional information on logistics and timeline can be found in the Pre-Health Guide.
Building a school list is a very personal decision. The number of schools you apply to will depend on your time, bandwidth, and financial resources. Please keep in mind most med schools have a secondary application with an associated, additional fee. Some factors to consider include: location and living costs, weather/climate, quality of facilities, past connections, school/program fit, resources; mentorship/affinity group support/wellness support, co-curricular opportunities, cost of attendance, residency placement and board pass rate, family/partner proximity, curriculum, GPA/standardized entrance exam score of entering class, peer proximity, clinical exposure, and school reputation.
Most med schools have a secondary application. We recommend pre-writing, if possible. Most common topics include: explaining a challenging situation and how you overcame it, your approach to diversity and inclusion, why that school/program, leadership, teamwork, any additional life circumstances not already presented/explained, etc. The expectation for turnaround time is 2 weeks.
Admissions committees use interviews to determine whether applicants have characteristics that are valuable within the healthcare profession, such as strong communication skills, presence, critical thinking, compassion and resilience. Each school/program is looking for something specific / different. They're looking to see if the applicant is the right FIT.
They also screen for applicants who are determined to proceed with their education, understand fully the level of commitment required, including the time/bandwidth/financial investment necessary to succeed. They will probe to see if you have the right motivation to avoid admitting students who are driven by status or money.
Most medical schools are utilizing the MMI (multiple mini interview) format. Please note, not all schools/programs interview.
The holistic review process for medical, dental, PA, etc. school admissions is a comprehensive evaluation of an applicant’s candidacy beyond their academic achievements and standardized test scores. It involves an assessment of the applicant’s personal and professional characteristics, including their experiences, skills, and qualities that demonstrate their potential to become a competent and compassionate physician, dentist or other healthcare professional.
When accepted to a program, there may be additional documentation, vaccination, background checks, drug tests, etc. requested.
Learn more about the general timeline next.