How Has COVID-19 Changed the Medical School Application Cycle?
Just as it has interrupted daily life, the COVID-19 pandemic has also disrupted the historically predictable process of medical school admissions. Though this year’s admissions cycle will proceed and medical schools will welcome new first year classes this fall, it’s important to be aware of several key changes to the admissions process as you open your AMCAS or AACOMAS applications. Prepare yourself—or help your child prepare—to apply to medical school in the midst of a pandemic by reviewing this list of changes to the admissions cycle.
1. AMCAS applications will be sent to medical schools two weeks later than usual
This year, AMCAS will begin sending verified applications to medical schools on July 10. This delay accounts for the additional time that it may take for applicants to obtain transcripts, MCAT results, letters of recommendation, and other materials. However, don’t make the mistake of misinterpreting these two weeks as “bonus time.” Since gathering your application materials may take longer than usual, be sure to request everything as early as possible once you’ve opened your application.
2. Pass/fail grading policies will impact GPA calculations, but there are tools to help schools interpret these pass/fail grades
Many colleges and universities have instituted mandatory pass/fail grading or opt-in pass/fail grading for their spring semesters. Since they’re not numerical, pass/fail grades don’t factor into your GPA. Students who were counting on spring semester grades to improve their GPA may worry that this puts them at a disadvantage. Luckily, AMCAS has released guidelines to help medical schools compare pass/fail grades to traditional grades. While it remains up to each school to determine how to interpret pass/fail grades, both the AAMC and the AACOM are dedicated to making this application cycle as equitable as possible.
3. There are no new COVID-19 related questions on AMCAS, but there are new questions on AACOMAS
The AAMC has released a statement saying that questions addressing disruptions imposed by COVID-19 may be included in secondary applications at the discretion of individual schools. In contrast, AACOMAS has added three optional questions about the pandemic’s impact to its primary application. If you are applying to DO schools and feel that your application was substantially impacted by coronavirus, be sure to answer one or more of these optional questions.
4. The length of the MCAT has been shortened for May 29 to September 28 test dates
To accommodate cancelled MCAT dates and the increased volume of students still needing to take the exam for this admissions cycle, the length of the MCAT has been shortened from seven hours and 30 minutes to five hours and 45 minutes. In addition, early morning and evening test times have been added at testing centers. Despite its shorter length, the exam will be scored in the same way as its longer cousin. Score reports will include an overarching score with four section scores. Since there are no changes to the content of the test, your MCAT preparation should remain the same.
5. Individual medical schools will determine any adjustments to their review process and application timeline
COVID-19 impacts vary across institutions, and because of this, it’s up to schools to determine how the specifics of their application cycles will proceed. Be aware that schools may choose to delay their review processes and may delay the date on which they start interviewing. Further, the ways individual schools cope with applications themselves will likely change. The AACOM has released a statement encouraging schools to extend interview invitations to qualified candidates even if MCAT scores are pending. Individual schools may be flexible in reviewing incomplete applications, and they may consider disruptions imposed by COVID-19 in their evaluations of volunteer work, research, and other extracurricular activities. Check the websites of the schools to which you are applying to stay up to date on how their application process has shifted in light of the present crisis.
6. Remote interviews may become the norm
The AAMC has already recommended that interviews for residencies be conducted remotely this cycle, and while the organization left it up to schools to decide whether to interview on campus, it is highly likely that many interviews will be conducted remotely. Without the visit to campus, it may be hard to get a “feel” for a school. To cope with this, consider developing a list of questions that will address your most important concerns when selecting a school. Don’t be afraid to ask non-academic questions. It’s important to know what the local area is like and whether you will enjoy what it has to offer.
Cassie Kosarek is a professional tutor and medical school admissions writer with Varsity Tutors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Bryn Mawr College and is a graduate of Bryn Mawr’s postbaccalaureate premedical program. She is also a member of the Class of 2021 at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. Kosarek is the author of a cardiovascular physiology text used in Geisel School of Medicine’s preclinical curriculum.