2025 AMCAS Medical School Application Checklist

• Take note of deadlines for medical school applications (both primary and secondary) and financial aid applications. 
• Put together a thoughtful and comprehensive list of medical schools to which you will apply. 
• When the application opens, enter your biographical, school, and letter data immediately; this will allow you to generate a Transcript Request Form (TRF) and Letter Request Form (LRF). 
• Send the TRF to the registrar’s office of all schools attended ASAP; transcript delays are the #1 processing problem for AMCAS applications. If problems arise, you will have time to sort them out due to you sending your TRF early. 
• Send the LRF to those who will write letters on your behalf; if using the AMCAS Letter Writer Application, your letter writers will need the AAMC Letter ID on this form, in addition to your AAMC ID. 
• Follow the guidelines provided by your undergraduate premed advising office in regard to the letter process (if you are still a college student or if you’re a nontraditional or post- bac student with access to institutional advising). For example, if your college provides a committee letter, you may only have to send one copy of the LRF to your college’s premed advisor. Circumstances will vary according to applicants’ individual situations. 
• Working directly from your college transcript/s, enter course information exactly as it appears. Individuals at AMCAS will verify the course data you enter against the physical transcript for accuracy. 
• Enter your activity descriptions into the AMCAS application. These are important and carefully read by the medical schools. Remember to give both information and reflection within your descriptions. 

Are you wanting help with your activities descriptions? Check out:

• • Free Activities Descriptions Guide w/ Examples
  • Helpful Blog Post
  • Affordable essay review options

• Enter your personal statement into the application. Put in the time necessary to write a statement that is genuine and makes you stand out. Seek out input/assistance from people who have experience reading and reviewing statements. 

Are you looking for help with your personal statement? Check out:

• • Free 30 minute personal statement workshop
  • Free Personal Statement Template
  • Helpful blog posts 
  • Brainstorming sessions 
  • Affordable essay review options
• Check and double-check that your application is correct and complete. Have a mentor or advisor review the application before you submit it. 
• Complete and submit your AMCAS online application. Make sure all relevant materials—test scores, transcripts, personal statement, and letters of recommendation—are included in your package. 
• If you can, submit as early as possible in the cycle. 
• Submit secondary applications as requested, preferably within two weeks of receiving each application.

Download the AMCAS medical school application checklist here.