Timeline of Application Cycle
There are many steps involved with applying to Allopathic (AMCAS) and Osteopathic (AACOMAS) medical schools that follow a specific timeline. Veterinary, dental, or other health professions schools follow similar timelines, but use different application services and may have additional requirements. As noted below, the process can take up to a year, if not longer. Consider the questions below as you begin to understand the application timeline.
Along with understanding the application timeline itself, it is also crucial that you understand the timeline for Dartmouth's Composite Letter of Evaluation process in order to obtain letters of recommendation and Dartmouth's version of a committee letter - the "composite."
The Application Timeline
These deadlines are in place to benefit you, and we highly encourage you to follow this timeline as closely as possible. However, we will still work with you to have your application completed even if you have a later timeline.
Taking Gap Years Before Graduate School
80% of Dartmouth applicants take at least one or more additional years after graduation before matriculating to medical school or other graduate programs in the health professions. The majority of these students apply as they graduate (i.e. at the end of senior year) or a future year. This gives applicants time to demonstrate success in Dartmouth coursework, engage in diverse kinds of scholarship, prepare for the MCAT, and allow for more meaningful opportunities to grow. The average age of students entering medical school is currently 24.5 years. For more information about gap years before medical school, visit Pre-Health After Dartmouth.
20% of students manage to generate a complete application by the end of Junior Spring (timeline above). This means: (1) successfully completing course work needed for the MCAT, (2) preparing for and taking the MCAT, and (3) accumulating enough substantive extra-curricular experience to mount a competitive application by June of Junior year.