Registration Now Open: AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair on Oct. 29-30

Student registration is open for the AAMC fall Virtual Medical School Fair! Join us on Oct. 29 for live information and Q&A sessions, and connect with admissions reps from medical schools, postbaccalaureate, and special master’s programs on Oct. 30.

New this fall: Explore a dedicated exhibit hall for 3-year accelerated MD programs, which will offer a faster, more affordable path to residency.

Register for free on the event website. As a bonus, all attendees will receive a 15% discount code for a 1- or 2-year MSAR® subscription post-event. Questions? Email virtualfair@aamc.org.

Event: AAMC Designing Your Premed Journey

Join the AAMC for Designing Your Premed Journey, an upcoming free webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET. This session is ideal for students beginning their premed path or preparing to apply to medical school and will cover key AAMC tools and resources including the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), AAMC Pathway Program Resources, AAMC Fee Assistance Program, the MCAT, the PREview exam, Medical School Admissions Requirements™ (MSAR^®), AMCAS, and the Financial Information, Resources, Services & Tools (FIRST) Program. The session will conclude with a live Q&A.

AAMC FIRST Webinar Recording: Navigating Student Loans and Repayment Changes After Budget Reconciliation

Recent legislation will bring changes to the federal student loan programs, borrowing limits, and repayment options beginning July 1, 2026. The AAMC’s Financial Information, Resources, Services & Tools (FIRST) Program team recently held a webinar that discussed the changes to federal student aid including an overview of how policy shifts and their timing will impact current and future medical students and residents. If you missed this timely overview, you can access the recording on the FIRST Program’s Recorded Webinars and Videos page.

AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair April 16 & 17

Speak Directly with Medical Schools and Postbac Program Reps!

April 16-17, 2025

Wednesday, April 16 | Live Information Sessions: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday, April 17 | Chat with Medical Schools and Postbaccalaureate Programs: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET

Register Today!

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) invites you to attend the 2025 Spring Virtual Medical School Fair, on April 16-17. Your FREE registration includes a 15% discount* on a 1-or 2-year subscription to the Medical School Admission Requirements™ (MSAR®) website. Leverage this unique opportunity to chat directly with representatives from medical schools and postbac programs across the U.S. and Canada. Get answers to questions about financial aid, the MCAT® exam, the AMCAS® application, the SHPEP program, and more. Based on feedback from past attendees, we’re featuring more institutions who will chat via Zoom on April 17. A list of Zoom chat exhibitors will be posted on the fair’s landing page in early April.

AAMC Virtual Medical School Fairs are open and free for all attendees.

Register Today and Save 15%* on an MSAR Subscription

Questions? Contact virtualfair@aamc.org.

AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair April 10-12

 

Connect with Medical Schools at the Fair!

April 10-12, 2024

Wednesday, April 10 | Live Information Sessions: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET Thursday, April 11 | Chat with Medical Schools: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET Friday, April 12 | Postbaccalaureate Program Fair: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET

Register Now

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) invites you to attend the Virtual Medical School Fair, April 10-12. Your FREE registration includes a 15% discount* on a 1-or 2-year subscription to the Medical School Admissions Requirements™ (MSAR®) website. For the first time ever, this year's fair will feature three days of invaluable opportunities for you to connect with experts to help you prepare to apply to medical school. Wednesday, April 10: Attend live information sessions with Q&A's on topics related to applying for, attending, and financing medical school. Thursday, April 11: Live chat with representatives from medical schools across the United States. Friday, April 12: Engage with representatives from postbaccalaureate and special master’s programs to ask about their admission requirements, advising services, and medical school acceptance rates.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with admissions officers, current medical students, application services, and the AAMC. Gain valuable insights into the medical school application process, financial aid, the MCAT® exam, the AMCAS® application, the SHPEP program, and more.

In 2023, the AAMC Virtual Medical School Fairs attracted over 19,000 attendees from across the world, and this year promises to be even more impactful. As always, AAMC Virtual Medical School Fairs are free and open to all attendees interested in a career in medicine.

Register Today and Save 15%* on an MSAR Subscription

Questions? Contact virtualfair@aamc.org.

AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair

The AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair is Tuesday April 18th! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with 98 medical schools, programs, and AAMC experts from the MCAT^®, AMCAS^®, and SHPEP teams as well as attend info and Q&A sessions with admissions officers and medical students. All who register for this event will receive a personalized code for 15% off of a Medical School Admissions Requirements^™ (MSAR^®) subscription*!

Register for free to join  any time between 11 A.M. and 8 P.M. ET on Tuesday!

Be sure to check out the panel discussions happening all day! Read descriptions here. 

11:00 am – 12:00 pm Financial Aid, Firsthand: Debt, Repayment and Money Management According to Current Students and Physicians

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm The Importance of Mission Alignment When Selecting Medical Schools An Interactive Discussion with Medical School Admission Officers

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Watch What Happens Live: Mock Interviews with Real Admissions Officers

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm Previewing PREview™: Introduction to the AAMC Professional Readiness Exam – 30 minutes

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Timing Your Medical School Application

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm A Day in the Life of a Medical Student

AAMC Financial Assistance Resources and Webinars

 

2022 AAMC Fee Assistance Program Webinar Recording

A recording of the AAMC Fee Assistance Program webinar held on Feb. 22 is now available in the Premed Webinars section of our website. This 60-minute webinar covered the 2022 Fee Assistance Program benefits, new eligibility requirements, the application process, and Q&A.

FIRST Webinar - Paying for Medical School (on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET).

Have your students asked any of the following questions?

How much will it cost to apply to medical school, and will I be able to afford it? How do you apply for financial aid? How much financial aid will I be eligible for and what kind of aid is available? What should I ask the medical school’s financial aid office before I start medical school? Will I be able to repay my loans and how long will it take to pay them off? Are there any programs that forgive student loan debt or help me repay my loans?

If so, make sure they register for the Paying for Medical School Webinar on Tuesday, March 15 at 7 p.m. ET so they can get the answer to these questions and many more. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with details on how to access the webinar. Space is limited, so please register by March 14.

Event: AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair, Strategies and Resources for Minority Premeds and Applicants

 On Tuesday, September 21 from 11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M., join the AAMC, medical school admissions officers from the U.S. and Canada, and thousands of aspiring medical students:

• Connect with admisisons officers, prehealth advisors and AAMC experts to get information and resources for aspiring physicians who identify as racial and/or ethnic minorities.
• Participate in four live information sessions about financing medical school, leveraging technology to diversify medicine, insights into the documentary Black Men in Medicine, and social media influencers in the medical school community.
• Visit the Wellness Studio for resources and content to help minority and first-generation applicants manage all aspects of their health, and, 
• Chat with current medical students to learn about their educational experiences.

More information and registration details are available here. 

Event: Week in the Life of an SHPEP Scholar

 Are you interested in applying for the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)? Ever wonder what happens at the SHPEP Program Sites?

SHPEP is a free summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in the health professions. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions while preparing them for a successful matriculation to health professions schools.

During this session, attendees will hear directly from program sites, who are reviewing applications, to learn more about what they have to offer and how they will implement the program. You’ll also receive the perspective recent SHPEP scholars to give you their insights about the program.

As you may know, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing guidelines, and the closure of some campuses, SHPEP will again be a 100% virtual experience in summer 2021. The pandemic necessitated virtual implementation of SHPEP in 2020, and we are proud that the program was successfully delivered online to more than 930 scholars last summer.

Register for the Week in the Life of an SHPEP Scholar event here. 

New & Updated MCAT Prep Resources from AAMC

The AAMC has announced updates to its MCAT preparation resources! Read below or click here to learn more. 

 The MCAT Official Prep Sample Test is now a FREE Resource

• The Sample Test has been converted into a free resource accessible in the MCAT Official Prep Hub. The Sample Test is a great way for students to identify their strengths and weaknesses as they begin preparing for the MCAT exam. Examinees can review questions and answers in MCAT Foundational Concepts, Content Categories, and Skills to identify areas for further study. The Sample Test includes the following features:
• 230 questions with the same look and feel and the same length and functionality as the actual MCAT exam
• Solutions written by the same test developers as the actual MCAT exam

NEW MCAT Official Prep CARS Diagnostic Tool

• The CARS Diagnostic tool is the first, section-specific diagnostic by the AAMC to help students identify and address their areas of strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for the Critical Analysis and Reasoning section of the MCAT exam. The CARS Diagnostic Tool includes the following features:
• Video walkthroughs of how to approach answering two example CARS passage sets
• 28 passage sets for learners to practice 169 questions that have been created by the developers of the MCAT exam
• Score reports to help learners evaluate their strengths and weaknesses
• Explanations for all answer choices written by the same developers of the actual MCAT exam
• Enhancements to the question review that enable learners to dive deep into the skills assessed in CARS
• Strategies to improve learners' critical analysis and reasoning skills

• The new MCAT Official Prep CARS Diagnostic Tool will be added to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program MCAT Prep benefits. AAMC Fee Assistance Program awardees who have opted to receive their MCAT Official Prep products benefit in 2020 will be granted access to this product, in addition to all of the online AAMC MCAT Official Prep products. Please visit our website for more information and the full list of Fee Assistance Program benefits.

Enhancements to MCAT Official Prep Products and Resources

Updated FREE Road Map to MCAT Content in Sociology and Psychology Textbooks

• The AAMC reached out to more publishers of introductory psychology and sociology textbooks to expand the list of resources and include detailed information on where to find the concepts learners will need for the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT exam. The Road Map also includes open source textbooks.

Enhanced FREE Online Version of the MCAT Study Plan Guide

• Creating a study plan is a great way for students to organize their preparation, keep themselves focused, and track their progress. In 2019, AAMC launched an online updated version of the How to Create A Study Plan guide in beta and has made enhancements based on user feedback.

AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair - February 20

Register for the AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair on Thursday, February 20, 2020, 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern. This free event is a tremendous opportunity for prospective applicants to connect with admissions officers at more than 75 U.S, Puerto Rican, and Canadian medical schools.

• Attendees will be able to:
• Speak directly with admissions officers.
• View, save and share resources and information from each medical school.
• Attend and ask questions during four live presentations:
• Tips and Tools for Financing your Application and Career in Medicine.
• New Medical Schools: Myths & Tips.
• Making the Most of Your Glide Year(s).
• The Application Process and Resources for Applicants & Premeds.
• Speak with AAMC experts and NAAHP pre-health advisors about the MCAT® exam, AMCAS® application, financing a medical education, and get more information about unique summer programs like SHPEP.
• Meet with Veterans Administration representatives to learn more about programs and scholarships.

Registrants will receive a promo code for 15% off of a 2-year subscription to the Medical School Admissions Requirements™ (MSAR®).

Register today at: aamc.org/virtualfair

AMCAS Application Cycle Dates Announced

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has announced important dates for the 2021 AMCAS application cycle (for those applying in summer 2020). 

The 2021 AMCAS cycle will open for applicants to begin completing their application on Monday, May 4, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. ET. Applicants will be able to submit their applications to AMCAS for processing beginning Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. ET. AMCAS will begin transmitting applicant data to medical schools on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. ET. 

Please refer to the Premed Calendar to view important dates and deadlines for all the AAMC Premed Services. For more information on AMCAS applications, please visit aamc.org/amcas.

AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair

The Association of American Medical Colleges invites prospective medical applicants to attend the fourth annual AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair on Thursday, February 21, 2019, from 11:00am to 8:00pm Eastern. More than 70 US and Canadian medical schools will be in attendance!

Attendees will be able to:

• Chat with representatives from each school
• Save resources and information from schools into your own personal "briefcase"
• Access documents, links, and videos from schools, and chat with representatives from the AAMC, the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP), the Summer Health Professions Education program (SHPEP), and the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)
• Receive a discount code (after registering) on an MSAR subscription
• Attend live presentations with Q&A (or access the recordings on demand), covering:
• Preparing for the MCAT exam
• Medical students sharing how to demonstrate Core Competencies for entering medical students
• Learning how to pay for medical school
• Tips and advice from admissions officers on applying, interviewing, and professionalism

Registration is free, and all prospective medical applicants are strongly encouraged to participate.

Opportunity: SHPEP Application Opens Nov 1

Summer Health Professions Education Program
Learn more at www.shpep.org

HOW TO APPLY

Important Dates

November 1, 2016 – Application Opens

February 1, 2017 – Early Admission Deadline

March 1, 2017 – Regular Admission Deadline

Eligibility Requirements

All students who meet the Summer Health Professions Education Program eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a college freshman or sophomore at the time of application
• Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5
• Be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or an individual granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Not have previously participated in the program.

Other factors for consideration include that a student:

• Identifies with a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented in the health professions;
• Comes from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background; and/or
• Has demonstrated an interest in issues affecting underserved populations.
• Submits a compelling personal statement, diversity essay, and a strong letter of recommendation.

Submit Application Materials

SHPEP applications will only be reviewed by designated program sites once the National Program Office processes the following materials in accordance with the admissions guidelines:

1. The online SHPEP Application. An AAMC account is required to access the application. Register for an AAMC account only if you do not already have one.
2. One official transcript from every U.S., U.S. Territorial, or Canadian post-secondary institution attended sent directly by the institution’s registrar’s office. Please review the Transcript Requirements section for more information.
3. One letter of recommendation from a qualified reference. Please review the Recommendation Requirements section for more information.

You can use the optional Application Checklist to ensure that you have completed all of the required steps to apply to SHPEP.

Early Admission vs Regular Admission

Early Admission: Applications must be completed on or before February 1.

Regular Admission: Applications must be received by March 1. The postmark date on mailed application materials must be March 1 or earlier, otherwise they will not be processed.

Cycle 2016 Applicants: Check This Out!

AMCAS® Tools and Tutorials

The AAMC American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®) resources, tools and tutorials for pre-med students preparing to apply to medical schools.

Cycle 2016 Application Year Overview: Part I

Thank you to all of you that attended the Cycle 2016 Application Year Overview: Part I presentations last week. We hope you found the presentation informative! 

For those of you that were not able to attend, VIEW THE PRESENTATION to to learn about CYCLE 2016.

Are you "Competent"?

AAMC has developed four categories of Core Competences (Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Thinking and Reasoning, and Science) for entering medical students. Check them out!

A successful applicant to medical school can demonstrate they are excellent in many or all of these core competences. How will you demonstrate in your application to medical schools that you are "Competent"? Think about the activities you have engaged in and the experiences you have gained during your time at Barnard. How can you "show" you are "competent" through these experiences?

Feel like there is room for improvement in a particular area? Good for you! We all have areas to improve upon! This is the perfect time to set a goal(s) for yourself to improve in this area through engagement in an activity (whether its a new one or current) so that you can demonstrate you are a strong applicant and will be a successful medical student and future doctor!