Applying to Medical & Health Profession Schools
Before starting the medical and health professions school process, it is important to make sure you have explored the field, prepared yourself academically and personally, and successfully demonstrated the 15 Core Competencies medical schools are looking for. We also recommend meeting with a Prehealth Advisor prior to applying so that you are aware of the various requirements and recommendations necessary to submit a strong application! If you have a quick question or need just-in-time advice, join a virtual Prehealth Advising Drop-In Session or email prehealth@mit.edu.
Prehealth Advising Credential Service & Committee Letter Process
Prehealth Advising sends MIT applicants letters of recommendations to medical and health professions schools for you. To do this, we offer a credential service where you will have each of your recommenders upload their letters and they will be stored. The earliest you can your recommenders upload their letters is early February. If you are applying this coming cycle (by June 30th of a given year), you can find the timeline for when recommenders can begin uploading their letters and the deadline here.
We also recommend MIT undergraduates and alumni request a committee letter, written by MIT faculty on the Committee on Prehealth Advising (COPA), to be included in your packet of letters of recommendation. MIT Prehealth Advising will only submit a committee letter twice on your behalf.
Here’s what to do next if you are applying in the next cycle (by June 30th):
Review the COPA timeline
The MIT Committee on Prehealth Advising (COPA) timeline provides a month-by-month guide to your medical/health profession school prep and application process. You can also learn more about the Prehealth Credential Service.
Request a COPA letter
The Committee on Prehealth Advising (COPA), made up of MIT faculty and prehealth staff, can write a committee letter to accompany your application. These letters strengthen your application, give a comprehensive view of you as an applicant, and highlight important material from your letters of recommendation.
Write your personal statement
Each health profession school asks for a 4,000-6,000-character essay on your motivations for applying. Each school’s and degree’s requirements will be slightly different, but these best practices will guide you for any personal statement.
Research and select schools
Decide which medical or health profession schools make sense for you by researching schools and identifying programs that are a good fit. Start researching schools and programs as early as possible, but no later than the spring semester before you apply.
Apply to your program
You’re now ready to apply for your chosen medical / health professional program! If you’re submitting an AMCAS application, read these frequently asked questions. Applying for another program? Reach out to us with your questions.
