You’ve submitted (or are about to submit) your primary application through AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) – congratulations, that’s a huge step! Next, expect a waiting period as AMCAS reviews and verifies your application.
You’ve probably heard of the AMCAS verification process but aren’t sure what it all involves. And, even more likely, you’re ready to move forward to your secondaries and probably wondering, “How long does AMCAS verification take?”
I’ll break down the timeline based on the average time it takes. I’ll also share a pro tip on how you can potentially speed up the process. Plus, if you’re feeling stuck on pause as you wait for verification, keep reading to learn how you can take advantage of this time.
This post is all about answering how long does AMCAS verification take.
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Premed Question: How Long Does AMCAS Verification Take?
What is AMCAS Verification?
After you submit your primary application, AMCAS checks and confirms all the nitty-gritty details of your application against your official transcripts and other documents. This process includes going through your academic history, transcripts, coursework details, and any other information you’ve provided in your AMCAS application to double-check that everything matches up correctly.
Honesty is a non-negotiable in your application. Medical schools expect applicants to be transparent and truthful in all their materials. If it’s discovered that you’ve provided incorrect or misleading information, it could seriously jeopardize your chances of moving forward in the application process, possibly resulting in disqualification.
Why is Verification Necessary?
It may seem like a pain and just another obstacle on your path to medical school, but verification actually has its merits. So, if you’re impatient as you wait to hear back, keep these reasons in mind.
- Medical schools heavily rely on the accuracy of the information in your AMCAS application to make their admissions decisions. If there are any discrepancies or missing info, it could potentially impact your chances of getting in.
- The verification process also helps to maintain a level playing field for everyone since all applicants get evaluated using the same criteria.
- And, finally, verification upholds the integrity of the medical school admissions system by preventing fraudulent activities so that only qualified individuals are admitted to medical school.
How Long Does AMCAS Verification Take?
Typically, your primary AMCAS application will take about 4-6 weeks to be verified. If you submit your application early, like in the first few days of submission’s opening, it might zip through in less than four weeks. But if you wait and submit it during the peak of application processing, you may have to wait up to six to eight weeks – yikes!
AMCAS starts the verification process as soon as they receive your application and works on it until everything is verified and complete. You can keep tabs on the status of your application through the AMCAS application status page.
How long the verification process takes can vary based on factors like the volume of applications being processed, the completeness of your application, and any issues that may come up during the verification process.
If your application contains any discrepancies, AMCAS might send it back for you to make corrections and then resubmit it. However, if all is in order or once it’s good to go, it will be sent to the medical schools you selected.
How Applying Early Can Shorten the Turnaround
Submitting your AMCAS application as early as possible puts it at the front of the line for verification. When I applied to medical school, I submitted my AMCAS application within the first week of the cycle opening. As a result, my verification process took less than 21 days.
Quick, right? On the other hand, if you procrastinate and submit later in the cycle, you might end up waiting the full 4-6 weeks for verification.
By getting ahead of the game and submitting early, you give yourself a competitive edge. You’ll be among the first batch of applications that schools review, potentially increasing your chances of acceptance.
Learn more about why applying early can be so valuable in my Free Premed Workshop!
Avoid Verification Delays by Double-Checking Your Primary Application
When filling out your application, provide accurate and complete information to help minimize the chances of delays or discrepancies during the verification process. So, look over everything extra, extra closely before hitting submit to avoid any delays. Remember, you can only correct or change your application if AMCAS sends it back to you for corrections.
The following tips can help speed up the verification process and avoid unnecessary delays.
- Fill out the coursework section carefully. When entering courses from multiple schools, use your official transcript as a guide to avoid errors. Mistakes here can slow down the verification process.
- Request transcripts correctly. Transcripts are a common cause of delays. Make sure to send transcripts from each of your previous post-secondary schools.
- Post-submission edits. Double-check your application before submitting it, as you’ll have limited chances to make changes after hitting submit. You can add MCAT scores, letters of evaluation and a full school list later, but other changes may be restricted.
- Reapplying? Update everything! If you applied before, all previous information will carry over. However, you’ll need to submit any new transcripts and letters of evaluation. Review your application thoroughly to catch any mistakes before resubmitting.
If the verification process uncovers incorrect or incomplete information, don’t panic! Yes, it will cause a delay. However, AMCAS typically gives applicants a chance to set things right by providing additional documentation or explanations. Unfortunately, once you make the necessary changes and send it back, the verification process starts all over again.
To avoid any hiccups along the way, always be honest and thorough in your application. Providing misleading information could jeopardize your chances of getting into medical school. You may be able to appeal the decision, but that process could drag on and seriously hurt your ability to apply on time or at all.
How to Best Spend the Time as You Wait
You’ve checked and double-checked and sent your primary application out for verification. After taking a moment to celebrate this milestone, next turn your attention back to any unfinished tasks. So, what can you take care of in the meantime?
Take the MCAT (If you haven’t yet)
You don’t need your score before you submit your primary application, but you absolutely need it before submitting your secondary applications. Having your MCAT score ready to go will prevent unnecessary delays in the application process.
If you could use tips and guidance on what is the perfect timing for you, go to my blog post When Should You Take the MCAT? to get clarity!
Research and Create a School List
Take advantage of the waiting period to research different medical schools, their programs, and their requirements. To greatly enhance your chances, I highly recommend putting a specific focus on their data on accepted students based on the GPA and MCAT range, as well as potential residency bias. Then, make a comprehensive school list that aligns with your stats, preferences and goals.
Wouldn’t it be such a relief to already have a whole spreadsheet at hand including all MD schools in the US with their accepted ranges of MCAT scores, GPA as well as any data on residency bias – so that you can easily filter for your stats? That’s exactly the kind of magic tool you will find in Build a Rock Solid School List!
On top, I share all the hidden factors no one ever talks about so that you won’t regret your choices later! The best part? It not only saves you hours over hours of research, the tips and strategies in this course can also save you hundreds of dollars for not applying to the wrong schools.
Prewrite Secondaries
Start preparing and revising your secondary applications in advance so that when you receive them, you can quickly return them. A good strategy is to aim to submit your secondaries within two weeks after you receive them to stay on track and not fall behind on any important deadlines.
When I went through my secondary applications, I managed to submit 28 applications within just a few days of receiving them! One factor that was a big help? Staying super organized in the process, for which I used this spreadsheet:
Also, take a proactive approach by looking up all the prompts for the schools you plan to apply to in advance so you can start brainstorming and outlining your essays even before verification is complete. You can set a goal of completing a certain number of essays each week to stay ahead of the game and be prepared to submit your secondary applications early once they start rolling in.
Manage Letters of Recommendation
While it would be ideal for all your letter writers to submit their recommendations by June 1st, be prepared for potential delays. Keep in touch with your letter writers, gently reminding them of the deadlines. If you encounter any issues, be proactive in finding solutions, and don’t wait for them to take action.
Check the Status of Your Application
To see where your application stands, hop onto the AMCAS website and click on the “Details” link in the main menu. It’s that simple! Keeping an eye on it regularly can help you plan your next steps.
How Soon After Verification Do Secondary Applications Start Arriving?
After AMCAS verifies your application, your primary application gets sent out to the medical schools you’ve selected. Typically, you can expect to start receiving secondary applications from these schools about two to four weeks after they receive your verified primary application.
So, once your application is verified and sent out, keep an eye on your inbox for those secondary applications. I recommend that you start working on them as soon as you receive them to stay on top of the application process. Plus, getting them back quickly shows your interest in the schools you’ve applied to.
Bottom Line on AMCAS Verification Timeline
While the exact amount of time you have to wait for your AMCAS verification can vary based on factors like submission timing and application complexity, it typically takes about 4-6 weeks during the average application period. If you want a quicker turnaround on verification, submit your application as early as possible.
Remember to double-check all your information before submitting it to minimize the chances of errors that could slow down verification. Stay patient and proactive by monitoring your application status regularly. And while you wait, take care of additional loose ends and get ahead by prewriting your secondaries. Waiting up to six weeks may feel like a long time, but it’ll go by quickly if you make the most of your time. Plus, if you apply early, it may only take half the time. Good luck with your medical school application journey!
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