A complete guide to applying to American MD and DO medical programmes — from MCAT prep to AMCAS and beyond.
Medicine in the US is a graduate-entry only profession. You must first complete an undergraduate degree (typically 4 years) before applying to a 4-year MD or DO programme. This means most US doctors begin their clinical training in their mid-to-late twenties.
There are two types of medical degree in the US:
Offered by allopathic (traditional) medical schools. Highly competitive. AMCAS is the central application system for most MD schools.
Offered by osteopathic schools. Equivalent scope of practice to MDs. Applied through AACOMAS. Slightly less competitive on average but growing in prestige.
MD vs DO: Both lead to full medical licensure in the US. Most residency programmes now accept both. DO programmes add osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) to the curriculum.
3–4 year undergraduate degree required (pre-med coursework)
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
AMCAS (MD) or AACOMAS (DO)
4 years (post-bacc MD/DO)
$60,000–$100,000+ per year
3–7 year residency required for licensure
Limited — many schools US-citizens only
The MCAT is the universal requirement. Some schools may also look at GRE scores, but the MCAT is standard.
The MCAT tests biological and biochemical sciences, chemistry and physics, critical analysis and reasoning, and psychology/sociology. Unlike the UCAT, it requires extensive scientific knowledge — expect 300–350 hours of preparation.
| Score | Percentile | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 517–528 | 95th+ | Top schools |
| 511–516 | 80th–95th | Strong |
| 505–510 | 60th–80th | Competitive |
| Below 505 | <60th | Challenging |
The MCAT is offered approximately 30 times per year between January and September. Most applicants sit in March–May to have scores ready for June applications.
You may sit the MCAT up to 3 times per year and 7 times total. All scores are reported to schools.
The US cycle runs roughly June–March for matriculation the following August.
Most applicants prepare 3–6 months. Aim to sit in January–April of your application year.
Score results take ~1 month. You need scores before submitting AMCAS.
The primary application opens in early May and can be submitted from late May/early June. Submit as early as possible — rolling admissions heavily favours early applicants.
Transmit AMCAS as soon as your MCAT scores are available. Every week of delay reduces your chances at rolling-admissions schools.
Schools send secondary application invitations. Most require additional essays. Respond within 2 weeks.
Interview invitations arrive on a rolling basis. MMI and traditional panel formats are both used.
Offers are made on a rolling basis from October. Some schools hold waitlists until May.
You must commit to one school by April 30 or your offers may be rescinded.
Medical school begins, typically in late July or August.
Rolling admissions is real. Submitting your AMCAS application in August vs June can genuinely cost you interviews. The earliest applicants have significantly higher acceptance rates at many schools.
Most MD schools require: 1 year Biology, 1 year General Chemistry, 1 year Organic Chemistry, 1 year Physics, 1 year English/Writing, plus Biochemistry (strongly recommended). Check each school's requirements.
Medical schools look at both overall GPA and science GPA (BCPM: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math). A competitive science GPA is typically 3.7+ for top schools, 3.5+ for most.
US schools expect meaningful clinical exposure — shadowing physicians, patient contact hours, and ideally some research experience. Document hours carefully.
Most schools require 3 letters: typically 2 science faculty and 1 physician/clinical supervisor. Build relationships early.
Includes: personal statement (5,300 characters), activities list (15 entries, 150 chars each), work/research/clinical hours, honours and awards.
Most schools send secondaries to all verified applicants. Write compelling, school-specific essays — don't recycle the same answers.
Both MMI and traditional panel interviews are used. Know your application thoroughly; US interviewers probe personal statement claims closely.
Important: The majority of US MD medical schools do not accept international (non-US-citizen/permanent resident) applicants. This is a significant barrier. Always verify international applicant eligibility directly with each school before investing preparation time.
A minority of US schools consider international applicants — typically larger state schools or those with specific international pipelines. Research thoroughly using MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements).
Osteopathic (DO) schools are generally more open to international applicants than allopathic MD schools. If you're set on the US, include DO schools in your list.
Several Canadian medical schools (particularly in Quebec) are more accessible to international applicants and lead to North American-compatible qualifications.
Several accredited Caribbean schools accept international students with the goal of US residency. Research accreditation status carefully — quality varies enormously.
Visa consideration: International students will require an F-1 student visa. Residency match (after medical school) is significantly more competitive for international graduates. Factor this into your long-term planning.