Applying to Health Professions Schools

Application Instructions

Medical School

• Apply early: Medical schools have rolling admissions policies. Submit your (MD) and (D.O.) materials as close to early June as possible. (Note: Texas and offshore schools have their own application processes.) There is no reason to apply in May. August is likely too late. You must have your AMCAS application processed by July 31st to obtain a committee letter.
• Consider applying to about 20-25 schools: Use the (allopathic) and (osteopathic) to help guide your choices. These resources provide acceptance rates for in and out of state applicants, special requirements, test score and GPA ranges, etc. Also consider a ranking guide (e.g., U.S. News or Princeton Review) but remember these are imperfect and incomplete.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.
• Wait for MCAT: It is generally a good idea to wait until you have your MCAT scores in hand to apply. Applying with a poor score can result in an unsuccessful application. However, if you are confident you will score well, you can apply to a few schools on June 1 to start processing your application with AMCAS/AACOMAS.
• Request official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar's office and any other places you took classes to AMCAS/ACCOMAS. Do this as soon as possible. The request form is available in the AMCAS/AACOMAS application and should be sent to the Registrar's office. Do this very early, before anything else.

• Complete the AMCAS (M.D./allopathic)/AACOMAS (D.O./osteopathic) application.
• Start this early, ideally in early May. This is tedious and time consuming but it is important to do a good job. You should be able to use parts of your committee personal statement in crafting your personal statement but these essays are much shorter. You must accept the advisor release for AMCAS/AACOMAS.
If the instructions say to enter your credit hours directly as they appear on your transcript, use course units - this is most typical. If you need to use a conversion: 1 51С�Ƴ� course = 4 credits and scale up as necessary (1.25 courses = 5 credits, etc.). AMCAS asks you to report course units as they appear on your transcript.
• Indicate that your letter will be in the form of a "committee letter" (whether you were recommended or not). For osteopathic (AACOMAS) schools, set a very late "deadline" for letters — we will get the letter in as soon as we can and this deadline is not helpful.
• Enter Miles Cahill as the primary contact. Enter the email address healthprofessions@holycross.edu (NOT Prof. Cahill's direct email). If additional letters will be sent by us, do not list them as "additional authors." We will send them from our office in one electronic packet.
• After you have submitted your applications, complete the to request your committee letter be written (or letter packet sent). This form asks for your final list of schools as well as your AMCAS and/or AACOMAS ID, and MCAT scores. This form also allows you to provide special instructions for certain school requirements. Submit once. Do not submit this form until you have submitted all your graduate applications AND have accepted the advisor release.

• If you have requested additional letters of recommendation to be sent with your committee letter or packet, the deadline for our office to receive them is July 1. Please make sure your letter spreadsheet list is updated and keep in touch with the office and committee advisor about the status of any such letters.
• Fill out secondary applications in a timely manner.
• Regularly inform the Health Professions Advising Office of every interview invitation you receive as well as every school that accepts or rejects you by emailing Prof. Cahill (mcahill@holycross.edu) and healthprofessions@holycross.edu. (Feel free to do this in batches, every few weeks.)
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student.
• Observe the traffic rules, deposit rules, etc., carefully.

Dental School

• Apply early: Dental schools have rolling admissions policies. Submit your materials as close to early June as possible.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.
• Wait for Dental Admission Test (DAT): It is generally a good idea to wait until you have taken your Dental Admission Test to apply. You will receive a preliminary DAT score the day you take the test; you may apply with this preliminary score.
• Complete the AADSAS application. You must accept the advisor release for AADSAS.
• Start this early. This is tedious and time consuming but it is important to do a good job. You should be able to use parts of your autobiography in crafting your personal statement but these essays are much shorter.
• If the instructions say to enter your credit hours directly, use course units. If you need to use a conversion, apply the ratio of 1 51С�Ƴ� course to 4 credits, and scale as needed (1.25 courses = 5 credits, etc.).
• Enter Miles Cahill as the primary contact with the email healthprofessions@holycross.edu (NOT Prof. Cahill's direct email).

• If you have requested additional letters of recommendation to be sent with your committee letter or packet, the deadline for our office to receive them is July 1. Please make sure your letter spreadsheet list is updated and keep in touch with the office and committee advisor about the status of any such letters.
• Request official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar’s Office and any other places you took classes to AADSAS. Do this as soon as possible, before anything else.
• After you submit your applications, complete the to request a committee letter (or packet). This form asks for your list of schools as well as your AADSAS ID, and DAT scores. Submit once. Do not submit this form until you have submitted your graduate applications AND have accepted the advisor release.
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student.>
• Inform the Health Professions Advising Office of every interview invitation you receive as well as every school that accepts or rejects you by emailing Prof. Cahill (mcahill@holycross.edu) and the office (healthprofessions@holycross.edu).

Optometry School

• Apply early: Optometry schools have rolling admissions policies. Submit your materials as close to early June as possible.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.
• Wait for Optometry Admission Test (OAT): It is generally a good idea to wait until you have taken your Optometry Admission Test to apply. You will receive a preliminary OAT score the day you take the test; you may apply with this preliminary score.
• Complete the OptomCAS application. You must accept the advisor release for OptomCAS.
• Start this early. This is tedious and time consuming but it is important to do a good job. You should be able to use parts of your autobiography in crafting your personal statement but these essays are much shorter.
• If the instructions say to enter your credit hours directly, use course units. If you need to use a conversion, apply the ratio of 1 51С�Ƴ� course to 4 credits, and scale as needed (1.25 courses = 5 credits, etc.).
• Enter Miles Cahill as the primary contact with the email healthprofessions@holycross.edu (NOT Prof. Cahill's direct email).

• If you have requested additional letters of recommendation to be sent with your committee letter or packet, the deadline for our office to receive them is July 1. Please make sure your letter spreadsheet list is updated and keep in touch with the office and committee advisor about the status of any such letters.
• Request official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar’s Office and any other places you took classes to OPTOMCAS. Do this as soon as possible, before anything else.
• After you submit your applications, complete the to request a committee letter (or packet). This form asks for your list of schools as well as your OPTOMCAS ID, and OAT scores. Submit once. Do not submit this form until you have submitted your graduate applications AND have accepted the advisor release.
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student.>
• Inform the Health Professions Advising Office of every interview invitation you receive as well as every school that accepts or rejects you by emailing Prof. Cahill (mcahill@holycross.edu) and the office (healthprofessions@holycross.edu).

Veterinary School

• Veterinary schools generally do not have rolling admissions policies which gives you more time. Submit your materials well ahead of the deadline. Request your committee letter in the summer if at all possible.
• Complete the VMCAS application.
• Complete the application separately from VMCAS.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.

• Send official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar’s Office and any other places you took classes to VMCAS. Do this as soon as possible.
• Complete the to request your committee letter/packet. This asks for your list of schools as well as your GRE scores. Submit once. Do not submit this form until you have submitted your graduate applications AND have accepted the advisor release.
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student.
• Inform the Health Professions Advising Office of every interview invitation you receive as well as every school that accepts or rejects you by emailing Prof. Cahill (mcahill@holycross.edu) and the office healthprofessions@holycross.edu.

Nursing School

• Apply early: Nurse practitioner schools often have rolling admissions policies. Submit your materials to individual schools as early as possible. However, as nursing programs have different start dates (August, January, June, etc.), program deadlines vary considerably.
• There is a new centralized application service for nursing programs () but not all nursing schools use it. You may need to apply to each school individually.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.
• Consult with your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor about which letters you should solicit.
• Send individual school or NursingCAS letter of reference request links to your references (one may be your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor if you ask in advance).
• Send official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar’s Office and any other places you took classes to the nursing schools. Do this as soon as possible.
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student. After the application cycle is over, please send us a list of the schools you applied to and the result (matriculated, accepted, interviewed, rejected) at each.

Pharmacy School

• Apply early: Pharmacy schools have rolling admissions policies. Submit your materials as early as possible.
• Complete the PharmCAS application.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.
• Consult with your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor about which letters you should solicit.
• Send PharmCAS letter of reference request links to your references (one may be your 51С�Ƴ� HP advisor if you arrange it ahead of time). Schools vary in letter requirements. Some will accept a committee letter, some will accept letters from PharmCAS and others require letters to be sent directly to schools. Consult individual school websites and follow instructions carefully.
• Request official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar’s Office and any other places you took classes to PharmCAS. Do this as soon as possible.
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student. After the application cycle is over, please send us a list of the schools you applied to and the result (matriculated, accepted, interviewed, rejected) at each.

Physical Therapy School

• Apply early: Physical therapy schools have rolling admissions policies. Submit your materials as close to early July as possible.
• Complete the PTCAS application.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.
• Consult with your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor about which letters you should solicit.
• Send PTCAS letter of reference request links to your references (one may be your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor).
• Complete the P.T. hours section of PTCAS so your observation hours can be verified.
• Request official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar’s Office and any other places you took classes to PTCAS. Do this as soon as possible.
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student. After the application cycle is over, please send us a list of the schools you applied to and the result (matriculated, accepted, interviewed, rejected) at each.

Physician Associate School

• Apply early: Physician associate schools (formerly "physician assistant") have rolling admissions policies. Submit your materials as early as possible. However, as P.A. programs have different start dates (August, January, June, etc.), program deadlines vary considerably. .
• Complete the CASPA application.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.
• Consult with your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor about which letters you should solicit.
• Send CASPA letter of reference request links to your references (one may be your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor and the other references).
• Request official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar’s Office and any other places you took classes to CASPA. Do this as soon as possible.
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student. After the application cycle is over, please send us a list of the schools you applied to and the result (matriculated, accepted, interviewed, rejected) at each.

Other Schools

• Take the entrance exam early. Some schools require an entrance exam (e.g. OPT for optometry), some require the GRE, and some do not require a standardized test at all. Take the exam early enough so you can evaluate the scores before you apply.
• Apply early: Many schools have rolling admissions policies. Submit your materials as early as possible for programs with rolling admissions.
• Most schools have their own applications. Some schools have centralized application services. Follow instructions carefully.

• If you plan to apply to any schools with situational judgement tests (CASPer or PREview), schedule those as soon as possible.
• Consult with your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor about which letters you should solicit.
• Send letter of reference request links or forms to your references (one may be your 51С�Ƴ� health professions advisor)
• Request official transcripts from 51С�Ƴ� Registrar's Office and any other places you took classes to be sent to schools. Do this as soon as possible.
• Periodically review the list of schools where you have open applications or acceptances. After you are accepted at a school, if there are other schools you will definitely not go to, please withdraw your application to open up a spot for another student.
• After the application cycle is over, please send us a list of the schools you applied to and the result (matriculated, accepted, interviewed, rejected) at each.

51С�Ƴ�

In This Section