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Application timelines for medical and dental school

When applying to medical school or dental school, timing is critical. Here is the general application timeline you should follow your application year (18 months before you begin medical/dental school; typically junior year):

  • January: Though having your letters of recommendation in is not part of submitting these primary applications, most of the information in your letter packet will help you with the primary applications. We recommend starting your letter of recommendation packet and personal statement in January of your application year (usually junior year).
    • Students using the College of Health Sciences LOR Service, please visit the CHS LOR page to download and begin your packet.
    • Students using the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences LOR Service, please stop by Sensenbrenner Hall, Suite 103 to pick up your packet.
  • March/April: Make sure to complete and turn in your letter packet to your pre-health office. This includes having contacted all your letter writers to ensure they are willing to write you strong letters.
  • April: Attend the “How to Apply" to medical and dental school workshops given by the Marquette pre-health advisers.
  • Advising week/fall registration: Review the course requirements, one more time, for all the schools where you are applying to see if any of these schools have additional math, upper-level science or social science requirements. Discuss any remaining requirements with your pre-health adviser.
  • May-July: Take the MCAT or DAT. Most students will have this completed in early summer.
  • Early to mid-June: You should have your entire primary application submitted via AMCAS, AACOMAS or AADSAS. We strongly recommended that you do not submit later than the first week of July.
  • July: Letter packets are typically uploaded from our services in late July and early August.
  • July-August:
    • Pre-medical students: Work on and complete secondary applications that are sent to you by individual medical schools. These applications will usually have additional essay questions and there will be secondary application fees. Once this is submitted, medical schools will begin the process of evaluating your completed application (fees, verified AMCAS/AACOMAS application, recommendation letters, MCAT scores and secondary applications).
    • Pre-dental students: After you submit the centralized AADSAS application, you should review the Dental School Supplemental Information file on the AADSAS we site. These school-specific supplemental applications will often have additional essay questions and request an additional fee. Dental schools will review your application only after they have received all documentation: your verified AADSAS application, DAT scores, supplemental applications and fees, and recommendation letters).
  • August-March: Interview at medical and dental schools. Schools with a rolling admission process will send out acceptances as early as mid-October.