AMCAS Update
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) Update
As per the website you may begin submitting your AMCAS application effective yesterday, June 4 at 9:30 a.m. Early is good, but error free is better…
AMCAS letter Pilot (21 Schools)
If you are applying to any of the schools listed here you will need to do the following:
           - Complete Section # 6 of the AMCAS ApplicationÂ
           - Indicate in your AMCAS application that your letters will be in the form of a “Committee Letter/Letter Packet”
           - Enter “Elizabeth Morsheimer” as the “Primary Author/Contact”
           - As the Committee packet contains multiple other letters (4-7), it is NOT necessary for you to list those letter writers in the “Additional Authors” section of the AMCAS letters tab.
           - You will be provided with a printable form containing an AMCAS letter ID. Our office in 109 Norton Hall NEEDS this form OR simply the Letter ID sent to us via email. You can send this to Jinny Majewski at vmajewsk@buffalo.edu or drop the form off to 109 Norton Hall.
Posted May 17, 2008 in Medical Updates, Getting Ready to Apply
Key AMCAS Dates for 2009 Application
As many of you are aware, the American Medical College Application Services (AMCAS) opened May 14 at 9:30 a.m.Â
AMCAS is predicting that you will not be able to submit your application at least until June 4.Â
AMCAS applications will then be transmitted to US medical colleges beginning June 24.Â
However, in years past, you may still get prompted to submit secondary applications to individual medical schools before June 24. We would suggest you “turn around” those applications in approximately 1-2 weeks time.
Posted May 17, 2008 in Medical Updates
2009 AMCAS Application
The 2009 American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) MD school application opened at 9:30 am ET today, May 14. Remember that you want to submit an error-free, complete application. If you are unsure as to whether to submit your AMCAS prior to knowing your MCAT score results, please make an appointment by calling (716) 645-6013.
Posted May 14, 2008 in Medical Updates, Getting Ready to Apply
Criminal Background Check (CBC) Update
As per the American Medical College Application Services (AMCAS) on Thursday, May 15 some of the medical schools participating in the AAMC-facilitated Criminal Background Check (CBC) pilot will begin requesting background checks for applicants who are currently on their waiting lists, and AMCAS wants to make certain that applicants *do not misinterpret* the email requests they receive from Certiphi Screening, Inc. to suggest that they have been accepted to a medical school.
Background information:
Medical schools can request background checks in one of two instances:
1)Â Â Â If they have accepted an applicant
2)   Beginning on May 15 of the year of matriculation, if the applicant appears on that school’s waiting list.
The waiting list option exists in order to reduce the time it takes for an applicant to move from a waiting list to an acceptance, should that occur. Medical schools do not receive a copy of the background report until an applicant has been accepted. Up to the point of this Thursday, May 15, every communication from Certiphi Screening, Inc. to an applicant requesting consent did represent an acceptance. However, this will change beginning this Thursday, May 15.
For the 2008 entering class, the following medical schools have agreed to participate in order to assist the AAMC with this new endeavor:
Boston University School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
University of Colorado School of Medicine
University of Medicine and Dentistry, NJ
University of Mississippi Medical School
University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
University of Toledo College of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Posted May 12, 2008 in Medical Updates
Article Released: U.S. Medical School Enrollment Projected to Rise
U.S. Medical School Enrollment Projected to Rise 21 Percent by 2012
Both New and Existing Schools Will Fuel Growth
For Immediate Release News Release
Washington, D.C., May 1, 2008—An annual survey on medical school expansion, released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), indicates that first-year enrollment in U.S. medical schools is estimated to grow 21 percent (3,400 students per year) by 2012 to 19,900 students. Edward Salsberg, director of the association’s Center for Workforce Studies, presented the survey results during his opening remarks to kick off the 2008 AAMC Physician Workforce Research Conference in Crystal City, Va.
According to the survey, more than 86 percent of existing schools have already expanded the number of first-year students or plan to do so within the next five years. In addition, nine new medical schools are under development or discussion, according to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which accredits medical education programs leading to an M.D. degree. The AAMC estimates that almost 800 first-year students will attend these new schools in the academic year 2012-13, based on future enrollment figures.
“Ensuring an adequate supply of U.S. physicians is essential for our nation’s health. This projected enrollment increase will help alleviate a future shortage of physicians, although we recognize it is just one part of what must be a comprehensive solution,” said AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. “As more medical school slots become open, this is an excellent time to consider a career in medicine.”
The AAMC Center for Workforce Studies conducted the fourth annual survey of 126 medical school deans in the fall of 2007 to track enrollment and expansion plans over time. A total of 115 schools completed the survey. The information provided by the schools was compared to the baseline academic year of 2002-03, when first-year enrollment totaled 16,448 students.
Survey results indicate that total first-year enrollment in existing U.S. medical schools is projected to increase by 2,635 students (16 percent) by 2012. Public institutions are expected to supply 1,821 of these new enrollment slots (69 percent), and 814 (31 percent) will come from private institutions.
The annual survey of U.S. medical schools is conducted by the AAMC Center for Workforce Studies as part of the association’s ongoing effort to monitor and analyze physician supply and demand.
For a copy of the AAMC 2007 survey on medical school expansion plans, please click on the link.
The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available here.
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Posted May 5, 2008 in Medical Updates, Current Issues
2009-2010 MSAR Available
The latest Medical School Admission Requirement Guide from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is now available. You may click on the link above to purchase.Â
Posted April 14, 2008 in Important Deadlines/Dates, Medical Updates, Getting Ready to Apply
AMCAS 2009 Resources
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) 2009 Resources
Many of the AMCAS 2009 resources to help guide you through the application process for MD admission are now available by clicking on the above link. Â
However, as many have been rolled over from 2008, the date of 2008 is still present on some documents. We will contact AMCAS regarding this.Â
Remember that the AMCAS application for 2009 admission is expected to be available on or around May 6, 2008.Â
**EARLY AND ERROR FREE SUBMISSIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**
Posted April 4, 2008 in Important Deadlines/Dates, Medical Updates, Getting Ready to Apply
Osteopathic Medical School Applications Reach Record High
Applications to U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) have already reached record highs again this year, with many applications yet to be received before the mid-April deadline. The application numbers reflect a six-year period during which several new osteopathic medical schools have been built and thousands of additional potential medical students have applied to enter one of the fastest-growing health care sectors.
Some 11,650 individuals are hoping to fill one of the 4,462 total fall 2008 seats available at the nation’s 25 COMs and their branch campuses, compared with last year’s record-setting 11,459. The growth represents an increase of more than 4 percent over this point in the application cycle last year.
from Inside OME, March 7, 2008
Posted April 1, 2008 in Medical Updates, Current Issues, Osteopathic Items
National Residency Match Day
U.S. Med School Seniors Have Most Successful Match Day in 30 years
U.S. medical school seniors celebrated Match Day on Thursday, March 20. More than 94 percent of seniors who applied for residencies this year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) were paired with a program of their choice-the highest percentage in more than three decades. In fact, 84.6 percent of those seniors matched to one of their top three program choices.
The 2008 Match was also the largest ever. Overall, 28,737 applicants vied for one of 22,240 first-year residency positions–the most applicants in history.
A record-high 15, 242 of those applicants were U.S. medical school seniors.
The number of first-year residency positions available through the Match was also the highest in history; 395 additional positions were added this year.
For the full article, please click on the link.Â
from AAMC Stat, March 24, 2008
