About Applying
Students
who wish to enter school in the health professions directly
after graduation should apply during the summer between
their junior and senior years of college. General meetings
are held for prospective applicants during the fall
of junior year; these meetings provide detailed instructions
about the Premedical
Advisory Committee Pre-Application as well as other
procedures and timelines. Although the application process
will not formally begin until the junior year, students
should prepare for graduate school in the health professions
throughout their undergraduate careers.
When to apply?
Students should plan to apply to professional schools
when they are ready to present the strongest application.
When considering their options, students should choose
the best time for them. If students elect to apply after
graduating from college, they are NOT at a disadvantage
when compared with other applicants.
Many students choose to apply to medical school after
they have graduated from college for a number of reasons.
Some start premedical courses later in their undergraduate
careers; some wish to improve upon the grades they received
as undergraduates; some need to retake the MCAT; some
students still feel uncertain about whether or not they're
ready for medical school; and others want to take time
to make money, conduct research, travel, or perform
public service. Because medical school is a rigorous
and high-pressure course of study and because it is
expensive, it often discourages students from casually
pursuing a medical degree. Medical schools have absolutely
no bias against older applicants; in fact, the average
entering age of first-year medical students is 25. Many
students will present much more impressive applications
if they wait until after graduation to apply.
Remember, it is better to take the time to build a
stronger application than to apply prematurely. A rejection
will always remain on your record. Another reason to
make a careful and well-informed decision about your
application timing is that the application process requires
a great deal of investment, in terms of time, money,
and hard work.
Columbia will, of course, assist students in the application
process whenever they choose to apply.
When students have decided that they are ready to apply,
timing is very important. Most professional schools
have rolling admissions, and it is to a student’s
distinct advantage to be considered early in the admissions
process. Do not wait for deadlines!
National Trends
The medical profession waxes and wanes in popularity.
Over the past decade, the number of medical school applicants
increased nationally, then it decreased for a number
of years and now it is back on the rise Nonetheless,
a high percentage of applicants from Columbia gain admission
to medical schools each year. Broadly-educated applicants
and applicants who have been involved in life as well
as books present very competitive applications for spots
at medical schools.
For additional information about applicant trends,
please refer to the charts
produced by the American Association of Medical Colleges.
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