Advising

×

Timing

The timing of your application is critical in terms of how competitive of an applicant you will be both in terms of the cycle you choose to apply in AND the actual time frame in which you submit the application.

When to Apply
Our advice is to apply when you think your application is the strongest. Only you can determine whether or not you have adequate experience to make this decision and if your academic profile and metrics are as strong as you think they can be. We will support you whenever you decide to apply, but do heed the advice of your advisers. We want you to be successful in this endeavor and will support you as strongly as possible based on your portfolio.

When to Submit
Most medical and dental schools work on rolling admissions, which means they begin to accept people as they review applications and conduct interviews. Your goal is to submit the application early in the cycle so that you will be considered in the first wave of applicants and not enter the cycle when offers have already been made. Fewer seats become more competitive. Further, schools that have scholarships begin offering these as they accept applicants, as the cycle progresses fewer scholarships are available as they eventually become expended.

×

Direct Entry

The application process for medical, dental and veterinary programs is one full year in advance of matriculation. This means in order to enroll in one of these programs immediately following your undergraduate experience you have to… 

• Complete the necessary pre-requisite course requirements; 
• Have had the opportunity to explore the profession in a real world setting;
• Take the entrance exam by the beginning of the summer after your junior year

It is not unusual for applicants to be completing the required coursework in the spring semester of the junior year as well as be preparing for and taking the necessary entrance exam in that semester or shortly thereafter.  

If this is your plan, ideally you will begin thinking about your application and test prep methods in the fall semester of the junior year. While there isn’t a lot to do during this time frame it is good to have a plan for how you will approach the process. You’ll likely begin drafting your personal statement over the winter intersession and continue working on it through the spring, however the primary focus during this time will be studying for the entrance exam. 

Keep in mind that you will be in the application process in the senior year which means you could be completing secondary applications in the fall semester and hopefully, you will be attending interviews as early as August and through April. This means you could possibly be flying all over the country or at the very least traveling to in person interviews during your senior year which means you may need to miss classes or other obligations like practices and games if you play sports. Review the application timeline to get a better sense of what will be required. 

×

Considering a Gap Year

If you are planning for entry to a professional school (MD/DO/Dent/Vet) immediately following Bard, keep in mind that you will only have the grades and experiences up until the end of the junior year to include in your application.

Clinical Experience
If you have not had the opportunity to get clinical experience until the spring of your junior year, have little experience or none at all; highly consider waiting until you have had the time to fully explore your field of interest and enter the next cycle with a full portfolio of experience that demonstrates your commitment.

Academics
If your performance in the sciences has not been as strong as you anticipated, strongly consider taking the senior year to improve your academic record. Finishing strong will indicate that you have a facility in the sciences and can handle the rigors of medical school; An upward trajectory is always looked at favorably. If you are graduating, or have been out of school longer, consider Post-Bac Options or taking a class or two to enhance your academic profile. 

Standardized Tests
Keep in mind that you will likely be sitting for a spring MCAT/DAT (April-June) if you have not already taken it. This means that in addition to any coursework you are taking in the spring you will be preparing for the MCAT/DAT. Preparation for the test is like adding another course to your roster so be sure you will have the time to dedicate to studying for it.

Don't do anything to the detriment of your grades. You could potentially retake the test (though you should shoot to take it once!) but once you complete your coursework you cannot change your transcript! If studying for the MCAT/DAT detracts from your attention to your coursework, consider delaying the test and the application so that you can focus on the work that is before you. 

Delaying the test opens up summer test dates where you can prepare for and take the test when you are not in school, or later in the year. 

Interviews
Finally, we hope that you are successful in obtaining interview invitations... while some schools are still conducting virtual interviews since COVID, some have gone back to in-person interview days which means you could be flying all over the country or at the very least traveling to in person interviews during your senior year. Think about what you need/want to accomplish in the senior year and if adding the application process and interview requests will fit well with your schedule.

×

Gap Year(s)

Sometimes it is better to wait a year or more to gain the experience you need to both reality check that this career is a good fit for you and demonstrate to the schools that you know what you are getting yourself into. The only way to know if you will enjoy being a clinician is to work in real world environments that expose you to the day to day activities of the professional you aspire to become. If you need more experience you could apply for a job that allows you to work in an environment that exposes you to healthcare related activities. Explore Handshake for job opportunities and schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss your options.

There are no drawbacks to taking a year or more to gain experience, perhaps simultaneously pursuing something you love that is not related to medicine, before you commit to enrolling in a program. Once you get to medical school you will be committing to study for four years+, after you complete your residency you will likely go into practice, so if you've got something on your bucket list cross it off before you dive into your training. 

Perhaps you would like to enhance your academic record so that your application will be more competitive.  Consider the Post-Bac options that could help you prepare you for a rigorous science program and demonstrate your readiness for it. 

Maybe you want to work for a year or more to save money prior to applying... there are lots of reasons people decide to take a year or more before applying to professional school. As long as you continue to demonstrate your commitment to the field you are pursuing by working or volunteering it is fine, and sometimes encouraged, to take the time  you need prior to entering the application cycle. 

Gap Year Resources
Restarting Your Journey to Medical School

×

MD/PhD-DO/PhD

If you plan to pursue a career as a physician scientist it is critical that you have had enough research experience to fully understand this career path and ensure that it is a good fit for you. While clinical experience is also important, the role of the physician scientist is primarily to conduct research so having a sense of what this looks like and the specific field of study you would like to pursue for the PhD is very important to know at the time of application. 

These programs are very competitive as there are fewer seats available, as such one must demonstrate a commitment to this career path in the application as well as in the interview. If you are interested in pursuing this path immediately following your Bard experience all of the things outlined in the previous tabs must be achieved as well as a strong academic background, strong MCAT scores and the requisite experience in the lab. 

Some applicants choose to take time after the undergraduate experience to gain more research experience prior to applying. Both as a way of solidifying that this path is a good fit and to demonstrate that they are serious about committing to it.