After AMCAS sends your Primary Application to your designated medical schools, the medical schools generally request supplemental information. This constitutes the Secondary Application. Check the medical schools to which you are applying to identify their Secondary Application practices. Generally, most medical schools follow up by requesting the Secondary Application from all applicants to their school. As the Secondary Application gets underway, each medical school will have a distinctive process, but generally it involves three deliverables by you which are outlined here.
REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, INCLUDING THE COMMITTEE LETTER
You should have on file in the Pre-Medical Advisory Office a portfolio of letters accumulated during your undergraduate program. Use the "Forms" link to request a Pre-Medical Advisory Committee Letter. Identify the medical schools to which you authorize the release of your letters of recommendation.
WRITE AND SUBMIT THE SCHOOL SPECIFIC PERSONAL ESSAYS
Each medical school will have a unique set of personal essay questions for you to write and submit. The types of questions you might expect may be general, for example, "What medical speciality do you intend to pursue?" or specific, like "Why are you interested in applying to our school?" Focus on writing effective, concise essays and check carefully your grammar and spelling. Pay attention to deadlines. If you need help, the University offers support in various ways which you can identify under the "CALENDAR" link here or by going to Northeastern's Career Services.
There are also commercial services and online help available to support your essay writting process. You might want to look at The Student Doctor Network which offers "Essay Statement Workshop 101", for example. They support, in addition to the various types of medical school essays, the essays required by dental, veterinary, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry, and psychology applications.
PAY THE APPLICATION FEE
Each school will have a fee for the Secondary Application and will direct you regarding payment.
Once all the requests from each medical school have been completed and filed, the Secondary Application is complete. Be sure you monitor requests for further information or clarifications. Now you wait for the final step -- being called for an Interview -- prior to medical schools making a decision on your application.
