Applying to Med/PA School
MD vs. DO Applications: What are the Differences and What You Should Keep in Mind When Applying
About Marissa
Marissa is a recent graduate of Clemson University where she received her B.S. in Health Sciences. During the summer of 2019, Marissa participated in the Atlantis shadowing program in Trento, Italy, and now works as an Alumni Representative with the company. She is currently applying to medical school where she hopes to become a primary care physician.
Applying to medical school can often be a confusing process. As a pre-med who is struggling to write secondary applications, I can tell you from experience that it is tough trying to figure out what schools to apply to. Should I only apply to MD schools? Should I only apply to DO schools? Should I apply to both? When should I apply? Believe me, I have worried my way through these questions time and time again.
The good news is, I worried so that you don’t have to! Below is a breakdown that I made to help me understand the difference in the MD and DO application process so that I was more than ready for my application cycle.
How do I start the application process?
The first thing to note is that MD and DO schools have separate application processes. If you are planning to apply to MD schools, you will access your primary application through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), a centralized application service under the guidance of the AAMC. AMCAS is responsible for collecting, verifying, and delivering application information and MCAT exam scores to each MD school you choose. AMCAS is not able to make admissions decisions. Note: if you are interested in applying to an MD program at a public medical school in Texas, you will apply through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDAS).
If you are planning to apply to DO schools, you will access your primary application through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). Similar to AMCAS, AACOMAS simplifies the process of applying to DO schools.
How much does it cost?
For the current application cycle, the AMCAS processing fee is $170 and includes one medical school designation. Additional school designations are $42 each.
Additionally, the AACOMAS charges $197 for the first program you apply to and $48 for each additional program.
Note: the prices listed above are only for primary applications accessed through AMCAS or AACOMAS. While only some DO programs have additional supplemental fees, every MD school you choose to apply to will include a supplemental fee that ranges in cost.
It is also important to keep in mind that there are other costs that you are expected to pay throughout your premedical journey – such as the MCAT exam and preparation materials, transcript fees, the CASPer exam (if your school requests it), and other travel expenses required to interview. Applying to medical school is a costly process. You can look into Fee Assistance Programs (FAPs) for both MD and DO schools and see if you qualify for financial aid. This can help alleviate some of the financial burden as you apply.
What is the timeline for applying?
The AMCAS applications typically open during the first week of May each year for the following year’s medical school class. Since you are not able to submit your completed primary application until the first week of June, you have about four weeks to work on your application before submitting. I recommend sending your transcripts as early as possible, as this tends to be what delays primary applications from getting verified and sent to the MD schools you selected.
For specific application dates and deadlines by MD school, click here.
Similarly, AACOMAS applications open around the first week of May and can not be submitted until the second week of June. Again, this means that you have plenty of time to work on your application if you start it as early as possible.
How do I choose the right medical school for me?
There are a few ways that you can go about doing this. First, I recommend checking out this comprehensive article from Atlantis that directly compares and contrasts the differences between MD and DO school programs. Additionally, you can click here for the average GPA and MCAT scores for every medical school. You want to be as competitive an applicant as possible, so selecting schools (whether they are MD or DO) where you are a strong candidate is important to keep in mind.
Lastly, you want to see if the passions in medicine you possess (such as research, community service, or dual degree programs) align with the opportunities that the school provides. If you are unsure what you are interested in, there are extracurricular opportunities that can provide you exposure, such as Atlantis shadowing programs over school breaks. At the end of the day, you should apply to the schools that you believe will make you the best physician you can be!
Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools
John Daines
- Atlantis '17
- Brigham Young University '19
- Washington U. in St. Louis MD '23
Zoey Petitt
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '18
- Duke MD '23
Zoey Petitt
Hungary ’17 || University of Arizona (undergraduate) ’18
Completed Atlantis Program Location and Date:
Hungary, Summer 2017
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
I believe it was very helpful.
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
For me, my Atlantis experience played a key role in confirming my decision to go into medicine. This was important for me to discuss during the admissions process.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews?
Yes
Yong-hun Kim
- Atlantis '17
- Stanford '19
- Mayo Clinic MD '24
Yong-Hun Kim
Budapest, Hungary ’17 || Stanford University
Program:
Budapest, Hungary – Winter 2017
Undergraduate:
Stanford University class of 2019
Major:
Computer Science
Honors:
Bio-X Grant (award for research)
Undergraduate Activities:
President and Founder of Stanford Undergraduate Hospice and Palliative Care, Volunteer for Pacific Free Clinic, Research Assistant in Wernig Pathology Lab, President of Hong Kong Student Association, violin performance
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Eye-opening. Spontaneous. Exhilarating.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I chose the Atlantis program because it combines opportunities to shadow physicians and travel abroad, both of which I had little prior exposure to.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
My favorite experience as an Atlantis participant came in the stories exchanged over meals or excursions and the breadth of conversation that reflected the diversity of backgrounds within our cohort and site managers.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I appreciated the chance to speak with physicians in Budapest and hear their personal motivations for pursuing medicine because it really helped better contextualize and validate my own interest in medicine. The physicians were also just really welcoming, relatable, and down-to-earth people.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
The Atlantis program has equipped me with a better understanding of what a career in medicine looks like, which I think is an invaluable gift considering the long road ahead of those who aspire to be a physician.
How has Atlantis equipped you for active leadership in the medical field?
The ability to interact and empathize with patients of diverse backgrounds and communities is a necessity to be a leader in the medical field. I think the Atlantis program, through my interactions with mentors and their patients, has helped me take my first steps toward attaining the cultural vocabulary and literacy required of a physician.
Megan Branson
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Montana '19
- U. of Washington MD '24
Sarah Emerick
- Atlantis '19
- Eckerd College '20
- Indiana U. MD '25
Snow Nwankwo
- Atlantis '19
- Catholic U. of America '21
- Georgetown U. MD '26
Tiffany Hu
- Atlantis '16
- U. of Maryland '17
- U. of Michigan MD '22
Tiffany Hu
Tereul, Spain ’16 || U Michigan Medical School
Program:
Teruel, Spain – Summer 2016
Undergraduate:
University of Maryland class of 2017
Admitted medical student at:
University of Michigan Medical School
Major:
Neurobiology
Honors:
Honors Integrated Life Sciences Program, Banneker/Key Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities:
American Medical Student Association Co-President & Advocacy Day Liaison, Alternative Breaks Experience Leader, Health Professions Advising Office Student Advisory Board, Biology Teach Assistant, Health Leads, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NIH Research Intern, Physicians for Social Responsibility Environment & Health Intern
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Educational. Eye-opening. Exhilarating.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I wanted to expand my horizons and understand a culture of health different from the ones I am accustomed to. I had shadowed doctors in the United States and Taiwan prior to my Atlantis program experience, and being able to see first-hand the healthcare system in Spain allowed me to draw comparisons between the different complex healthcare systems.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Bonding with the other participants and celebrating our time together along with the doctors we shadowed. We would discuss our interests, passions, and motivation for medicine, and it was an incredible experience to learn from and alongside them.
What was your experience with the doctors you were shadowing?
Because of the pre-established relationships with the hospitals in which we shadowed, all the doctors were very welcoming and accommodating. They were willing to translate for us and explain in detail all of their medical decisions. My doctors and I had wonderful conversations about the differences between life in Spain vs. the United States.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I was excited to scrub in on surgeries and watch as the doctor explained what he was doing throughout the operation. Before and after surgeries, as well as in my other rotations, I observed how the doctors reassured and communicated with their patients. I was able to glean insight into differences between the experience of health in Spain versus the United States through observation as well as conversations with the doctors.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Besides the wealth of medical knowledge I gained from shadowing the doctors, I challenged myself to step outside of my cultural comfort zone and explore more than I thought I was capable of. Atlantis allowed me to make connections with people from all around the United States and abroad, and the friendships I gained helped me learn so much more than I would have on my own.
Lauren Cox
- Atlantis '18
- Louisiana Tech '20
- U. of Arkansas MD '24
Lauren Cox
Libson, Portugal ’18 || Louisiana Tech
Completed Atlantis Program Location(s):
Lisbon, Portugal
Year of most recent program:
Fall ’17 – Summer ’18
Season of most recent program:
Summer
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
Extremely helpful
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
It exposed me to shadowing that was hard to come by in the states. It also gave me a chance to see other systems of healthcare.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews? If so, how much relative to other topics?
Yes – they wanted to know about my experience, and specifically how the healthcare I saw in another country compared to what I had seen in the USA.
Kayla Riegler
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Kentucky '20
- U. of Kentucky MD '24
About Atlantis
Atlantis is the leader in pre-health shadowing and clinical experience, offering short-term programs (1-10 weeks) over academic breaks for U.S. pre-health undergraduates. Medical schools want 3 things: (1)healthcare exposure, (2)GPA/MCAT, and (3)certain competencies. Atlantis gives you a great version of (1), frees you to focus on (2), and cultivates/shows (3) to medical school admissions committees.
Watch Video: The Atlantis Shadowing Experience and How it Helps In Your Med/PA Admissions Future
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