Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

Office of Pre-Professional Programs and Advising

300 Garland Hall

http://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/preprofadvising/

GUIDE FOUR

The Ongoing Application

Process

Johns Hopkins University

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

Preface

The guidelines presented in this document provide important details for Johns Hopkins

undergraduates or recent graduates who plan to apply to allopathic (MD), osteopathic (DO), and

dental (DDS, DMD) school, all of which utilize the Committee Letter produced by the Johns

Hopkins University Health Professions Committee. Details of the support provided for applicants

to other health professions schools, including veterinary medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy,

etc., are covered in individual guides available on the Pre-Professional website:

http://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/preprofadvising/

References to “medical school” in this Guide refer to allopathic (MD), osteopathic (DO), and

dental (DDS, DMD) programs.

Focus of Guide Four

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process addresses the questions and challenges commonly

faced by applicants following submission of the AMCAS, AACOMAS, or AADSAS application.

The ongoing medical school application process is complicated and requires endurance, attention

to detail, organization, and professionalism. In Guide Four, we have chosen to present information

in a Q&A format, under specific categories. We hope this Guide answers many of your questions.

First, a few terms to keep in mind as you review this document:

Some Definitions

• Committee Process: Students eligible for a Committee Letter participate in a Committee

Process that begins with the completion of our internal application for a Committee Letter –

the Health Professions Committee Application (HPCA) – and continues through the formal

application process. There are many steps involved in the Committee Process, so please make

sure you fully understand the procedures and deadlines prior to beginning the process. For an

overview of the many steps involved in the Committee Process, click here:

https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/preprofadvising/pre-medhealth/applicants/committee-process/.

• Health Professions Committee Application (HPCA): Your HPCA is a document that will

help you prepare for completing your AMCAS, AACOMAS, and AADSAS application(s) and

is the foundation for the Committee Letter, which is written to present you as a candidate for

medical or dental school.

• Committee Letter: The Committee Letter is generally two to three single-spaced pages,

evaluating your readiness for health professional programs. Sections of the JHU Committee

Letter include: Candidate Introduction, Academic Accomplishments, Research and Inquiry,

Clinically-Related Experience, Community and Public Service, Additional Experience, and

Closing Comments. Your strengths, attributes, and competencies as an applicant are

summarized in your Committee Letter. To review our eligibility requirements for obtaining a

Committee Letter, click here: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/preprofadvising/pre-

medhealth/applicants/eligibility-for-a-committee-letter/.

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

• Committee Letter Packet: As defined by the AAMC, “A Committee Letter is a letter

authored by a pre-health committee or pre-health advisor and intended to represent your

institution's evaluation of you. A Committee Letter may or may not include additional letters

written in support of your application.” At JHU, we refer to your “Committee Letter” as one

component of your Committee Letter Packet; the Committee Letter Packet includes your

Committee Letter AND your individual letters of recommendation.

• Quiver: The group of individual letters of recommendation assembled in veCollect that will

accompany your Committee Letter to medical/dental schools. veCollect is open to

upperclassmen and alumni, so you can begin to store letters in veCollect as early as your junior

year. Remember that you must add letters to your quiver, label your quiver for the appropriate

application year, and lock your quiver before your letters will be forwarded to medical

schools. Please review Guide Two: Letters of Rec. and the veCollect Letter System for

instructions on creating and locking your quiver.

Professionalism

It is critical that you remain professional throughout this process, particularly in how you approach,

provide information to, and express appreciation for the efforts of the Pre-Professional staff and

medical school admissions staff involved in the application process. Be mindful of your verbal

and non-verbal communication, including eye contact, handshake, interview attire, and courtesy.

Remember that you are representing yourself as well as Johns Hopkins University, and that

professionalism is a key ingredient of a successful applicant and successful career!

Blackboard

The Office of Pre-Professional Programs uses the Blackboard system to send and receive

information from students eligible to participate in the Committee Process.

Applicants using the Johns Hopkins Committee Process will be required to utilize Blackboard to

complete and submit information that is part of the Committee process. When you apply, the

Blackboard site will provide quick and easy access to critical and timely information and resources

regarding your application to medical or dental school, including forms, presentations, and

important links. Resources on Blackboard will help to keep you organized and up-to-date as you

continue through the application process. On Blackboard, you will also be able to track and

account for all of the steps related to the Committee Process and monitor your submissions.

At the start of the Committee Process for your application cycle, you will be required to “enroll”

in the Blackboard “course” (site) for your entry year. For example, applicants who plan to apply

to medical or dental programs in 2018 (for entry to medical school in 2019) would enroll in the

“Med School Entry Year 2019” course on Blackboard by a date certain. Please pay close attention

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

to prehealth listserv emails from Pre-Professional Programs for announcemtns regarding the start

of the Committee Process and other important dates and deadlines.

The Committee Letter and Letters of Recommendation

Q. When will my Committee Letter be submitted to

medical or dental schools?

A. First, please know that submission of your Committee

Letter does not affect the submission of your

AMCAS/AACOMAS/AADSAS application or the

verification process. Your Committee Letter is submitted

through a completely different process and follows a

different timeline than the AMCAS, AACOMAS, or

AADSAS application. The vast majority of JHU

Committee Letters are sent starting in mid-July and

extending into August.

Q. How will I know when my Committee Letter has been uploaded to medical or dental

schools?

A. You will receive an email confirmation from the relevant application service(s) once your

Committee Letter has been uploaded. You can log into the application service or individual

websites of medical or dental schools to view the status of your application materials.

Q. If I am applying to both MD and MD/PhD programs, do I create different quivers?

A. In the case of medical schools that participate in AMCAS, the answer is no. If you apply to a

combination of MD and MD/PhD programs, you will create only one quiver, therefore only one

set of recommendation letters and one Committee Letter will be uploaded to the medical schools.

Q. Under what circumstances will I create more than one quiver?

A. If you apply to both osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) schools, you will create two quivers

since osteopathic medical schools use a different application service (AACOMAS) than allopathic

schools (AMCAS). For some DO applicants, this allows applicants the option of including an

additional letter from an osteopathic physician, which is required or recommended by many

osteopathic schools.

Q. Is there anything special I need to do if I am applying to osteopathic medical school?

A. Yes. If you are applying to both MD and DO schools, you will need to create two quivers in

veCollect, one for MD schools and the other for DO schools, and label them appropriately. As is

the case with allopathic schools, we cannot send your Committee Letter to osteopathic schools

until you have provided us with an electronic copy of your AACOMAS application. The

AACOMAS application ensures that we indicate your correct AACOMAS ID number on your

Committee Letter.

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

Q. Do I need a separate quiver for the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application

Service (TMDSAS)?

A. No. If you are applying through the Texas application service, you will use the same quiver

that will accompany your Committee Letter to AMCAS. Please note that applicants who are

NOT legal residents of Texas rarely apply to Texas medical or dental schools, as residents

take precedence over non-residents in the application process.

Q. Can I customize the letters of recommendation that are sent medical/dental schools?

A. If you use the Committee Process, the same Committee Letter and letters of recommendation

will be sent to all of the allopathic, osteopathic, and dental schools to which you apply. In other

words, you cannot customize sets of letters for individual schools. However, supplementary letters

of recommendation are accepted by many schools. In the case of schools participating in AMCAS,

the AMCAS Letter Service allows you to upload additional letters of recommendation, which can

be made available to all of your medical and dental schools, a designated group, or a single school.

PLEASE NOTE: Additional recommendation letters sent to schools after the uploading of the

Committee Letter are not sent via the Pre-Professional Office (using veCollect). They must be

uploaded directly through the AMCAS Letter Service.

Q. Some medical and dental schools ask for a certain number of recommendation

letters. What do I do?

A. Don’t worry. These specifications are not an issue for undergraduate institutions that provide

a Committee Letter (such as JHU).

Q. What do I do if I receive an email from a medical school indicating a deadline for the

receipt of my letters of recommendation?

A. This situation does not apply to applicants using the JHU Committee Process. Please understand

that the majority of applicants to health professional schools do not have the benefit of a Committee

Process, and medical schools send reminders to ensure timely receipt of their application

materials. But medical schools have indicated that they understand and support the Committee

Process and our timeline will not adversely affect your applications. Please do not email your pre-

professional advisor if you receive this reminder email from a medical school. Rest assured that

we will make sure that your materials are submitted to programs within an appropriate timeframe.

Q. How do I respond on an application when asked, “Type of letters of recommendation”

used by JHU?

A. The options listed are:

(1) Committee Letter

(2) Letter Packet

(3) Individual Letter

The correct answer for JHU is #1, Committee Letter. [As defined by the AAMC, “A Committee

Letter is a letter authored by a pre-health committee or pre-health advisor and intended to represent

your institution's evaluation of you. A Committee Letter may or may not include additional letters

written in support of your application.”] Remember, at JHU, we refer to your “Committee Letter”

as one component of your Committee Letter Packet, which includes your Committee Letter AND

your individual letters of recommendation.

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

Q. Do additional letters of recommendation have any impact on an application?

A. As a general rule, additional letters of recommendation have limited impact on a candidate’s

application. It typically makes the most sense to introduce an additional recommendation at a

secondary stage in the application process, meaning post-interview, or when placed on a waitlist.

To add an additional letter (following the initial submission of your Committee Letter Packet), you

must use the AMCAS Letter Service.

Designating and Making Changes to My Application Status

Q. What if I ultimately decide to delay my application to a later cycle?

A. Please send an email to [email protected] to formally notify us of your decision to

delay. It is also appreciated if you send an email to your pre-professional advisor.

Q. If I changed my fall course selections from what I originally indicated on my AMCAS

application, do I need to notify the medical schools?

A. No. This is not an issue. Typically, medical schools only pay attention to future coursework if

the applicant is missing a premedical requirement or is enrolled in a masters or post-bac program.

Q. What do I do if I am not taking a course this fall that I indicated on my AMCAS I would

be taking?

A. This is typically not a problem; you do not need to contact the schools about the change in

your schedule. However, this may be a problem if it pertains to a premedical requirement.

Q. The completion of my master’s degree has just been posted to my transcript. How do I

notify my schools?

A. The AMCAS Instruction Manual outlines very specific directions for making an “Academic

Change Request.” They also outline the changes they will not make once your application is

verified. If your change requires an update based on the guidelines providing in the AMCAS

Instruction Manual, you will need to submit the information in an “update letter” later in the

application cycle. Please check the AMCAS Instruction Manual or contact AMCAS directly for

more information.

Q. What if my plans during my gap/bridge year were not finalized when I submitted my

application? Should I send the med schools an update?

A. Many medical schools will ask about your gap/bridge year in their secondary applications.

You can also discuss it during an interview or in an “update letter” to be submitted later in the

application cycle.

Q. Do I have to do anything special to forward my MCAT scores to the med schools?

A. No. MCAT scores are automatically uploaded to your AMCAS application and are available to

all of your medical schools.

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

How Should I Approach Secondary Application Questions?

Q. How much time should I spend on secondary essays?

A. Considerable. Within reason, the secondary essays should be on par with the quality of your

personal statement. You should rely on peers, family, or others you can trust to review your

secondary essays. While many schools will ask similar questions in their secondary applications,

do not make the mistake of racing through the secondaries by using the “cut and paste” method.

Tailor your essay answers to each school to show them you are serious about being a member of

their incoming class. Always proofread (and proofread again!) to ensure you do not have obvious

spelling and grammar errors and that you do not mistakenly mention the wrong school in another

school’s essay.

Q. Many of the secondary applications have optional essays. How should I approach

answering these?

A. In general, it makes sense to answer every essay question.

• In terms of questions regarding “why [that particular school]”, it is obviously important

that you research the institution and be able to identify aspects of the culture, curriculum,

etc., that are particularly well-suited to your interests and goals.

• The “diversity” question requires careful consideration. Although you may not consider

yourself “diverse” based on race or ethnicity, it is important that you acknowledge an

appreciation for the importance of diversity and what you’ve learned from exposure to

diverse cultures, experiences, etc.

• Finally, you have great latitude in answering open-ended “additional comments.” Beyond

all you have shared elsewhere in your application, you must dig deep to share other aspects

of your background, interests, life goals, etc., that you are comfortable sharing. It is not so

much the actual answer, but rather how you express yourself that is important.

Ongoing Contact with Schools

Q. Do grades matter for this semester?

A. Yes! Grades always “matter”. If you do not get interviews by December, you’ll want to

submit/upload unofficial mid-year transcripts to the medical schools to demonstrate your

continued academic success. In addition, once accepted, some schools may also want final

transcripts before you matriculate.

Q. What should I do if a school asks me to complete a “Dean’s Form”?

A. Typically, Dean’s Forms are sent to verify the academic and/or behavioral standing of an

applicant. All Dean’s or good standing forms should be forwarded to your administrative

coordinator in the Pre-Professional Office – either Mrs. Krause (last names A-L) or Mrs. Sanders

(last names M-Z). Any other forms from schools should also be forwarded to your administrative

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

coordinator. For Texas residents, the TMDSAS assessment form is NOT required for applicants

from institutions like JHU who provide a Committee Letter.

Q. Can I have a letter of recommendation uploaded at a later point in

the process?

A. The Pre-Professional Office uploads your Committee Letter and

individual letters of recommendation (from veCollect) to medical or

dental schools once in a given cycle. Additional recommendations must

be submitted through the AMCAS Letter Service, independent of

veCollect (our office does not upload additional letters). If you would like

an additional letter uploaded to either all of your schools, a subset, or a

single school, you will request the letter through the AMCAS Letter

Service. This is fully explained in the AMCAS Instruction Manual (this

is also available on the following page: Applying to Medical School with

AMCAS).

Q. If I request an additional letter of recommendation after my Committee Letter has been

uploaded, will it hold up the processing of my application?

A. If you request additional recommendations to be uploaded through the AMCAS Letter Service

and medical schools have not yet reviewed your application, the schools will wait for those letters

to be uploaded and, therefore, may postpone the review of your application. This is the reason

why it makes more sense to submit an additional recommendation later in the process, perhaps if

you are not getting interview invitations or are waitlisted at a school.

Q. What if I decide to apply to additional medical schools?

A. This is not a problem.

• If you are applying to additional allopathic medical schools, please follow the

instructions as outlined in the AMCAS Instruction Manual, Section Seven: Medical

Schools.

• If you are applying to additional osteopathic medical schools, please follow the

instructions as outlined on the AACOMAS Website

• If you are applying to additional schools through TMDSAS or AADSAS, please follow the

directions outlined in each application service.

• There is NO NEED to notify the Pre-Professional Office that you are applying to additional

medical schools.

Q. I interviewed at a medical school without rolling admissions that does not announce

acceptances until March. Is there anything I can do to improve my chances?

A. It is perfectly fine to send a letter of interest that indicates your continued interest in the school

and why you are a “good fit” for them. However, do not do this if the school clearly instructs

applicants not to send updates, additional information, or additional recommendation letters.

Q. What if a school told me that I would hear within four weeks and it is now six weeks since

I interviewed. What should I do?

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

A. Be patient. Sometimes schools do not meet their stated timeline for notifying an applicant. The

fact you have not heard does not necessarily mean bad news. It is fairly common that applicants

are put in the position of having to wait during this very arduous process.

Q. Is it ever appropriate to notify another medical school in a city you have been invited to

interview that you will be in the area interviewing?

A. In general, it only makes sense to make this request if you will be traveling an unusually long

distance, like across the country; however, schools will vary in their response. Make it clear that

you are grateful for their consideration and the opportunity to interview whenever the opportunity

may occur. It cannot hurt your candidacy to make the request. It is best to make the request by

email.

Q. What does it mean to be “on hold” prior to being invited for an interview?

A. This typically means that the admissions committee wants to review more candidates before

they make further admissions decisions. By late February/early March, most “on hold” applicants

have either been invited for interviews or rejected.

Sending Letters of Interest, Updates, or Intent

Q. When is it appropriate to send a “letter of interest?”

A. A “letter of interest” is most appropriate to send if you are placed on a waitlist following an

interview. It may also be appropriate if you have received an official notification from a school

(i.e., you are notified your application is “on hold.”) In writing this letter, it is most important

that you reiterate and/or elaborate on why you think that you are a good fit for a given school and

how you feel you would contribute to the incoming class if you were accepted. Don’t forget to

include your AAMC, AACOMAS, TMDSAS or AADSAS ID number in your

correspondence. Follow the directions the school provides to add additional materials to your

file. Some schools say they discourage the submission of additional information and, if so, please

honor that request. Any letter you send should be concise, focused, and no more than a few

paragraphs.

Q. What about updating schools on new activities, undertakings, and/or accomplishments?

A. It is rare that introducing new information about your experiences will influence interview

decisions at a medical or dental school. It may be appropriate, however, to update a school on a

new activity or accomplishment within – what we would term – a “letter of interest.” As stated,

a “letter of interest” is most appropriate to send if you are placed in waitlist status following an

interview. Regarding updates, however, you should realize that it is very common for a

candidate to be placed on a waitlist and not have any “updates” to share. It is perfectly fine in

this circumstance (if on a waitlist) to send occasional letters of interest. This varies considerably

based on the stated preferences of individual medical or dental schools.

Q. When is it appropriate to send a “letter of intent?”

A. Generally speaking, we only recommend sending a “letter of intent" if you are on the waitlist

of your top choice school after April 30 (see below). The intent letter is only appropriate if you

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

truly intend to matriculate to that school, so you must be sure of your intentions. The letter is

not appropriate to send to schools where you have not received an interview invitation.

April 30!!

Q. What happens on April 30?

A. AMCAS has Application and Acceptance Protocols that outline

deadlines, policies, and responsibilities. One such policy is that applicants

can hold multiple acceptances until April 30 of the year of matriculation.

By April 30, all applicants must select one school. By this date,

applicants must notify all schools of their decision or they risk having all

offers of admission rescinded. Once schools know how many students will

be matriculating, they may begin using their waitlists to fill any open spots.

Q. Will I be in receipt of financial aid packages by April 30?

A. It is the responsibility of medical schools to provide financial aid information to accepted

applicants in a timely fashion. Since applicants holding multiple acceptances must narrow down

to a single school by April 30, medical schools typically provide financial information to accepted

applicants well in advance of this date.

On the Waitlist?

Q. What does it mean to be on a waitlist following an interview?

A. Being waitlisted typically occurs following an interview and

simply means the medical school hasn’t yet accepted you, but it

also is not ready to reject you. In other words, the school didn’t

say no to your application, but they didn’t say yes,

either. Notification of a waitlist status is a good time to send a

follow-up letter of interest to express your continued interest in

the school. Being on the waitlist means that you have a chance

of being accepted and you should not lose hope! You can stay

on waitlists well into summer, even if you’re accepted to other

schools.

Q. How do schools use their waitlists?

A. Medical schools use waitlists to ensure that their incoming class is full by the beginning of their

classes in August. Since they know a certain percentage of the applicants they admit will choose

other schools, medical schools accept more students than the number of seats available. If a higher

number of students decline admission than the medical school anticipated, seats will open up and

schools will accept applicants from the waitlist. The number of waitlisted students who are

accepted varies greatly from year to year and school to school.

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

Q. If I am on a waitlist, when might I be admitted?

A. You will only be admitted when a seat opens up. This typically can happen any time

between May and the start of fall semester classes. Most schools report that they accept the

highest number of waitlisted students during May and June, but sometimes spots will become

available the week or even the day before the program begins. You cannot accept an offer of

admission from another school after you have started orientation at a school.

Q. Are waitlists ranked? Will a school tell me what number I am on their waitlist?

A. Some schools rank their waitlist and others do not. It is most important to remember that if

you have been waitlisted, you have been deemed qualified for admission. When accepted

applicants withdraw from an incoming class, the medical school will look to admit waitlisted

candidates who would best balance the composition of the class.

Q. How should I respond to a waitlist notification?

A. This is an excellent opportunity to express your strong interest in the school. Send a letter to

the school that restates your strong interest in their programs, expresses appreciation for your

ongoing consideration, and highlights the unique contribution you would make to the incoming

class. The letter should be concise, focused, and no more than a few paragraphs. If you have any

questions or would like to discuss your letter, please schedule an appointment with a pre-

professional advisor. If you are accepted off a waitlist and choose to attend, it is assumed you will

notify any other schools where you are waitlisted that you have accepted an offer of admission

from another school.

Getting Accepted

Q. I just received an acceptance letter. What do I do?

A. Congratulations! Your first step is to celebrate your

success! If you receive and hold multiple acceptances, you have

until April 30 to narrow it down to one school; after that point,

you are in danger of having offers rescinded. Once you have

decided on your school, follow their instructions about submitting

a deposit and any other steps they require to hold your seat. Also,

continue to investigate ways to fund your medical school

education.

Q. Are there any advantages to interviewing at schools after I have already been admitted to

my top school?

A. No. If you do continue to interview after being admitted to your top school, you are taking up

valuable interview slots for candidates who may be interested in and seriously considering that

medical school. If you have been admitted to a school and you plan to enroll, you have an ethical

obligation to notify the remaining schools that you have accepted an invitation to attend elsewhere.

Q. I am thinking about deferring admission for a year. Can I do that?

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

A. Each medical school has its own deferral policy. Some will only allow students to defer if they

have received a significant opportunity, whereas others will allow you to defer no questions

asked. Check with the individual medical school regarding their policy. In general, however, it is

not advised to apply to medical or dental school if your intention is to defer your admission.

Q. What do I do about schools that require a deposit? Will I get that money back if I choose

not to matriculate?

A. Most MD medical schools have deposits of $100 or greater. The deposits are usually refundable

before April 30 or will be applied toward your tuition if you ultimately attend the school. For

many DO schools, the deposits are between $500 and $1,500 and are typically not refundable.

Q. What if I am accepted but my preference is to attend a school where I am waitlisted?

A. You can stay on a school’s waitlist up to the point when classes start. But in the meantime,

you should give a deposit to a school where you have been accepted. At some point in late spring

or early summer, you should move forward with plans to attend the school where you have been

accepted because you will need time to find a roommate, find housing, etc.

It Seems Like I Won’t be Accepted. Now what?

Q. If I am not successful in gaining acceptance, should I make alternative plans for next year

and/or consider reapplying?

A. This is a difficult decision that involves weighing how long to remain available for a medical

school to accept you versus making alternative plans for the fall and beyond. Reapplying right

away is not always the best strategy. You want to make sure that your application is as strong as

possible, which may mean you need to address areas of weakness in your background before

applying again. Your second application should feature new and different experiences. These can

range from additional coursework to volunteer work to research and more. Developing a new

personal statement is also necessary as it helps demonstrate the additional experience and maturity

you have gained since the last time you applied. While waiting before applying again may be

frustrating, it often means the difference between being accepted and being unsuccessful for a

second time. Commit to spending the time between applications to become the most competitive

candidate possible, and speak with a Pre-Prof advisor about your plans for moving forward.

Miscellaneous Questions

Q. For schools having information sessions at JHU, is it appropriate to introduce myself and

let them know I have applied/will apply?

A. Sure! If the medical school to which you are applying is on campus, you should introduce

yourself after the information session, particularly if you have been invited to or attended an

interview. It shows an added level of interest in the school and allows you to network with the

admissions office.

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

Q. Can I apply to medical school if I’ll be abroad during the application year?

A. Yes, but it is very tricky. If it can be avoided, it is best not to apply to medical school while

abroad. But if you choose to do so, then hopefully you have applied early as that is the single most

important component for successfully managing an application process while abroad. This enables

medical schools to notify you of interviews earlier, during a time when they are still flexible in

scheduling them. In addition, you should have sent out a separate letter explaining to the schools

when you will be in the country to interview and mention in your secondary applications any

schedule restrictions you are facing. Flexibility is essential. Most schools allow applicants to

select their interview date from several options. However, if the options do not match with your

schedule, you can call the school to explain your situation and that you will be abroad.

Q. What if a medical school asks for my first semester grades to be uncovered?

A. U.S. medical schools accept the Johns Hopkins covered grade policy. If, by chance, a school

makes a specific request for your grades to be uncovered, we are able to accommodate the request.

The requesting school must send an official letter (email is fine) stating that you are precluded

from consideration or your candidacy is critically harmed because the first semester grades are

covered. Please contact Mrs. Sanders in this situation; do not contact the Registrar’s Office about

uncovering first semester grades.

Q. If I know someone at the medical school, is it okay if that person contacts admissions on

my behalf?

A. It won’t hurt your application, but make sure the contact is handled in a professional manner.

Q. When is the appropriate time to meet with the Pre-Professional staff if I’m not hearing

from the medical schools where I applied?

A. You are advised to keep in touch with the Pre-Professional Office throughout the process;

however, if you have not received interviews by December, you should contact an

advisor. Likewise, if you find you are sitting on waitlists or are on-hold in May, you should speak

to an advisor.

Guide Four: The Ongoing Application Process

Special Status Applicant Resources

There are four distinct categories of applicants to medical school from Johns Hopkins that involve

unique application procedures and/or considerations. If you belong to any one of these groups,

you will find very helpful information on the appropriate pages, linked below:

• Applying to Texas Medical Schools

• Canadian Applicants

• International Applicants to US Medical Schools

• Applying to Korean Medical Schools

In addition, there are an array of international medical schools that Johns Hopkins students have

applied and matriculated to over the years, all of which have special considerations and application

procedures.

• Applying to International Medical Schools

For links to all of this information, visit:

http://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/preprofadvising/pre-medhealth/applicants/special-applicant-groups/

In Closing

Navigating your way through pre-health requirements is a challenge that takes careful planning

and great patience. If you intend to apply to medical or dental programs, the process requires

precision, adaptability, and flexibility. Each student’s academic path is unique; you should take

into account your science acumen, academic performance, co-curricular activites, and operate on

a timeline that makes sense given your level of preparedness. We encourage you to seek input

from pre-professional advisors to devise a plan that is appropriate for your academic and

professional goals.

Office of Pre-Professional Programs and Advising

Advising Staff

Kelli Johnson, J.D., Director ([email protected])

Ana Droscoski, J.D., Associate Director ([email protected])

Ellen Snydman, M.S., Assistant Director ([email protected])

Shannon Jensen, M.A., Assistant Director ([email protected])

Administrative Staff

Angie Decker, Office Manager, (decker@jhu.edu)

Carolyn Mae Krause, Administrative Coordinator (ckra[email protected]) (Last Names A-L)

LaTonia Sanders, Administrative Coordinator (lady[email protected]) (Last Names M-Z)