Early Decision Programs
Many medical schools have Early Decision Programs (EDP), and many of those have a unified application procedure handled through AMCAS. It is as follows:
Application materials must reach AMCAS designating the school of your choice by a very early date: August 1. Recommendations should reach the school by August 15.
You must sign a pledge not to seek admission to any other medical school until you have heard from your first choice school. They, in turn, pledge to render a decision by October 1.
Their decision will be one of three possibilities:
• Accepted. You now have a place in the next class and need not (and may not) apply to other medical schools.
• Deferred. You will be considered again among the regular applicants and should pursue admission to other medical schools immediately.
• Not Accepted. Apply to other medical schools immediately.
You should consult with advisors before electing EDP. The time for this is late June, when you have both the MCAT and Pre-Med Committee evaluation. Consequently, August MCAT and fall Pre-Med Committee evaluations disqualify you from considering EDP.
Generally EDP means that your application will receive serious consideration, and so it can be a boost to your application if your credentials make your application competitive to begin with. For people with exceptional credentials who may receive more than one acceptance, my advice would be based on knowing the reasons for limiting the choice of schools to one.
If your credentials are good, but not so good that EDP is a clearly wise option, you may call the medical school in question during the early summer, June 15 - July 4, tell your intentions to someone with real knowledge of their application process, give them your credentials (MCAT, GPA, Sci GPA), and ask if they would encourage EDP for you. Listen carefully to their comments. Their advice may be cautious and indirect.
