APPLICATION TIMELINE

One of the most important decisions you will make in the application process is deciding when to apply. There is no one timeline that fits all students. It all depends on when you can submit your strongest possible application. A significant amount of planning must go into preparing a competitive application, so it’s important to carefully consider your timeline. The Careers in Health and Medicine office emphasizes the importance of applying when you are the most competitive applicant you can be; do NOT rush your application timeline. Being competitive relies on academics, extracurricular plans, AND experiences. You will need to assess when you will be the most competitive applicant.

If applying to begin health professional school directly after graduation, the preapplication preparation begins in the fall of junior year. A majority of Kalamazoo College applicants in recent years have taken one or more “growth years” between undergraduate and health professions school. Throughout the year, potential applicants should think carefully about when to apply and utilize the matriculation year google sheet to determine how the rest of the application process fits into your timeline.

Things to consider when determining your application timeline:

Academic Accomplishment

• Have you finished ALL pre-requisites? When will these be completed?
• How have you performed in those courses? Do you need more time to improve?
• When will you be ready to take your admission exam? You should not plan to take these exams multiple times.

Experience

• Service should be substantial and consistent. If you just started, you’re not ready.
• Have you gained clinical experience? Some programs have specific requirements.

Support

• Do you have professors/PIs/supervisors who can write letters of support?
• Are your family/friends are supportive of your goals?

Your professional and personal goals

• Are you sure of your professional goal?
• Do you need/want some time for other experiences between undergrad and graduate school?
• Do you need time to save for/pay for your next program?

Students planning to apply with support and to obtain a committee letter of recommendation from the Health Sciences Advisory Committee (HSAC) will need to adhere to the following application timeline.

The websites for each Centralized Application Service include detailed instructions and information for students. It is critical that you read ALL instructions before beginning your application. The primary application will be the first thing schools see when evaluating your application, so it is critical that you utilize all the resources available to you to help you prepare an error-free application.

CASPer TEST

The CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) test was developed at McMaster Medical School (also the birthplace of the multiple mini-interview, or MMI) and is now used by a number of schools. The goal of this 90 minute test is to promote holistic review by assessing each applicant’s interpersonal competencies, empathy, professionalism, and situational judgment skills. You can take CASPer from any computer that meets the system requirements at specified test dates and times (you will register online). You will respond to 8 video-based scenarios and 4 text-based scenarios and scores are sent to medical schools about three weeks after the test is taken. You will not receive your score. You should take CASPer in the summer around the time that you’re completing secondary applications, so that your score will arrive at your schools around the same time that your file will be complete. The cost to take the test is $12, plus an additional $12 for each school that requires a score report. Familiarize yourself with the test and its format by reading the CASPer webpage and working through the sample scenarios. Many of the same materials you’ll use to prepare for MMIs may also be useful for CASPer since both involve responding to scenarios and ethical situations.

Several MD, DO, PA, PT, and nursing programs in the U.S. require the CASPer test. Visit this webpage to see a current list of all of the U.S. professional schools requiring the CASPer test. If any of your schools require the CASPer test, you will be directed to take the test as you complete the supplementary application process. Your application file will not be considered complete until you have taken the test and the schools have received your score report three weeks later. Plan your test date accordingly to ensure that you have completed all steps of the application process in a timely manner. If you aren’t sure which test date is optimal, review the “Application” section o for your profession and plan to take the CASPer test 3 weeks before the latest recommended date to complete your application file. (If you are applying to medical school, for instance, choose a late July test date so that your entire application file will be complete at the medical schools by mid-August.)