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Planning for Medical School: Information for Applicants

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Committee Letter

Stanford does not provide a Committee Letter for Medical School applicants.

Dean’s certification instructions

You may find that some medical schools require a Dean's certification.

Please refer to the instructions and information about Dean's Certification Forms as well as FAQs about Certifications for more information on how to navigate the process.

Letters of Recommendation

The number and type of letters of recommendation needed for applications to medical school varies. If you are considering applying to medical school, we recommend that you have five letters: two from faculty members who have taught you in a science course, one from a faculty member who has taught you in a non-science course, and two others from those who know you well. Research supervisors, volunteer supervisors, or coaches can also write letters of recommendation.

There are multiple services available to use for filing your letters. Many applicants choose to use Interfolio, an online file management service.  AMCAS also offers an easy-to-use recommendation service, but the letters are only available for the current year. The letters are deleted at the end of the application cycle and must be resubmitted if you re-apply in the future.

Interviews

The type of interview formats that medical schools use varies by school. However, there are two main types: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) and traditional interviews. MMIs typically involve answering scripted questions in a timed series of short interviews. This style of interview is designed to measure character, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills. Traditional interviews generally involve a longer series of questions in an individual meeting with two or even three different people, often including a current medical student and/or faculty member.

Stanford offers a variety of resources to help current Stanford students and alums prepare for interviews: Stanford Career Education, oral communications tutors at the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking, and the Office of Academic Advising all offer mock interviews. For mock interviews with Academic Advising, please make an appointment to meet with a pre-professional advisor.

See Also

For information on AMCAS, MCAT, and other items: AAMC