Submitting your AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) application is the first and most critical step in the medical school admissions process. However, many applicants unknowingly make mistakes that can cause significant delays, pushing their application further down the review queue. Since medical school admissions operate on a rolling basis, a delay in processing could mean fewer available interview spots—even if you’re a highly competitive applicant.

At AcceptMed, we’ve worked with countless applicants who faced unnecessary delays due to avoidable AMCAS mistakes. Knowing what to watch out for can help ensure your application is processed smoothly, keeping you on track for early review, interview invitations, and acceptance offers.

Missing or Incorrect Transcript Information

One of the most frequent causes of AMCAS delays is issues with transcripts. The AMCAS verification process cannot begin until all required transcripts are received and properly matched to your application. Common mistakes include:

• Not ordering transcripts early enough – Some schools take weeks to process transcript requests, causing delays.
• Sending transcripts before your AMCAS application is submitted – AMCAS may not be able to match them if your application isn’t already in the system.
• Incorrectly entering coursework – If AMCAS flags errors in your course classifications, you may have to resubmit or correct entries, further delaying verification.
• Not sending transcripts from all institutions attended – Even if you only took one class at a community college, AMCAS requires that transcript.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Order transcripts as early as possible—preferably in April or May to ensure they arrive on time.
• Verify transcript receipt in your AMCAS portal to confirm that all required documents have been received.
• Carefully enter coursework exactly as it appears on your transcript to avoid classification errors.

Incorrect Coursework Entry

The Coursework section of AMCAS is where applicants often make mistakes, leading to delays in verification. Since AMCAS manually checks your coursework against your official transcripts, even small discrepancies can cause your application to be flagged for review.

Common mistakes include:

• Mislabeling course classifications – AMCAS requires you to categorize courses (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math), and mistakes here can result in verification delays.
• Entering incorrect grades – AMCAS does not recognize plus/minus grades, so they must be converted properly.
• Miscalculating credit hours – Some schools use a quarter system instead of a semester system, requiring credit hour conversions.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Use the AMCAS Course Classification Guide to correctly categorize coursework.
• Double-check your entries against your transcript before submitting.
• Ask your pre-med advisor for a second review if you’re unsure about your coursework classification.

Waiting Too Long to Submit the Application

Many applicants assume that as long as they apply before the final AMCAS deadline, they are fine. However, medical schools review applications on a rolling basis, meaning the later you apply, the fewer interview slots remain. Even a few weeks of delay can significantly reduce your chances of acceptance.

Common mistakes that delay submission:

• Procrastinating on the personal statement and not having it ready by early June.
• Not securing letters of recommendation early and waiting for writers to submit them.
• Delaying MCAT testing and waiting for scores before submitting the application.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Submit your AMCAS application in early June—the sooner, the better.
• Continue working on secondaries while waiting for verification to stay ahead.
• Ensure letters of recommendation are uploaded on time—they do not need to be in before submission, but should be ready early.

Choosing the Wrong Work & Activities Entries

The Work & Activities section of AMCAS is where you highlight your extracurricular experiences, clinical exposure, leadership, and research. However, a poorly written or incomplete section can slow down the review process and weaken your application.

Common mistakes include:

• Not filling all 15 available slots – Even if you don’t have 15 activities, use the space wisely by expanding on your most meaningful experiences.
• Failing to quantify your impact – Admissions committees want to see specific numbers (e.g., "worked 200+ hours as a medical scribe").
• Not selecting the three Most Meaningful experiences wisely – These should be the activities that had the greatest impact on your decision to pursue medicine.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Use all 15 Work & Activities entries strategically to showcase your experiences.
• Write clear, detailed descriptions that highlight your role, impact, and takeaways.
• Carefully select your 3 Most Meaningful experiences and use the extra space to reflect on how they shaped your journey.

Submitting Without Reviewing for Errors

Rushing to submit your application without carefully reviewing it can lead to errors that cause delays in verification or weaken your application.

Common overlooked mistakes:

• Spelling or grammar errors in the personal statement or Work & Activities section.
• Forgetting to enter a required course in the Coursework section.
• Applying to schools where you don’t meet the requirements (e.g., out-of-state public schools with residency preferences).

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Proofread your application multiple times before submitting.
• Ask a pre-med advisor, professor, or mentor to review your application for errors.
• Check each school’s admission requirements carefully before selecting them in AMCAS.

Not Tracking Your Application Status

Once your AMCAS application is submitted, you are not done. You need to actively monitor your status to ensure there are no processing delays.

Common mistakes include:

• Not checking transcript receipt status in the AMCAS portal.
• Forgetting to submit secondary applications quickly after receiving them.
• Not keeping track of letter of recommendation submissions.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Log in to the AMCAS portal regularly to check for updates.
• Follow up with schools if any required documents are missing.
• Submit secondaries within two weeks of receiving them to remain competitive.

Avoiding AMCAS Mistakes for a Smooth Application Process

Delays in the AMCAS verification process can significantly hurt your chances of getting into medical school. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that your application is processed efficiently and reviewed early by admissions committees.

• Order transcripts and request letters of recommendation early to prevent delays.
• Double-check your coursework entry to ensure accuracy.
• Submit your application in early June for the best chances of securing interview invites.
• Use all Work & Activities entries effectively and select the right Most Meaningful experiences.
• Review your application carefully before submission to catch errors.
• Track your application status in AMCAS and follow up on missing documents.

Applying to medical school is a complex and competitive process, but by avoiding these AMCAS mistakes, you can stay ahead and improve your chances of getting into medical school.