International Medical Aid (IMA)

Mark Jones

Answers to common questions about IMA’s admissions consulting services, including pricing, process, timelines, and who the service is best suited for.

Medical Application Consulting FAQ

Deadlines vary by school, but aim to submit secondaries within two weeks to show you're serious and stay ahead.

How Long Do I Have to Complete My Medical School Secondary Essays?

Secondary essays go beyond your AMCAS—they help schools see who you are and why your experiences matter.

Why Do I Need to Write Secondary Essays?

Not all schools send secondaries. Some screen applicants first. Check each school’s policy if you haven’t received one.

I Applied to 20 Schools. Will I Receive 20 Secondary Applications?

Beat the 2-week crunch by drafting your secondary essays before they arrive. Start early and tailor later.

I Applied to 20 Schools. How Do I Write Up to 100 Essays in Two Weeks?

Not getting a secondary essay doesn’t mean you’ve been rejected. You’re still in consideration unless you get a rejection letter.

Does Not Receiving a Secondary Essay Mean I’ve Been Rejected?

Secondary applications usually cost $50–$100 each, but many schools waive the fee if you’ve received AMCAS fee assistance.

Are Secondary Applications Free?

Optional essays are a chance to add context or stand out. Write one if you have something real to share, not just to fill space.

Should I Write the “Optional” Secondary Essays?

Struggling to stay within your word limit? Use a clear structure and focused storytelling to write tighter, stronger secondary essays.

I Have a Lot to Say. How Do I Stay Within My Word Count?

Write secondaries within 2 weeks of submitting AMCAS. Most are short, so pace yourself and don’t fall behind.

How Long Does It Take to Write a Secondary Essay?

You can reuse essays, but always tailor them to the prompt and school. Don’t submit the same essay word for word.

Can I Use the Same Essay for Different Schools?

It’s best to avoid reusing AMCAS experiences in your secondary essays. Use one experience per essay to keep your content fresh and flexible.

Can I Reuse an Experience From My AMCAS?

If you’ve taken time away from school, be honest and highlight what you learned and how the experience made you stronger.

What if I Have Gaps in My Education? How Do I Explain What Happened?

It’s perfectly normal not to know your medical specialty yet—focus on your current interests and what draws you to medicine overall.

What If I Don't Know What I Want to Specialize In?

You don’t need a dramatic hardship to write a meaningful adversity essay—focus on personal growth, honesty, and what shaped your path.

I’ve Never Faced a Significant Challenge Before. How Do I Write an Adversity Essay?

Everything you need to know about writing strong secondary essays—including when to start, how to approach common prompts, and how consulting can help.

Medical School Secondary Essay FAQ

MCAT scores and GPA matter. Medical schools want well-rounded applicants with strong academic and personal backgrounds.

How Important Are MCAT Scores and GPA?

Worried your GPA isn’t high enough for med school? Learn  strategies to strengthen your application.

How To Get Into Medical School With a Low GPA?

Learn why your GPA plays a major role in medical school admissions and how committees use it in evaluating applicants.

Why Is Med School GPA So Important to Admissions Committees?

Why the MCAT plays a major role in medical school admissions and how it compares to GPA in the evaluation process.

How Important Is MCAT Score for Medical School?

Average GPA and MCAT for Med Schools FAQ

What does an MCAT Score Calculator do?

Track your MCAT progress, spot weak areas, and refine your study strategy with our accurate score calculator.

How can the MCAT Score Calculator improve my MCAT preparation?

Our MCAT Score Calculator provides close approximations based on AAMC standards, but actual scores may vary slightly.

How accurate is the MCAT Score Calculator?

AAMC practice tests closely mirror the real MCAT and offer the most accurate insight into your readiness and score potential.

Is it beneficial to take the AAMC practice tests?

The MCAT Score Calculator provides a helpful estimate but can’t predict your exact score—real test-day factors also impact performance.

Can the MCAT Score Calculator predict my actual MCAT score?

Use the MCAT Calculator after every full-length practice test to track progress, spot trends, and fine-tune your prep strategy.

How often should I use the MCAT Score Calculator?

Boost your MCAT score with smart prep, practice tests, and the MCAT Calculator to track progress and target weak areas effectively.

How can I improve my MCAT score?

Convert your MCAT raw score into a scaled score using our calculator. Learn how scoring works and what score you’ll need for med school.

How does the MCAT raw score conversion work?

The MCAT Score Calculator shows your scaled score and estimated percentile rank, helping you gauge how you compare to other test-takers.

How does the MCAT Score Calculator relate to the percentile rank?

Retaking the MCAT? Use your first score and the MCAT Score Calculator to target key areas for improvement and boost your next result.

Can I retake the MCAT to improve my score?

Get expert help with MCAT prep. Our admissions consultants offer personalized strategies and score insights to strengthen your application.

How can medical school admissions consulting help with MCAT preparation?

Pre-med shadowing abroad builds clinical exposure, cultural insight, and standout experiences for your medical school application.

How can a pre-med shadowing study abroad program help me prepare for medical school?

Learn how MCAT scores impact admissions and how to evaluate your score using school averages and holistic review insights.

How can I interpret my MCAT score regarding medical school admissions?

Use the MCAT Score Calculator to track practice test performance, but don’t rely on it alone to predict your actual exam score.

Can I use the MCAT Score Calculator to predict my score on the actual exam?

Convert your AAMC sample test raw scores into estimated scaled scores using our MCAT Score Calculator.

How does the AAMC sample test score conversion work?

Worried about a low MCAT score? You may consider retaking or expanding your school list. Get expert advice with our consulting services.

What should I do if my MCAT score is below the average for my target schools?

Best used with AAMC tests, the calculator also works with others—but scoring accuracy may vary by test prep provider.

Can I use the Calculator for non-AAMC practice tests?

The calculator doesn’t adjust for test version difficulty; AAMC scores do. Use it for consistent practice test tracking.

Does the MCAT Score Calculator consider the difficulty level of different MCAT versions?

A strong MCAT score boosts your chances, but schools also consider GPA, essays, and experiences in a holistic review.

How important is the MCAT score in medical school admissions?

Quick answers to help you get the most out of the MCAT Score Calculator.

MCAT Score's FAQ

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