Premeds applying this cycle will notice a few changes to the AMCAS. There are no drastic modifications, so don’t worry, but it’s worth knowing what to expect.
Back in 2012, an important, new addition appeared on the AMCAS: Applicants were being asked to identify their most significant extracurricular experiences (up to three) and support their choices with more writing. Now the Most Meaningful Paragraphs are par for the course, but the change was a big surprise back then.
This year the updates are comparatively minor. One difference is the Other Impactful Experiences section. It is not an addition, however. It replaces the Disadvantaged Status section, allowing for a broader understanding of challenges that can adversely affect an applicant’s life and candidacy.
To their credit, the AAMC also changed the “other” pronoun and gender identity categories to “another pronoun set” and “another gender identity.”
Please see this short article from the AAMC regarding other changes in this year’s AMCAS.
