AMCAS vs. AACOMAS vs. TMDSAS Med School Application Differences

AMCAS vs. AACOMAS vs. TMDSAS—what’s the difference, and how do you choose? While you don’t have to create an individual medical school application for each school you apply to, different schools and programs use different application services.

In general, all three of these application types follow a similar format, but there are important differences to be aware of. The sooner you decide which schools you want to apply to, the sooner you can begin tailoring your application.

Learn about the differences between AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS, including the requirements for personal statements, letters of recommendation, activities, and matriculant scores.

AMCAS: The American Medical College Application Service

The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service. It’s the primary application method for entering first-year classes at the vast majority of US medical schools. It doesn’t matter how many different schools you intend to apply to; you only need to submit one set of application materials to AMCAS.

Although you submit your medical school application to AMCAS, the service has no say in admission decisions—those are made solely by the individual medical schools. AMCAS simply collects, verifies, and delivers your application materials and MCAT score to the schools you apply to.

Most first-year applicants will apply to medical school through AMCAS, as it’s the standard. If you intend to apply to Stanford Medical School, Johns Hopkins, or the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, for example, you need to apply through AMCAS.

Only submitting one set of application materials simplifies the already complicated process of applying to medical school. The exception is if you choose to apply to osteopathic (DO) schools or medical schools located in Texas.

AACOMAS: The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service

AACOMAS is the centralized online application service for the US colleges of osteopathic medicine. It’s the primary application method for students pursuing osteopathic medicine. AACOMAS simplifies the process of applying to osteopathic medical schools by only requiring students to submit one set of application materials. They verify, process, and submit your materials to the schools you choose, so long as you are only applying to DO schools.

Osteopathic doctors (DOs) distinguish themselves from regular doctors (MDs) with a whole-body, holistic approach that treats the person—not the symptoms. The focus of osteopathic medicine is on recognizing the interconnectedness of the body’s systems and organs and their mutual influence.

Just like MDs, DOs have to complete four years of medical school followed by residency, and nearly every specialization available to an MD is also available to a DO. That said, a DO degree generally doesn’t have the same reputation as an MD degree, in large part because acceptance statistics are often lower than those of allopathic (MD) schools. DOs also have a harder time practicing medicine outside of the United States.

Reasons to Apply Through AACOMAS

• You don’t have the GPA or MCAT scores to get into allopathic (MD) schools.
• You plan only to practice medicine in the United States.
• You had a DO as a mentor or worked closely with osteopathic doctors.
• You have a passion for osteopathic medicine.

TMDSAS: The Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service

TMDSAS is the primary application service for most medical schools located in Texas, including dental and veterinary schools. Every first-year class in Texas is composed of 10% out-of-state applicants and 90% in-state applicants. Since the vast majority of medical school applicants come from Texas, they have their own centralized medical school application service. Just like AMCAS and AACOMAS, you only have to submit one set of medical school application materials to TMDSAS, which they will process and transmit to your selected Texan schools.

It also means that native Texans have a significant advantage when applying to schools in their home state, whereas anyone from outside of Texas has a significant disadvantage. So, if you come from Texas, it makes sense to apply to a medical school in your own state.

Reasons to Apply Through TMDSAS

• You wish to attend a Texas medical school that uses TMDSAS.
• You live in Texas.
• You have extracurricular or work experience in the Texas medical system.

Personal Statement

AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS all require personal statements, but there are a few small differences.

AMCAS Personal Statement Length: 5,300 characters

AACOMAS Personal Statement Length: 5,300 characters

TMDSAS Personal Statement Length: 5,000 characters

If you plan on applying to medical schools both in Texas and outside of it, ensure your personal statement is 5,000 characters or fewer to meet the character limits of both applications.

Although the AACOMAS personal statement is the same length, the question you need to answer is slightly different. You are asked a more specific question: why do you want to study osteopathic medicine? If you already have an AMCAS personal statement prepared, ensure you make the appropriate adjustments to focus on why you want to become a DO specifically.

Letters of Recommendation

The letters of recommendation requirements for all three application services are quite similar. The letters can be submitted through the respective services or through an alternative service, such as Interfolio, if you are applying to schools across the board. With Interfolio, you only need your letter writers to upload once, even if you are using multiple application services.

The number of letters varies more from school to school than from one application service to the next. No matter which application process you’re applying through, it’s important to find out how many letters of recommendation are required for each individual school. For the most part, you will be covered if you acquire 4-5 strong letters of recommendation across science, non-science, and extracurriculars. If you are applying solely to Texas medical schools, you only need 3-4.

AMCAS Letters of Recommendation

• 3-10 total letters of recommendation (we recommend submitting 4 or 5).
• 1-2 letters from science professors.
• 1 letter from a non-science professor.
• 1 letter from a physician you shadowed or worked with.
• 1 letter from an extracurricular or volunteer supervisor.
• 1 letter from an employer.

AACOMAS Letters of Recommendation

• 2-6 total letters.
• One letter should be from a DO.

TMDSAS Letters of Recommendation

• 3-4 total letters.
• One Health Professions Committee Packet or three individual letters of evaluation.
• (Optional) One additional letter.

Activities and Mini-Essays

The Work & Activities section is a little different for each application type. There are different character limits, added or omitted sections, and extra essay options depending on the application service.

For example, AACOMAS doesn’t have a Meaningful Experience section, but there’s no limit to the number of Experiences and Achievements you can add. Most notable are the extra essay questions available on TMDSAS applications, each with a 2,500-character maximum.

AMCAS Application Activities and Mini-Essays

1. Work & Activities
   • 15 maximum
   • 700 characters each
2. Most Meaningful Experience
   • 3 maximum
   • 1,325 characters each (in addition to 700 each for Work & Activities)
3. Mini-Essays
   • 1,325 characters each, if answering Yes to the following questions:
   • Have you ever matriculated at, or attended, any medical school as a candidate for a medical degree?
   • Were you ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even though such action may not have interrupted your enrollment or required you to withdraw?
   • Were you dishonorably discharged from the military? Please explain the circumstances of your discharge, including the circumstances leading to your discharge, your period of service, and your rank at the time of discharge.
   • Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a Felony crime, excluding 1) any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile, or 2) convictions which have been expunged or sealed by a court (in states where applicable)?
   • Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a Misdemeanor crime, excluding 1) any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile, 2) any convictions which have been expunged or sealed by a court, or 3) any misdemeanor convictions for which any probation has been completed and the case dismissed by the court (in states where applicable)?
   • Do you wish to be considered a disadvantaged applicant by any of your designated medical schools that may consider such factors (social, economic or educational)?

AACOMAS Experiences and Achievements and Mini-Essays

1. Experiences
   • No limit
   • 600 characters each
   • Categories: Non-Healthcare Employment, Extracurricular Activities, Non-Healthcare Volunteer or Community Enrichment, Healthcare Experience
2. Achievements
   • No limit
   • 600 characters each
   • Categories: Awards, Honors, Presentations, Publications, Scholarships
3. Mini-Essays
   • 500 character limit
   • Dishonorary discharge from the military
   • Have you ever been convicted of a Misdemeanor?
   • Have you ever been convicted of a Felony?
   • Have you ever been disciplined for academic performance by any college or school?
   • Have you ever been disciplined for student conduct violations by any college or school?
   • Were you ever denied readmission to any academic program due to academic conduct or performance?
   • Have you ever had any certification, registration, license or clinical privileges revoked, suspended or in any way restricted by an institution, state or locality?
4. Previous Attendance at a Medical School or Health Profession Program Questions
   • Have you ever matriculated in or attended any medical school or health profession as a candidate for a professional degree?
   • A 200-character limit to explain the school and program you attended
   • A 500-character limit to explain why you left

TMDSAS Personal Biography and Activities and Mini-Essays

1. Activities (Chronology of Activities, which includes everything between high school graduation and the summer of your application.)
   • 300 characters for Academic Recognition, Non-Academic Recognition, and Employment entries
   • 500 characters for Leadership, Research Activities, Healthcare Activities, Community Service, Extracurricular Activities
2. Most Meaningful Experience
   • Which of your previously listed activities were most meaningful and why?
   • 3 maximum
   • 500 characters each (in addition to 300 each in Activities)
3. Planned Activities
   • 300 characters each
   • Indicate future activities you plan on participating in between the application deadline and August.
   • This can include any future employment, future research, healthcare, community service, or extracurricular activities
4. Mini-Essays (Found in the Personal Information section)
   • 600 – 1,000 characters
   • Describe how your military experience prepared you for a career as a healthcare provider. (1,000 characters)
     
   • Have ever been arrested or charged with any violation of the law regardless of outcome? (600 characters to provide details.)
     
   • If you indicate that you consider yourself a non-traditional applicant, the following essay prompt will appear: “Describe the factors that have defined you as a non-traditional candidate and how they impact your application.” (1,000 characters)
5. Personal Characteristics
   • 2,500 characters
   • Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others.
6.  Optional Essay
   • 2,500 characters
   • The optional essay is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant. The essay is optional; however, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

GPA and MCAT Scores

MCAT and GPA score averages vary from year to year, but there are some common trends depending on the type of school and specific institution you’re looking at. In general, the MCAT and GPA scores required by AMCAS and TMDSAS schools are similar, with some schools in each requiring higher scores depending on how competitive it is to get into that institution. On average, osteopathic (DO) schools require lower MCAT and GPA scores for acceptance.

The following are the average scores for matriculants on overall GPA and total MCAT scores. These numbers only reflect average scores. To be a competitive applicant, you should set your goals much higher.

AMCAS Overall GPA Average: 3.79

AMCAS MCAT Score Average: 511.80

AACOMAS Overall GPA Average: 3.59

AACOMAS MCAT Score Average: 502.00

TMDSAS Overall GPA Average: 3.84

TMDSAS MCAT Score Average: 511.30

Final Thoughts

Although each application process is generally the same, each subtle difference adds up. It can be a lot to remember while already balancing a stressful schedule.

Applying through multiple services can add an extra layer of complexity to an already complicated process. Carefully consider whether you want to apply through multiple systems, since it will require adjusting your personal statement and may affect who you can ask for letters of recommendation. The sooner you decide which schools you want to apply to, the sooner you can plan your application strategy, so don’t delay making this decision.

Our free Med School Chance Predictor helps you craft a strategic list that will increase your acceptance odds. It will help you pinpoint the ideal 25-30 schools to apply to by analyzing the most recent med school data. Predict your acceptance chances and craft a tailored school list in minutes.