Applying to medical school is a tedious, challenging, and time-consuming process. There are many moving pieces to keep track of, and everything must follow the guidelines of the service through which you are applying.
We compiled a list of medical school application FAQs to answer the questions we hear most often.
We answer the following questions below:
- Where do I submit my application?
- What’s the difference between AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS?
- Can I submit my application through multiple services?
- When are primary applications due?
- When are secondary applications due?
- How many schools should I apply to?
- How do I choose which medical schools to apply to?
- How much does it cost to apply to medical school?
- What extracurricular experience do I need to get into medical school?
- How many letters of recommendation are required?
- What makes a good personal statement?
- What GPA and MCAT score is needed to get into medical school?
- When should I take the MCAT?
- What if my grades or MCAT scores aren’t good enough?
- What’s the Casper test, and how do I know if I need to take it?
- What is AAMC PREview, and do I need to take it?
1. Where Do I Submit My Application?
Most medical students will submit their application through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). AMCAS is the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service and primary application method for first-year entering classes for the majority of medical schools in the US.
Regardless of how many schools you apply to, you only need to submit one set of application materials to AMCAS. The service simplifies the already complicated process of applying to medical school by collecting, verifying, and delivering your application materials to the schools you apply to. AMCAS does not, however, have any say in admissions decisions. Those decisions are made exclusively by the individual medical schools.
If you are planning to apply to allopathic (MD) medical schools in Texas or osteopathic (DO) programs anywhere in the US, you will need to use different application services—TMDSAS and AACOMAS, respectively.
2. What’s the Difference Between AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS?
There are three medical school application services used in the United States: the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), and the Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service (TMDSAS).
AMCAS is the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service, which means the vast majority of medical schools across the US use this service. If you’re exclusively applying to allopathic programs outside of Texas, you only need to submit one set of application materials through AMCAS.
AACOMAS is the centralized application service for the US colleges of osteopathic medicine. It’s the primary application method for students who want to study osteopathy. If you are exclusively applying to osteopathic programs, you only need to submit one set of application materials through AACOMAS.
TMDSAS is the primary application service for most medical schools located in Texas, including dental and veterinary schools. The state of Texas has its own centralized medical school application service because it generally only accepts about 10% of out-of-state applicants. Texas has 16 medical schools, and 14 of those use TMDSAS. If you are exclusively applying to those 14 programs, you only need to submit one set of application materials through TMDSAS.
If you are planning to apply to programs inside and outside of Texas or are considering applying to both allopathic and osteopathic programs, you will need to use more than one application service. While AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS all have similar application requirements, there are subtle differences that you must be aware of.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our guide comparing AMCAS vs. AACOMAS vs. TMDSAS.
3. Can I Submit My Application Through Multiple Services?
Yes. You can apply through AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS, but you will need to submit separately, and there are slight differences in the application requirements between services.
A few examples of the differences are as follows:
Personal statement length:
AMCAS: 5,300 characters
AACOMAS: 5,300 characters
TMDSAS: 5,000 characters
Letters of recommendation requirements:
AMCAS: 3-10 total letters
AACOMAS: 2-6 total letters (one must be from a DO)
TMDSAS: 3-4 total letters
4. When Are Primary Applications Due?
The AMCAS application typically opens during the first week of May for the following year’s medical school class. As AMCAS submissions don’t open until the end of May or early June, you have a month or so to prepare the application. For example, if you want to begin medical school in the fall of 2027, you’ll need to start the application process in the spring of 2026.
Technically speaking, medical school primary applications close between October to December. After that, you will be unable to apply to medical school until the following year.
However, applying to medical school is an extremely competitive process. Applicants who submit early have the best chance of acceptance. We consider even September too late to submit an application, so if it’s getting to the end of the summer and you haven’t applied yet, we recommend waiting until the following year.
The ideal time to submit your application is within the first two weeks of June, shortly after applications open. Submitting later in June or early July is still fine, but keep in mind that you’re competing against thousands of applicants, many of whom will be submitting as soon as possible. Give yourself every opportunity—don’t start the race behind other candidates!
Your chances continue to decrease the later you submit due to rolling submissions. Starting early is one of the best things you can do to increase your chances of acceptance.
Find Out How Late You Can Submit Your Application without Consequence.
5. When Are Secondary Applications Due?
You will likely receive a secondary application within two to four weeks of submitting your primary application. It’s imperative that you complete your secondaries within 14 days of receiving them. It’s a short turnaround window by any stretch of the imagination, which means it is vital that you prepare well in advance to ensure you submit a quality response quickly.
It’s essential to keep in mind that you could receive a secondary application from each of the medical schools you applied to. Secondary applications are a win-win for admissions committees. Although secondaries used to be a sign that a school was interested in you, they are now a chance for medical schools to collect extra fees and for admissions committees to see which applicants are genuinely interested in joining their program.
So, if you submit an application to 25 medical schools at once, it’s possible that you’ll receive as many secondaries around the same time. This is a considerable amount of work that comes at a time when many medical students are feeling burned out by the application process.
This is why we recommend that you begin writing your secondaries before you receive them. Although the format and specificity of the essay questions you receive will be slightly different from school to school, they often ask the same general questions surrounding why you want to attend that specific program and what makes you a uniquely perfect fit. The similar nature of the questions means you will be able to recycle many of your responses.
For more information and strategies, read our Medical School Secondary Application Guide.
6. How Many Schools Should I Apply to?
According to AAMC, the average number of schools students apply to through AMCAS is 18, but that’s only the average. But following what’s average gives you average results.
We consider applying to 25 programs a safe and intelligent choice.
Although it may take a bit more time and money, it’s far more effective and worthwhile to apply to more schools. It has a highly asymmetric risk profile, meaning the upside is far greater than the potential downside.
Consider this: The average cost to apply to one additional medical school is about $150. Now compare that to reapplying next year. That’s thousands of dollars in application fees, lost income from delaying your career by a year, and the emotional cost of rejection.
The math is straightforward: Applying to 25-30 schools might cost about a thousand dollars more upfront, but it dramatically increases your chances of acceptance.
In the grand scheme of things, a little extra effort and cost are well worth it to ensure you are accepted the first time you apply.
Learn more: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To?
7. How Do I Choose Which Medical Schools to Apply to?
There are a number of important factors to consider when deciding which medical schools to apply to. It is a time-consuming and painstaking process, and it’s one you should start considering right away—ideally, long before you begin the actual application process, so you have ample time to fully consider and assess your options.
What to consider when deciding which medical schools to apply to:
- Where you have the best chance of acceptance
- School tuition and fees
- Financial aid opportunities
- The cost of living
- School location
- Whether or not you want to be an osteopath
- If you want to attend a Texas medical school
- Personal interests in medicine (specialties)
- Reputation and ranking of the school
- Your own gut feeling
For a full list of considerations, read our comprehensive guide: How to Decide Which Medical Schools to Apply to.
8. How Much Does It Cost to Apply to Medical School?
There are a number of different costs associated with applying to medical school, and your total count depends on a number of factors, including how many schools you apply to and the number of in-person interviews you attend.
First, the MCAT itself costs more than $300 for applicants who don’t qualify for fee assistance. Additionally, you may need to pay for Casper or AAMC PREview, which are situational judgment tests required by some schools.
The AMCAS primary application fee is $175 for sending application materials to one school and $47 for each additional school.
There are also secondary application fees to consider, which range in cost. Fees for secondaries are typically around $100 per school, but the cost can range from $30 to $200, depending on the school’s prestige. If you apply to 25 or more schools, which we recommend, that’s $2,500 for secondaries alone.
Travel expenses for interviews are where the real costs add up. This can include multiple flights, hotels, city transportation, as well as a tailored suit to look your best during interview season. Even if your interviews are conducted online, we still strongly recommend you visit the campuses of the schools you’re most considering attending.
9. What Extracurricular Experience Do I Need to Get Into Medical School?
Although Work and Activities is the fifth section of nine on the medical school application, it’s often the section that admissions committees start with to get a better sense of who you are and your unique interests.
It’s essential to think strategically about what to include in this section. Admissions committees want to see that you have experience in a few core areas: clinical exposure, research, and community involvement. This demonstrates that you have the relevant interests and well-rounded experience to understand whether or not you really want to become a physician.
It’s not necessary for you to spend equal time in all of these areas. Passion is what the admissions committee is most interested in since you are much more likely to take on a leadership role in an activity you feel passionate about. Leadership is one of the most critical traits in prospective physicians, so choose activities you are genuinely interested in.
Learn the ins and outs of the Work and Activities section with our AMCAS Work and Activities Guide.
10. How Many Letters of Recommendation Are Required?
The number of letters of recommendation you need varies between schools and application services. Regardless of the application service you’re using to apply, it’s most important to find out how many letters are required for each individual school.
You will generally be covered if you acquire 4-5 strong letters of recommendation across science, non-science, and extracurriculars. If you are exclusively applying to medical schools in Texas, you only need 3-4 letters of recommendation.
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
- Choose 1-2 of:
- 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 MUST 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
11. What Makes a Good Personal Statement?
The medical school personal statement is your chance to tell an admissions committee your story and demonstrate how your unique experiences shaped your desire and drive to study medicine. Who are you beyond your grades and achievements? Why do you want to become a doctor, and what personal strengths, qualities, and experiences make you uniquely qualified to study and practice medicine?
The operative word here is story. A good personal statement presents a cohesive narrative from start to finish. It’s not just forming your CV and extracurriculars into complete sentences, and it’s not simply stating that you have a passion for medicine and helping people—you have to demonstrate your personal strengths and unique qualifications through narrative examples from your life.
12. What GPA and MCAT Scores Are Needed to Get Into Medical School?
The GPA and MCAT score requirements vary from state to state and school to school, so it’s essential to check the specific averages for the programs you’re most interested in attending. That said, these are the general averages:
GPA and MCAT averages of matriculants:
AMCAS Overall GPA Average: 3.74
AMCAS MCAT Score Average: 511.90
AACOMAS Overall GPA Average: 3.54
AACOMAS MCAT Score Average: 504.31
TMDSAS Overall GPA Average: 3.79
TMDSAS MCAT Score Average: 510.80
For more details, check out What MCAT Score You Should Aim For?
13. When Should I Take the MCAT?
If you plan on attending medical school immediately after college, we recommend taking the MCAT during the summer after your sophomore year. If you plan on taking a year off after college, we recommend you take the MCAT during the summer between your junior and senior years.
14. What If My Grades or MCAT Scores Aren’t Good Enough?
You must be realistic about your likelihood of acceptance to the medical schools of your choosing. You are going up against thousands of qualified and dedicated med school applicants, and some programs are more cutthroat than others.
A solid GPA and high MCAT score are certainly important, but not as important as you think. Plus, it’s important to keep in mind that there’s no guarantee you’ll perform any better if you retake the MCAT.
Investing in MCAT tutoring from the beginning will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to develop a study strategy tailored to your individual needs. But it’s not only about your MCAT score.
If your grades are lacking, focus on improving other aspects of your application, such as your personal statement, and refine your interview skills. A stellar applicant with a perfect 528 on the MCAT can ruin their chances of acceptance with a bad interview, a poorly written personal statement, or by submitting their application late.
15. What’s the Casper Test, and Do I Need to Take It?
Casper stands for “Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics.”
As you may have guessed from the title, Casper is a computer-based test that assesses your interpersonal skills, ethics, empathy, and collaboration. In other words, Casper measures the kind of person you are beyond your grades and hard skills.
Dozens of medical schools require applicants to take Casper. Here is a complete list of every school and program that requires Casper.
The test consists of two unique sections. In the first portion of the test, you answer questions based on scenarios over a live video recording. In the second section, you’ll type your responses. It’s not a test you can study for in the traditional sense, but it’s critical that you prepare for Casper’s unique format. This is a test you can only take once per application cycle.
16. What Is AAMC PREview, and Do I Need to Take It?
Much like Casper, the AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam is a situational judgment test designed to evaluate a premed’s awareness of effective and ineffective professional behaviors, but it is instead developed and administered by the AAMC.
The PREview exam is composed of a series of hypothetical scenarios that students may be faced with in medical school. Students are asked to assess the effectiveness of behavioral responses to each of these scenarios in a multiple-choice format.
Admissions committees will use the applicant’s responses to determine if they, in addition to strong academic metrics, possess the temperament, empathy, and ethical decision-making necessary to be a medical student and future physician.
Schools continue to add PREview as a requirement. Here is a complete list of every school and program that requires PREview.
Med School Insiders Can Answer Your Questions
Applying to medical school comes with a lot of questions, and Med School Insiders has the answers. We will help you make all of the right decisions to reach your full potential.
We’ll help you craft a stand-out application that will get you accepted at the schools of your choosing based on key tactics that only the top-performing physicians know about.
