The 3 Main Medical School Applications Every Premed Must Know

Mar 31, 2021

medical school applications

There are three stages to the medical school application process: primary applications, secondary applications, and interviews. The primary application is the initial application a medical school receives. Secondary applications (a.k.a. supplemental applications) are school-specific applications sent to an applicant after the primary application has been approved. Finally, the interview is when you visit the school and get the chance to talk to the faculty directly. 

All U.S. medical schools use 1 of 3 application services: AMCAS, TMDSAS, and AAMCOMAS. Each medical school program only uses one application service. Knowing the difference between these three main medical school application services prior to applying can help you prepare for the different components of each application. In this article, we will discuss each of these medical school application services and the differences between them. 

American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)

Used by: U.S. allopathic (M.D.) medical schools
Application Cost: $170 for first medical school. Additional medical schools cost $41 each.
Application opening date: AMCAS opens May 4, 2021.

AMCAS is the AAMC’s centralized medical school application service. Most M.D. medical schools located in the United States use AMCAS as their primary application method. 

Official AMCAS Website
AMCAS Application
List of medical schools that use AMCAS

Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)

Used by: Texas allopathic and osteopathic medical schools
Application Cost: $185 flat rate regardless of how many schools you apply to.
Application opening date: TMDSAS opens May 1, 2021

TMDSAS is the medical school application service for medical schools, dental schools and veterinarian schools in Texas. Medical school applicants can use TMDSAS to apply to medical schools in the state of Texas. 

Official TMDSAS Website
TMDSAS Application
List of medical schools that use TMDSAS

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) 

Used by: U.S. osteopathic (D.O) medical schools
Application Cost: $196 for first medical school. Additional medical schools cost $46 each.
Application opening date: AACOMAS opens May 5th, 2021.

AACOMAS is the centralized online application service for the US osteopathic medical schools. 

Official AACOMAS Website
AACOMAS Application
List of medical schools that use AACOMAS

15 Free MCAT Practice Tests

Preparing for the MCAT can be very expensive. Test prep companies can cost over $10,000. Luckily, there are many alternative methods to study and prepare for the MCAT on a budget. One of the most important tasks you can do to prepare for the MCAT is taking practice...
Read More

What Type of Research Impresses Medical Schools in 2023?

If you want to stand out in your medical school applications, you need to know what type of research impresses medical schools. In the competitive world of academia, an additional way to stand out in your medical school applications is to get involved with research...
Read More

Classes to take before the MCAT

When deciding what classes to take during your premed undergraduate career, you should keep in mind a list of prerequisite courses for medical schools and a list of courses that will help you sufficiently prepare for the MCAT.  In this article, we will discuss...
Read More

Useful Websites for Premeds

The advent of technology has changed nearly every industry. From smart cars to smart phones, our world will never be the same. As we navigate our new modern world, we can’t help but feel nostalgia for the past. Our ancestors were intelligent and they read physical...
Read More

Money Saving Tips for the MCAT

There are many costs associated with becoming a doctor. Undergrad tuition, rent, groceries, car payments, medical school application fees, the list goes on. Although the price to become a doctor is different for all of us, we can all agree it is not cheap. Therefore,...
Read More

MCAT Prep Courses: A Collective List

If you're reading this, then you're probably looking for the best MCAT prep courses out there. And that's a great idea! The MCAT is one of the most important tests you will ever take, and it's crucial that you do everything possible to prepare for it. This article...
Read More

15 White Coat Ceremony Gift Guide – [2023 edition]

If you were invited to a white coat ceremony, congratulations! This is a momentous occasion for your loved one to receive his/her/their first white coat and commit to a lifelong career in medicine. Even if you just attended your loved one’s graduation from a...
Read More

Ion Names – A List of Common Monatomic and Polyatomic Ions

This article discusses ionic nomenclature and common ion names for both monatomic and polyatomic ions and includes a list for reference. What is an ion? Before we discuss common ion names, let's talk about what an ion is. An ion is an electrically charged atom or...
Read More

7 Ways to Force Yourself to Stay In and Study When You Have Zero Motivation

Exam season is coming up. Consequently, you have to dedicate the next few days to studying. The only problem is you’d rather do anything but study. Maybe the class you are studying for is not particularly interesting. Maybe you rather be socializing with...
Read More

Pre-med Summer Programs for Undergraduates – Updated 2023 List

Summer for pre-meds is the perfect time to venture out of the classroom! We have curated a list of pre-med summer programs all over the country with their most current website links, deadlines, and program dates. Med school admissions highly favor students who...
Read More
Download a printable list of M.D. medical schools in the United States
do med school list