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

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

The MCAT Score You Need to Get Into Medical School

Everyone asks the question: “What MCAT score do I need to get into medical school?” But, there isn’t a definitive answer. To be a competitive applicant into your school of interest, your MCAT score must be above the average percentile of admitted students. However, a...
Read More

Post-bacc vs. Masters – 2023 Comparative Guide – Premed

Many premed students often ask, what is the difference between a post-bacc and a master’s program? This guide will cover everything you need to know about the two.  It’s no secret that medical school is hard to get into. According to the Association of American...
Read More

Update Letter Medical School Guide, Examples and Templates

In this update letter medical school guide, we show you how to write a great letter that can get you off the waitlist and into the entering medical school class. How to write an update letter for medical school admissions committees So you've been waitlisted by your...
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

Secondaries Fees List | Medical School Applications 2023

In this article, we share a list of secondary application fees for M.D. medical schools in the United States. Medical school applications are expensive. From the AMCAS, TMDSAS, and AACOMAS primary applications, to secondary application fees, to interview flights and...
Read More

How to Attend Medical School for Free

In this article, we will explore three main options that can help you to attend medical school for free or with minimal cost!

Read More

AAMC PREView: The Ultimate Exam Guide in 2023

The AAMC PREview exam assesses your understanding of pre-professional behavior. As an entering medical student, your understanding of these behaviors is important so that you can be successful through school and into residency! AAMC PREview Exam overview  With a...
Read More

10 Tips for How to Shadow Surgeries

Shadowing a surgeon may seem straightforward--stand in the back and be quiet, but ask questions. However, during the time of surgery, it may seem a little intimidating to ask questions about the procedure. Most likely, the OR will be full of nurses, surgical...
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
Download a printable list of M.D. medical schools in the United States
do med school list