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AMCAS and AACOMAS applications

2026 application cycle

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Overview

  • Reminder! All application resources, including event videos and shorter video messages from our office, are available on the 2026 cycle page of our website.
  • Today we are looking at AMCAS and AACOMAS primary applications only: no TMDSAS, international schools, or secondaries, though I am happy to field questions on those if there is time
  • General advice:
    • Use application instructions!
    • Connect with relevant entities on social media
    • Use the “applying” section of our website as a resource
    • Reach out with questions: to us, to the application services, to the medical schools
  • You will be connecting with:
    • Primary app service(s), Interfolio, Acuity Insights, the AAMC (for PREview/MCAT), registrar(s), individual medical schools, me, Jackie

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General timing

  • Individual letters: Due in Interfolio by May 15. We can be flexible if a letter writer needs some extra time. Communicate with us if that is the case.
  • AACOMAS: Opened today! Can submit now; applications transmitted to schools as they are verified. Secondaries may be sent after that or may be part of the primary.
  • TMDSAS: Open now; can submit beginning May 15; applications sent to schools as verified.
  • AMCAS: Open now; can submit beginning May 27; first transmission of applications to schools on June 27; secondaries will be sent after that.
  • MCAT score: June 15 is the deadline to take the MCAT and remain eligible for a committee letter. It is possible to submit your application before taking the test, but usually not advisable.
  • Committee letters: To maintain eligibility for a committee letter, no later than July 15 you must:
    • Have all of your individual letters in Interfolio, already checked/approved by Jackie
    • Have an MCAT score
    • Submit at least one primary application to at least one school�
  • Extension requests: If you need to request an extension to your MCAT or application submission deadline, that request is due by July 1. Email Jackie. Extensions are not guaranteed.

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General timing

Will the application service verify my application before the committee letter is complete?

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  • Yes, and schools will send secondary applications. They will not review your file until:
    • Primary is verified
    • Secondary is submitted
    • Committee letter is submitted
    • Final MCAT score is available
    • PREview or Casper score is available (when required) �
  • Typically, several of these things are happening at once, and it all comes together at the end.
  • We encourage you to have your MCAT score and submit your application in June if possible.

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Tips on writing the application

  • Your story is not only in your personal statement
  • The primary application (including personal statement), secondary applications, and the interview are all critical to showing schools who you are.
  • Parts of the application with space to write:
    • Personal statement (all applications)
    • Work/activities (limit of 15 for AMCAS, with 3 “most meaningful;” no limit for TMDSAS and 3 “most meaningful;” no limit for AACOMAS and no “most meaningful”)
    • Personal characteristics essay (TMDSAS)
    • Other impactful or unique experiences (AMCAS & TMDSAS, optional)
    • Why MD/PhD; significant research experience (MD/PhD applicants only, required)
    • If you answer “yes” to any of the questions about institutional action, felony, misdemeanor, denial of readmission, or license infraction

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Tips on writing the application

  • How will it all fit together? What are the primary messages, themes, pieces of information you want to be sure come across clearly in the application? What should most stand out?
  • Take advantage of the spaces offered to reflect on your experiences.
  • For the big picture: Consider using/returning to the life map exercise from the essay workshop
  • For the details: Consider using some of the reflection questions from your pre-application, or other spaces where you have done reflective writing
  • Have at least one person review each full application before you submit (I am available for that review)

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AMCAS: tools

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After submitting your application

  • Be sure to check your application’s status (be sure transcripts have arrived, see when you may be verified). Processing updates posted each morning on AMCAS home page.
  • Review the AMCAS Application and Acceptance Protocols
  • What can be updated after an application is submitted?
    • Identifying and contact information
    • Future MCAT and PREview test dates
    • Adding new medical schools and new letters
    • Remove/delete unassigned letters, indicate letter no longer being sent
    • Update advisor release

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After submitting your application

  • 133 of 155 AMCAS schools do criminal background checks. Done after January 1 for those accepted. For those on waitlists, done after May 15 only at the request of individual medical school. Applicants have 10 days to review the report before it is available to medical schools.
  • AMCAS schools do not see where else applicants have applied
  • Except, starting April 30, 2026, schools can see whether applicants who they have admitted or who are waitlisted are planning to enroll elsewhere.

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AACOMAS

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After submitting your application

  • Continue to check status and notifications using “View My Notifications” and “Check Status” in your dashboard. Notifications are not sent for missing items.
  • What can be updated after an application is submitted?
    • Contact & profile information
    • Update advisor release
    • Adding medical schools
    • Editing or deleting evaluations that remain incomplete; adding new evaluations
    • Adding new test scores, experiences, achievements, and/or certifications, if applicable (you are unable to edit or delete existing entries).
    • Editing in-progress experiences
    • Editing program materials for programs you have not yet submitted to (programs you have already submitted to will be locked).
    • Adding optional documents to programs that you already submitted to (all other sections will be locked).
  • All AACOMAS schools require criminal background checks of those who will matriculate
  • While AACOMAS does not show schools where else you have applied, some schools may ask in their secondary or interview whether you have applied elsewhere.

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Link to Google sheet shown in the presentation – when a transcript is required:

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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GyF5dN-yAWeLvwD_38YFyieDEi-JF4So3-SLzc7BUT4/edit?usp=sharing

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Other questions now?