Applying to Medical School: Using AMCAS
The American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS) is a centralized application processing service operated by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). It is important to note that AMCAS does not make any admissions decisions for medical schools; those decisions are made solely by the individual institutions. The service verifies your academic history and transmits your application information along with your MCAT scores to the medical schools you have designated.
The AMCAS application streamlines the initial stages of the medical school application process. Instead of requiring applicants to complete separate applications for each medical school you want to apply to, you only need to complete a single AMCAS online application. Most U.S. allopathic medical schools (schools that award an M.D. degree) use the AMCAS application as their primary application for their entering class. Continue reading to learn more about the AMCAS application process and the steps you’ll have to complete.
[ READ NEXT: The Prerequisites for Medical School ]
When does the AMCAS application open?
The AMCAS application opens in early May for the class entering in the fall of the following year. Initially, the AMCAS application is only “open” for applicants to work on their application. Applicants can officially submit their AMCAS application in late May. Many medical schools utilize a rolling admissions process, which means that applicants are reviewed in the approximate order in which their applications are received. Consequently, those applicants who are reviewed earlier may have the opportunity to interview first, and potentially receive earlier admissions decisions compared to other candidates. Submitting your primary application, MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, and later secondary applications may provide a significant competitive edge.
Each medical school determines its own deadline for submitting the AMCAS application. A comprehensive list of AMCAS-participating medical schools, and their respective AMCAS application deadlines, may be found on the AAMC website. The deadline for submitting an application through the Early Decision Program, the deadline is August 1. More information about the Early Decision Program may be found here.
2025 AMCAS Application Fees
AMCAS fees vary during each application cycle. Below are the 2025 AMCAS fees.
- Primary application fee: $175 for the first school
- Additional school fee: $46 per school
Note that not all medical schools use AMCAS. Some use either the AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service) or TMDSAS (Texas Medical and Dental Application Service), which will have different application fees.
AMCAS Application Sections
The AAMC breaks down the AMCAS application into nine sections. Here’s a quick overview of the information and documentation you’ll need to provide on your AMCAS application:
- Name, birth, gender, ID numbers
- Schools attended
- Biographic and contact information
- Official transcripts and coursework information
- Work experience, extracurriculars, awards
- Letters of recommendation
- List of medical schools you’re applying to
- Personal statement
- MCAT score and AAMC PREview® Score (and any other relevant test scores)
What happens after you complete your AMCAS application?
AMCAS will review and verify your completed application even if you do not yet received your MCAT scores. While many medical schools will send secondary applications to applicants who do not yet have MCAT scores available, others will require your verified AMCAS application, and MCAT scores before deciding to send you a secondary application. Additionally, all schools will require a completed secondary application and letters of recommendation before extending an invitation to interview.
AMCAS FAQs
Below, we answer some FAQs about the AMCAS application.
Can you edit the AMCAS application?
Once you have submitted your AMCAS application, only limited edits are allowed. Changes to your coursework, grades, personal statement, or activities section are not permitted. However, you can modify certain personal information and medical school designations. Additionally, you may add new letters of recommendation, but you may not delete or edit any letters once they have been submitted. For a comprehensive overview of permissible changes, visit the AAMC website.
Can you apply to more medical schools after submitting the AMCAS application?
Yes, you can designate additional schools to receive your AMCAS application, provided that the application deadlines for these schools have not passed. Please note that an additional fee of $46 will be charged for each extra medical school added.
Can you withdraw your AMCAS application?
You can withdraw your AMCAS application if it has one of the following statuses:
- Submitted to AMCAS–Ready for Review
- Submitted to AMCAS–Waiting for Transcripts
- Returned
Note that the AMCAS application fee of $175 is non-refundable. Withdrawing your AMCAS application constitutes a final decision, and prevents you from reapplying for the current application year.
When do medical schools notify you of acceptance?
Applicants who have applied Early Decision are notified of their application status by October 1. AMCAS medical schools may begin notifying all other applicants about acceptances on October 15, continuing into the spring. Most candidates can expect to receive a decision by the middle of May.
Does AMCAS notify you of medical school admissions decisions?
AMCAS does not notify applicants of admissions decisions. All determinations regarding acceptance, rejection, or placement on a waitlist are conveyed directly by the respective medical schools. Notifications are typically communicated via email.
Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Maria Lofftus, JD and Claudia Mikail, MD, MPH. Maria has extensive experience in graduate admissions and was part of the AAMC’s National Committee on Diversity. Dr. Mikhail is a practicing physician, professor, author, diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and a member of the American College of Medical Genetics.
