This AMCAS application guide will walk you through applying to med school. Read for expert AMCAS application guidance!
Applying to medical school can be an arduous process. So many different parts and pieces go into formulating a complete application. That’s where our complete guide to the AMCAS med school application comes into play.
There are three major steps in applying to medical school: the AMCAS primary application, secondary application, and interview – let’s dive in!
For those unfamiliar with the application process, the first thing you fill out is the primary application. The application includes everything you need to apply to a medical school:
Transcripts
Test scores
Letters of recommendation
Essays
Personal Statement
Identifying information
Once submitted, the application is sent to all schools you applied to (except Texas schools, which use the TMDSAS application). It can take AMCAS up to 8 weeks to process and verify the information.
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AMCAS Application Deadlines & Dates
AMCAS opens up in May – usually during the first week. From late May to early June, students can begin submitting their applications. AMCAS application deadlines depend on the schools you apply to – they all set their own deadlines (usually between October and February).
You can find a list of AMCAS-participating medical schools and their deadlines here on the AAMC’s website. While you can apply through AMCAS at any time during the application cycle, applying earlier is typically best – seats can fill up fast.
You’re more likely to stand out the closer you submit your application to the end of May or the start of June since seats are limited and most med schools have rolling admissions. This means schools review applications as they receive them. Therefore, if you submit your application later, you may be less likely to gain acceptance.
Your application must be submitted (not processed) by 11:59 p.m. ET on the school’s final AMCAS application date.
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How to Start Your AMCAS Med School Application
To start your application, load up the AMCAS website and follow the “Sign-in” prompt. You’ll be asked to sign in or create an account. If you have previously registered for the AMCAS application or the MCAT, you’ll already have an AAMC username and password.
If this is your first time logging in, create an account using your name and email. Once you’re signed in, you’re ready to tackle AMCAS’ nine sections. Remember to select the correct application cycle; if you want to start in the summer of this year, click the “Start the [this year] application” option.
If you're feeling overwhelmed about your application, our med school admissions counselors can help. By meeting with an expert, you'll support through every step of your application.
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AMCAS Primary Application – Section by Section
The primary AMCAS application has nine sections to fill out:
Identifying Information
Schools Attended
Biographic Information
Course Work and Official Transcripts
Work/ Activities
Letters of Evaluation
Medical Schools
Personal Essay
Standardized Test
Section 1: Identifying Information
In this first section, AMCAS asks for five things:
Your legal and preferred names, alternate names on your identification, college I.D. numbers, and birth date and sex.
Section 2: Schools Attended
This section includes:
Where you went to high school, and when you graduated
Any college you’ve been enrolled in (even if you didn’t finish)
College transcripts
If you’ve ever enrolled in college previously
Institutional action – if you’ve ever run into any problems requiring disciplinary action
Section 3: Biographic Information
This section includes:
Preferred Address
Permanent Address
Alternate Contact
Citizenship
Legal Residence
Self Identification
Languages
Childhood Information
Military Service
Military Discharge
Felony/Misdemeanour
Other Impactful Experiences
Parents and Guardians
Siblings
Dependants
Section4: Course Work and Official Transcripts
The AMCAS med school application asks for a transcript for every post-secondary institution you have attended, regardless of if you earned the credit. You’ll enter your courses, when you completed them, and the grades you received. AMCAS accepts electronic and paper transcripts.
Ensure you fill this section out carefully, as it’s a significant cause of processing delays and missed application deadlines. If your application information doesn’t match your transcript, AMCAS flags your application, causing delays in the process.
One of the most complex aspects of completing this section is classifying your courses based on the primary content of the course. AMCAS recommends you consult with your pre-health advisor and read course descriptions on your school website if you’re struggling to classify a course.
AMCAS has provided a handy Course Classification Guide with examples of typically categorized courses. For example, some examples of how AMCAS usually categorizes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math (BCPM) courses include:
Biology
Anatomy
Biology
Botany
Cell Biology
Ecology
Entomology
Immunology
Microbiology
Neuroscience
Zoology
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Thermodynamics
Physics
Astronomy
Physics
Mathematics
Applied Mathematics
Biostatistics
Statistics
Again, take your time with this section, as any inconsistencies can delay your application.
Section 5: Work and Activities
In the AMCAS Work and Activities section, you’ll list 15 different extracurricular activities that define your persona outside the classroom during college. You must list the total number of hours you spent on the experience, when the experience started and ended, and contact information.
AMCAS allows you to select three experiences that are the most meaningful to you. The different experience categories are:
Artistic Endeavors
Community Service/Volunteer - Medical/Clinical
Community Service/Volunteer - Non-Medical/Clinical
When you pick an activity as most meaningful, you have 700 characters to describe it and an additional 1325 characters to elaborate on what makes the experience meaningful to you. Focus on the life-changing aspect of the activity, the significance of your work, and how it contributed to your personal growth.
Section 6: Letters of Evaluation
The critical thing to note about this section is AMCAS doesn’t need your letters of recommendation to verify your application, so you can submit it even if your letters aren’t ready.
After your application is confirmed, your letters will be made available to medical schools. If your letters arrive after your application has been processed, AMCAS will forward them to schools on a rolling basis.
There are three types of letters of recommendation:
Committee Letter: A letter written to represent your institution’s evaluation of you by a pre-health committee or pre-health advisor.
Letter Packet: A package or collection of letters circulated by your institution (usually the career center) that may include a cover sheet from your pre-health committee or advisor. A Letter Packet doesn’t have an evaluative letter from your pre-health committee or advisor, unlike a committee letter.
Individual Letter: A letter written by one author.
Check school requirements to understand who you should ask for recommendations!
Other Special Program (OSP): A special program offered by medical schools and vary from one school to another
Other programs may require additional application materials.
Section 8: Personal Essay
This is arguably the most critical application material: the personal statement. In 5300 characters or less, you must explain why you want to attend medical school. The AAMC recommends typing your letter directly into the AMCAS application rather than copying and pasting it from another word processor to avoid formatting issues.
You can use a text-only program to copy and paste your text into the application if you prefer. Formatted text can cause problems in the application, and you’ll be unable to edit it once submitted.
Section 9 – Standardized Test
You are almost done with your AAMC medical school application! This final section is relatively straightforward, thankfully. Your MCAT scores should already be linked to your application and listed in this section. If you have not taken the test yet or your scores are still due to arrive, include the dates that these events will occur.
After receiving your scores, remember to update these fields to your actual results, even if they arrive after you submit the AMCAS application. Without your scores from the MCAT, your AAMC application will still be valid. However, the medical schools you apply to need them, so it is best to have everything good.
In this section, programs such as MD-PhD or other degrees may require you to submit other test results. Enter them here, treating each separately. The AMCAS application only verifies your MCAT scores; it is up to you to ensure any other test scores are accurate.
After filling out the last section, you certify your application in total, hit Submit, and pay any applicable fees. And just like that, you’re done!
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Step-by-Step Guide to Fill out Your Medical School Application
1. Account Registration and Personal Info
Sign up on the AMCAS website by following the provided steps.
Obtain an AMCAS ID for future use and reference.
Gather all necessary information before registering for your application account. Ensure to fill out all personal details accurately to sync up your MCAT info and maintain account security. Stick to one account; avoid signing up for multiple accounts.
The registration page is straightforward, resembling the provided example from AAMC. Remember, if you need help with your AMCAS application, reach out to AMCAS directly.
Familiarize yourself with post-submission procedures.
Before diving into the AMCAS application, know your deadlines. Different schools may have different ones. Also, get to know the verification process; it usually takes about six to eight weeks. And don't forget to brush up on what happens after you hit "submit."
3. Starting an AMCAS Application
Select the application cycle.
Provide your personal information.
Now, let's get started on your actual application. Pick the cycle you're applying for, then spill the beans on who you are—your name, citizenship, etc.
4. AMCAS Coursework
List out all your college courses.
Sort them into categories and calculate your GPA.
Time to lay out all your college courses on the table. Write down each one you've taken, along with the grades and credits you earned. And don't forget to sort them into the right categories—science or not science—since they all count towards your GPA.
5. AMCAS Transcripts
Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.
Understand the transcript submission process.
Gather up those official transcripts from every college you've ever been to. AMCAS needs them, either sent electronically or by mail. Just make sure you follow their rules to keep things moving smoothly.
Eager to learn more? Download our cheatsheet today.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoiding these common mistakes when completing your AMCAS medical school application boosts your chances of success!
1. Filler Activity
If there are activities you cannot discuss in-depth, it’s better to leave them out. Your interviewer can ask you about anything on your application, and if they ask you about an activity you have limited experience with, you won’t be able to give a satisfactory answer. It’s better to leave it out than use it to fill space.
2. Grammar/Spelling Mistakes
Always be sure to proofread your application. Small errors and typos can distract med school admissions committees. Have others proofread your application to ensure everything is polished.
3. Listing Accomplishments From High School In The Experience Section
You may have achievements from high school which you want to talk about. While they may be important to you, it’s better to go with more recent accomplishments and experiences.
4. Not Grouping Related Activities Together
It’s good to group similar and less important activities instead of using up space on the application. For example, if you shadowed three different doctors, there’s no need to list it as three separate activities. This will save you space in case you need it.
5. Overlapping Information In The Experience Section And Your Personal Statement
It can be easy to repeat yourself in these two sections. When you’re writing about your most meaningful activities, share how they played a role in your journey to want to become a doctor.
Your personal statement is a chance to tell detailed stories. The goal is to have these two sections complement each other without being repetitive.
What Is the Secondary Application?
Once your AMCAS primary application has been submitted, processed, and verified, the AAMC sends it to your selected med schools. Secondary applications are specific to each school, meaning you must tailor them to the schools that sent them.
While creating several school-specific secondary applications sounds like a lot of work, replying to programs with the same generic answers can harm your chances of admission.
As Alex Tan, the Director of the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program at Johns Hopkins University, notes, these essays “afford you the opportunity to send a tailored, unique ambassador to each and every school.”
While your essay responses will likely share similarities, Tan urges you to “emphasize different details about the experience or give different examples entirely.”
AMCAS Application FAQs
To help you ace your med school application and understand the process, we’ve included several questions and answers about AMCAS.
1. What Is the AMCAS Application Deadline?
The Early Decision Program (EDP) has a deadline of early August. If the start of August falls on a weekend, it will be the next business day. All other deadlines are set by schools and usually fall between August and December.
You must submit your application no later than 11:59 pm E.T. on the deadline.
2. What if I Don’t Have a Contact to List for My Activity/Experience?
You may use the email or phone number of someone else who can verify your experience if the original point of contact cannot be reached. If you have no one you can think of as a contact, you can list yourself as the contact person and explain in the description why there’s no valid contact person that can be reached for that experience.
3. How Many Letters of Recommendation Can Be Sent to AMCAS?
You can send up to 10 letters to AMCAS. This doesn’t mean that one school wants to receive ten letters. AMCAS gives you that many letters to write specific letters to specific schools.
4. How Much Does It Cost to Use AMCAS?
The processing fee is $170 and includes one medical school designation. It is $43 for each additional school.
5. How Does the AMCAS Verification Process Work?
Once you submit your application to AMCAS, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Once your transcripts arrive and your application is submitted, the AMCAS verification process begins.
Your application is entered into the verification queue, which can take up to eight weeks to process. AMCAS verifies the coursework you entered with your transcript to see if everything aligns. If there are discrepancies, AMCAS returns your application, causing a delay that may result in missed deadlines.
6. What if I Miss the AMCAS Deadline?
Under no circumstances does AMCAS offer deadline extensions – schools may. If you need an extension, it’s best to contact the school and request one. If approved, the school will notify AMCAS to proceed accordingly.
Once the application has been submitted, the schools you entered in the application can’t be changed or removed, even if you miss a deadline.
7. Can I Change or Correct Things After Hitting Submit?
It depends on which section of the application you are hoping to change. After hitting Submit, you can only change the following sections:
ID Numbers.
Name, including Full Legal Name, Preferred Name, and Alternate Names.
Contact Information, including Permanent and Preferred Mailing Addresses.
Alternate Contact Information.
Date of Birth, Birth Address, and Sex.
Letters of Evaluation (only additions of up to 10 letters and notifying the AMCAS application of a letter no longer being sent).
Your next MCAT testing or PREview date.
Add Medical Schools and change the existing Program type (deadlines, fees, and restrictions apply).
Choosing to release your application information to your pre-health advisor.
If you need any help with the AMCAS application, contact the helpline.
8. When Is Too Late to Submit the AMCAS Application?
While you may have a better chance of acceptance by applying earlier, you can submit your application by a school’s deadline. However, it’s often too late to submit your application past the deadline (unless you get an extension from the school).
9. When Will the AMCAS Application Open for Medical School in 2026?
AMCAS is opening on May 2nd 2026. Check the AMCAS website for the latest updates.
10. Can I Submit My AMCAS Application Without Letters of Recommendation?
You are free to submit your AMCAS application without letters of recommendation, as you can upload them after you click submit. However, you can’t forego letters of recommendation altogether. Letters of recommendation are a required part of the AMCAS application.
11. Can I Fill Out the AMCAS Application at Different Times, Instead of All at Once?
Yes. Remember to save your progress in the AMCAS application and do not let anyone see your AAMC medical school application. Please note that the AMCAS application automatically times itself out after 30 minutes of no activity, so it is part of best practices to save often anyway.
12. Can I Track My Application After I Submit?
Once your AMCAS medical school application has been processed and verified, it’s entered into the AAMC’s processing queue. The AAMC recommends that you continually check the status of your application throughout the application process.
Click on the “Details” link in the AAMC med school application’s Main Menu to check its status
AMCAS Application: You Can Do This
It can be easy to be overwhelmed by the multi-step AMCAS med school application process. Remember to proofread your application, have all documents ready, and put considerable time and thought into your personal statement to improve your chances of admission.
Most of the work is already done: the hours of volunteering, the years of pursuing your interests and activities, the sleepless nights spent studying for your classes, and everything that has led you to this path. All that’s left is communicating your competence and persistence through your application!
Dr. Jonathan Preminger was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
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