Like the common application for college, the schools you're applying to use centralized application services (CAS). These are the application timelines and official resources from the application portals. Information is subject to change by the respective organizations and may reflect information from the previous cycle.
Updated 8/8/2023
Most MD-granting medical schools participate in AMCAS (see list), but note that some MD schools in Texas require an application through the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Services (TMDSAS)
May 2, 2023
AMCAS application opens
MSAR Applicant & Advisor Reports for MD school admissions policies, timeline, requirements, interviews, deposit and tuition info, etc.
May 30, 2023
AMCAS application submissions begin
June 30, 2023
MD medical schools begin to receive applications from AMCAS
August 1, 2023
Deadline to apply for Early Decision Program with participating schools
Sept-Dec 2023
Application deadlines based on individual schools
April 2024
On the 15th applicants with multiple acceptance offers must limit to 3 (no limit on waitlist offers)
May 2024
On the 30th students can select "Plan to Enroll" or "Commit to Enroll"
Resources
AMCAS Tools & Tutorials: including application cycle and how AMCAS works, walk through of each section of the AMCAS application, what happens after you submit (including the verification process, letters of evaluation, and allowed post-submission changes), AMCAS Application Tutorial (Entering Coursework)
Fee Assistance Program, allow 2 weeks for approval. If your application is approved January 1-December 30, your benefits expire December 31st of the following year. You must apply before scheduling MCAT test date + applying to medical schools (benefits are not retroactive).
Some DO schools in Texas require an application through the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Services (TMDSAS) instead
May 4, 2023
AACOMAS application open for submissions & schools begin receiving applications
Colleges may ask applicants to complete a secondary application and begin inviting students to interview
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR 2023-2024 CYCLE:
AACOMAS will allow participating institutions to see In-Progress & submitted applications at the cycle launch. Advisors have been assured by AACOM that many schools aren't changing their processes and do not plan to start reviewing applications until mid-June.
What this means for you? Please do not rush to submit your application. Take your time, review all your sections, and submit when you're ready!
September 2023 - April 2024
Academic Update (Coursework) Periods
College deadlines vary and admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis
April 12, 2024
Application cycle closes
Resources
Student Guide to Osteopathic Medical Colleges including an overview of osteopathic medicine, general admission requirements, applications, interviews, etc.
Additional COVID-19 Questions (Optional)
Did your school move to offering only online curriculum during the COVID-19 crisis?
Did you have an opportunity to receive a letter grade for any of your courses taken during the COVID-19 crisis?
Please describe how COVID-19 has impacted your pathway to medical school (2500 characters). Items to consider incorporating in your response may include, but are not limited to:
Academic: Were you able to interact with your professors? Did you have to leave an academic program stateside or abroad? Did your school require you to move to pass/fail grading systems? Did your MCAT exam get cancelled, delayed? Other academic barriers?
Professional: Did you hold a job? Did you have to go out and seek new job opportunities? Did you lose a job? Other financial or professional barriers that you faced?
Personal: Did you have to move out of a house or dorm? Did you have to cancel travel plans? Did you modify your planned experiences related to healthcare or volunteer opportunities? Did you seek out volunteer opportunities that arose from the crisis? Did you assist any family or community members that were affected?
May 9, 2023
"Soft Launch" of ADEA AADSAS
COVID-19 Update for AADSAS Applicants including deadlines, interview format, course exceptions, experience requirements
May 30, 2023
1st day you can submit AADSAS application
Decisions from Fee Assistance Program (FAP) applications will start being released
Aug 2023 - Feb 2024
Academic Update Periods
Aug 15 to Sept 30: First academic period
Dec 1 to Feb 2: Second academic period
December 15, 2023
Acceptance notification date (learn more about what to expect here)
Mid-February 2024
ADEA AADSAS closes
Resources
ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools (also available in print at school library)
Recorded Webinars: What I Learned From My Dental School Application Journey | Successfully Navigating the Dental School Application
A new open-ended question has been added to the ADEA AADSAS® (Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) application where you can explain any impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your preparation to apply to dental school this spring. Each dental school will determine how responses to this question will be considered as part of their admissions process. Consider these questions as you formulate your response:
ACADEMIC
Did your school move to offering online-only coursework?
Did you have to leave an academic program?
Were the grades for your coursework, especially prerequisites, affected?
Was your Dental Admission Test (DAT) exam cancelled or delayed?
Did you lose the ability to interact with professors or advisors?
PROFESSIONAL
Was your job—paid or volunteer—affected?
Did you lose a job or seek new opportunities?
Was your shadowing experience shortened or modified?
Were your financial responsibilities shifted or increased?
PERSONAL
Did you have to move out of a house or dorm?
Were you impacted by travel out of the country?
Did you seek out volunteer opportunities that arose from the crisis?
Did you help family members who were affected?
June 29, 2023
OptomCAS application opens
COVID-19 Admissions Updates about interviews, OAT, courses, pass/fail grades
Tip: Submit within 3-4 weeks after a program’s application open date.
August-December
You may start receiving supplemental applications or be invited to interview during this time. Please be aware that schools will have individual deadlines.
May 23, 2024
OptomCAS application cycle closes
Please refer to these links:
Data & Surveys including Profiles of the Entering Classes by program (OAT score, GPA, out-of-state residents, etc.)
General and School-Specific Prerequisites (Updated June 2021)
The following questions related to COVID-19 appeared on recent OptomCAS applications:
Did your institution move to offering only an online curriculum during the COVID-19 crisis? If yes, what classes/labs were affected? Please include what semesters.
Did you have an opportunity to receive a letter grade for any of your courses taken during the COVID-19 crisis? If yes, please include courses.
How has the COVID-19 crisis impacted your pathway to optometry school through your academic, professional and personal life? How have you responded to these changes?
August 1, 2023
AACPMAS application opens. Refer to these links:
July 1, 2024
AACPMAS application cycle closes
July 10, 2024
Your transcripts, official test scores, and letters of evaluation must be received by this date.
January 19, 2023
VMCAS application opens (you cannot select a program yet, but can access other sections of the application)
May 11, 2023
Applicants can select and formally submit applications for veterinary schools
Recommendation: Apply mid-late August to allow time for corrections for any errors, transcript delays, etc.
June
Applications for Fee Waiver Program open
August 31st
Last day to take the GRE.
September 18, 2023 @ 11:59 pm EST
VMCAS closes and will no longer accept documents (letters, transcripts, etc.)
October 2023 - Spring 2024
You may receive a supplemental application depending on the school and may be invited to interview during this time
March 2024
Some schools may provide rolling decisions, but this is the required notification date for all U.S. veterinary schools
April 15, 2024
Deadline for admitted students to accept or decline admission offers.
Resources
VMCAS 2024 Sample Application screenshots of entire application
Veterinary Medical School Admissions Policies in Response to COVID-19 (Updated August 2020)
for applicants of Dental, Medical, Podiatry and Veterinary schools in Texas (see list)
May 1, 2023
TMDSAS application opens for medical, dental, podiatry, & veterinary candidates
May 15, 2023
Application submissions begin for all programs
August 1, 2023
Deadline to apply for Early Decision Program with participating schools
September 15, 2023 by 5pm CST
Submission deadline for veterinary schools
November 1, 2023 by 11:59pm CST
Submission deadline for medical & dental schools
November 15, 2023
Deadline to submit letters of evaluation for medical and dental school
December 15, 2023
Dental schools begin extending offers of acceptance
December 2023-January 2024
Veterinary school interviews begin
January-February 2024
Veterinary schools begin extending offers of acceptance
TBD
Deadline for ranking of medical school preference
TBD
Match results announced for medical applicants and rolling admissions period begins
April 30, 2024
Medical applicants with multiple offers must decide which program to attend and withdraw from other schools
