Pre-Medical Advising: Application Information

There are two types of medical schools, each with their own centralized application service: one for allopathic programs (M.D.) and the other is for osteopathic programs (D.O.). The centralized system has streamlined the application process so that students do not have to request applications from each individual school. All of the applications are computerized. Applications to foreign medical schools are handled individually by each school.

A student can complete an initial or primary application online and designate which schools they want it sent to. The cost of the application is based on the number of schools selected.
Schools will review the primary application and makes a decision about whether to invite the applicant to complete a secondary or formal application.

Upon receiving the secondary application and letters of evaluation, the school reevaluates the entire application and decides which candidates to interview. The chances of being accepted greatly increase when an interview is offered.

Many medical schools use a "rolling admissions" process where applicants who submit their materials first get interviewed first. These schools select candidates for admission from interviews and continue this process until the class is filled. Therefore some students will be admitted before others even get interviewed. It is to every student's advantage to get his or her application materials completed and submitted as early as reasonably possible.

These are the application services used by medical schools:

Allopathic programs (M.D.)
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
Section for Student Service
2450 N St. NW Suite 201
Washington, D.C. 20037-1131
(202) 828-0600
www.aamc.org

View a full walkthrough of allopathic medicine: 2019 Allopathic Medicine Slide Deck

Osteopathic programs (D.O.)
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOMAS)
5550 Friendship Boulevard Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231
(301) 968-4190
www.aacom.org

View a full walkthrough of osteopathic medicine: 2019 Osteopathic Medicine Slide Deck

Not every medical school is an AMCAS or AACOMAS member. Schools that do not have an affiliation with these application services need to be contacted individually to obtain an application.