Venn diagram comparing AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS application services.

For those applying to medical schools in the United States, there are three centralized application services to know:

  • AMCAS (MD): accepted by most allopathic medical schools
  • AACOMAS (DO): accepted by most osteopathic schools
  • TMDSAS (Texas MD and DO): accepted by most osteopathic schools

All three services essentially serve the same function: to manage your application materials and deliver them to the graduate programs of your choice.

Here’s a comparison of the three application services:

AMCAS

American Medical College Application Service 		TMDSAS

Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service 		AACOMAS

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service
What Is It? A centralized application service that allows applicants to send one application to all participating U.S. allopathic schools A centralized application service that allows applicants to send one application to all participating schools in Texas A centralized application service that allows applicants to send one application to all participating U.S. osteopathic schools
Who Uses It? Applicants to most U.S. allopathic medical schools Applicants (Texas and non-Texas residents) applying to medical, osteopathic, dental, podiatry, and veterinary schools in Texas Applicants to most U.S. osteopathic medical schools
Personal
Statement Length		 Accepts up to 5,300 characters (spaces included) Accepts up to 5,000 characters (spaces included)

There are two additional essays of 5,000 and 2,500 characters (spaces included)		 Accepts up to 5,300 characters (spaces included)
Work and Activities Up to 15 experiences, 3 of which are designated as most meaningful

Up to 700 characters per experience, with 1,325 additional characters for the most meaningful

Focus should be on activities in college and beyond		 No limit on relevant paid and unpaid activities since high school (300–500 characters each) 3 most meaningful activities (500 characters each) No limit on experiences an applicant can list

Descriptions are a max of 600 characters, each, including spaces and no most meaningful
Letters of Evaluation Accepts up to 10 letters of evaluation

(committee packets count as one letter)		 Accepts

One health professions committee packet

OR

Three individual letters

*One additional letter is allowed		 Accepts up to 6 letters of evaluation

(committee packets count as one letter)
Important Dates
  • First week of May: Can start inputting your information
  • End of May/First week of June: Can start submitting applications
  • August 1: Early decision deadline for all schools


Note: Deadlines vary by program so check with the schools to which you are applying.
  • ~May 1: Can start inputting information
  • ~May 15: Can start submitting applications
  • August 1: Early decision deadline for some schools
  • Early May: Can start inputting information and submitting application


Note: Deadlines vary by program so check with the schools to which you are applying.
Fees $175 for the first school, $46 for each additional school $220 flat fee for all applicants, regardless of the number of schools applying to $198 for the first school, $57 for each additional school

Does AMCAS automatically send MCAT scores to AACOMAS and TMDSAS?

No. AMCAS automatically sends MCAT scores to all allopathic programs, however you must authorize the release for MCAT scores to be sent to AACOMAS or TMDSAS.

All medical school programs ( MD or DO ) will base acceptance on your academic qualifications, MCAT scores , and experiences. When deciding which programs to apply to and how to apply (AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS), you should always consider your ultimate career goals.