Applying to Health Professions Programs
The basics you need to know about applying to programs in the health professions.
Key Medical and Dental Application Dates for 2025-26
Applicants intending to start professional or medical school in the fall of 2026 should note the following dates, which will be updated as they are announced:
Thursday, May 1, 2025: AMCAS application opens
Tuesday, May 27, 2025: AMCAS submission begins
Friday, June 27, 2025: Initial transmission of verified AMCAS data to medical schools
Key Medical and Dental Application Dates for 2024-25
Applicants intending to start professional or medical school in the fall of 2025 should note the following dates:
The HPAC meeting for current students who will be requesting a committee letter will be held on March 4 and 5; see Handshake for details.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024: AMCAS and TMDSAS applications open
Monday, May 6, 2024: AACOMAS opens and submission begins
Tuesday, May 14, 2024: AADSAS application opens
Wednesday, May 15, 2024: TMDSAS submission and transmission begins
Tuesday, May 28, 2024: AMCAS application submission begins
Thursday, May 30, 2024: AADSAS submission begins
Friday, June 28, 2024: Initial transmission of AMCAS data to medical schools
September 2 – October 11, 2024: AACOMAS academic update #1
October 15, 2024: First MD offers are extended
December 16, 2024 – February 14, 2025: AACOMAS academic update #2
January 31, 2025 – TMDSAS school ranking preference deadline (Texas Match)
February 14, 2025 – Texas Match results announced and rolling admission begins
March 17 – April 11, 2025: AACOMAS academic update #3
Getting Started With Your Application:
The Health Pros Career Community hosted a winter break series for students who intend to apply to medical school this summer. “Med School Mondays” shared information and strategies via short videos to help you get a headstart on your materials so you are less stressed in May and able to submit a timely application. View all the topics in the Med School Mondays Stream channel.
Weekly topics include:
Monday, January 4 – Thursday, January 7: Overview of AMCAS & the Application Year
Monday, January 11 – Thursday, January 14: Understanding Holistic Review
Monday, January 18 – Thursday, January 21: Powerful Personal Statements
Monday, January 25 – Thursday, January 28: Activities & Meaningful Experiences
Monday, February 1 – Thursday, February 4: Creating a Med School List That Fits
Situational Judgement Tests:
CASPer:
CASPer is a situational judgment test operated by Altus Assessments. The assessment is used by a number of health professions programs to help assess applicants for non-academic attributes or people skills. CASPer presents the test-taker with real-world scenarios and may ask what the individual would do in that dilemma and why they chose that response. Human raters then score the responses for competencies like collaboration, empathy, self-awareness, ethics, problem solving, and professionalism. Learn more about CASPer in this video. You can also view the 2022-23 Applicant webinar for more information. Since the 2023 cycle, CASPer has used a combination of both typed and captured video responses.
Some programs are also using CASPer Snapshot, a video response tool. Snapshot is an additional opportunity for you to demonstrate your oral communication skills and non-academic competencies in a virtual interview format. Read more here.
Finally, CASPer Duet is a tool that compares what an applicant wants in a graduate health professions program with what a program itself offers and values. Applicants select program characteristics that are most important to them and a score is generated for programs to see how closely an applicant’s preferences align with their own characteristics, values, priorities, and offerings. Learn about Duet.
CASPer offers a fee assistance program for students who qualify for fee assistance/waivers from their designated CAS.
AAMC PREview Exam:
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has developed it’s own situational judgment test, known as the PREview exam. PREview assesses the professional competencies for entering medical students by asking you to rate the effectiveness of various responses in different medical school scenarios. Your score is determined on the basis of how closely your answers align with medical school students and faculty. You do not need any healthcare knowledge in order to understand the scenarios or rate the responses.
Registration for PREview for the 2025 cycle is already open but not all schools require the assessment. Participating medical schools are listed in the “Additional Required Assessments” MSAR report available for download on the AAMC site. Check the PREview Exam hub for updates, testing calendar, fees and prep materials.
Examinees approved to receive AAMC Fee Assistance Program benefits will pay $0 for the first PREview registration and will receive a 50% discount for subsequent registrations. See details on the AAMC PREview page.
Additional Applicant Resources:
Allopathic Medical Schools
- Understanding the medical school application process
- AMCAS
- AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP)
- Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR)
- MSAR Reports for Applicants and Advisors
Osteopathic Medical Schools
Texas Medical Schools
- Application Guide
- TMDSAS
- TMDSAS Office Hours Live Q&A and recordings
- Texas schools are listed in the MSAR. TMDSAS does not grant fee waivers.
Check Handshake for spring semester applicant seminars on various aspects of the application, including SJTs.