AMCAS® FAQs

The Early Decision Program (EDP) has a deadline of August 1 for all medical schools. *If August 1 falls on a weekend/holiday, the deadline will apply to the next business day. All other application deadlines are set by each school and typically fall between August and December.

Your application must be submitted (not processed) by 11:59 p.m. ET of the deadline date.

View Participating Medical Schools and Deadlines

• AMCAS Program: August 1 (application and official transcripts) *If August 1 falls on a weekend/holiday, the deadline will apply to the next business day.
• Non-AMCAS Program: contact the medical school admissions office or refer to the Medical School Admission Requirements™ website.

If your application is received by the stated deadline, but one or any of your transcripts are late, you will not meet the Early Decision Program deadline. You may still apply to the regular applicant pool.

The application deadline is the date by which your application must be submitted to the AMCAS program. You must submit your application, agree to the certification statement, and pay the appropriate application fees by 11:59 p.m. ET of the deadline date. Your application does not need to be processed/verified by the deadline date.

Each medical school program sets its own deadline, so be sure to consult Participating Medical Schools and Deadlines and remember that different programs at the same school may have different deadline dates. The Early Decision Program (EDP) has a deadline of August 1 for all medical schools. *If August 1 falls on a weekend/holiday, the deadline will apply to the next business day.

To meet the application deadline, you must also meet the transcript deadline, which is 14 calendar days after the school's deadline for your AMCAS application.

After the AMCAS program has received both your application and all of your required official transcripts, the verification process takes about 6 weeks.

No. Once your application has been received, the schools designated in your application cannot be changed, although you can designate additional medical schools provided the school's deadline has not passed.

For example, if you originally applied to Schools A, B, and C by their application deadlines, but missed the transcript deadline of School A, you can not substitute School D for School A. However, you may add School D and pay the additional school designation fee. To do so, return to your completed application, open it, add an additional school choice, then re-certify and officially update your application by clicking on the Update Application button on the Main Menu to save your changes. You will also have to pay any additional application fees before the school's AMCAS deadline.

The AMCAS program does not grant deadline extensions for any reason. Schools may grant deadline extensions. Contact the individual medical schools directly to request a deadline extension. If your request is approved, the school will notify the AMCAS program to process your application after the deadline.

Once your application has been received, the schools designated in your application cannot be substituted or deleted, even if you miss a deadline. You may designate additional medical schools provided the school's deadline has not passed.

For example, if you originally applied to Schools A, B, and C by their application deadlines, but missed the transcript deadline of School A, you cannot substitute School D for School A. However, you may add School D and pay the additional school designation fee. To do so, return to your completed application, open it, add an additional school choice, then re-certify and update your application with the appropriate fees before the school's AMCAS deadline.

You can submit as soon as you have completed all sections of the AMCAS application, and you have carefully reviewed your information for errors. To meet an application deadline, your application must be submitted (not processed/verified) by 11:59 p.m. ET on the date specified. Your application is not submitted until you have agreed to the certification statements and paid applicable fees.

Your MCAT^® scores and letters of recommendation do not have to be received by the AMCAS program before you submit your application.

You must initiate your application before sending transcripts to the AMCAS program.

The AMCAS program starts accepting transcripts the day the application cycle opens. Transcript deadlines are 14 calendar days after the school's AMCAS application deadline date. For example, if School A's application deadline is October 15, their transcript deadline is October 29. The only exception to this rule is for transcripts in support of an Early Decision Program (EDP) application, which are due on August 1. Use the Transcript Request Form, which you can generate from within your application, so your transcripts can be easily matched to your application.

Transcripts must be received by the following dates:

• Early Decision Program applications: August 1 (*If August 1 falls on a weekend/holiday, the deadline will apply to the next business day).
• Regular applications: 14 calendar days after the school's stated application deadline, by 5 p.m. ET.

If the transcript deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, materials are due on the following business day. Transcripts should be accompanied by the Transcript Request Form, which is located within the AMCAS application.