Centralized Applications

Each health professional school association oversees a common application service on behalf of their member colleges. Much like the Common App for applying to undergraduate colleges in the United States, these centralized application services facilitate the collection of information that all schools for that health profession will want to know about their applicants (biographical and demographic information, grades, test scores, activities, etc.). Completion and submission of the centralized application is usually the first step in the application process to professional school, so it is sometimes referred to as the “primary application.”

Individual professional school programs typically have additional information that they want to collect from their applicants, often in the form of written responses to questions and essay prompts. These are designed to help the school understand how the applicant might contribute the community in their specific program, and whether the applicant may be a good “fit” to help the school meet its mission and vision. This school-specific step in the application process is called the “secondary application.” 

Applying to Dental Schools (except those in Texas)

To apply to dental schools located anywhere in the United States except Texas, an applicant must use the centralized application known as AADSAS (opens in a new tab)(Associated American Dental Schools Application Service), which is run by ADEA (opens in a new tab) (American Dental Education Association). Some dental schools use the functionality in AADSAS to combine the primary and secondary application submissions into a single step within the AADSAS platform, but others will keep the secondary application step separate in their own school-specific portal.

Additional websites with information on preparing for dental school

Applying to Allopathic Medical (MD) Schools (except those in Texas)

To apply to allopathic medical (MD) schools located anywhere in the United States except Texas, an applicant must use the centralized application known as AMCAS (opens in a new tab) (American Medical College Application Service), which is run by the AAMC (opens in a new tab) (Association of American Medical Colleges).

Additional websites with information on preparing for allopathic medical school

Applying to Osteopathic Medical (DO) Schools (except those in Texas)

To apply to osteopathic medical (DO) schools located anywhere in the United States except Texas, an applicant must use the centralized application known as AACOMAS (opens in a new tab) (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service), which is run by the AACOM (opens in a new tab)(American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine).

Additional websites with information on preparing for osteopathic medical school

General AACOMAS admission requirements (opens in a new tab)

What is osteopathic medicine? (opens in a new tab)

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) explained (opens in a new tab)

Applying to Optometry Schools

To apply to optometry schools, an applicant must use the centralized application service known as OptomCAS (opens in a new tab) which is run by the ASCO (opens in a new tab) (Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry). Learn more about the OptomCAS process. (opens in a new tab).

Applying to Podiatry Schools (except those in Texas)

To apply to podiatry schools located anywhere in the United States except Texas, an applicant must use the centralized application known as AACPMAS (opens in a new tab) (American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service), which is run by the AACPM (opens in a new tab) (American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine). Learn more about the AACPMAS process. (opens in a new tab)

Applying to Veterinary Schools (except those in Texas)

To apply to veterinary schools located anywhere in the United States except Texas, an applicant must use the centralized application known as VMCAS (opens in a new tab) (Veterinary Medical College Application Service), which is run by the AAVMC (opens in a new tab) (Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges). Learn more about the VMCAS process. (opens in a new tab)

Applying to Dental, Medical, Podiatry, and Veterinary Schools in Texas

To apply to dental, medical, podiatry, and veterinary schools in Texas, an applicant must apply using the common application known as TMDSAS (opens in a new tab) (Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Services). Applicants from UMBC should note that the TMDSAS admissions process highly favors residents of Texas, and those with significant ties to the state or a specific institution.  Please consult with a PreMedical and PreDental Advising Office Advisor before planning to apply to schools in Texas. Some MD/PhD programs in Texas will require the applicant to apply to the their program through both TMDSAS and AMCAS.

A Note on New Schools

Occasionally, new health professional schools are established and begin to accept applications for their first incoming class of students before they receive final approval to participate in the centralized application portal.  New schools that are managing their admissions process separately under these conditions typically provide details about the mechanism for applying for their first incoming class on their website.

UMBC’s Health Professions Evaluation Committee (HPEC) Cohort Process

The pre-health application process, known as the HPEC Cohort process at UMBC, precedes the centralized application service process or common application process for medical and dental school applicants (AMCAS, AACOMAS, or AADSAS).  The underlying purpose of the HPEC process is to replicate the common application process and to prepare students in advance for the centralized application process.  The core HPEC Cohort processes occur during the Spring semester and assist students in getting ready for the summer launches of the common application services (AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS) which occur in June. At this time, the HPEC Cohort process does not provide Committee Letters for applicants to optometry, podiatry, or veterinary schools.