Applying to DO Medical Schools in 2027: Your AACOMAS Checklist

If you plan to apply to osteopathic medical schools in the United States, you will most likely submit your primary application through AACOMAS, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service.

AACOMAS allows applicants to complete one centralized application and send it to multiple participating DO schools. For the 2026-2027 application cycle, AACOMAS opened on May 4, 2026, and the overall application cycle closes on April 30, 2027. Individual medical schools can have much earlier deadlines.

Key AACOMAS Dates for 2026-2027

Date	What Happens
May 4, 2026	AACOMAS opens for submissions
September 1 to October 9, 2026	First Academic Update period
December 14, 2026 to February 12, 2027	Second Academic Update period
March 15 to June 11, 2027	Third Academic Update period
April 30, 2027	AACOMAS application cycle closes

These are centralized AACOMAS dates. Your individual DO schools may have their own primary and supplemental deadlines, so always check each program separately through the Choose DO Explorer.

Should You Apply as Soon as AACOMAS Opens?

You should apply early, but accuracy matters more than submitting an unfinished application on opening day.

Many osteopathic medical schools use rolling admissions, meaning applications, interviews, and admission decisions can occur throughout the cycle. AACOM specifically advises applicants to submit early because interview spots and class seats may become more limited closer to school deadlines.

A good goal is to have your major application components prepared before AACOMAS opens, including:

Personal statement
Experience descriptions
Letters of recommendation
Official transcripts
MCAT plans or scores
Initial DO school list

The Four Main AACOMAS Sections

The AACOMAS application is divided into four major areas.

Personal Information

This section covers information such as:

Biographical details
Contact information
Citizenship
Family information
Race and ethnicity information
Background and influences
Languages
Military status
Other personal information

Complete these sections carefully and make sure details such as your legal name match your official documents.

Academic History

AACOMAS requires detailed information about your educational background.

You will generally enter:

High schools attended
Colleges and universities attended
College coursework
Continuing education
Standardized tests

Do not list only prerequisite courses. You need to report the colleges you attended and applicable coursework according to AACOMAS instructions.

Official transcripts also need to be submitted so AACOMAS can verify your academic record.

Supporting Information

This is where much of your application begins to show who you are beyond your grades.

It includes:

Evaluations

AACOMAS allows applicants to request letters of evaluation from people such as professors, physicians, supervisors, and other appropriate recommenders.

Individual DO schools may have different letter requirements, so check each program before deciding whom to ask.

Experiences

Experiences can include:

Healthcare experience
Extracurricular activities
Non-healthcare employment
Volunteer work

Your descriptions should focus on what you did, what you learned, and how the experience contributed to your development, rather than simply listing duties.

Students still building healthcare exposure before applying can consider structured Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships that provide supervised opportunities to observe healthcare delivery and develop a better understanding of clinical environments.

Achievements

This section may include relevant:

Awards
Scholarships
Publications
Presentations
Honors

Choose achievements that genuinely add useful information to your application.

Personal Statement

The AACOMAS personal statement allows up to 5,300 characters. Use it to explain your motivation for becoming a physician and the experiences that shaped that decision. Avoid simply repeating your activities section.

For DO applicants, you should also be prepared to explain why osteopathic medicine aligns with your understanding of medicine and your career goals.

Program Materials

The Program Materials section is where you select the DO schools receiving your application.

Requirements differ by institution and may include:

Additional questions
Prerequisite requirements
Supplemental materials
School-specific instructions

AACOM emphasizes that requirements can change, so applicants should verify them through both the AACOMAS system and the individual medical school's website.

What Happens After You Submit AACOMAS?

Submitting does not mean your application is immediately ready for medical schools. AACOMAS first processes and verifies your application.

During verification, information such as coursework and academic records is reviewed before the completed application is transmitted to your selected programs.

Errors can delay this process, which is another reason to carefully check course names, grades, institutions, and transcripts before submitting.

Once your application is processed, monitor its status regularly and respond quickly if AACOMAS identifies missing information.

Can You Update AACOMAS After Submission?

Some information can still be updated after submission, but much of your original application becomes locked.

Depending on AACOMAS rules, applicants may be able to update or add information such as:

Contact details
New experiences or achievements
Additional programs
New evaluators
New coursework
Standardized test scores

However, you generally cannot freely rewrite sections that have already been submitted.

Review everything carefully before paying and submitting.

How Much Does AACOMAS Cost?

For the 2026-2027 cycle, the AACOMAS fee is:

$198 for the first designated program
$60 for each additional program

Payment must be received before AACOMAS processes the application.

Remember that this is only the centralized application fee. Individual medical schools may also charge supplemental application fees.

Is There an AACOMAS Fee Waiver?

Yes. AACOM offers a limited number of fee waivers for eligible applicants. The current waiver covers the $198 initial AACOMAS application fee, while applicants remain responsible for additional school designation fees.

Approved fee waivers are valid for only 14 days, including weekends and holidays, so applicants need to be prepared to submit within that period. Fee waivers are limited and awarded while funding remains available.

AACOMAS vs AMCAS

Do not confuse AACOMAS with AMCAS.

AACOMAS: primarily used for U.S. osteopathic DO programs
AMCAS: primarily used for U.S. allopathic MD programs

If you are applying to both MD and DO medical schools, you may need to complete both application systems.

A Simple AACOMAS Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that you have:

Selected your DO schools
Entered your academic history accurately
Requested official transcripts
Reported your MCAT information correctly
Requested letters of recommendation
Completed experience descriptions
Proofread your personal statement
Reviewed school-specific requirements
Checked application fees
Proofread the entire application one final time

Do not rush the final review. A preventable error can create delays during verification.

Final Thoughts

AACOMAS may seem complicated at first, but it becomes much easier when you approach it section by section.

For the 2027 entry, the most important strategy is to prepare early, submit an accurate application, understand each school's individual requirements, and avoid waiting until final deadlines.

AACOMAS remains open until April 30, 2027, but because many osteopathic schools use rolling admissions and set earlier deadlines, applicants should not interpret that date as the ideal time to submit.

FAQs About AACOMAS

1. When did AACOMAS open for the 2026-2027 cycle?

AACOMAS opened for submissions on May 4, 2026. The centralized application cycle closes April 30, 2027.

2. How much does AACOMAS cost?

For 2026-2027, the first program costs $198, with an additional $60 for each additional program.

3. Do all DO medical schools use AACOMAS?

AACOMAS is the centralized application service used by participating U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine. Applicants should still verify the application process and requirements of every individual school.

4. Can I submit AACOMAS before receiving my MCAT score?

You do not necessarily need to wait for an MCAT score before working on or submitting your AACOMAS application, but individual schools have their own MCAT requirements and deadlines. Check each program before deciding on your application timing.

5. Can I change my AACOMAS application after submitting?

Some information can be added or updated after submission, but major portions of the submitted application become locked. Proofread carefully before submitting.

6. When should I apply to DO medical school?

Apply when your application is complete and strong rather than waiting for a school's final deadline. Because many osteopathic schools use rolling admissions, AACOM recommends applying early in the cycle.