Application season check-in: where things stand in November

November is the middle of the marathon. If you applied this cycle, most of your writing is done and the waiting has started. If you’re applying next cycle, this is the best time to plan your admissions test, because a test date that leaves room for a retake takes pressure off everything else. Here is where each application service stands.

The 2026–27 cycle at a glance

• AMCAS (MD programs): opened May 5, 2026, with submission from May 28. Deadlines are set by each school, September through December. “Plan to Enroll” opens February 19, 2027, and “Commit to Enroll” from April 30, 2027.
• ADEA AADSAS (dental programs): opened in spring 2026. Deadlines are set by each school. First offers come no earlier than December 15, 2026.
• OptomCAS (optometry programs): opened June 25, 2026. The last day to submit is May 20, 2027, but many programs set earlier deadlines. Interviews and rolling decisions are underway.
• CASPA (PA programs): opened April 30, 2026. The last day to submit is April 1, 2027, but many programs set earlier deadlines. Interviews and rolling decisions are underway.

If you applied this cycle

Medical school. AMCAS deadlines are set school by school, and transcripts must arrive within 14 calendar days of a school’s deadline. Interview season is in full swing. Later in the cycle, the AMCAS Choose Your Medical School tool lets you mark “Plan to Enroll” starting February 19, 2027, and “Commit to Enroll” starting April 30, 2027. Until April 30 you may hold more than one acceptance and waitlist spot.

Dental school. Under ADEA’s guidelines, dental schools notify applicants of acceptance no earlier than December 15, so expect the first offers in mid-December. Offers made between December 15 and January 31 come with at least 30 days to respond. From February 1, that window can drop to 15 days, so have your decision factors sorted out early.

Optometry and PA school. Both cycles run into spring, but don’t let the late close dates fool you. Each program can set its own deadline, which you can see by adding the program in the application. Many schools review applications as they arrive, so an application submitted earlier is often read earlier. For PA applicants, every application must also be verified by CASPA by April 9, 2027.

Everyone: keep your contact information current, check your application portal and email (including spam) every few days, and send any update letters the way each school asks.

If you’re applying next cycle

If you plan to start in fall 2028, you’ll apply in the cycle that opens in spring 2027. That makes now the right time to choose a test date and work backward.

1. Pick a test date with room for a retake. For the MCAT, DAT, OAT and PA-CAT, aim to have a score in hand before you submit. If your first score isn’t what you want, a spring date still leaves time to test again.

2. Map the content to your coursework. Rate each subject on the exam by how well you remember it, and start with the weakest. Our weekday tip series breaks this down by exam.

3. Check fee assistance before you register.

• DAT: ADA partial fee waivers cover 50% of the test fee and are first-come, first-served. The form is updated each January, so apply as early in the year as you can.
• OAT: The same 50% partial waiver applies, and all waivers for 2026 have already been granted. Plan to apply early in 2027.
• GRE: ETS’s Fee Reduction Program brings the General Test down to $100 for eligible applicants, and includes free prep materials.
• PA-CAT: Exam Master’s fee assistance lowers the exam from $257 to $178 if you qualify, and you must be approved before you buy.
• MCAT: The AAMC Fee Assistance Program reduces MCAT and AMCAS fees for eligible applicants.
• Application fees: ADEA runs its own AADSAS fee assistance program. This cycle’s window was April 15 to June 2, 2026, so watch for next year’s dates in the spring.

Join us live

We’re running free one-hour intro sessions on Zoom this fall, Sundays at 12 pm Pacific (3 pm Eastern), with no registration needed: GRE on November 8, DAT/OAT on November 15, PA-CAT on November 22 and MCAT on December 6. Each session covers the test’s structure, content, format and registration, plus a first look at how to prep. If you’d like a plan built around your test date, book a consult at icosaprep.com/consult.