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Choose Your Medical School Tool Guide for Applicants
This guide provides American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®) applicants with step-by-
step instructions for accessing, using, and editing selections in the Choose Your Medical School (CYMS)
tool.
Where can I access the CYMS tool?
ONCE YOU RECEIVE AN ACCEPTANCE, the CYMS tool is available in the AMCAS application as a
banner or “Quick Links” button. You will not be able to see the link to access the CYMS tool until
you receive an acceptance. Follow the steps below to access the CYMS tool:
Step 1: Log in to the AMCAS Application
• Go to the AMCAS application (https://amcas.aamc.org/amcas/) and log in with your
credentials.
• Once logged in, you will land on the Application Year Selection page (refer to Figure 1).
Step 2: Access the Relevant Application Year
• Select the relevant application year from the Application Year Selection page (refer to Figure 1).
Figure 1. Application Year Selection Page
Step 3: Access the Choose Your Medical School Tool
• On the main menu page (refer to Figure 2), the CYMS tool can be accessed in two ways:
o Banner at the top of the page
o Button in the “Quick Links” section
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• Select the link in either the banner or “Quick Links” button to access the CYMS tool.
Figure 2. Main Menu
Step 4: Overview of the Choose Your Medical School Landing Page and the Admissions Decisions
Dashboard
• The Choose Your Medical School Admissions Decisions Dashboard displays the latest admission
actions on file with the AMCAS program from all schools where an applicant initially held an
acceptance or alternate list offer during the cycle (refer to Figure 3).
• See the Appendix for more details about the dashboard.
Figure 3. Overview of the CYMS Landing Page and Admission Decisions Dashboard
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Step 5: Make Your CYMS Selection
• Click the “Make a Selection” button, as shown in Figure 3 on the CYMS landing page.
• From February 19 to April 30, you will be able to select only “Plan to Enroll” in the CYMS tool at
one school (refer to Figure 4).
• “Commit to Enroll” will be available in the tool starting on April 30.
• On or after April 30, you will be able to select either “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” at one
school (refer to Figure 4 for the difference between “Plan to Enroll” and “Commit to Enroll).
• Important Notes:
o You cannot select “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” to multiple medical schools (or
at the same time) but you can edit your selection.
o You must acknowledge you understand the option you selected, your responsibilities to
communicate, and the importance of following school-specific policies before your
selection can be submitted.
o Selecting “Commit to Enroll” does not automatically withdraw applications from other
medical schools. You must communicate your final decisions directly with all schools
where you applied according to each school’s specific policy.
Figure 4. CYMS Selection Page
Step 6: Submit Your CYMS Selection
• On the confirmation page (refer to Figure 5), select the “Submit” button to submit your CYMS
selection.
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Figure 5. CYMS Confirmation Page
After Submitting Your Selection
• Once you submit your selection, you will return to the CYMS landing page where you will see
confirmation of your “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” selection (refer to Figure 6).
Figure 6. CYMS Landing Page with Admissions Decisions Table
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How can I edit my CYMS selection?
• Access the CYMS tool from the AMCAS application main menu via the banner or “Quick Links”
button.
• You will be directed to the current landing page (refer to Figure 7).
• To edit your “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” selection, use the “Edit Selection” button.
• Use the “Edit Selection” button to:
o Change from “Plan to Enroll” to “Commit to Enroll” at the same school (e.g., you currently
have “Plan to Enroll” selected at Medical School A and want to change it to “Commit to
Enroll” at Medical School A). *Note: you can begin selecting “Commit to Enroll” beginning
April 30.
o Change your “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” selection from one school to another
school (e.g., “Plan to Enroll” is currently selected for Medical School A, but you want to
change your “Plan to Enroll” selection to Medical School B)
Figure 7. Edit Selection – CYMS Landing Page and Admissions Decisions Table
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How can I reset my CYMS selection?
• Access the CYMS tool from the AMCAS application main menu via the banner or “Quick Links”
button.
• You will be directed to the current landing page.
• To reset your “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” selection, use the “Reset Selection” button
(refer to Figure 8).
• You will then be asked to confirm whether you want to reset or keep your current selection.
• Reminder: Selecting “Reset Selection” will clear your “Current Selection” of either “Plan to Enroll”
or “Commit to Enroll” to “No Selection Made.”
Figure 8. Reset Selection – CYMS Landing Page and Admissions Decisions Table
What is the difference between “Edit Selection” and “Reset Selection”?
• Use “Edit Selection” to:
o Change from “Plan to Enroll” to “Commit to Enroll” at the same school (e.g., you currently have
“Plan to Enroll” selected at Medical School A and want to change it to “Commit to Enroll” at
Medical School A). *Note: you can begin selecting “Commit to Enroll” beginning April 30.
o Change your “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” selection from one school to another school
(e.g., “Plan to Enroll” is currently selected for Medical School A, but you want to change your
“Plan to Enroll” selection to Medical School B).
• Use “Reset Selection” to:
o Remove your current “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” section.
o Note: Selecting “Reset Selection” will clear your “Current Selection” of either “Plan to Enroll”
or “Commit to Enroll” to “No Selection Made” (you will then not have “Plan to Enroll” or
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“Commit to Enroll” selected for any school).
• Notes:
o To edit or reset your current Choose Your Medical School section, access the CYMS tool from
the AMCAS application main menu via the banner or “Quick Links.”
o Once you click on “Edit Selection,” you will be redirected to the Choose Your Medical School
selection page where you can make the necessary change to your earlier selection (refer to
Figure 4).
o After clicking on “Reset Selection,” your current Choose Your Medical School selection will be
cleared and you will be redirected to the Choose Your Medical School: Action History page
(refer to Figure 9).
Figure 9. CYMS: Action History Page
How can I learn more about the CYMS tool?
Visit the Choose Your Medical School website for additional resources to learn more about the tool.
Important Reminders
• Follow school-specific policies and procedures.
o You should use the tool at the direction of the schools to which you have applied. The
CYMS tool is not the primary method of communication between you and medical
schools. It is important to review and follow each school's application instructions,
policies, deadlines, and requirements. We recommend visiting each school's admissions
website, checking the Medical School Admission Requirements™ website, and directly
communicating with the schools where you applied to make sure you understand and
follow their specific instructions.
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• Review the Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants.
o The guiding principles for professional behavior during the application cycle are set forth
in the Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants. These guidelines are not
intended to supersede the policies, timelines, or discretion of individual schools or
programs. However, they do provide you with a sense of the professionalism medical
schools expect from applicants.
• Withdraw your application from the school(s) where you do not intend to matriculate
o Selecting “Commit to Enroll” does not automatically withdraw applications from other medical
schools. Applicants must communicate their final decisions directly with all schools where
they applied according to each school’s specific policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
• Why don’t I see the links to access the CYMS tool even though I have received an acceptance?
o If the medical school has not communicated your acceptance to the AMCAS program, the
acceptance will not be reflected in the application for you to access the CYMS tool. Please
contact the medical school directly to ensure it has submitted the relevant admission
decision to the AMCAS program.
• What information can schools see starting April 30?
o Starting April 30, schools that have offered you an acceptance or alternate list offer will
be able to identify their applicants’ “Plan to Enroll” or “Commit to Enroll” selection.
This applicant-specific information will be visible only to schools where the applicant has
a current acceptance or alternate list position. If an applicant selects “Commit to Enroll”
to a school, all other schools where the applicant also holds an acceptance or alternate
list offer will be notified but will not know the name of the school selected.
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Appendix
Choose Your Medical School (CYMS) Admissions Decisions Dashboard
The Choose Your Medical School (CYMS) Admissions Decisions Dashboard was developed for applicants to
provide visibility into and streamline the process of organizing admissions decisions. It allows an accepted
applicant to see the latest admission actions submitted to the AMCAS program by all medical schools where
the applicant initially held an acceptance or alternate list offer. The dashboard can also be used as an aid to
the CYMS tool when selecting “Plan to Enroll” and “Commit to Enroll.”
Accessing the CYMS Admissions Decisions Dashboard
• To view the CYMS Admissions Decision Dashboard, an applicant must first have access to the
Choose Your Medical School (CYMS) tool in the AMCAS application.
• The CYMS tool and Admissions Decisions Dashboard become available within the AMCAS application
when an applicant has at least one (1) current acceptance from a medical school. If an acceptance
has not been received, the tool and dashboard will not be visible within the AMCAS application.
• The CYMS tool and dashboard can be accessed in the AMCAS application via the banner or
“Quick Links” button.
Using the CYMS Admissions Decisions Dashboard
• Upon accessing the CYMS tool, you will be taken to the CYMS landing page (top of Figure 9), which
houses the Admissions Decision Dashboard (bottom of Figure 10).
• The Admissions Decision Dashboard will show the current admission decision on file with the
AMCAS program for all the schools where the applicant initially held an acceptance or alternate
list offer.
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Figure 10. Choose Your Medical School Landing Page and Admissions Decision Dashboard
Timeline
• Acceptance decisions are shown in real-time when submitted by medical schools to the AMCAS
program.
• Alternate list actions are shown within 24 hours of submission by the medical school. The table
refreshes overnight; any changes to same-day decisions may not be visible until the next day.
Admissions Decisions Glossary
• The following list defines the decisions that will be visible to applicants who can view the dashboard
(refer to Figure 11).
• In order for data to be reflected within the dashboard, medical schools must submit their admissions
decisions to the AMCAS program.
• If a communicated acceptance or alternate list decision is not visible for an applicant who is able to
access the tool, the applicant should communicate the discrepancy to the school.
• Applicants should use the CYMS tool at the direction of the schools where they have applied and
communicate directly with the schools to make sure they understand what actions to take as follow-
up to their admissions decision.
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Admission Decision
Accepted
Alternate List
Applicant Deferred to
Future Class
Application No Longer
Under Consideration
Application Withdrawn
After Acceptance
Enrolled in Pre-
Matriculation Program
Matriculated
Program Changes to Regular
MD
Figure 11. Admissions Decisions Glossary