Blog

Admissions news and advice for medicine, PA, dental and other health programs in the US and Canada, checked against official sources.

Written by the Sandbox team. How we check facts

Requirement trackers

Which schools ask for which tests, checked against official sources and updated when schools change their rules.

United StatesUpdated October 2026Casper, PREview or neither? What US medical schools require for 2027 entryWhich US MD and DO schools ask for Casper or the AAMC PREview exam for 2027 entry, checked against the AAMC, Acuity Insights and each school’s admissions page.Rush Medical College no longer requires or recommends Casper for students starting in fall 2027.CanadaUpdated October 2026Which Canadian medical schools require Casper in 2026–27?Ten of Canada’s 19 medical schools require Casper for 2027 entry. Ottawa and Alberta dropped it, and four schools now include a recorded interview step.10 of 19 require Casper

Cycle changes

What is different this cycle. Each change links to its official source.

  1. Aug 2026CanadaSimon Fraser University welcomes its first MD class. Canada now has 19 medical schools. AFMC
  2. 2026–27US and CanadaAcuity renames its Casper tests to Casper 1 and Casper 2. Acuity Insights
  3. Fall 2027CanadaUniversité de Montréal’s dental program drops both Casper and the DAT. Université de Montréal
  4. 2027CanadaOntario teachers’ college programs move to a 12-month format. Western University
  5. 2027 entryUSAMCAS renames the “Social Justice/Advocacy” experience type to “Community Health Advocacy.” AAMC
  6. 2027 entryUSRush Medical College no longer requires or recommends Casper. Rush University
  7. 2027 entryCanadaOttawa no longer requires Casper and replaces it with an asynchronous MMI. AFMC
  8. 2026 entryCanadaAlberta stops requiring Casper. University of Alberta
  9. Mar 2025USThe DAT moves to a 200 to 600 score scale. ADEA

Latest posts

19 posts
AMCAS 2027: what changedThe “Social Justice/Advocacy” experience type is now “Community Health Advocacy,” plus a reworked Medical School section. Dates, fees and fee assistance for 2027.Medicine · United StatesCasper for PA school: which programs ask for itWhich physician assistant programs require Casper for the 2026–27 cycle, the test type to book, and the deadlines and score minimums programs publish.PA · United StatesCasper, PREview or neither? What US medical schools require for 2027 entryWhich US MD and DO schools ask for Casper or the AAMC PREview exam for 2027 entry, checked against the AAMC, Acuity Insights and each school’s admissions page.Medicine · United StatesThe AAMC PREview exam: what it is and which schools use itPREview is the AAMC’s professional readiness exam: 186 questions, up to 75 minutes, scored 1 to 9. How it works, what it costs, and how schools use it.Medicine · United StatesThe DAT’s new score scale, explainedSince March 1, 2025, DAT scores run from 200 to 600 in 10-point steps under a new scoring model. What changed and what it means for your applications.Dental · United StatesUS medical school interview questions for 2027The interview formats US medical schools use, the three kinds of questions you’ll hear, and how to structure answers that don’t sound rehearsed.Medicine · United StatesCasper 1 or Casper 2? Which Casper test to book in 2026–27Acuity renamed its Casper test types for 2026–27. Which one to book for medicine, nursing, pharmacy, teaching and more, with the test codes schools ask for.All programs · US and CanadaCasper for dental school: which programs ask for itWhich dental schools in Canada and the US require Casper for 2026–27, the test codes they list, and the schools that dropped Casper or the DAT.Dental · US and CanadaCasper for nursing school: which programs ask for itWhich nursing programs in Canada and the US require Casper for 2026–27, the Casper 1 test they list, how much it counts, and one school that dropped it.Nursing · US and CanadaCasper for vet school: which DVM programs ask for itWhich veterinary schools in Canada and the US require Casper for fall 2027 entry, the test they list, the last test dates, and how much it counts.Veterinary · US and CanadaCasper typed responses: structure and typing speedThe Casper typed section has seven scenarios with 3.5 minutes for each pair of questions. How to split the time, structure answers and type fast enough.All programs · US and CanadaCasper video responses: how to answer in one minuteThe Casper video section has four scenarios, two questions each, and one minute per answer. A simple structure that fits the time and shows your reasoning.All programs · US and CanadaCanadian medical school admissions changed. Here’s what’s different.Two new schools, two dropped Casper requirements, recorded interviews, and in-person MMIs in the West and Quebec. What changed for 2027 entry, with sources.Medicine · CanadaCasper for pharmacy school: which PharmD programs ask for itWhich Canadian PharmD programs require Casper for 2027 entry, the test code they list, the deadlines, and how much the score counts.Pharmacy · CanadaCasper for residency: which CaRMS programs use it in 2027Which CaRMS residency programs required Casper for the 2027 R-1 match, the remaining test dates, and how scores reach programs. From CaRMS and Acuity.Residency · CanadaCasper for teachers’ college in OntarioWestern’s B.Ed. requires Casper 2 for the September 2027 intake, and Ontario’s teacher education programs are moving to a 12-month format. What to know.Teaching · CanadaThe early-phase MMI at Ottawa and Queen’sEight recorded stations in about 75 minutes, taken in October. The format, the fees, the language rule and how to prepare for Acuity’s early-phase MMI.Medicine · CanadaTMU’s Kira assessment: what to expect and how to practiceToronto Metropolitan University screens every MD applicant with a Kira Talent assessment of six timed questions, on video and in writing. Dates and how to prepare.Medicine · CanadaWhich Canadian medical schools require Casper in 2026–27?Ten of Canada’s 19 medical schools require Casper for 2027 entry. Ottawa and Alberta dropped it, and four schools now include a recorded interview step.Medicine · Canada

Interview guides for every school

A short guide for each medical school that publishes its interview format: the format, the dates, the tests it asks for and how to prepare. Or search for a school above.

United States150 school interview guidesCanada19 school interview guides