*~*~*~*Official AMCAS Questions Thread 2012-2013*~*~*~*

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I have a question concerning Placement Tests. These aren't shown on my unofficial transcript, and idk if they'll be on my official transcript but I've satisfied 2 GE requirements (language and global issues) from 1) My spanish placement test and 2) My score on my SAT II French exam.
I didn't see anything on AMCAS about SAT stuff, but I did about placement test. But since it's not actually shown on my transcript idk if I should include it.

Originally Posted by Camy99

I have a question concerning Placement Tests. These aren't shown on my unofficial transcript, and idk if they'll be on my official transcript but I've satisfied 2 GE requirements (language and global issues) from 1) My spanish placement test and 2) My score on my SAT II French exam.
I didn't see anything on AMCAS about SAT stuff, but I did about placement test. But since it's not actually shown on my transcript idk if I should include it.

I wouldn't include it in the courses. I know that you can include these tests in the MCAT section, under Other, but then again, these tests probably don't mean very much to medical schools.

Most schools have biology, chemistry, physics, English, and possibly math requirements - the vast majority don't require you to to take a language. Even though this was necessary for your GE requirements, I don't see it being a requirement for your next level of education.

When I'm describing my volunteer activities that are still ongoing, should I write in the past or present tense? The past tense feels more natural and sounds better to me, but they're still ongoing so using the present tense would make sense. What tense did you guys use for activities that are still ongoing?

Originally Posted by virtuoso735

When I'm describing my volunteer activities that are still ongoing, should I write in the past or present tense? The past tense feels more natural and sounds better to me, but they're still ongoing so using the present tense would make sense. What tense did you guys use for activities that are still ongoing?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=896983

Originally Posted by DOCTAfoHIRE

Ok, I have seen this issue brought up before and I frankly am unsure of where people are getting their info from. I personally know people who were admitted into my two state schools with a Pharm.D. (no bachelors) and a guy who went to harvard. I have also personally talked to the offices of Columbia, Cornell, and NYU. All of them have said that having a Pharm.D. with no bachelors is NO PROBLEM. This was confirmed with the dean of admissions at these schools.

Please list the schools that have told you that having a Pharm.D. and no bachelors disqualifies you. Or please stop listing misinformation.

Also, where do you go where you only take undergrad classes to get your Pharm.D? My six year school has 4 years of undergrad and two years of grad classes. Is it a new school? Seems kind of weird that you dont have to take any graduate level coursework to obtain a doctorate.

We already had this conversation before, and I'm going to have to find the links again, amn't I?
NYU
USF
Hofstra
Jefferson
Einstein

I just stopped looking for a while. I called 21 schools so far, some of them like some South Carolina school refused as well.

I go to St. John's.

EDIT:

You should probably call NYU again, because they ****ing lied to you:
http://school.med.nyu.edu/admissions...-requirement-0

NYU SOM requires completion of undergraduate study and a baccalaureate degree.

Your move.

NYU
USF
Hofstra
Jefferson
Einstein

I just stopped looking for a while. I called 21 schools so far, some of them like some South Carolina school refused as well.

I go to St. John's.

EDIT:

You should probably call NYU again, because they ****ing lied to you:
http://school.med.nyu.edu/admissions...-requirement-0

NYU SOM requires completion of undergraduate study and a baccalaureate degree.

Your move.

This isnt the place for this discussion. NYU I was put on hold and the woman went and checked with the dean of admissions. I dont really see how they are lying to me. I was very clear about having heard that some schools do not accept pharmacy students and I was assured that while some schools may have those policies, they had never heard of anything like that and that they did not have such policies. Just because the schools list a bachelors as a requirement on their website doesnt mean they wont make an exception for a Pharm.D. student. After our discussion I talked to several advisers at my schools. Its a large state school and they have seen a decent share of pharmacy students who have went on to medical school. They have not heard a single student ever mention anything about being denied from a school due to not having a bachelors. They didnt know where I was coming from at all.

Im not saying that there arent schools who have this policy. Im just saying that its definitely not the norm. Also I was told that some schools list a bachelors as a requirement but they really require a certain number of credits. They just list a bachelors because most people applying will have a bachelors.

Btw mayo also accepts pharm.ds.

Lemme know what you find, because PharMed got rejected from his own school for not having a Bachelor's, and I got the same results when I called his list of schools. Unwavering *******s.

Hey guys, i am a senior and studying for my finals this week. I just sent out my transcript without my last semester of college grades to amcas yesterday. by the time i am filling out and be done with my app in june i will have all the grades including my last semester grades that were not on the transcript i sent out. do i include them or not? if i do, then i would have to send out an updated transcript to amcas ?

good luck!

sorry about the duplicate.

Originally Posted by Trisphorin

Hey guys, i am a senior and studying for my finals this week. I just sent out my transcript without my last semester of college grades to amcas yesterday. by the time i am filling out and be done with my app in june i will have all the grades including my last semester grades that were not on the transcript i sent out. do i include them or not? if i do, then i would have to send out an updated transcript to amcas ?

good luck!

Will your GPA increase dramatically after this semester's grades? If so, it might be worth sending an updated transcript to AMCAS.

Originally Posted by Trisphorin

Hey guys, i am a senior and studying for my finals this week. I just sent out my transcript without my last semester of college grades to amcas yesterday. by the time i am filling out and be done with my app in june i will have all the grades including my last semester grades that were not on the transcript i sent out. do i include them or not? if i do, then i would have to send out an updated transcript to amcas ?

good luck!

Relevant LizzyM quote

Originally Posted by LizzyM

My opinion: Juniors should wait and submit after Spring quarter grades are posted. Seniors are ok submitting without Spring quarter grades.

Also, I'd be sure to have a grade for all pre-reqs so if you've taken any of those in Spring quarter, submit after grades are posted.

Finally, if your quarter gpa is anticipated to be higher than your current total gpa, it is in your best interest to wait and get that little bump in gpa before submitting your application.

Relevant AMCAS FAQ
https://www.aamc.org/students/applyi..._faqs-6.8.html

Questions?

Will your GPA increase dramatically after this semester's grades? If so, it might be worth sending an updated transcript to AMCAS.

I have a question then. I'm sending mine out Tuesday after meeting with my adviser, but I think our transcripts are "updated" around mid-June. If for some reason I'm verified by then, would it be worth it to re-send? I have clinical rotations on them and I think maybe 5-6 A/A-'s on those will look quite good.

Originally Posted by Wolverine Fan

Will your GPA increase dramatically after this semester's grades? If so, it might be worth sending an updated transcript to AMCAS.

it will actually be lowered by a tiny bit... i am just worried that it might create discrepancy between my sent transcript and the amcas app i am sending out.

Originally Posted by pfaction

I have a question then. I'm sending mine out Tuesday after meeting with my adviser, but I think our transcripts are "updated" around mid-June. If for some reason I'm verified by then, would it be worth it to re-send? I have clinical rotations on them and I think maybe 5-6 A/A-'s on those will look quite good.

Originally Posted by Trisphorin

it will actually be lowered by a tiny bit... i am just worried that it might create discrepancy between my sent transcript and the amcas app i am sending out.

As the FAQ I linked to above mentions, AMCAS does not do grade updates. If you want the grades to be reflected on your primary application, you have to wait to send in your transcripts until after the grades are posted.

Originally Posted by sector9

As the FAQ I linked to above mentions, AMCAS does not do grade updates. If you want the grades to be reflected on your primary application, you have to wait to send in your transcripts until after the grades are posted.

FAQ:

So, if those grades are not available when your transcript is received by AMCAS, they will not be included in your AMCAS GPAs. In this situation, your AMCAS GPAs will NOT be recalculated even if your registrar sends an updated transcript.

It states your AMCAS GPA will not be recalculated, which implies that it was already calculated earlier.

I was always under the impression that the FAQ meant *after* they begin verifying. If you send in both transcripts - an older one and an updated one - before you submit your application, they should be able to enter in all of your grades. If you send an updated one after you submit, it'll be useless.

Originally Posted by Trisphorin

it will actually be lowered by a tiny bit... i am just worried that it might create discrepancy between my sent transcript and the amcas app i am sending out.

If you're worried about the discrepancy, on your application, mark that you're still taking the course and don't have grades yet. This will allow your app and your transcript to match up.

Originally Posted by sector9

As the FAQ I linked to above mentions, AMCAS does not do grade updates. If you want the grades to be reflected on your primary application, you have to wait to send in your transcripts until after the grades are posted.

Ooooh. So Monday I'm going to see when the transcripts are going to be sent out, and if my grades aren't in for a very long time, I'll just send it the way it is. I ended on a high note anyways, my first ever 4.0 Thanks for your continual help.

I didn't know you could do that...but thanks alot !

Originally Posted by Wolverine Fan

FAQ:


It states your AMCAS GPA will not be recalculated, which implies that it was already calculated earlier.

I was always under the impression that the FAQ meant *after* they begin verifying. If you send in both transcripts - an older one and an updated one - before you submit your application, they should be able to enter in all of your grades. If you send an updated one after you submit, it'll be useless.

I'm a little confused about what you mean. So you're saying you would send in your transcript without your spring grades, then send in one with your spring grades, then submit your application? I'd save some money and send it in when your grades are posted but you're right on the technicality that you could do it that way.

Originally Posted by sector9

I'm a little confused about what you mean. So you're saying you would send in your transcript without your spring grades, then send in one with your spring grades, then submit your application? I'd save some money and send it in when your grades are posted but you're right on the technicality that you could do it that way.

I wouldn't send both. But for some of the people in this thread that have already submitted their older transcripts, they should still be able to send in an updated transcript if they want to, before they submit.

It does have an advantage... if you're not sure how your semester's grades will end up, you could do it this way. For both of my universities' transcripts, they don't charge a dime for sending official transcripts.

Originally Posted by Wolverine Fan

I wouldn't send both. But for some of the people in this thread that have already submitted their older transcripts, they should still be able to send in an updated transcript if they want to, before they submit.

It does have an advantage... if you're not sure how your semester's grades will end up, you could do it this way. For both of my universities' transcripts, they don't charge a dime for sending official transcripts.

Gotcha. Correct

If I submit my amcas with an expected test date included, but already have one score, and it goes to a school where my original score is competitive, will they review w out the new score? I know that right now I am competitive enough at a couple of schools in my state to not need the retake, but am not sure if I want to go to those schools so I am planning a retake mid-July. As such I don't want to hold up my app at those places for a retake that I'm pretty sure I don't really "need" for them.. any insight? can I submit a separate amcas to them w out the test date included?

also to anyone who reads this and wonders why I'm bothering with a retake in the first place, I was told by a pre-med adviser that the National average has been going up every year, and while my mcat was "okay" this year, who knews what will happen with scores next year..

Originally Posted by 1289

If I submit my amcas with an expected test date included, but already have one score, and it goes to a school where my original score is competitive, will they review w out the new score? I know that right now I am competitive enough at a couple of schools in my state to not need the retake, but am not sure if I want to go to those schools so I am planning a retake mid-July. As such I don't want to hold up my app at those places for a retake that I'm pretty sure I don't really "need" for them.. any insight? can I submit a separate amcas to them w out the test date included?

also to anyone who reads this and wonders why I'm bothering with a retake in the first place, I was told by a pre-med adviser that the National average has been going up every year, and while my mcat was "okay" this year, who knews what will happen with scores next year..

No option for separate AMCAS apps. Assuming that most of your schools will send secondaries automatically, I would e-mail the admissions office at the state schools and confirm with them that you're retaking, but say that you're happy to have them review it with your current MCAT score. I don't know if they'll agree to do this considering you're going to have a "planned" date on your AMCAS app, but they'd be able to advise you better.

If you don't mind sharing, knowing your state of residence as well as your current MCAT score (with breakdown into PS, VS, BS and writing subscores) would probably help.

Well these were high school courses I took that I paid to receive college credits for. So, for example, I took history in HS during the 07-08 academic year, and paid to earn 3 credits at a state college for this course. On my transcript at this state college it lists my credits under Fall 2007 (although it was a full academic year in HS that I was taking this course). This was the only year in HS where I earned college credits at this state college, so my transcript from this college only has credits for Fall 2007 - for history and one other course. So, would I enter my attendance at this college as Aug 07-June 08 (the time period during which I was taking this course work in HS), or would I enter it as Aug07-Dec07 (since only Fall 2007 is listed on my transcript)?

Even after I enter the dates of attendance of this college, and choose to add a course, it asks for the academic term. I am not sure what to put for this either. Would I just put "1st semester fall" since this is what is on the transcript?

Sorry, I know it is confusing, but hopefully that clears it up. Thanks for your help

Originally Posted by Wolverine Fan

When do you plan to drop the second major? If it's within the next week, I'd wait for the transcript to reflect the drop and then send it in to AMCAS. If it's early next semester, I'd call AMCAS and ask, or just add in the second major for simplicity's sake, and later update your major information via secondary applications.

For the high school college credits... I don't completely understand. For schools attended, you have your high school and your college, right? For high school dates of attendance, you'd enter August of '05 to June '09. When you enter in each course from high school, you should be able to just label them as "HS" status.

Yeah dreamer that's what I did, I took 2005-2007 courses and I put them in exactly, under "HS" designation. If you took a class in 2005 only in the fall, and 2008 only in the spring, I would put 2005-2008 and the courses exactly how it was put.

Am I suppose to see my mcat scores in my application????

It currently says "not loaded"

I took the mcat last summer and scores have already been released.

Originally Posted by UCUCUC

Am I suppose to see my mcat scores in my application????

It currently says "not loaded"

I took the mcat last summer and scores have already been released.

You should be able to see them... check on the MCAT THx website to see if your scores are on there. If they are, make sure your AAMC ID on the MCAT THx website and the AAMC ID on the AMCAS website match exactly.

the second you register for another it appears on your application, if I remember correctly. Or you just declare that you're taking it again.

Originally Posted by 1289

If I submit my amcas with an expected test date included, but already have one score, and it goes to a school where my original score is competitive, will they review w out the new score? I know that right now I am competitive enough at a couple of schools in my state to not need the retake, but am not sure if I want to go to those schools so I am planning a retake mid-July. As such I don't want to hold up my app at those places for a retake that I'm pretty sure I don't really "need" for them.. any insight? can I submit a separate amcas to them w out the test date included?

also to anyone who reads this and wonders why I'm bothering with a retake in the first place, I was told by a pre-med adviser that the National average has been going up every year, and while my mcat was "okay" this year, who knews what will happen with scores next year..

Originally Posted by DanGee777

No option for separate AMCAS apps. Assuming that most of your schools will send secondaries automatically, I would e-mail the admissions office at the state schools and confirm with them that you're retaking, but say that you're happy to have them review it with your current MCAT score. I don't know if they'll agree to do this considering you're going to have a "planned" date on your AMCAS app, but they'd be able to advise you better.

If you don't mind sharing, knowing your state of residence as well as your current MCAT score (with breakdown into PS, VS, BS and writing subscores) would probably help.

Originally Posted by Holy FranZ

the second you register for another it appears on your application, if I remember correctly. Or you just declare that you're taking it again.

Merging

I'm sorry if this is potentially a very dumb question, but I'm just curious: Can we view our transcript copy via AMCAS after it is received ? Or the only thing we can see on AMCAS is its status "received"/"not received" ?

Hi- I have a ton of activities- more than the 15 activity/job spaces we have space for. I was thinking of grouping my two publications together, as well as my two summers as an Undergraduate Research Fellow.

Do you think this is a good idea? I know publications are a big deal, so I want the app. readers to see that I have two! But I'm not sure how else to keep all my other activities in the application...

Originally Posted by kryptonian

I'm sorry if this is potentially a very dumb question, but I'm just curious: Can we view our transcript copy via AMCAS after it is received ? Or the only thing we can see on AMCAS is its status "received"/"not received" ?

They'll only tell you that it has been received

Originally Posted by badgerpride

Hi- I have a ton of activities- more than the 15 activity/job spaces we have space for. I was thinking of grouping my two publications together, as well as my two summers as an Undergraduate Research Fellow.

Do you think this is a good idea? I know publications are a big deal, so I want the app. readers to see that I have two! But I'm not sure how else to keep all my other activities in the application...

Here is a better location for your question http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=896983

Sorry, I've been having trouble figuring out my academic year to put down for my courses. Basically I matriculated into my university with 32 hours (20AP, 12 dual credit).

AMCAS says to enter the AP grades as Freshman, but then when I have to start entering my classes for that first year I am considered a Sophomore by credit hours. Should I simply have all my classes that term year listed as freshman or switch from freshman to sophomore within the term?

Originally Posted by REPTAR013

Sorry, I've been having trouble figuring out my academic year to put down for my courses. Basically I matriculated into my university with 32 hours (20AP, 12 dual credit).

AMCAS says to enter the AP grades as Freshman, but then when I have to start entering my classes for that first year I am considered a Sophomore by credit hours. Should I simply have all my classes that term year listed as freshman or switch from freshman to sophomore within the term?

AAMC Manual (Page 37):

Do not assign more than one status to an academic term.

You'll need to classify all of your AP credits as Freshman, and since your first semester's classes are in the same "term," the first semester of your freshman year should also be classified as Freshman. Switch to Sophomore for the next semester of your first year.

Thanks a bunch Wolverine Fan. I'm just gonna make my first semester all freshman, switch to sophomore second semester, and then switch to junior status for my second year.

Originally Posted by REPTAR013

Thanks a bunch Wolverine Fan. I'm just gonna make my first semester all freshman, switch to sophomore second semester, and then switch to junior status for my second year.

That's more or less what I did... I came in with around 30 AP credits and switched to SO for my second semester. I might have had SO for the semester after that, too.

As long as the number of credits in each "year" is more or less the same, AMCAS won't change it. If they do, it's not a big deal.

Originally Posted by sector9

They'll only tell you that it has been received

Thanks

Originally Posted by MuAgonist

Is applying to 30 schools too much? Anybody have any personal experience applying to this many schools? I have a FAP fee waiver and "lowish" stats, so that's why I'm considering applying to so many.

Yes, applying to 30 medical schools is a bit much..try to complete as many secondaries as you can before secondaries start coming in (I submitted my application on June 4th and got my first secondary on June 20). There's an sdn link where people post previous secondaries, last year's secondaries: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=823374, I did my last year using 2010-2011 secondaries during my application and they were mostly identical when the emails started rolling in.
Lastly, some of the schools have rolling admissions which means you want to submit your secondary application asap. Start with those schools first.
It can be done, gl!

If I'm declaring a second major this week (haven't decided if I'm going to do it yet) but have already submitted my official transcript to AMCAS, will I have to resubmit a second transcript that has my newly declared major on it?

can someone help me out...? I have 9 poster presentations to list (3 regional/national and 6 on campus)- all dealing with the same research project.

Format is: Authors, date, title, location

my 3 regional/national poster presentations would be classified under "Presentations/posters" and I don't have a problem fitting those in the description box

however, I can only fit 3/6 of my campus poster presentations under "Research" in the description box...this also doesn't give me room to describe my research...I really don't want to classify this as "meaningful experience" just so I have more room...

any advice?

Originally Posted by CodeRedDew

If I'm declaring a second major this week (haven't decided if I'm going to do it yet) but have already submitted my official transcript to AMCAS, will I have to resubmit a second transcript that has my newly declared major on it?

No. AMCAS verification is only for your coursework, and since you don't enter in your major in the Coursework section, they won't be checking your major.

Originally Posted by hopefuldr1

can someone help me out...? I have 9 poster presentations to list (3 regional/national and 6 on campus)- all dealing with the same research project.

Format is: Authors, date, title, location

my 3 regional/national poster presentations would be classified under "Presentations/posters" and I don't have a problem fitting those in the description box

however, I can only fit 3/6 of my campus poster presentations under "Research" in the description box...this also doesn't give me room to describe my research...I really don't want to classify this as "meaningful experience" just so I have more room...

any advice?

Try asking here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=896983

My advice:

Do you need to list all 6 campus poster presentations? I'm not sure how big your presentations were, but I presented my poster on my campus and am not even considering adding it to my research description.

You could include something along the lines of "In addition to the 3 regional/national poster presentations I've already listed, I also had another 6 poster presentations on my university's campus."

I searched this thread but did not find anyone with my problem. I will try to call AMCAS tomorrow but thought I'd try here.

I have a previous AMCAS ID/password from my MCAT. I used that to log in today and start my application. All was okay until I had to set my username/password; the instructions say to use the previous info. It won't let me use my old pw because I used symbols in it. The error message tells me to only used letters and numbers. When I try to enter a new pw, however, there is an error that it doesn't match my old one.

Ugh. Catch-22! Has anyone else had/solved this problem?

Originally Posted by craftyconqueror

I searched this thread but did not find anyone with my problem. I will try to call AMCAS tomorrow but thought I'd try here.

I have a previous AMCAS ID/password from my MCAT. I used that to log in today and start my application. All was okay until I had to set my username/password; the instructions say to use the previous info. It won't let me use my old pw because I used symbols in it. The error message tells me to only used letters and numbers. When I try to enter a new pw, however, there is an error that it doesn't match my old one.

Ugh. Catch-22! Has anyone else had/solved this problem?

Call AMCAS tomorrow, explain the situation, give them details about your account so they know it's really you, and ask them to reset the password.

Originally Posted by Wolverine Fan

Call AMCAS tomorrow, explain the situation, give them details about your account so they know it's really you, and ask them to reset the password.

Will do - thanks! Need to get started on this app if it takes anything near as long as entering all my info in TMDSAS....

Originally Posted by hopefuldr1

can someone help me out...? I have 9 poster presentations to list (3 regional/national and 6 on campus)- all dealing with the same research project.

Format is: Authors, date, title, location

my 3 regional/national poster presentations would be classified under "Presentations/posters" and I don't have a problem fitting those in the description box

however, I can only fit 3/6 of my campus poster presentations under "Research" in the description box...this also doesn't give me room to describe my research...I really don't want to classify this as "meaningful experience" just so I have more room...

any advice?

The campus posters aren't worth listing. You could mention them in passing in your research description but citations of them are not necessary

As a neuroscience major, but in a school where professors are either psych or bio, I had a bit of a difficulty classifying my courses.

If I have too many "errors" classifying my courses will my application be delayed?

Also, some of my course were dual departmental. I just listed the course numbers for both departments as it shows on my transcript. Is that right?

Question about repeats. Do we put "Repeat" for both classes (the original, and when we repeated), or just the repeat?

Regarding AP credits on my transcript, I have "AP Calc AB" twice on the transcript. I can only remember taking one AP calc in high school. Do I enter both as it is printed on the transcript? Or do I just enter one? This is also the same case with "US History" and "AP Government". They each appear twice on the transcript and I got credit twice for each of them. What do I do in this case?