2004 AMCAS Help Thread

[tBw]

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Originally posted by spumoni620
okay. i stand corrected....🙂 (thanks tbw)

well, it worked out fine for me...but there definitely *is* a difference between what they sometimes say and what they do. As horrible as the app is to do in the end 99% of mistakes you make they will fix for you fuss free though.

 

[ironey]

Originally posted by Ubu
I just received notification from AMCAS that they have received one of my transcripts. This transcript covers the classwork that I completed during the times I was there completing 2 different degrees. I listed these two degrees in separate entries although from the same university. I was told that I only needed to submit ONE transcript for this (this has been discussed before on this forum). However, the email also lists transcripts that have still not yet been received -- one of them being the above mentioned university. Since I listed the university twice, am I to assume that this is ok?

Hey Ubu, this happened to me, too. The AMCAS people figured it out before too long and they accepted the single transcript for both "degrees". Give them a little time to verify the transcripts and your status will be updated to "transcript received".

Cheers!

Oops, now I see that two other people just told you the same thing!!

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by ironey


Oops, now I see that two other people just told you the same thing!!

it's always more reassuring to hear it from more than one person... 😉

 

[usmaple]

Here are some pointless gems from my conversation with an AMCAS rep today:

1. For April 2003 MCAT'ers, once the scores are tallied your AMCAS application will be updated with it and the "Number of MCATS entered does not match number of results AAMC has on record" warning will magically disappear.

2. For spring 2003 grades, you can enter them on your application, but they will be marked as "received without verification". In other words, AMCAS will not be trying to verify them later on, they'll just go with whatever transcript they've got at the time of verification. I'm not sure how this will affect GPA calculations (i.e. whether or not unverified courses will count towards the AMCAS GPA). Of course, you could wait and send in the updated transcript when available....

Also, it looks like they're starting to catch up with confirming transcripts. I got two e-mails today confirming receipt of transcripts that, according to them, were received on 5/19.

 

[aleezay]

I know I asked this before, but I'm in the same situation and after reading this thread I was gonna do the same thing. Then I called AMCAS and they actually told me to list both my degrees under one university. I am a double major and am getting 2 BA degrees. Is that the situation you guys are in? That you are double majors?

 

[soonerpillow]

Originally posted by usmaple
Here are some pointless gems from my conversation with an AMCAS rep today:

1. For April 2003 MCAT'ers, once the scores are tallied your AMCAS application will be updated with it and the "Number of MCATS entered does not match number of results AAMC has on record" warning will magically disappear.

2. For spring 2003 grades, you can enter them on your application, but they will be marked as "received without verification". In other words, AMCAS will not be trying to verify them later on, they'll just go with whatever transcript they've got at the time of verification. I'm not sure how this will affect GPA calculations (i.e. whether or not unverified courses will count towards the AMCAS GPA). Of course, you could wait and send in the updated transcript when available....

Also, it looks like they're starting to catch up with confirming transcripts. I got two e-mails today confirming receipt of transcripts that, according to them, were received on 5/19.

Thanks usmaple! That helps.


Wow. The clock is ticking, y'all. Only a few more days (hopefully) until we can submit. Anybody getting excited/nervous?

So who's gonna be the first to submit?

(anyone ever notice how "submit" seems to have two different meanings? According to the dictionary is means both to "present" and to "surrender." Both of which are applicable here, huh? 🙂 )

 

[dmitrinyr]

Hey guys,

Someone said that it's only a few days until we can submit the AMCAS application. What is the exact day and where did you see this because I can't find it on the AAMC web site. Thanks. Although to me it doesn't really matter because I'll wait until I get my scores to see to how many schools I'll apply to.

 

[quideam]

Research question for AMCAS -

I was wondering if any of you guys know what to do...

I did research for two summers on two different projects. The first was later presented at a conference, and the second will be presented at a conference and published during the next year. Should I list them as research or as presentations/publications????

Thanks a lot!!!!

- Quid

 

[maoeris]

quideam

I would list them both if you have the room. I did extensive research and I also presented my work. I included information about my research and my role in the lab. Under the presentation heading I described what I presented. To get an idea about how much time you spent on your research would not be conveyed in just listing the posters.presentations. Just my thought

 

[jbernet1]

I was wondering if anyone knew if we had to send as many transcripts as schools applying to, or just one copy to the AMCAS service.

Thanks

 

[Wardens]

I was wondering if anyone knew if we had to send as many transcripts as schools applying to, or just one copy to the AMCAS service.

I'm pretty sure it's just one to AMCAS from each school you've attended, plus one to each non-AMCAS school from each school you've attended.

 

[quideam]

Thanks Maoeris...

I don't have room to list the same thing as both research and a presentation. I wound up just listing it as a presenetation and then putting in some stuff about exactly what I did. Do you think it's better to do that, or to list it as research and then mention that it was also published? I currently have the title as "Trauma Surgery Research on XYZ" under the heading of presentation/poster. Do you think that will work?

- Thanks a bunch!! Quid

 

[deez4life]

Originally posted by quideam
I wound up just listing it as a presenetation and then putting in some stuff about exactly what I did. Do you think it's better to do that, or to list it as research and then mention that it was also published? I currently have the title as "Trauma Surgery Research on XYZ" under the heading of presentation/poster. Do you think that will work?

hey actually i had a similar issue with a poster/presentation at Society for Neuroscience and the research i did... i ended up listing them seperately b/c i had an extra spot open on my post-secondary experiences... if i didn't have that option, though, i'd have listed the experience as research, and then in the description put that i'd also presented my research elsewhere... because your research leads to your presentation, not vice versa

 

[cather]

Hi SDN,

I have some AMCAS questions and answers for questions that people had asked previously.

Someone asked how to classify journalism and public speaking classes, I'm pretty sure you classify them as English.

I have some questions and I'm hoping you may be able to answer them:

1) Do I list credit hours for a class I withdrew from? Or do I just leave it blank? I noticed that when I included the credit hours, they automatically were counted as supplemental hours.

2) I took some classes at another school and I am not sure if I should include those class hours into assigning my year status (freshman, sophomore) at my regular school. I am not really sure how to handle the transfer credit. Do I just keep them separate.

3) I took an ecology course through the environmental sciences dept at my school. Should I list that under biology or natural/physical sciences, which has environmental science and thought?

Thanks for your time. If you have questions too, you can PM and I'll answer them too.

Thanks,
Catherine

 

[spumoni620]

Originally posted by deez4life
hey actually i had a similar issue with a poster/presentation at Society for Neuroscience and the research i did... i ended up listing them seperately b/c i had an extra spot open on my post-secondary experiences... if i didn't have that option, though, i'd have listed the experience as research, and then in the description put that i'd also presented my research elsewhere... because your research leads to your presentation, not vice versa

i have a similar issue too...but i was thinking, if i enter it twice under presentation and research, does it look to the adcom like you're trying to pad your experiences? i know there was some discussion about this a few pages back on this thread....

 

[DrLady]

Originally posted by cather
Hi SDN,

I have some AMCAS questions and answers for questions that people had asked previously.

Someone asked how to classify journalism and public speaking classes, I'm pretty sure you classify them as English.

I have some questions and I'm hoping you may be able to answer them:

1) Do I list credit hours for a class I withdrew from? Or do I just leave it blank? I noticed that when I included the credit hours, they automatically were counted as supplemental hours.

2) I took some classes at another school and I am not sure if I should include those class hours into assigning my year status (freshman, sophomore) at my regular school. I am not really sure how to handle the transfer credit. Do I just keep them separate.

3) I took an ecology course through the environmental sciences dept at my school. Should I list that under biology or natural/physical sciences, which has environmental science and thought?

Thanks for your time. If you have questions too, you can PM and I'll answer them too.

Thanks,
Catherine

hi you!

ok, i will try to answer. For your first question, yes when I listed my credit hours, they were counted as supplemental hours as well, so I think its fine. I think you should still put the class hours from the class that you withdrew and you will need to send in transcript requests to all of the schools that you attended whether as a freshmen/soph or junior/senior. For your 3rd question, yes, you should list ecology as your bio class. I took ecology courses too couple years ago and they fall under biological sciences. So you are fine! Don't worry 🙂 Oh and there is 'general instructions' in the AMCAS application. Whenever you feel confused, do refer to them. I am done adding my classes and such, but am in the process of completing my personal statement. so you can pm me anytime if u have more questions.


Hope this helps!

 

[raincrew]

If I attended a special summer session at the same school I attended for undergrad while in high school, and the grades from this session appear in my undergrad transcript, do I need to fill out a transcript request form for the summer session? Or could I just put "no transcript needed" for it and just have only the undergrad transcript sent? The summer session is listed separately from my undergrad institution under "Colleges attended."

 

[avhart]

Originally posted by raincrew
If I attended a special summer session at the same school I attended for undergrad while in high school, and the grades from this session appear in my undergrad transcript, do I need to fill out a transcript request form for the summer session? Or could I just put "no transcript needed" for it and just have only the undergrad transcript sent? The summer session is listed separately from my undergrad institution under "Colleges attended."

You should enter them as part of your undergrad career assuming you got college credit for the classes. Then submit just one transcript. I had to do the same thing...and I put the dates I attended my school so that they would include this summer session I attended while in hs.

 

[avhart]

Originally posted by dmitrinyr
Hey guys,

Someone said that it's only a few days until we can submit the AMCAS application. What is the exact day and where did you see this because I can't find it on the AAMC web site. Thanks. Although to me it doesn't really matter because I'll wait until I get my scores to see to how many schools I'll apply to.

When you try to certify and transmit, it lists June 3 as the first possible date.

 

[surfsup]

Has anyone tried to cut their PS into AMCAS yet? I did but it chops my essay at 5228 characters and not the 5300 they say they allow. Any thoughts?

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by surfsup
Has anyone tried to cut their PS into AMCAS yet? I did but it chops my essay at 5228 characters and not the 5300 they say they allow. Any thoughts?

ahhhh...an infamous problem. This has happened a lot in the past. Usually it is supposedly due to 'hidden' formatting characters that get pasted across too. The usual solution is to try pasting it first to a different application eg Word -> Notepad -> AMCAS. Sometimes that solves it.

 

[avhart]

Don't hard returns count for two characters each? That might be why...

 

[bosco]

Originally posted by avhart
Don't hard returns count for two characters each? That might be why...

Yup!

 

[bosco]

Originally posted by Wardens
I'm pretty sure it's just one to AMCAS from each school you've attended, plus one to each non-AMCAS school from each school you've attended.

I think this is right too.

 

[bosco]

Originally posted by aleezay
Hey for you guys who sent in your transcripts did you receive an email confirmation? And if so how long did it take for them to get back to you? Just wanna make sure they got my records. thanks.

I gave the transcript request to my school on May 19. They sent out the transcripts (from Indiana) on May 20 or 21 they said. I just got an e-mail notification today (May 30) from AMCAS saying they received them on May 27.

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by avhart
Don't hard returns count for two characters each? That might be why...

well, the reason I didn't go with that explanation is that would require one hella lot hard returns to make up an extra 72 characters in one essay!!

 

[surfsup]

Originally posted by tBw
ahhhh...an infamous problem. This has happened a lot in the past. Usually it is supposedly due to 'hidden' formatting characters that get pasted across too. The usual solution is to try pasting it first to a different application eg Word -> Notepad -> AMCAS. Sometimes that solves it.

I tried this already. No go. I guess I will have to type it in to see if that will work. Thanks though. . .

 

[surfsup]

Originally posted by tBw
ahhhh...an infamous problem. This has happened a lot in the past. Usually it is supposedly due to 'hidden' formatting characters that get pasted across too. The usual solution is to try pasting it first to a different application eg Word -> Notepad -> AMCAS. Sometimes that solves it.

For those who have this problem, I typed the PS into the section instead of cut and pasting. It works now just so you guys know.

 

[Sonya]

Originally posted by Louweezel
jtak - for my course numbers i put in the whole thing, i.e. BIOL110 or CHEM323. Some schools however use numbers to identify their courses e.g. 012357397.11 or something like that. Seemed to work fine for me 🙂

Did everyone else do this? For a course called bio 110, i just put "110"... do you think i should change all my entries to fix this?

Sonya

 

[tBw]

last year I always put in the full thing like BIO110 - as otherwise the course # was the same for CHEM110 and BIO110...

 

[speedbird001]

To those who have been wondering about first day of AMCAS submission, I called AMCAS today (May 30th), and a lady told me it was June 3rd. This is consistent with what many people saw when they were about to certify and submit their application.

With regard to last few messages about listing course numbers on the AMCAS. I asked someone who successfully applied last year. She said that you just list the actual number. So if the course was BIO110 or whatever, you just put down "110." My hunch is that you will be listing out the course titles anyways on the application, and the AMCAS people should be able to use that to match it up with the grades your transcript. Then on the other hand, I don't think it would hurt to list the subject area with the number. Perhaps it means more work for us, but it might result in less ambiguity. If there's anyone else who'd be willing to share how you listed the courses, that'd be greatly appreciated.

Now, I have some questions. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

I got caught up in the whole Advanced Placement credits issue now, and I am aware that some people in previous posts have addressed them. The only record of my AP credits on my transcript is something as follows: "ADVANCED PLACEMENT TO 05/00 44.0 UNT." But do I have to list out all the subject areas in which I got credits from? From previous replies, it seems like the answer is "Yes." I have this progress report (NOT a transcript) that has AP credits listed out individually and grades for regular courses. And, I got some UNASSIGNED units, so do I list those too?

Speaking of transcripts, I've heard things about sending them early to AMCAS. I requested one from my school today (5/30) and did express mailing because it seemed late for me (compared with everyone else who sent theirs in early May). My school told me 3 business days are needed before my transcript gets sent. Any estimates on which day AMCAS will send me the confirmation e-mail showing they received my transcript? And how long is the transcript verification process? 1-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks? The only AMCAS told me about it is that the whole application takes about 4-6 weeks to process. Seems rather long, but maybe not as surprising considering the volume of applications AMCAS receives.

Sorry for this lengthy message!

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by speedbird001
Then on the other hand, I don't think it would hurt to list the subject area with the number. Perhaps it means more work for us, but it might result in less ambiguity. If there's anyone else who'd be willing to share how you listed the courses, that'd be greatly appreciated.

Someone at the other end sits and manually checks off each course on your form against your transcript. Imagine it was you. Could you interpret it without the BIO infront? Yes. But which would be quicker? Personally I added it to minimise the work they had to do at their end and make it as quick as possible.

 

[Jtak]

Originally posted by speedbird001
Any estimates on which day AMCAS will send me the confirmation e-mail showing they received my transcript?

Does AMCAS send confirmation e-mails for transcripts? I sent mine in weeks ago and haven't received any confirmation.

 

[usmaple]

From my experience it's been a little over 2 weeks between actually requesting a transcript and getting a confirmation e-mail from AMCAS.

 

[aleezay]

Just to let you know my experience, I had the transcript sent out on 5/22 and they received it 5/23 (I kinda lucked out cuz they threw mine in the FedEx pile), and I got an email notification 5/29...so about a week for mine.

Have people sent their transcripts off to NYU and Columbia, or are you holding off for a few weeks till their applications are available online?

Also, I'm not sure if I read this on this thread or another one , but did someone say the larger the list of schools you are applying to, the longer verification takes? That doesn't make sense right, since verification is just checking your transcript w/ the app..?

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by aleezay

Also, I'm not sure if I read this on this thread or another one , but did someone say the larger the list of schools you are applying to, the longer verification takes? That doesn't make sense right, since verification is just checking your transcript w/ the app..?

If someone did say that they were wrong. The time is to do with the verification of transcripts as you say. # schools makes no difference.

 

[envelope]

hi guys =)
quick questions about amcas 2004....

how many schools are you guys applying to? i'm applying to 7 california schools, and then i'm having trouble finding other schools to apply to! i'm not even bothering with the top ones like harvard and johns hopkins cuz i don't think i can get it and i really don't want to waste money...how did you guys decide?

under coursework - when you say your level as in freshman, sophomore, etc. it is based on units, so basically i have so many units from community college courses and ap credit during high school that during my freshman year of college, i was considered a sophomore....i just wanted to make SURE i'm entering it correctly...anyone else in the same boat?

since mcats don't come out until end of june, are you waiting until then since "med schools prefer to have you wait" according to amcas? is it bad to submit june 1st cuz you don't have your mcat score..???

thanks guys =) good luck on the app!

 

[soonerpillow]

Originally posted by envelope
hi guys =)
quick questions about amcas 2004....

how many schools are you guys applying to? i'm applying to 7 california schools, and then i'm having trouble finding other schools to apply to! i'm not even bothering with the top ones like harvard and johns hopkins cuz i don't think i can get it and i really don't want to waste money...how did you guys decide?

under coursework - when you say your level as in freshman, sophomore, etc. it is based on units, so basically i have so many units from community college courses and ap credit during high school that during my freshman year of college, i was considered a sophomore....i just wanted to make SURE i'm entering it correctly...anyone else in the same boat?

since mcats don't come out until end of june, are you waiting until then since "med schools prefer to have you wait" according to amcas? is it bad to submit june 1st cuz you don't have your mcat score..???

thanks guys =) good luck on the app!

I'm applying to about 11-15 schools. I only have one state school, though (for some reason, there just aren't 7 medical schools in Oklahoma.....). I had several factors in deciding. Location, average scores, amount of Out of Staters they take, and I looked at their webpage.

About coursework: I was also had a lot of credits from high school. But my school didn't put them on my transcript until after my first semester. So that semester I was a Freshman. Second semester I was a sophomore. My high school credits appear on the first, Fall Semester, so thats where I put them on AMCAS (so it looks like I took about 50 hours that semester. I must have been really busy 🙂 ).

About MCAT scores: I tried to e-mail them about the "Med School Preference" thing, but they were no help. I think you could find the actual e-mail somewhere in this thread. I'm going to go ahead and submit as soon as possible, but I've got MCAT scores from last August, too, so your situation might be different. I don't know just how much they "prefer" you to wait. The safest thing would probably be to wait. Then you'd have a better idea about which schools to apply to, and you'd be doing what they "prefer."

 

[spumoni620]

Originally posted by envelope
hi guys =)
quick questions about amcas 2004....


under coursework - when you say your level as in freshman, sophomore, etc. it is based on units, so basically i have so many units from community college courses and ap credit during high school that during my freshman year of college, i was considered a sophomore....i just wanted to make SURE i'm entering it correctly...anyone else in the same boat?

since mcats don't come out until end of june, are you waiting until then since "med schools prefer to have you wait" according to amcas? is it bad to submit june 1st cuz you don't have your mcat score..??? !

I also had the same situation...my college transferred so many ap credits i was classified as a sophomore my first year. The only classes I put as a freshman wsre the AP credit transfers, since the AMCAS instructions say to enter them as freshmen-level classes. I then entered all the classes I took as a first-year as sophomore...2nd-year as junior...third and fourth year as senior.

It's ambiguous about the mcat score timing vs. sending AMCAS. (Check out this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70206
I had thought I was going to wait to send my app until after june 24, but now think I might just send it in early (like june 3rd). In the long run, it probably doesn't make too much difference, though...I hope?

 

[SillyRabbit]

About coursework and year classification....
I understand that AP credit accepted by my institution goes under Freshman year.

What about AP classes i took in high school that were not accepted as credit by my institution? What would i put for credit?

What do you put for grade for AP classes? I don't think i remember the grades....just the credit i received in college for it.

 

[Lhickz22]

Regarding the post classifying as Fresh, Soph, etc...I called the AMCAS people yesterday...and for me, they told me to classify the community college courses i took in high school as HS, then the AP classes as Freshman and classify the rest of them according to those credit hours listed in the directions...so for me...I am a semester behind on the AMCAS transcript than I am on my regular transcript but the guy said that that was fine. Hope this helps a little!

 

[avhart]

When I printed my application, all my AP credit (since there is no grade) shows up in the supp. credit column and none in the AP credit column. Is this normal? I checked the little box saying "AP" on all the classes...

 

[Lhickz22]

Mine shows up like that as well. I have no idea if that makes a difference or not since if you scroll down further all of the classes are labeled as AP credit...so who knows!

 

[Quickread]

Hey I was just opening AMCAS today and I saw this little caveat in the opening page: "Applications will first be made available to medical schools on or about July 1, 2003. "

What's the deal with that? Does that mean that submitting June 1 is no different from June 31 cause all apps up to July 1 will be held until then? That's what I read it as... maybe I'm just being blind or ignorant or something. Any ideas?

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by Quickread
Does that mean that submitting June 1 is no different from June 31 cause all apps up to July 1 will be held until then? That's what I read it as... maybe I'm just being blind or ignorant or something. Any ideas?

On July 1st Med schools will start going through the thousands of apps they have received. Some will not differentiate between someone who submits June 1st and someone who submits June 31st. Some will go through by submission date. It depends on the schools admission office exactly how they do it.

 

[Quickread]

thanx tBw

 

[maoeris]

Originally posted by tBw
On July 1st Med schools will start going through the thousands of apps they have received. Some will not differentiate between someone who submits June 1st and someone who submits June 31st. Some will go through by submission date. It depends on the schools admission office exactly how they do it.

They may not differentiate between June 1st and June 14 but they may do so for any later date. As I understand it, it takes two to three weeks for verification, and someone who turns in their App end of June will not have it transmitted to schools until mid to late July.

 

[JM.]

And after it is verified they make take some time to download/transmit it.

 

[soonerpillow]

So, anybody else ready to click submit tomorrow? Anybody getting nervous? Yes for me on both. Thanks for all your help and good luck to all the rest of my fellow applicants.

A toast to all of us!
I'm going to get a nice bottle of champagne and not open it until I get my first acceptance. I hope it doesn't go bad or anything.... 🙂

BTW, does anybody know exactly what time we can submit. I think it'd be cool to be the first one or something. 😀

 

[usmaple]

So, anybody else ready to click submit tomorrow? Anybody getting nervous?

Yes and yes!! I'm definitely taking the plunge and hoping for a few weeks of relative calm afterwards, I guess until the MCAT's come back and I have to decide whether I picked a good range of schools to apply to.

Good luck!!