2004 AMCAS Help Thread

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I'm pretty sure the summer coursework should be the academic year of the following year. So if you took a summer course before sophomore year, it counts as a sophomore year course. I'm not sure if this is what you were looking for.
I wouldn't worry about the order in which they appear on the printout. I don't believe it means anything, and it always seems to get messed up. I doubt it will make a difference to medical schools.
 
Originally posted by bosco
They told you not to worry about the X's or just that it is showing up as supplemental?
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Not to worry about it showing up as supplemental (pre-submission)
 
has anyone gotten the amcas application verified yet? if so, how long did it take for you to get it verified after you submitted? i submitted on june 5th, but still have no word on my verification status...
 
Originally posted by deez4life
has anyone gotten the amcas application verified yet? if so, how long did it take for you to get it verified after you submitted? i submitted on june 5th, but still have no word on my verification status...
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I submitted 6/6 and began verification 6/9, was completed processing 6/11. All my transcripts were in before I submitted.
 
Originally posted by Slickness
I submitted on June 3rd and my application was processed and completed verification on June 6th.
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ditto
 
hmmm, they just notified me that they got my transcript on june 9th... i guess then that's the reason for the hold up. goddamn registrar, i ordered it like 3 weeks ago 🙄
 
Hey, if you put an end-date of Aug 2004 for ongoing activities, doesn't that look as though you're planning to drop your ECs as soon as you get in? 😕 :laugh: (silly question, yes.. but is there a better way?)

Also, I have a question about listing hours/week. I volunteer with something that is rather on-call and special event based. For the weeks they need me, I will put in a couple hours/week, and if there is an event, then I will put in more hours. Would you try to average out the number of hours/week for the whole year? Or would you try to be more specific about how many weeks you were involved, plus the average number of hours/week? I tried the latter, but for some reason this method makes the number of hours I worked (obtained by multiplying the two figures) seem positively dinky. Strange.

Thankee for advice 🙂 (btw not for AMCAS per se, but it fits well here)
 
Hi...I haven't been following this thread too closely, so please let me know if someone already asked this question....

I have decent grades, but not too competitive, I think...I started out well my freshman year, was so-so my 2nd and 3rd years, then redeemed myself toward the end. It's not that I partied too much, but that I was much too involved than I needed to be.

Anyhow, here's my question...According to essay advice, it is good to explain why GPA may have suffered in the essay (pretty much explain anything that wasn't mentioned anywhere else). I understand if maybe I suffered a huge loss, or was working full time to put myself through school, I could easily fit that into my personal experience. But...how does one explain bad grades (like C's in physical science) by simply saying....I didn't try hard enough and got knocked in the most competitive major at my school?

This is my second chance at med school, and I wanna do things better. Apparently not all schools were turned off by my grades, because I did earn an interview. This time, should I try to explain the C's that show up?? And how?? Honestly, my motivation for medicine was not strong enough during those years, and I didn't try hard enough until I got older. 😕
 
Cafe

I'm in a similar situation. Didn't really care so much in undergrad and got less than stellar grades. I am basically explaining that in my personal statement, and making the argument that the good grades I recevied in my graduate program is proof of my determination and academic ability, as well as maturity. I figured being honest is better than making it up, you just have to make the case that you are motivated now (and you need evidence of that) and you weren't then.

We'll see how far my strategy gets me, I'm applying for the first time.
 
okay, stressing out again. I just encountered a problem with my premed committee Letter of Evaluation. I learned that it won't be sent out until September. But I already submitted my app. That means I should be getting secondaries in July, with deadlines to meet. Doesn't your LOE have to be sent in then too? What do I do when I have to send in my secondary, but without a LOE? Do I need to put some pressure on my premed committee? Arg.
 
Hey Cafe,

I think being honest is the best way to go, I mean these adcoms are people too and have kids or were once 21 yo themselves so they understand when they hear the sincere truth.

I don't know why we (me too) all get so mental about what should I say so they will like me. I have to be reminded that something just like what you said: that I was not ready or motivated enough to study medicine, is just fine.

I liked what you said and felt it meant more than someone who might try and dazzle me with how wonderful everything has been, etc. Personally I like to hear about how "I was overwwhelmed by my father's death and my grades sufferered, but I was able to turn it around ..." This stuff is inspiring to me ...

Now, I hope the adcoms like my personal experiences ...
 
I submitted my app and it was certified on the 3rd. They have all my transcripts, and my courses on the printout have all been marked by those crazy symbols, but my status is still "verification". Will it stay like this until it gets sent out to my list of schools? Thanks.
 
Sooner,

First let me post a link to a similar question and a reply (if I did not link properly just go to the last 3 posts (ie question by Green Beret):

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/sho...erpage=20&highlight=late letters&pagenumber=6

Ok, follow me on this timeline---->Since Amcas transmits July 1st-ish probably late July/Aug you will receive secondaries and then have some time (2 weeks?) to complete the secondaries...So that makes it Aug (mid-late) - Sept (early) for your secondary application deadlines. The schools will also request the Committee Letter at this time which your undergrad (and not you) submits. So if the committee letter gets out in Sept. you are at most 4wks off the ball if the letter gets out first week of sept.

I would certainly speak to your Pre-Med office and explain your situation and request your letter be drafted earlier. However, if the Committee doesnt interview/draft new letters during the summer then you may have to ensure that your letter can be completed and sent as soon as possible in Sept. I would probably even follow up when secondaries arrive with their stated deadlines to "pressure" the Committee in a good way since a timely, high quality letter is your goal.

I personally feel based on my "timeline" you wont be significantly disadvantaged. Perhaps some applicants from 2003 App Cycle can offer advice based on their personal experiences.

Good luck!
 
As usually happens most of the time when I get stressed out, it was for nothing. Turns out I just got some wrong info. The LOEs should go out mid-July. So I'm cool now.😎
 
Hi
A quick question...
If i took four years of a language during high school, do I have to mention it anywhere in AMCAS?
also,
I took a class of French in college but since I already had credit for that level it is counted as a duplicated course. But the only option in AMCAS is repeated, which sounds like i failed it the first time or something. Should i still select repeated?
Thanks
Rick
Good luck for all MCATers
 
Sorry if this has already been answered, but I just had a quick question about entering grades from a quarter system into AMCAS. I know it's a bit quirky and you have to watch out especially so that it doesn't bump the winter quarter one year ahead, but when it's all said and done, should all 3 quarters (fall, winter, spring) from the 2002-2003 academic year have 2002 as the academic year listed next to it on the screen?
 
Originally posted by rickvaughn223
Hi
A quick question...
If i took four years of a language during high school, do I have to mention it anywhere in AMCAS?
also,
Click to expand...

No
 
Originally posted by qwerty one
Sorry if this has already been answered, but I just had a quick question about entering grades from a quarter system into AMCAS. I know it's a bit quirky and you have to watch out especially so that it doesn't bump the winter quarter one year ahead, but when it's all said and done, should all 3 quarters (fall, winter, spring) from the 2002-2003 academic year have 2002 as the academic year listed next to it on the screen?
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Yes, I think so. I had the semester system and it counted spring and fall of the 2002-2003 year as 2002, so I would think it would work the same for yours.
 
Hi, question about the Post-Secondary Experiences section of AMCAS.

How do you people generally describe or have described the activity or experience you were part of (I think the character limit is 510)? Outline form listing statements? Paragraph form?

Is it good or bad to write about 15 activities/experiences (the maximum)? Or, people generally just list 10?

For the contact person, are we supposed to enter an email address of that person? If not, then how can AMCAS or med schools contact the person to verify our experiences?

Thanks.
 
Originally posted by yowhat'sup
Hi, question about the Post-Secondary Experiences section of AMCAS.

How do you people generally describe or have described the activity or experience you were part of (I think the character limit is 510)? Outline form listing statements? Paragraph form?

Is it good or bad to write about 15 activities/experiences (the maximum)? Or, people generally just list 10?

For the contact person, are we supposed to enter an email address of that person? If not, then how can AMCAS or med schools contact the person to verify our experiences?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I used paragraph form. I think I've heard that either way if fine, though. I just felt more comfortable with the paragraph.

I wrote about 15 experiences. I think most people do.

I don't think there is a place for an email address. How they get in contact with them if their problem. If they really want to, I'm sure they have ways.
 
Thanks soonerpillow.

Is it worth mentioning if you were high-school valedictorian on the AMCAS post-secondary experiences section or should I use that space for some other activity? What about awards from high school? Or, med schools don't care since they're looking for everything after high school?

Thanks.
 
Originally posted by yowhat'sup
Thanks soonerpillow.

Is it worth mentioning if you were high-school valedictorian on the AMCAS post-secondary experiences section or should I use that space for some other activity? What about awards from high school? Or, med schools don't care since they're looking for everything after high school?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I don't think you should put high school stuff on there. It specifically says "post-secondary," i.e. "after high school." They're much more interested in stuff you did while in college, because it is more standardized. For example, if you were valedictorian at Podunk High School (graduating class of 14 students), that doesn't mean much. If there is something you did in high school that seriously affected your decision to become a doctor or something like that, you might include it in your personal statement.
 
about post-secondary experiences. i would highly recommend against including activities that didn't somehow shape your personal and/or academic aspirations just to fill out all 15 slots.

adcoms are composed of intelligent people; they can see right through bs space-filling activities like "basket weaving" or "thumb twiddling." sit down and think about if the activity truly molded you into the individual you are today. if you've got to think for a long time, you probably shouldn't list it.

worry not if you don't have 15 experiences. most people hard pressed for 15 unless they've gone on past undergrad to a post-bacc or masters program. if you've truly got 15 though, certainly list them all!

good luck 🙂
 
Originally posted by deez4life
adcoms are composed of intelligent people; they can see right through bs space-filling activities like "basket weaving" or "thumb twiddling."
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Crap! Well, I guess it's too late to take my underwater basketweaving summer internship off of there. I really thought it made me a more well-rounded applicant.
 
Hello, does anyone know if a class taken during Summer 2001 count as part of the 2000-2001 academic year, or the 2001-2002 year? I saw some postings that could answer my question, but I've seen conflicting answers.

On the one hand, if I put down the class as 2000-2001, then the summer class appeared in the order as shown on my transcript (between my spring 2001 classes and fall 2001 classes). As my school is on a quarter system, the classification for summer class was denoted on AMCAS as Q4, or 4th quarter, which would make sense in this case.

However, AMCAS tells us that we should assign the UPCOMING academic status to summer session classes, implying that the Summer 2001 classes should be under the 2001-2002 year. Yet, if I do it like this, my summer classes will appear out of order on the application.

Any input will be greatly appreciated, especially from those whose applications have already been verified without any problems on the Course Work section. Thanks!!
 
Originally posted by speedbird001


Any input will be greatly appreciated, especially from those whose applications have already been verified without any problems on the Course Work section. Thanks!!
Click to expand...

I had exact same question as you and I ended up assigning it upcoming status as I was suggested. It does appear ugly on the printout sheet but after wasting 5 hours changing it this way and that I finally just gave it upcoming status as amcas tells you to. It got verified just fine. It's annoying as @#$ though because according to all web sites the school year always starts in the fall not SUMMER.
 
After I fill in all my classes and grades, do i fill in future classes? Like to i list the courses i am taking next semester? I know them, but am not certain about my second semester senior year courses and perhaps next semesters courses will change slightly as far as electives go. Let me know what you guys think and what you all are doing.
 
Originally posted by soonerpillow
Crap! Well, I guess it's too late to take my underwater basketweaving summer internship off of there. I really thought it made me a more well-rounded applicant.
Click to expand...

Dangit sooner underwater basketweaving is my line. Be more creative next time.
 
Thanks koma for the info. Like you, I've been frustrated by that "does the year begin with fall or summer term" issue. And yes, my school calendar has the school year begin with fall, not summer. Now, I can only hope and wait for the AMCAS people to quickly fix that very annoying error that's preventing me from editing my Course Work section on the application.

Originally posted by koma
I had exact same question as you and I ended up assigning it upcoming status as I was suggested. It does appear ugly on the printout sheet but after wasting 5 hours changing it this way and that I finally just gave it upcoming status as amcas tells you to. It got verified just fine. It's annoying as @#$ though because according to all web sites the school year always starts in the fall not SUMMER.
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bump, y'all!

this is for all those threads popping up recently asking for AMCAS help.
 
aight i gotta question and im not sure if its been addressed at all. im too lazy i guess to read through all 25 pages of this thread so here goes. im gonna be doing that MA in medical science program in boston this year and was wondering if you guys think its worth for me to at least put down on amcas the courses i will be taking considering they are med courses. i've heard a couple people doing that but im not sure if i should although i am considering it. also how would i go about doing this on amcas. thanks
 
Why would you not list them? As long as you're 99% sure you'll be taking them...you would just list them on AMCAS as "current/future" coursework (check the box on the coursework section).
 
Hey guys,
Can you help me with a LOR question? I just recently finished asking professors for LORs. I had to ask them individually, because my school doesn't have a pre med committee to write our LORs for us, though we do have a career services center that will send them out. And they'll hold the LORs for us until we want them sent out. The thing is, I'm not sure what deadline to give my professors to turn in the LORs to career services. I'm taking the August mcat for the first time, so I still have a little time. But obviously I should have my professors turn them in ASAP. What do you think is the earliest deadline I can give to my professors without making it seem too early and without pissing them off? A month? Two months or is that too late?
 
I have always been curious as to how the premed committees are able to draft the hundreds of letters of recommendation that they do on a yearly basis. Is there a form letter where the fill in the details? Or is it a composite letter where they cut and paste the text from individual professor recommendations into a larger document? Or is it more personalized? I wonder how this works.
 
Hey guys...I've been having some problems with getting the correct grading system on my application..

Under "Course Work", I fill out the appropriate name and number, then fill in the appropriate OT grade. Then, I put in the credit hours and it automatically puts those credit hours under "supplemental", when they really should be under semester hours (it shows N/A for semester hours). Is there a section that I'm missing in which I'm supposed to designate the grading system my university uses? Please help, this is frustrating as hell....thanks


__________________
 
turk00: they did the same thing with mine. They did not ask for a conversion to grading system for one university, and there was never an opportunity to provide it. But the application got verified and processed perfectly anyway.
 
I entered several courses for Spring 2004 semester that I thought I might take, but I don't even know the course schedule for that semester, so I might not even be able to take all of them, or I might not want to. My question: Is your "Future Coursework" binding? Do you HAVE to take them? I've already submitted, so it's sort of a moot point, but I was just curious.
 
I need help here please because I have been trying to talk to someone at the amcas office, but the system always keep me on hold for ever. One of the colleges I attended has been closed, but my grades from there appear on my current transcript. What should I do since I am not even able to enter the college's name in my application? thanks
 
cad_15 and others... Do not worry if you are on hold still. They took a certain program off line I think it was called sds or something and that is what swtiches you from on hold to active. I'd wait about a week and then they should have the problem fixed.

About the college call AMCAS. They have not been responding to email in a timely manner. Be prepared to be on hold for over 20 minutes however.
 
I took a Pass/Fail course and passed. I checked the pass/fail box and plug in P for the transcript grade and it says the AMCAS grade is B. Eventhough amcas says that P/F courses are not included in the GPA. The B cannot be deleted and is being calculated in the GPA, what do I do to change this? Thanks in advance
 
Originally posted by iamhere
my amcas is "on hold" status since the fourth of july, yet my transcripts are all listed as received....wtf? Let me know what the deal is if you know. Thanks
Click to expand...

What I would suggest (and I'm dead serious) is to call them and have someone there explain to you why your application is on hold. I did that when my transcript wasn't showing up as received 2 weeks after it should have arrived there. I was given the standard "It takes blah blah days to show up on the computer, blah blah blah" but 20 minutes after I hung up I got the E-Mail saying my transcript had arrived, and an hour later my application went active. The two may not have been related, but it may have loosened up a stuck wheel on my application when I forced someone there to actually look at it. Just a thought. 🙂
 
Originally posted by Rudy1223
I took a Pass/Fail course and passed. I checked the pass/fail box and plug in P for the transcript grade and it says the AMCAS grade is B. Eventhough amcas says that P/F courses are not included in the GPA. The B cannot be deleted and is being calculated in the GPA, what do I do to change this? Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

This seems like a glitch, esp since my p/f course went ok. but it's possible there's an error with the grading system amcas matched to your university (so every time you input 'p' they match it to a grade of 'b'). if it is, don't worry--when they verify it they'll change it and everything will be just as it was reflected on your transcript. (this is what happened to me on another grading problem.)

otherwise, you can always call them to make sure. but i hear hold times are getting longer...
 
Hey, I need some advice about the ECs on the AMCAS application. I've run 3 marathons and have done pretty well. Do med schools care about stuff like that and should I put it in as one of my ECs? Would they want the my best time as well? Thanks.

chopdog
 
are there any state schools that allow you to pay in-state tuition after say 1 or 2 years of paying out-of-state tuition? Do they allow you to declare residency by of school?

thanks

chopdog
 
Woohoo AMCAS finally acknowledged receiving my transcript this morning :clap: . Unfortunately under the status of my application it still says hold 😡 due to supporting docs. I've seen other people on the board with a similar problem so I shouldn't get too upset. BTW I had my transcript sent out on 6/27 so for anyone who had a transcript mailed out that day or earlier and AMCAS still hasn't received it, I would send another one.
 
My questions aren't getting much play out there, so I'll bump them to the top...

1. Is it advisable to include running marathons as an Extra Curricular activity? Is it too common or boring?

2. Do any state schools allow out-of-staters to eventually pay in-state tuition after say 1 or 2 years of going to med school there? Can you establish residency by way of attending school in the state?

Thanks for the help.

chopdog
 
i'm confused, what does it mean if it says my AMCAS status is ACTIVE...what does this mean?
 
It means that you are in line to begin verification of your official transcripts against what you put on the application.

about the marathon, yes, if it is a significant part of your life then put them all down as one experience (I guess it would fall under ec's or whatever title you choose). I think that adcoms like to know other aspects about us aside from grades and mcat.
 
About the paying in-state tuition after a few years, yes some schools do allow this (probably most) as long as you buy a house and/or pay taxes...
 
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