2004 AMCAS Help Thread

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If you are holding a job or a volunteer position how do you enter that...it seems to me that the app requires you to put an END date? any ideas
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I did not see this answered anywhere so here is an explanation...I believe AMCAS says that you should put your anticipated ending date. For instance, I will continue with two of my activities until I get into med school so I just put August 2004 as the ending date because that is when most med schools typically start.
 
So for AP credits we are supposes to leave the grade blank? This is what I found in the handbook, maybe I misunderstood it:

"Note that semester hours for courses with an AMCAS letter grade (e.g., A, A-, B+, etc.) are included in normal GPA
calculations. Supplemental hours, however, are only for courses with an AMCAS grade of
? G (used for Advanced Placement credit),
? L (used for CLEP credit),
? N (used for Pass/Fail - Fail credit), or
? P (used for Pass/Fail - Pass credit)
These are reported to medical schools as a total amount (i.e., 25 hours of Supplemental Credit Hours) and are not
included in normal GPA calculations." P.34-5
 
Originally posted by wolferman
I'm thinking about reapplying although I hold an accptance somewhere. I'm going to know for certain on June 11th, but I still would like to get started just in case. Can I start the 2004 AMCAS process, specifically sending transcripts and updating activities, without the school I was accepted to finding out?
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Variations on this question have been discussed on these forums. The consensus is if you are waitlisted for '03, there is nothing to stop you from reapplying for '04 as you wait.

Also, if you are accepted MD (DO) you can probably reapply DO (MD) without anyone being the wiser.

After May 15th you are only permitted to hold one acceptance; I would imagine this applies to the '04 cycle as well as '03.

Hope it all works out.
 
Originally posted by Violinrose
I did not see this answered anywhere so here is an explanation...I believe AMCAS says that you should put your anticipated ending date. For instance, I will continue with two of my activities until I get into med school so I just put August 2004 as the ending date because that is when most med schools typically start.
Click to expand...

That's what it said last year. I put usually put May or July 2003, depending on whether I planned to continue through the end of school or until I relocate.
 
Someone asked whether acronyms are appropriate. If I spelled it out once, I always used an acronym later (not bothering to put in parentheses at first reference), and if the acronym was well known, I sometimes used it the first time, too. Also, I used clear abbreviations (e.g., peds rather than pediatrics) liberally.

I'm not a fan of excessive abbreviations or mysterious acronyms, but you will find, especially when you start to get secondaries, that you will spend more time cutting your answer to fit the character limit than you will spend actually writing the answer. (My favorite: Duke, asking for a complete job history--titles, dates, descriptions--in 1000 characters ... Hopkins was a challenge, too ...)

Most apps' character limitations are harsh. If you have the space, sure, spell things out, but it's more important to get your information across than to worry about abbreviating properly.
 
Originally posted by maoeris
So for AP credits we are supposes to leave the grade blank? This is what I found in the handbook, maybe I misunderstood it:

"Note that semester hours for courses with an AMCAS letter grade (e.g., A, A-, B+, etc.) are included in normal GPA
calculations. Supplemental hours, however, are only for courses with an AMCAS grade of
? G (used for Advanced Placement credit),
? L (used for CLEP credit),
? N (used for Pass/Fail - Fail credit), or
? P (used for Pass/Fail - Pass credit)
These are reported to medical schools as a total amount (i.e., 25 hours of Supplemental Credit Hours) and are not
included in normal GPA calculations." P.34-5
Click to expand...

So maeoris, this is what I thought too. There seems to be a discrepancy--some are saying to enter in nothing in the grade column, while the instruction manual says to put a "G". Does anyone know which is right (or when to use the "nothing" option vs. "G"?)

And the fun continues.... 🙂
 
Do what the instruction booklet says that way you will be safe. I always follow the instruction booklet although every time I call amcas depending on whom answers I get a different answer. Even those folks have not read the instruction booklet, but the folks doing the verifying are not the same as the ones you speak with now. I am sure they will know the instruction booklet backwards.
 
thanks efex101...i guess i'll just put the "G" in for the AP since that's what it says in the manual....

now onto more confusion (yet again). ubu (or any other wise SDNer with double degrees) --remember the thing about us having 2 degrees (B.S. and B.A.) meaning we had to enter the school in twice in the amcas form?? So I did that. In the schools attended section I have 2 entries for "XYZ university", one showing a B.A. degree and one with a B.S. degree. I did the transcript requests for both of them, but I know we only have to send in one transcript.

Okay, here's my new question: In the coursework section, do I have to enter all the coursework in twice?????

back to the drawing board....
 
Alright, I'm finally getting around to working on this thing again. I got an official transcript from my school, and now I have a question/worry:

On the transcript it says:

Birth Place: Scotland,
Birth Date: 05-20-XX
High School Name: Oklahoma School of S

It should say:

Birth Place: Aberdeen, Scotland
Birth Date: 05-20-81
High School Name: Oklahoma School of Science and Math

What the heck? Whoever entered this info into the computer was smoking crack. Is this going to be a problem? I wouldn't think its a big deal, but I wanna be sure.
 
Okay, I've got another one:

I had my transcript sent a week ago and got a confirmation e-mail today. My Spring 2003 grades are not on that transcript. By the time I submit AMCAS, I will know my Spring 2003 grades. Do I put them on the AMCAS? Do I need to send them a new transcript?
 
soonerpillow proceeds with his soliloquy:

I took an Honors class, it's listed as HON. It's called Perspectives on the American Experience: The Jazz Age. It was sort of a survey of American culture during the twenties. Would it be classified as History? or Other? I would think History, but I thought I'd ask.
 
spumoni - I am not sure how much I can help here. My coursework at one school involved completely separate degrees...one was only post-bacc work, and the other was for grad work, so it was easy to separate out. I would say to input only the classes that are pertinent to your BA degree in one entry, and your BS degree work in the other. But since I am sure that your classes for the two degrees overlap, I am not sure. 🙁 Sorry! maybe someone else can help?

soonerpillow - I am almost positive that you will need to send in another transcript with your updated grades. Obviously, you don' t know your spring 2003 grades now, so i would mark that in as "current" when you input your coursework. If you happen to know your grades before you certify and send in your AMCAS, definitely input your grades. Perhaps you can send in another transcript request at your school and let them know not to send in the transcript until the spring 2003 grades are on there....
 
hey soonerpillow,

i'd classify the hon class as history...."other" could mean a lot of other things (library scienceand it's clearer IMO about the general area you studied if you list it as history. i agree with ubu about the transcript thing--send in one as soon as they have your grades--better yet go fill out a transcipt request and check "hold for grades", so you know it will be send as soon as they arrive.

i also have some weird biographical mishaps on one of my transcripts. i'm thinking it's not too bad, but i'm leaning toward maybe going through the trouble to correct it, just to be on the safe side. Here is what i'll probably do: send in one transcript asap just for the sake of sending it in asap (besides, i figure amcas is mostly concerned with grades anyhow. i have lots of other stuff to back up my records if they start an "investigation"). Then once all the typos are corrected I'll maybe send in another one.

Okay, now back to me!! 😀 So, does anyone else have this double degree dilemma (entering school 2x)? What are you guys doing about it?

And one more thing: for those who studied abroad, are you just listing the courses under the foreign institution or are you ALSO listing the courses under the main institution (where credits transferred?)

thanks guys for helping out. this is my main resource!
 
oops. sorry, i guess i'm brain-dead from too much amcas (a record 4 hours today!)

the 1st line of my last post is:

i'd classify the hon class as history...."other" could mean a lot of other things (library science to architecture to military science) and it's clearer IMO about the general area you studied if you list it as history..
Click to expand...
 
quickread: it's going to supp because you aren't entering a grade. if you enter a grade, it will count in your gpa. you should only have to enter the "grading system" when you add a SCHOOL, not each term under a particular school...but be sure you enter a grade each time. I think it actually should give you a little pop-up box if you don't enter a grade. if you are entering grades, I don't know...I'd call them.
 
Does anyone know about a "certificate"? I did a two-year program at school and it's technically a separate "degree" but I don't think there's anyway to enter it on AMCAS...and I already have a minor that I had to enter as "other minor" since it wasn't listed...any ideas? The degree options AMCAS gives you are associates, bachelors, masters, etc....no certificate!
 
Originally posted by Quickread
hey everyone, i guess i need some help with this thing too. i'm putting in my credits semester by semester, but i'm not getting quality semester hours, its going straight to supplemental. this means that my gpa is 0.00 cause the supplelemental aren't included in that. anybody have the same thing going on? also, it didnt ask for the grading system every semester... at least i dont think it did. this coursework thing is bothering me.
thx
Click to expand...

Quickread,

Actually, I just experienced this today. avhart is right: if you don't enter a grade it goes straight to your supp hours. And it gives you a popup box saying "No grade entered, OK to proceed?" or something.

But now I experienced the same problem even WITH a grade. I entered in a "plus" grade (i.e. B+ or A+) for the grade in one of my classes and it did the same thing (went to supp hours instead of quality hours). When I removed the plus, though, it was okay--it went back to quality hours and is included in my amcas gpa. I have NO idea why it's doing this, and I think I'll call and ask...let you know if I have any luck.
 
Hi Spumoni, I had the same problem. It's because AMCAS doesn't recognize A+ as a valid grade, so you'll have to change it to an A.
 
Originally posted by spumoni620
Quickread,

Actually, I just experienced this today. avhart is right: if you don't enter a grade it goes straight to your supp hours. And it gives you a popup box saying "No grade entered, OK to proceed?" or something.

But now I experienced the same problem even WITH a grade. I entered in a "plus" grade (i.e. B+ or A+) for the grade in one of my classes and it did the same thing (went to supp hours instead of quality hours). When I removed the plus, though, it was okay--it went back to quality hours and is included in my amcas gpa. I have NO idea why it's doing this, and I think I'll call and ask...let you know if I have any luck.
Click to expand...

Hey guys, I have the same problem too!! The instructions tell you to to enter the grades exactly as it appears in you official transcript...but when you enter in A+, then there's no AMCAS grade! And I don't get any credits too. So now my gpa is lower cuz my freshman year is not included in the gpa calculations.

Did any of you guys know about this? Anyway, I thought that the AMCAS grade takes in consideration for +'s and -'s (ex. a-=3.7, a+=4.o).

Should I just not enter in the plus and minuses? Will AMCAS screw me up if I do this? Thanks everyone!

I swear man...the whole med school app. process is just trying to test your stamina and root out any easy "give-upers." We're going thru a lot of crap here! AND the instruction book is USELESS!...the way it's written, you can interpret it a thousand ways...it's like reading a law book! I ain't no law student! jtn.😀
 
Hi, I'm new here. I think I must be missing something, because when I try to choose the semester for course work, there is a choice for Spring Semester, but not for Fall. I checked twice, and it really seems to be missing...is this possible?

I guess this is a silly first post! Maybe I'll look again, and it will probably be there...and I'll feel stupid... 🙂
 
Originally posted by gapremed
Hi, I'm new here. I think I must be missing something, because when I try to choose the semester for course work, there is a choice for Spring Semester, but not for Fall. I checked twice, and it really seems to be missing...is this possible?

I guess this is a silly first post! Maybe I'll look again, and it will probably be there...and I'll feel stupid... 🙂
Click to expand...

You may have skipped a semester. I did that and I have to back up and delete a semester. Also say you take a class in spring 2003 you will see it as Sem II 2002. I hope that might help
 
Yes, you're right...I deleted a semester and the Fall choice appeared...thanks!
 
Do you have to have another official transcript sent in if your reapplying? Since nothing has changed from one of the schools I attended seems reasonable to have it carry over from last year...
 
Originally posted by jtn
I swear man...the whole med school app. process is just trying to test your stamina and root out any easy "give-upers."
Click to expand...

Congratulations. You have learned the greatest secret of the application process. I'm dead serious- if you look at every step of the journey in this light, you will be successful.
 
Okay guys,

I got in touch with an AMCAS person FINALLY....and got some answers to a few questions.

1) For those with TWO undergrad degrees from the same institution (i.e. getting a B.S. and B.A.) you need to list the college in twice under the "colleges attended" section. BUT only one transcript is required (this is what ubu said earlier . 🙂 ) As for coursework: just enter the coursework in once under one entry. You don't even need 2 transcript requests, apparently.

2) Study abroad: list the foreign coursework (with the names as it transferred to your home university) under the foreign institution section only...even if it only shows up in your home transcript.

3) +/- grades: if your system is having problems recognizing a B+ or A+ for example, don't worry. What the operator said was, enter the A+ and AMCAS will override it once they get your app. Even though it goes to supp hours, AMCAS will fix the problem once you verify and submit. Then it will count in your gpa as a 4.0.

Hope this helps!!

🙂
 
anything occuring/ending in the future is fair game on the amcas. if you know your whole senior year schedule, go ahead and enter it. if you are going to keep volunteering until the end of college or matriculation, feel free to put that as your end date.

goal: make yourself look as good as possible withough lying/fudging whatever.

i just wrote this in response to a few end date qs. sorry if this has been answered. please let me know if anyone disagrees.
 
In the GPA section, it asks how many times you've taken the MCAT. It says don't include it if you've registered, but haven't taken it, or if you voided your results. I put 2, because I took it in August and in April. When I ran the Audit, it says my numbers don't match theirs. I'm assuming this is because the April MCAT hasn't been scored yet. Is that right? If so, what should I put?
 
What about shadowing? I've shadowed three different doctors for a week each. Should I both adding this, add it separately, or add all three under one experience (if possible)?
 
maybe i'm just too tired/stupid to figure this out, but what does
BCPM stand for? cuz theres a bcpm gpa and a AO gpa, then there's the total. what is the difference cuz mine differ by several tenths.
 
BCPM = Biology Chemistry Physics & Math

AO = All Others
 
I have a question about the experiences/honors/etc section. I am going to be working in a doctor's office next year as an assistant, but I don't know how to list this job. I'm not certified as a PA, so I can't call myself that, but the job was advertised as "back office assistant," which makes me sound like a secretary or something. Could I call myself a doctor's assistant, or what would be more appropriate? Thanks.
 
Wardens--I'd list all three together as one experience. I did this with some volunteer work when I did it all for one organization. As long as you make it clear that you've done it with three different doctors, you'll save a lot of space/reading time and get the same information across.
 
Alright, if you look at my last post on this thread, you'll see my questions. I thought I'd ask AMCAS, too. So I sent them the following e-mail:


"In the GPA section, I entered that I've taken the MCAT twice (August 2002, April 2003). When I ran the Audit, it gave me a warning that that number does not match the AAMC records. Is that because the April 2003 MCAT has not been scored yet? or is there some other reason?

Also, since I have MCAT scores from August 2002, can I submit my
application on June 1, then have my April 2003 scores added when they come out? How would this be considered under the "medical school preference" clause?

Thanks."

A day later, I received this e-mail:

"Dear Applicant,

Thank you for contacting AMCAS.

Yes, currently the information is not on file with us."

No crap! That's what I told you guys! I was asking WHY it wasn't on file yet. And I asked several other questions too! Arg!!!!!
+pissed+

Anybody else gotten such a helpful reply? The TMDSAS people are much more helpful, prompt, and friendly. I guess Texas isn't so bad, after all.
 
Anybody else gotten such a helpful reply? The TMDSAS people are much more helpful, prompt, and friendly. I guess Texas isn't so bad, after all. [/B][/QUOTE]

Yeah, I sent AMCAS a fairly detailed question about how I should classify my behavioral biology course and whether I should classify it as a PSYC or BIO and how I should enter class numbers considering my transcript has letters and numbers (ie PSYC310)

Two weeks later they send me a reply:

"Dear Applicant,

Thank you for contacting AMCAS.

Information should be appear on the application EXACTLY how it appears on the official transcripts."

Thanks a lot amcas. So basically, do whatever you want, or call them. I don't think it will really matter in the end.
 
Has anyone tried posting their personal statement onto the AMCAS application and then viewed it? All my apostrophes have been substituted with question marks!!! It looks weird! Is this normal? How do I fix it?
 
Ubu-
I had the same problem last year when I copied my statement from word and pasted it in to the AMCAS program. You might want to try deleting the apostrophes and retyping them while you are in the AMCAS application- this worked on my statement. 🙂
 
Try pasting your PS from Notepad. It may work better.

I am confused about something... I know previous posts have mentioned it but I just want to make sure I'm correct.

I am going to be receiving two BA degrees since I am a double major. Does that mean I have to enter my college twice? Or can I list 2 majors and 2 degrees obtained under one mention of mycollege? The thing is when I go to print out the transcript form, it only says that I am getting one BA. I'm not sure if that should say 2 or if it's just like a general marker for a degree.
 
Originally posted by aleezay
Try pasting your PS from Notepad. It may work better.

I am confused about something... I know previous posts have mentioned it but I just want to make sure I'm correct.

I am going to be receiving two BA degrees since I am a double major. Does that mean I have to enter my college twice? Or can I list 2 majors and 2 degrees obtained under one mention of mycollege? The thing is when I go to print out the transcript form, it only says that I am getting one BA. I'm not sure if that should say 2 or if it's just like a general marker for a degree.
Click to expand...

I was not a double major, but I think you can add degrees to each college listed.Also, I think your official transcript will look different than the one you print out, and include both degrees.
 
I apologize if this has already been asked, but I am pretty sure that I have combed through this entire thread w/o seeing any mention of it:

I took Spanish I and II during two consecutive summers at a local Community College in order to jump ahead to Spanish III and IV at my University. I had my transcript from the CC forwarded to the University awhile back so they wouldn't flip out due to the fact that I began in Spanish III. Does that mean I still have to send in transcript from the CC in addition to the University, or will the University transcript cover both of them?? Thanks in advance!
 
alliemac, I believe transcripts from all schools attended must be sent.
Page 21 One official transcript is required from each U.S., U.S. Territorial, or Canadian post-secondary institution at which
you have attempted course work, regardless of whether credit was earned. This includes but is not limited to:
? College-level courses attempted while in high school, even if they were not counted toward a degree by
any college.
? Colleges at which you originally attempted a course, even if transfer credit was subsequently accepted by
another school.
? Colleges where you registered but did not earn any credit (e.g., incompletes, withdrawals, failures, audits,
etc.).
? Courses which did not count toward a degree, regardless of whether credit was earned or transferred.
? Extension programs through which you attempted courses if a separate transcript is provided by the
Extension Division.
? Correspondence and home study programs.
? Military education.
? American schools overseas.
? U.S., U.S. Territorial and Canadian medical schools.
Note also that some universities issue separate transcripts for undergraduate and graduate course work.
Please be certain to request an English language transcript from the registrar whenever possible.

This is from Page 18 from the instructions Choose one option for your transcript exception request. These are the only options permissible.
If you indicate one of the options on this page, you must understand that you are requesting a transcript exception,
and that exceptions are not granted automatically. Research transcript availability carefully before
completing this item.
If you do not ask for an exception and later discover that an official transcript is not available, your application may
be delayed and you may miss deadlines. Prior to certifying and submitting your application, you should go back into
the "Transcript Requests" section of the application and request a transcript exception so that your application can
be processed. Changes cannot be made to this section after certification and submission, and must be addressed
as a Post-Submission change. AMCAS is not responsible for delays in processing or missed deadlines and will not
make an exception to deadline rules.
 
Can I submit it before they recieve my transcript? The problem is at Cal the transcripts arent ready until June 12th. Any suggestions?
 
Yes you can send it before you get all your transcripts. Here is what aamc does once you submit:
P.55
Once your application has been submitted to AMCAS, AMCAS performs an initial review to determine if there are
any missing or incorrectly completed items that may prevent processing. If omissions or errors cannot be resolved,
your application will be returned. You may not submit a corrected or changed application unless specifically
requested to do so by AMCAS.
Once your application has passed this initial review:
? Acknowledgment of its receipt will be sent to you via e-mail provided you have included a valid internet
address. You may also verify receipt through the Voice Response System or on by returning to your
application's Welcome page. Such acknowledgment does not indicate that your materials are complete or
that deadline requirements have been satisfied.
? AMCAS will then determine if all official transcripts have arrived. If not, your application will be held until
they are all present. You will receive an e-mail notification every ten working days until missing transcripts
arrive or until all deadlines have passed.
? When your application and all transcripts are on file, AMCAS verifies your Academic Record against your
official transcripts.
? AMCAS is not responsible for materials that take longer to process.
? AMCAS will stop verifying your materials and an e-mail notification will be sent if any missing or
incomplete transcripts are discovered during verification.
? AMCAS may return your application to you and you may miss deadlines if major errors or omissions in
course listings are found during verification.
? AMCAS will verify your application using the following symbols:
any course verified without correction
any course verified with any correction
any course listed on the Academic Record but not reflected on an official
transcript; format corrections were not required
any course listed on the Academic Record but not reflected on an official
transcript; format corrections have been made
a type of coursework not intended to be verified by AMCAS
? After your application is verified, your AMCAS GPA is calculated. Your AMCAS GPA may differ from the
GPA calculated by your school.
 
Originally posted by Ubu
Has anyone tried posting their personal statement onto the AMCAS application and then viewed it? All my apostrophes have been substituted with question marks!!! It looks weird! Is this normal? How do I fix it?
Click to expand...


You must be pasting it in from Microsoft Word. Word converts the " to "smart quotes", which is fancy formatting. So AMCAS is allergic to special formatting and changes it to question marks. The only ways to fix this, that I know of, is 1) to save the file as a txt only file. Then paste it in Notepad. Then paste it in your AMCAS file. 2) Paste the essay from Word into AMCAS, and manually retype all the "". 3) Type in your essay word for word directly into AMCAS.

Good luck!
 
Originally posted by aleezay

I am confused about something... I know previous posts have mentioned it but I just want to make sure I'm correct.

I am going to be receiving two BA degrees since I am a double major. Does that mean I have to enter my college twice? Or can I list 2 majors and 2 degrees obtained under one mention of mycollege? The thing is when I go to print out the transcript form, it only says that I am getting one BA. I'm not sure if that should say 2 or if it's just like a general marker for a degree.
Click to expand...

I called AMCAS and asked a similar question (exact details in my previous post above). Print out one transcript request, send in one transcript, but enter your college twice, and only fill out one section for coursework.
 
Help me anyone 🙂

Okay I am almost done with my AMCAS but when I print my AMCAS, I click the button that says print and a new window opens, my AP credits are not listed appropriately. There is a large box that includes all the GPA information, and there is a box next to it that says supplemental hours. None of my AP classes are listed under the AP credit box. Did I do something wrong?

Thanks!!!
 
I'm having the same problem too [about the AP credits] I'm also having formatting problems, even though I typed directly into the essay box... I thought I would have success with Notepad but for some reason I had similar probs
 
Originally posted by spumoni620
I called AMCAS and asked a similar question (exact details in my previous post above). Print out one transcript request, send in one transcript, but enter your college twice, and only fill out one section for coursework.
Click to expand...

How come they give us multiple options then for major(s)? AMCAS is confusing. I just selected Bachelor of Arts twice and labelled both my degrees. But if that's the official word, then I can go back and change it. Do you think it matters only if you have a BS and BA rather than 2 BAs.
 
How come they give us multiple options then for major(s)? AMCAS is confusing. I just selected Bachelor of Arts twice and labelled both my degrees. But if that's the official word, then I can go back and change it. Do you think it matters only if you have a BS and BA rather than 2 BAs.
Click to expand...

In my case it was a B.S. and B.A. So I was able to list the B.S. major under the B.S. category and the B.A. majors under the BA category. I'm not sure about 2 B.A. degrees, but I would imagine it would be the same?? I would just list one of my majors under each section. Good luck!
 
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