2008-2009 AMCAS Questions Thread

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It won't matter. You get what you paid for. So if you paid for one, you'll get one. I don't know why they included that anyway..

The important part is your signature.
 
fuzzywuz said:
It won't matter. You get what you paid for. So if you paid for one, you'll get one. I don't know why they included that anyway..

The important part is your signature.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Glad I didn't screw that one up...my signature is definitely there 🙂
 
Hey everybody and/or Lizzie,

I've read the pdf amcas instruction file, but still have some questions:

Someone on this thread mentioned that you should list the course exactly as it appears on your transcript. I have some courses whose titles are not very descriptive. I have two classes that are classified as "Problems in Zoology" one credit hour, but for one I was a human anatomy lab instructor and the other was advanced anatomy lab. Also, I have two classes that are classified as "private lessons" but one was guitar lessons, and the other was voice lessons.

Do I need to enter the course name exactly as it appears, or can I add parenthetical explanations(i.e. "Private lessons (guitar lessons)" or "Problems in zoology (human anatomy lab instructor)")?
 
so when I enter future/current coursework, I end up getting a warning saying something like you might have to enter a grade for this yada yada...a red asterisk...It might hold up AMCAs processing

Is this a big deal?
 
I tried looking for this in the instruction book and online, but came up empty.

Is there is specific protocol or form that needs to be completed to appeal a change in the course classification? A few post back, I asked about classifying these sciences courses that I took. After consulting with the professors, they agree that they should be categorize as biology courses. My concern is that AMCAS would look at the course name and think otherwise. If AMCAS does disagree with the way I categorized it, is there an appeal process?

Thanks!
 
ChubbyChaser said:
so when I enter future/current coursework, I end up getting a warning saying something like you might have to enter a grade for this yada yada...a red asterisk...It might hold up AMCAs processing

Is this a big deal?
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nah, the same thing happened to me last year and there was no noticeable delay...I think it's a red flag meant only for people who have entered their previous classwork but forgot to enter the grade
 
AJJJJJ said:
nah, the same thing happened to me last year and there was no noticeable delay...I think it's a red flag meant only for people who have entered their previous classwork but forgot to enter the grade
Click to expand...
thanks👍
 
For the amount you're supposed to put down how much the transcript cost (I know it makes no sense).

Not sure about the signature - I signed it myself (it seemed the logical thing to do).
 
Hey guys, how do I deal with AP courses that retook in college? I'm not exactly sure how to go about this. Do I enter the course regularly and check AP or what?

Secondly, what classification should I put for a class of medical terminology? It's listed as Classics.
 
hey guys,

this thread's been really helpful thus far. thanks for all the input.

i was wondering how i should enter a summer class i took for "enrichment" (meaning i took the course over the regular semester and got a D+ and was credited for it because i didn't technically fail, but retook in the summer for no credit, however received a grade) should i also mark the :repeat" box in the bottom because it was my second time taking the course?
 
Hey!

For LizzyM, or whoever may have an answer: I was a paid volunteer for two clinical studies. This wasn't exactly employment, nor was it research done by me. Is it volunteering, non-clinical, even though I was paid? Is it clinical volunteering? In one study I had to stay at the clinical for several hours at a time while they took blood, but I didn't do anything beyond be a good, reliable, subject. The experience was really great because it gave me insight into the clinical research process (which I supplemented with a seminar on human clinical investigation), so I should have a good description. I'm just not sure what to call it.

Thanks!
 
coffeebeanjenn said:
Hey!

For LizzyM, or whoever may have an answer: I was a paid volunteer for two clinical studies. This wasn't exactly employment, nor was it research done by me. Is it volunteering, non-clinical, even though I was paid? Is it clinical volunteering? In one study I had to stay at the clinical for several hours at a time while they took blood, but I didn't do anything beyond be a good, reliable, subject. The experience was really great because it gave me insight into the clinical research process (which I supplemented with a seminar on human clinical investigation), so I should have a good description. I'm just not sure what to call it.

Thanks!
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Um, unless this was a sleep study where you literally lived in the laboratory for a month or more, I think it would be weird to be able to list this as work experience lol. I mean, most college students have participated in psych studies of some kind....
 
slipstream99 said:
AMCAS says "Within each term, list the courses in the order in which they appear on the official transcript." I forgot to add my AP classes (which go in as 1st semester freshman year) before I added my actual freshman year classes, so they appear after even though on my transcript they appear before.

Is there a way to rearrange courses or do I need to delete all of my first semester freshman classes and then re-enter them so they appear after my AP classes?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I highly doubt that they will be too worried if you put the classes down in the wrong order...

ChubbyChaser said:
so when I enter future/current coursework, I end up getting a warning saying something like you might have to enter a grade for this yada yada...a red asterisk...It might hold up AMCAs processing

Is this a big deal?
Click to expand...

That warning is there just in case you forget to put a grade in for a class that you actually have one. Obviously, you dont have a grade yet for future coursework, so it doesn't matter.
 
I have 2 questions, whiling inputing my grade:

1) I took a class entitled Environmental Issues in Society (ENST-105). The class was a mixture of environmental policies, case studies, as well as some basic sciences. Would it be okay to list this course as BCPM under natural/physical science? The class was taught by a geology professor.

2) I took a class concerning with east Asian cultures and societies. Would this fall under Foreign Language and Art or would fall under social science?

Thanks a bunch!
 
Very specific situation here. Any help would be great:

Spent 2 yrs at the University of Rochester and 2 yrs at Cornell.

Both schools weight their courses differently (ie. the avg. course at the Uof R is 4 credits, while the avg. course at Cornell is 3)

This kills my cum and bcpm GPA because even though I had a much higher course load and GPA at Cornell, the weight from my UofR courses is much higher. The average GPA that AMCAS calculates then is ultimately much lower than it should be.

After calling AMCAS and explaining to them that it is simply a different credit hour system at both schools and that this should be considered in their calculations, I have come to the conclusion that they're all complete idiots. Apparently they have never run into this problem before -which I find very hard to believe. They did tell me that I could wait for my AMCAS application to be processed and then write a letter explaining my complaint. But anticipating there incompetence, I am sure this would take me into the next decade...

Has anybody on the forum seen this before and if so, can you advise me on what to do?

Thanks!
 
Unless one school is on a quarter/trimester system and the other is on a semester system, you're stuck with everything weighted as it is. A semester unit is a semester unit, no matter how your schools assigned them... At worst, just write it in as an upward trend in your personal statement. The adcoms love upward trends anyway 😛
 
1. Natural/physical sciences don't count for BCPM as far as I know, so it wouldn't matter either way.
2. Thats one of the subjective ones where its really up to you and they probably won't argue. I'd put it under social science, but its up to you.
 
Raryn said:
1. Natural/physical sciences don't count for BCPM as far as I know, so it wouldn't matter either way.
2. Thats one of the subjective ones where its really up to you and they probably won't argue. I'd put it under social science, but its up to you.
Click to expand...

Bio is part of natural sciences, and chem and physics are part of physical sciences...so that's B, C, and P right there...
 
Hello,

I'm just wondering the way I should include my undergraduate/ (non degree) postbaccalaureate courses if they were in the same place.

Let me explain what I mean, AMCAS only allows me to choose between "undergraduate" and "postbaccalaureate" for any one institute . If I choose the "undergrad", I'll have the options of "junior, senior etc", when filling out my courses (no postbac option), while if I choose the "postbaccalaureate Undergraduate" option, I'll only have that as an option along with "graduate". Thus the only solution I could find was to add the same institution twice, once for "undergrad", and once for "postbaccalaureate Undergraduate". In theory, it works, as at least I classified my courses correctly, but now obviously my application considers the same university as two (all my courses were at the same place, and are on the same transcript, I just took a few courses after I got my degree). Now I have two transcript request forms (for the same place, just different dates of study) etc. Is there another way to do this, is there a way to indicate I did my undergrad and took some postbacc courses in the same place without adding the same university twice ?


Thanks for your help, I hope the question was somewhat clear.

Oh, on a different topic, would a thesis course be " lab only course" as there is no lecture.

Thanks again.
 
There are plenty of schools that weigh their courses differently and that is reflected when the credit hours are listed on your final application next to each course. My community college weighed courses the same way as you just described (more 4 credits than 3 credits) as does all the community colleges in my state. But at my university, 3 credits is the norm.

At least your still getting credit for exactly what you earned. It could have worked out the other way around-- if you had succeeded more in the heavier weighted courses, your GPA would have been inflated instead of the other way around.

On other note: I find it very bothersome that their system penalizes students whose university uses a +/- grading system by giving less-than-full credit for A- grades, yet fail to reward A+ grades. For example, I have over 40 hours of A+ grades on my transcript for BCPM courses and about 10 hours of A- grades. The A+'s did absolutely nothing for me yet the A-'s lowered my GPA to the 3.7 range. The difference between my university GPA and my AMCAS GPA is significant (3.90 versus 3.60) 🙁

In your case, at least med schools will be able to see the credit value difference between each course. My A+'s are going to get erased altogether leaving nothing but A/A- behind.
 
Just a quick question, and hoping someone can help. I'm in a dual degree program with an BA in Economics and a BSC in Engineering. My engineering GPA is low, but my BA is high (currently a 3.8 this year). Does AMCAS average the GPA's of both degrees or will my most recent one count in the application cycle? I tried searching for this info but couldn't seem to find what I'm looking for. Thanks! 🙂
 
^Both degrees count as well as every attempt that you made at a given course. For example, if you got a C in a 3 hour class, retook it and got an A, AMCAS would count both grades for an average of a B over 6 credit hours.

AMCAS, in essence, is not a student-friendly service.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but natural sciences (which is basically bio and orgo) and physical sciences (which is basically physics and chem) WILL NOT count as BCPM.

Only courses categorized as straight up bio, chem, physics, or math will count. This is according to the manual. So if you list a course under natural science, it won't be calculated in your BCPM.
 
Mcatguy said:
Hello,

I'm just wondering the way I should include my undergraduate/ (non degree) postbaccalaureate courses if they were in the same place.

Let me explain what I mean, AMCAS only allows me to choose between "undergraduate" and "postbaccalaureate" for any one institute . If I choose the "undergrad", I'll have the options of "junior, senior etc", when filling out my courses (no postbac option), while if I choose the "postbaccalaureate Undergraduate" option, I'll only have that as an option along with "graduate". Thus the only solution I could find was to add the same institution twice, once for "undergrad", and once for "postbaccalaureate Undergraduate". In theory, it works, as at least I classified my courses correctly, but now obviously my application considers the same university as two (all my courses were at the same place, and are on the same transcript, I just took a few courses after I got my degree). Now I have two transcript request forms (for the same place, just different dates of study) etc. Is there another way to do this, is there a way to indicate I did my undergrad and took some postbacc courses in the same place without adding the same university twice ?


Thanks for your help, I hope the question was somewhat clear.

Oh, on a different topic, would a thesis course be " lab only course" as there is no lecture.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I have the same question... anybody?
 
Well, AMCAS just emailed me saying they received my transcripts and I didn't even use the AMCAS request form.
 
I did an ethnographic research project on communication between doctors and patients for a class this semester and I presented it at a conference. Should I only list the presentation since the research was part of the class or should I list the research and the presentation as separate activities?

Thanks everyone for your help
 
So I am a bit confused. Would the Environmental course be counted as BCPM or not? Seems to be two differing opinions. Thanks
 
coffeebeanjenn said:
Hey!

For LizzyM, or whoever may have an answer: I was a paid volunteer for two clinical studies. This wasn't exactly employment, nor was it research done by me. Is it volunteering, non-clinical, even though I was paid? Is it clinical volunteering? In one study I had to stay at the clinical for several hours at a time while they took blood, but I didn't do anything beyond be a good, reliable, subject. The experience was really great because it gave me insight into the clinical research process (which I supplemented with a seminar on human clinical investigation), so I should have a good description. I'm just not sure what to call it.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would be wary to put this on your app; it will look like you're adding fluff to your EC's. You got paid, so it's not volunteer. They were only one-time things (or short-term studies if you had multiple visits), so they're not really a job of any kind. You can talk about it in your PS or interview if it really impacted your view on research, but I highly doubt that doing 2 clinical studies for pay is really that groundbreaking.
 
sushichopstickz said:
So I am a bit confused. Would the Environmental course be counted as BCPM or not? Seems to be two differing opinions. Thanks
Click to expand...

Probably not, but you can always try to classify it as Biology (might go along with ecology?) It sounds more like a social science or natural science (which are NOT considered BCPM). From what I hear these course classifications are not that big of a deal and they get changed by AMCAS all the time - so don't stress out over it.

If you're really that worried about it just give AMCAS a call and see what they say. Good luck!
 
I am going to complete a B.A in both psychology and biology. I know I obviously list both those majors, but do I list two B.A.s? Or just one B.A. with both majors listed?
 
Thanks Chad!

Where on the AMCAS does it list your GPA? I used a AMCAS GPA Calculator Excel Spreadsheet to calculate my GPA, but would like to verify it with the official AMCAS GPA on the website. Is it listed somewhere?
 
gasdf1234567 said:
I am going to complete a B.A in both psychology and biology. I know I obviously list both those majors, but do I list two B.A.s? Or just one B.A. with both majors listed?
Click to expand...


Unless the majors are in two separate schools in the college, it is listed as 2 majors for one degree.
 
sushichopstickz said:
Where on the AMCAS does it list your GPA? I used a AMCAS GPA Calculator Excel Spreadsheet to calculate my GPA, but would like to verify it with the official AMCAS GPA on the website. Is it listed somewhere?
Click to expand...

When you go to "Print application," your AMCAS GPA will be listed under "Verified Grade Point Averages." As it states, however, "GPA calculations will appear only when your application status is Processed."

Basically, until you get your application verified, you won't know your AMCAS GPA.
 
Are people putting their Fall semester courses on AMCAS? Is there any point?
 
Would you say the official AMCAS GPA is similar to the one you can calculate from an AMCAS Excel Spreadsheet? The one I found online calculates: (1) undergraduate GPA (non-science, BCPM, overall), and (2) graduate GPA.
 
Thanks. Was afraid of that! 😛
 
I did - even though they will have our transcripts, I still wanted to show which upper level science courses I am signed up for in the fall.
 
It is not required (some people don't even know what they will be taking yet) However, if you know might as well put it on there so they can see what you are doing. It talks about in the manual about how what you put down isn't binding, etc.

I put it because I am doing an SMP.
 
Has anyone had success with snail mailing in LORs to interfolio, and the reason I ask is becuase one of my professors mailed it off a week ago (eventhough i told him electronically is so much easier) and it still hasnt shown up. Should I call interfolio and ask them about it or what?
 
When I enter my personal statement into the text box, any indentations I try to make do not appear. Is the general protocol to press "return" in between paragraphs so there's an empty line to separate them? What are other people doing? Even pressing spacebar doesn't create indentations (since I have some free characters to spend).....Any thoughts?
 
Bretzel said:
When I enter my personal statement into the text box, any indentations I try to make do not appear. Is the general protocol to press "return" in between paragraphs so there's an empty line to separate them? What are other people doing? Even pressing spacebar doesn't create indentations (since I have some free characters to spend).....Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Yea just put a return between each of your paragraphs.

Is 20 hours of shadowing a significant amount? I'm not sure what constitutes a good deal of shadowing in terms of hours. I guess what I'm saying is will adcoms laugh and think "haha 20 hours, might as well be 20 seconds. REJECTED."
 
enjoydrywax said:
Yea just put a return between each of your paragraphs.

Is 20 hours of shadowing a significant amount? I'm not sure what constitutes a good deal of shadowing in terms of hours. I guess what I'm saying is will adcoms laugh and think "haha 20 hours, might as well be 20 seconds. REJECTED."
Click to expand...
Its better than nothing, do you have any other clinical experience??

20 hours of shadowing is enough if you have other significant clinical experiences.
 
Mcatguy said:
Hello,

I'm just wondering the way I should include my undergraduate/ (non degree) postbaccalaureate courses if they were in the same place.

Let me explain what I mean, AMCAS only allows me to choose between "undergraduate" and "postbaccalaureate" for any one institute . If I choose the "undergrad", I'll have the options of "junior, senior etc", when filling out my courses (no postbac option), while if I choose the "postbaccalaureate Undergraduate" option, I'll only have that as an option along with "graduate". Thus the only solution I could find was to add the same institution twice, once for "undergrad", and once for "postbaccalaureate Undergraduate". In theory, it works, as at least I classified my courses correctly, but now obviously my application considers the same university as two (all my courses were at the same place, and are on the same transcript, I just took a few courses after I got my degree). Now I have two transcript request forms (for the same place, just different dates of study) etc. Is there another way to do this, is there a way to indicate I did my undergrad and took some postbacc courses in the same place without adding the same university twice ?


Thanks for your help, I hope the question was somewhat clear.

Oh, on a different topic, would a thesis course be " lab only course" as there is no lecture.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I have the same Q here. I attended college in Illinois, and also got a Master's degree from that same institution. I have also taken classes at my state university during one summer when I was home (from attending college in IL), and for the past yr, I've been taking some pre-med classes there.

So on AMCAS I've got 4 different institutions listed: one for undergrad time period, one for the summer classes, one for the grad degree, and one for this past yr of taking classes. Is this how I'm supposed to do it??

Also, 2 more Qs:

1. I took a sewing class and an Arabic class for fun at a community college a looong time ago (I can't even remember where). Do I really need to get a transcript for that ???

2. I studied Arabic in Yemen at the Yemen Language Institute for fun last summer. It's not an accredited US institution, I didn't try to transfer any credits, I wasn't allowed to defer my loans while I attended (didn't count as a "student" since it wasn't accredited US institution). BUT, now the language institute has become a full-fledged university (wasn't when I was attending)... so do I need to get any kind of transcript from them?

Thanks in advance.
 
unsung said:
1. I took a sewing class and an Arabic class for fun at a community college a looong time ago (I can't even remember where). Do I really need to get a transcript for that ???

2. I studied Arabic in Yemen at the Yemen Language Institute for fun last summer. It's not an accredited US institution, I didn't try to transfer any credits, I wasn't allowed to defer my loans while I attended (didn't count as a "student" since it wasn't accredited US institution). BUT, now the language institute has become a full-fledged university (wasn't when I was attending)... so do I need to get any kind of transcript from them?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I have similar experiences (took classes for fun) and I just chose not to include those institutions at all. I mean it's extra hassle for me to get all those transcripts and secondly, there's no possible way they are going to find out. AND if they do some how find out, then **** them, I don't want to go to some fascist institution with ridiculous rules about including every single transcript from every single school that any family member (past, present, and future) breathed on.

edit: I would, however, look into getting that trasncript from the Yemen university. That sounds like a pretty sweet experience and something that would definitely benefit your application.
 
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