2008-2009 AMCAS Questions Thread

[Mdude]

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so I realize this might make some people laugh, but, if you have no publications, is it worth it to put submissions (that were subsequently, um, rejected?)...I mean, to some extent the submission does reflect a certain body of work, even if it didn't turn out to be worthy of publication in a given journal. thoughts?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

so I realize this might make some people laugh, but, if you have no publications, is it worth it to put submissions (that were subsequently, um, rejected?)...I mean, to some extent the submission does reflect a certain body of work, even if it didn't turn out to be worthy of publication in a given journal. thoughts?

I wouldnt put submissions...If for some reason you get published next year you can always update the schools with a letter.

 

[Gpan]

I shadowed a DO family physician this year, and he wrote me a LOR. Can I use this for MD application? I saw the letter, and in the last sentence he wrote this: "My name would make an outstanding osteopathic physician." Does that look weird when I submit it to MD schools?

 

[scarletgirl777]

I shadowed a DO family physician this year, and he wrote me a LOR. Can I use this for MD application? I saw the letter, and in the last sentence he wrote this: "My name would make an outstanding osteopathic physician." Does that look weird when I submit it to MD schools?

I would say yes. Can you get him to write one for DO schools and one for MD? Or just remove the word "osteopathic?"

 

[chad5871]

I would say yes. Can you get him to write one for DO schools and one for MD? Or just remove the word "osteopathic?"

Does he know you're applying to allopathic schools? It might be difficult to ask him to remove "osteopathic" without hurting his pride - you definitely don't want to offend your letter writers in any way.

 

[Gpan]

Does he know you're applying to allopathic schools? It might be difficult to ask him to remove "osteopathic" without hurting his pride - you definitely don't want to offend your letter writers in any way.

YEah this is the problem too. I put him under the impression that I want to apply to DO schools and need his LOR for those DO schools. I don't think I would ask him for another letter specifically for MD schools. what should I do then?

 

[chad5871]

YEah this is the problem too. I put him under the impression that I want to apply to DO schools and need his LOR for those DO schools. I don't think I would ask him for another letter specifically for MD schools. what should I do then?

Did you work with any MDs that could possibly write a letter? I think it would be weird to send a letter specifically recommending you as an osteopathic physician to allopathic schools.

 

[scarletgirl777]

YEah this is the problem too. I put him under the impression that I want to apply to DO schools and need his LOR for those DO schools. I don't think I would ask him for another letter specifically for MD schools. what should I do then?

Will your school allow you to submit different letters to different places? If not, you'll have to tell him, delicately...Also, is there some unspoken rule that you must have an doctor write you a letter?

 

[ute1979]

Hi,

FYI…

So I sent my official UCSD transcript to AMCAS with the AMCAS letterhead. Got an email saying was received, but then got another email saying it was rejected for not being official. So I called them... and they said it had just been accidentally stamped wrong and that it was fine. Then they said it had been happening a lot! They would send another email saying it was OK. eek!

Just curious if anyone else had this happen yet?

 

[lainey234]

I have no doubt that I qualify as "disadvantaged" during my childhood/undergrad. My family immigrated and when I was young we were in public housing, food stamps, etc. My sophomre year of undegrad my parents declared bankruptcy and actually moved in with me. And yes, it totally hurt my grades - I failed or got D's in all three classes I took that quarter and struggled alot after that.

My question is this, I'm a non-trad who has been out of that situation for YEARS. My husband and I do very well now, no one would even come close to considering me disadvantaged. Is it wrong to claim disadvantage now while I sit in my nice house with my 2.4 kids, nice car, etc? It seems wrong on some level, but on the other hand it explains alot.

 

[disorder]

I just called AMCAS about the transcript issue. They have been having technical difficulties and mistakenly sent e-mails saying they were "unsure" if they received transcripts despite sending e-mails saying they did.

Call to make sure, I guess.

 

[Coffee]

removed

 

[doomknight]

I have no doubt that I qualify as "disadvantaged" during my childhood/undergrad. My family immigrated and when I was young we were in public housing, food stamps, etc. My sophomre year of undegrad my parents declared bankruptcy and actually moved in with me. And yes, it totally hurt my grades - I failed or got D's in all three classes I took that quarter and struggled alot after that.

My question is this, I'm a non-trad who has been out of that situation for YEARS. My husband and I do very well now, no one would even come close to considering me disadvantaged. Is it wrong to claim disadvantage now while I sit in my nice house with my 2.4 kids, nice car, etc? It seems wrong on some level, but on the other hand it explains alot.

2.4 kids? wtf

and what did u do the last 10 yrs other than getting married/kids. what was ur job. It would help if it was medical related

 

[iA-MD2013]

I have about 30 units from AP credit assigned to my first semester of freshman year. How should I fill in the rest of my classes? Should I just fill in everything like my transcript says, or do I have to start with sophmore year?

 

[bozz]

Is anyone having trouble cutting down their personal statement ... mine's 500 characters over :/

 

[Dr Kate]

Okay, I know someone probably asked this, but I couldn't really find an answer.

Seeing as I just took the MCATs today, my scores won't be in until after they open the submission date for the application. I've heard it's better to apply early, so should I send it in right away without the scores? (Keep in mind that I pretty much know I will have to take the MCATs again in July or August - cause I don't think they went all that well.🙁)

Also, since I don't have the scores, I'm not sure of all of the schools I'm applying to. I only have a few definites, UB and basically every other NY school. Can I add other schools later, when I find out how everything actually went today?

 

[chad5871]

Is anyone having trouble cutting down their personal statement ... mine's 500 characters over :/

Join the club. Just come up with an overall "theme" for your PS and then cut EVERYTHING that doesn't fit into the theme.

If that doesn't work then cut out all of the nice-sounding, flowery adjectives and adverbs.

 

[Bretzel]

For activities that I did during the school year but not summer, should I mention in the description that I wasn't an active participant over the summer but then started up again next fall? Is there a better way to express this? Is it necessary to explain it?

 

[chad5871]

Even if you apply in late June, that's still considered early. Most schools won't even look at your application until late July/August anyway. You can always fill out your AMCAS and submit to one school (maybe one you don't really like that much) so that you can get verified and everything. Then when your MCAT scores come in you can just submit your app to the other schools. That way you don't have to decide where to apply until your MCAT scores come back, but you won't have to wait for AMCAS to verify your transcript.

Good luck!

EDIT: Why don't you think you did so well on your MCAT? How were your practice scores?

 

[HumidBeing]

Welcome to SDN, Dr_Kate.

This section is for questions relating to members' chances for getting into med school.

I'm moving your post into the AMCAS questions thread because that's for questions involving the intricacies of how to submit applications.

 

[Dr Kate]

Thanks for your help. That's probably what I'll end up doing.

And about the MCAT situation today...it was hard. I really didn't have a good feeling about it. I went in confident and thinking I was ready for it, but it was a lot different from the practice tests I took. On a lot of the practice tests, I noticed similar type questions, but the test today had none of the normal stuff I was expecting.

On the practices, I did okay. On PS and BS I consistently got 9s and 10s. I know it's not great, but I would be totally fine with getting a 30. Verbal was another story though. Up until a week before the exam, I couldn't break a seven. I did practice after practice and got it up to a 9. So, I was really hoping for a minimum of 9 and verbal and 10 on the sciences, but I just have a bad feeling. (Especially because everyone else thought it was okay.)

Thanks again for your help though!🙂

 

[lainey234]

2.4 kids? wtf
and what did u do the last 10 yrs other than getting married/kids. what was ur job. It would help if it was medical related

It was a (apparently dumb) joke, Average American household has 2.4 kids. 😳

As far as work, it's not really relevant to my question. I wasn't asking for advice on my chances or my overall app - just if I was considered disadvantaged by AMCAS standards. Either way, no - I didn't work - I chose to go back to school because I wanted to.

 

[M3dhop3ful]

ok a question about entering activities. It asks for the contacts name and title, but it doesn't ask for any contact info. Am I missing something? My canadian apps required a verifier for every activity and their life story...is there an honor system employed here? How do they stop people from lying?

 

[Gpan]

It was a (apparently dumb) joke, Average American household has 2.4 kids. 😳

As far as work, it's not really relevant to my question. I wasn't asking for advice on my chances or my overall app - just if I was considered disadvantaged by AMCAS standards. Either way, no - I didn't work - I chose to go back to school because I wanted to.

I think you can argue for your case. I mean they put that question in there to find out if you had a difficult childhood that may have hindered your academic performance. So if it did, then go for it. That's my opinion. Anyone else wanna chime in?

 

[justapremed]

[edit] I found the answer to my previous question. But here's another:

I am a double major at my university, and I am doing a B.S. in Chemistry with Specialization in Biochemistry (but ultimately, a degree from the "Chemistry" department) and a B.A. in music.

So should I put both "Bachelor of science" AND "Bachelor of arts" for "Degree" and put "Chemistry" and "Music" under "Majors"?


PS - anyone want to read my personal statement and give me some feedback, as a complete-stranger?

 

[chad5871]

I apologize if this is a frequently-asked question, but I am slowly working on my application for the 2009 cycle. If I am at the end of the section, and I get to the "Section Summary" page, under the tab for "Identifying Information," for instance... even if I click "Continue" from this "Section Summary" page I can make changes later if I need to, right?

So at the end of it all, does this make it obvious when you are clicking a button to 100% commit and submit your application to AAMC and can no longer make changes?


PS - anyone want to read my personal statement and give me some feedback, as a complete-stranger?

Once you click "complete" on a section you can always go back and change it later. That is, until you actually SUBMIT the application to AMCAS (which you can't do until June 4th). Once it's submitted, you can't change anything except adding additional schools.

 

[Doc Henry]

So do we absolutely have to include that form with our transcripts? That is such a pain!!! I don't have a fax, and I'm a 100 miles away from my last college. Anyone have any experience with sending official transcripts without the form?

 

[chad5871]

So do we absolutely have to include that form with our transcripts? That is such a pain!!! I don't have a fax, and I'm a 100 miles away from my last college. Anyone have any experience with sending official transcripts without the form?

Someone else on here said that they did not include the form with the transcipt and they got confirmation that it was received by AMCAS, so I guess you could always try. Personally I would not trust my institution or AMCAS to not screw something up, so I would just go to a Kinko's and have them fax it for you. It shouldn't be more than $2.

 

[slipstream99]

As an example of how to write activities into the AMCAS, making the Dean's List is often used. How useful is this? I mean, if someone has a good GPA, it should be pretty obvious that they would have made the Dean's List most if not all semesters of college. If I have another semi-notable activity that could take its place - say listing a poster presentation at a conference (as opposed to just discussing it under my already-made "Research" activity) - should I just leave off the Dean's List?

 

[Doc Henry]

Someone else on here said that they did not include the form with the transcipt and they got confirmation that it was received by AMCAS, so I guess you could always try. Personally I would not trust my institution or AMCAS to not screw something up, so I would just go to a Kinko's and have them fax it for you. It shouldn't be more than $2.

Good call with the Kinko's idea. I guess I should just do that.

 

[justapremed]

Oops, I edited my question above after someone had answered my pre-edit question, so my question is still unanswered.

But I have another question.

I am a music major so I repeatedly took performance courses ("orchestra" or "violin lessons") every semester. Do I need to note that as a "repeat" course on AMCAS? I have this notion that "repeat" is used when someone fails a course so they literally retake a course.... does this apply in my case, too?

Also, some of my performance courses changed their mnemonics after my sophomore year. So on my transcript, they appear like two different courses, but it's really the same. That is, it appeared as MUSIxxx my first 2 years, but MUENxxx or MUPFxxx in the following year. Do I note the MUEN/MUPF courses as "repeat" courses too?

 

[iA-MD2013]

As an example of how to write activities into the AMCAS, making the Dean's List is often used. How useful is this? I mean, if someone has a good GPA, it should be pretty obvious that they would have made the Dean's List most if not all semesters of college. If I have another semi-notable activity that could take its place - say listing a poster presentation at a conference (as opposed to just discussing it under my already-made "Research" activity) - should I just leave off the Dean's List?

ohh yeah, poster is more important than dean's list

 

[chad5871]

As an example of how to write activities into the AMCAS, making the Dean's List is often used. How useful is this? I mean, if someone has a good GPA, it should be pretty obvious that they would have made the Dean's List most if not all semesters of college. If I have another semi-notable activity that could take its place - say listing a poster presentation at a conference (as opposed to just discussing it under my already-made "Research" activity) - should I just leave off the Dean's List?

If you have other Honors/Awards just lump in the Dean's list with those. Otherwise use the notable activity instead. Nearly everyone that applies will be on the dean's list at least once and it pretty much means nothing.

Oops, I edited my question above after someone had answered my pre-edit question, so my question is still unanswered.

But I have another question.

I am a music major so I repeatedly took performance courses ("orchestra" or "violin lessons") every semester. Do I need to note that as a "repeat" course on AMCAS? I have this notion that "repeat" is used when someone fails a course so they literally retake a course.... does this apply in my case, too?

Also, some of my performance courses changed their mnemonics after my sophomore year. So on my transcript, they appear like two different courses, but it's really the same. That is, it appeared as MUSIxxx my first 2 years, but MUENxxx or MUPFxxx in the following year. Do I note the MUEN/MUPF courses as "repeat" courses too?

You should enter all of them but don't check the "Repeat" box. From the official instructions,

·Do NOT select Repeat for courses designed to be repeated (e.g., Independent Study, Thesis, Chorus, etc).

 

[justapremed]

thanks!!!!

one more.... this time i checked the AMCAS Help section before coming here! :-D

When they say "did the course include a lab section?"... for my bio lab course, it was 1 hour lecture (about the lab we'll do that week) plus 3-6 hours of lab. This is a separate course from intro bio lecture. But I just noticed that the course name is "intro to bio lab/lecture." So should I list this as "combined lecture and lab"? I thought it would just be "lab only" since our school offers a separately numbered course for just intro lecture...

 

[chad5871]

thanks!!!!

one more.... this time i checked the AMCAS Help section before coming here! :-D

When they say "did the course include a lab section?"... for my bio lab course, it was 1 hour lecture (about the lab we'll do that week) plus 3-6 hours of lab. This is a separate course from intro bio lecture. But I just noticed that the course name is "intro to bio lab/lecture." So should I list this as "combined lecture and lab"? I thought it would just be "lab only" since our school offers a separately numbered course for just intro lecture...

If on the transcript it says "lab/lecture" go ahead and choose combined lab/lecture.

 

[geh926]

On AMCAS, do we need to include any secondary college we attended as a seperate entry? I took 1 summer class from another school and was wondering if this needed to be listed as an additional college?

 

[Gpan]

On AMCAS, do we need to include any secondary college we attended as a seperate entry? I took 1 summer class from another school and was wondering if this needed to be listed as an additional college?

yes. You should have that transcript sent to aamcas too.

 

[bozz]

Damn, everyone's on top of things with the AMCAS

How're your personal statements going? I'm 500 characters over the limit :/ Working on cutting it down


Oh, and for Future Grades: are you guys including you whole next semester? or just courses that some med schools require/recommend that you plan to take. For ex, some schools I'm applying to require BioChem, which I will take next semester. I will include this for sure.... but the rest of my courses for next sem, should I include them?

 

[iA-MD2013]

Damn, everyone's on top of things with the AMCAS

How're your personal statements going? I'm 500 characters over the limit :/ Working on cutting it down

I'm not worrying about characters yet, but I'm at 5200, which is pretty cool! I wasn't aiming at that, though 😎

 

[bozz]

I'm not worrying about characters yet, but I'm at 5200, which is pretty cool! I wasn't aiming at that, though 😎

haha nice..

o man, if it weren't for this website, I would have probably skipped the "Personal Comments" section or written something very generic (a 200-300 word summary of why I want to be a doctor)

It looks soooo optional

 

[iA-MD2013]

haha nice..

o man, if it weren't for this website, I would have probably skipped the "Personal Comments" section or written something very generic (a 200-300 word summary of why I want to be a doctor)

It looks soooo optional

haha really? no, i would have skipped the secondaries, half-assed them. and probably applied in august.

 

[goone2524]

Hey Guys i have a question. I just found out that one of my research studies that I coauthored on was accepted for publication. I was just wondering how do we deal with publications on AMCAS under the the Activities section do we just put a citation of the paper? And then after that do we need to explain the paper also?😕

Has anyone had experience of this or know the general accepted format on what med schools want explained in terms of describing a publication?😕

thanks guys, much appreciated.

 

[chad5871]

haha nice..

o man, if it weren't for this website, I would have probably skipped the "Personal Comments" section or written something very generic (a 200-300 word summary of why I want to be a doctor)

It looks soooo optional

I know people that have done that before. I'm sure there are some people out there who have left it blank.

 

[goone2524]

Hey Guys i have a question. I just found out that one of my research studies that I coauthored on was accepted for publication. I was just wondering how do we deal with publications on AMCAS under the the Activities section do we just put a citation of the paper? And then after that do we need to explain the paper also?😕

Has anyone had experience of this or know the general accepted format on what med schools want explained in terms of describing a publication?😕

thanks guys, much appreciated.

 

[Bretzel]

Repeating my previous questions since it got lost amongst the other posts......


For activities that I did during the school year but not summer, should I mention in the description that I wasn't an active participant over the summer but then started up again next fall? Is there a better way to express this? Is it necessary to explain it?

 

[strongboy2005]

I have a technical question for the AMCAS:

I took a Roman Humanities course this last semester, and I cannot figure out what the "Course Classification" would be. I would think with the demand of medical schools for applicants to have humanities courses that it should have its own section entirely.

Also, just to clarify, the "Course Number" is the abbreviated class name + the number, right?

For example, on my transcript it says:

HUM 110 Hum Rep Rome 3.0 A

In this example, the "Course Number" should be "HUM 110" and the "Course Name" should be "Hum Rep Rome". (at least this is my understanding)

Again, I am unsure on the Course Classification on this course...

Thanks for the help.

 

[iA-MD2013]

Repeating my previous questions since it got lost amongst the other posts......


For activities that I did during the school year but not summer, should I mention in the description that I wasn't an active participant over the summer but then started up again next fall? Is there a better way to express this? Is it necessary to explain it?

Of course! Just say it was during the school year.

 

[gujuDoc]

Repeating my previous questions since it got lost amongst the other posts......


For activities that I did during the school year but not summer, should I mention in the description that I wasn't an active participant over the summer but then started up again next fall? Is there a better way to express this? Is it necessary to explain it?

Use the description section to mention that it was during the school year months and then on hiatus for summer and then when it started up.

 

[gujuDoc]

Hey Guys i have a question. I just found out that one of my research studies that I coauthored on was accepted for publication. I was just wondering how do we deal with publications on AMCAS under the the Activities section do we just put a citation of the paper? And then after that do we need to explain the paper also?😕

Has anyone had experience of this or know the general accepted format on what med schools want explained in terms of describing a publication?😕

thanks guys, much appreciated.

A citation is sufficient.

Also on the pull down menu with the tabs for what kind of activity it is, there is one for publication.

If you have room, you can use a separate spot to list it as lab/research and describe what you did and what the project was about.

Also mention what position you were author. i.e. 1st author, 2nd author, 3rd author, 4th author, etc.

 

[nikkiMD19]

1. I took AP Spanish in high school and received 6 college credits for it at my university. On my college transcript, the credit shows up in the Fall 2006 semester with a grade of TR (for transfer, I think). How do I list this on the AMCAS? Do I have to submit my high school transcripts or AP scores to AMCAS?
2. In late June/early July I am going to be in Costa Rica volunteering at a clinic that provides health care to the uninsured... I really want to list this on my work/activity list, but it doesn't let you list things that you haven't done yet, and I plan to submit the AMCAS early June. How should I go about listing it? Are you allowed to make changes to this section after the AMCAS is submitted? Or should I just put June 2008 as the date and then explain/clarify the specific dates in the description?
3. I was part of an executive internship program in a hospital my senior year of high school... can I list that on the work/activity section??

Thanks, everyone!

any advice??? 😕