2008-2009 AMCAS Questions Thread

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M3dhop3ful said:
A few questions, related to the app but not all related to AMCAS

1) Do US schools get your school transcript? or just the info that you submit into AMCAS? ie can they see class averages, number of people in the class?

2) Do they look at the type of courses taken?

3) Is there a benefit in writing the MCAT once and doing well as opposed to writing it 2 times and getting a slighly higher score?

Thanks again for all your inputs?
Click to expand...

1. No - each school you apply to will only get what is printed on the AMCAS application. However, the school you matriculate to will probably request an official copy of your final transcript.

2. Yes - they do look at all the coursework you have taken, especially noting the presence (or absence!) of pre-requisite classes.

3. This is arguable and depends on specific numbers. For example, if one applicant took it once and got a 31, while another took it twice and got a 24 and then a 32, I would think the first applicant would be a stronger choice. But if the first applicant got a 30, and the second applicant got a 28 and then a 35, the second applicant would probably be a better choice. This would be a subjective opinion, and depends on additional factors such as the applicant's other credentials as well as each individual schools' policies on MCAT retakes.. It is obviously better to only have to take the test once. If you don't think you're ready to do the best you possibly can on the MCAT -- DON'T TAKE IT! Just keep studying and postpone it a few weeks.
 
(reposting)

AMCAS question:

I graduated last June, but I will be taking a calculus class this summer at a local community college to fulfill the third quarter of the math requirement. I want to list this class as a future course under the "Course Work" section, but I have to list the school first. Do I list this school under the "Schools Attended" section since I technically haven't started there yet? If I do, it will ask me for a transcript. How do I get a transcript for a class I haven't taken yet? Will this delay my application?
 
dancermd07 said:
(reposting)

AMCAS question:

I graduated last June, but I will be taking a calculus class this summer at a local community college to fulfill the third quarter of the math requirement. I want to list this class as a future course under the "Course Work" section, but I have to list the school first. Do I list this school under the "Schools Attended" section since I technically haven't started there yet? If I do, it will ask me for a transcript. How do I get a transcript for a class I haven't taken yet? Will this delay my application?
Click to expand...

Sorry we didn't get to your question earlier.

What you need to do is list the school under "Schools Attended" and make sure that the start date is in the future. Fill out the rest of the information (major, minors, etc.). When it asks if a transcript is required, click "No." That will take you to a "Transcript Request Exception" screen. Here, select the option: "Current (spring, summer, fall) or upcoming (spring, summer) coursework, no previous enrollment at this school." You do not have to fill out the contact information on this page. Then hit "Continue" and that's it! It shouldn't delay your application or affect your verification at all.

Good luck! :luck:
 
It just opened and I submitted. So excited for this process to start. Again. Hopefully this year will be more successful! Good luck to everyone!
 
I just submitted too! It feels really good to have it out of my hands now.

It's still waiting on my transcript though. How frustrating.
 
Chubbychaser (NC): requested: 5/14? and 5/27 Sent: 5/20, 5/28 Received: 6/4, ???(waiting)
disorder (CA): requested-5/15, 5/15, 5/19;sent-5/15, 5/16, 5/21; updated-5/22, 5/27, 6/3
erkle (CA): requested-5/23; sent-5/28; updated-waiting[/quote]
 
Carlin said:
I just submitted too! It feels really good to have it out of my hands now.

It's still waiting on my transcript though. How frustrating.
Click to expand...
same here...well they got one of mine today, so im sure yours will be coming soon.
 
ChubbyChaser said:
It just opened...I just submitted:scared:


I keep on having neurotic thoughts, like I forgot something important or whatever.
Click to expand...

MILK07 said:
It just opened and I submitted. So excited for this process to start. Again. Hopefully this year will be more successful! Good luck to everyone!
Click to expand...

Carlin said:
I just submitted too! It feels really good to have it out of my hands now.

It's still waiting on my transcript though. How frustrating.
Click to expand...

BEST OF LUCK!! :luck::luck::luck:

I'll be submitting too.... eventually.. lol. Hopefully by the end of the day I'll get the courage to click submit. :laugh:
 
Can or should we enter our classes we are taking on AMCAS for the upcoming year so ADCOMS can see what our schedule is looking like?
 
Anyone else really scared to submit?? I just got receipt of my final transcript and can now submit, but keep worrying that I forgot something.
 
seven87 said:
Anyone else really scared to submit?? I just got receipt of my final transcript and can now submit, but keep worrying that I forgot something.
Click to expand...

I am! I've gone over the app like 10 times already and still haven't submitted. Everytime I go over it I find something I can change/make better.... and I'm still not sure about my list of schools. :scared:

Do we have to pay immediately after we submit??
 
I just submitted and got this message:
"Applicant has certified and submitted application but AMCAS application is pending processing while AMCAS waits for transcripts."

However, AMCAS has already received all of my transcripts. I have 3 schools listed... 2 transcripts were received & 1 transcript was not required (a non US schocol that had all credits transferred to my US school).

Did anyone else get this message? Does this mean they wont verify my grades until they get the last transcript.....which i didnt plan on sending?
 
nikkiMD19 said:
I am! I've gone over the app like 10 times already and still haven't submitted. Everytime I go over it I find something I can change/make better.... and I'm still not sure about my list of schools. :scared:

Do we have to pay immediately after we submit??
Click to expand...

Yeah I put my credit card in to submit it.
 
pinkblue said:
I just submitted and got this message:
"Applicant has certified and submitted application but AMCAS application is pending processing while AMCAS waits for transcripts."

However, AMCAS has already received all of my transcripts. I have 3 schools listed... 2 transcripts were received & 1 transcript was not required (a non US schocol that had all credits transferred to my US school).

Did anyone else get this message? Does this mean they wont verify my grades until they get the last transcript.....which i didnt plan on sending?
Click to expand...

I'd call and ask. AMCAS told me that you're not supposed to list any transfer credits anywhere...you have to list them from the school which you originally earned them at. I was in the military before college. AMCAS is making me submit military records for my supposed "college" class called 'Basic Training.' :laugh:
 
Alfred E Newman said:
I'd call and ask. AMCAS told me that you're not supposed to list any transfer credits anywhere...you have to list them from the school which you originally earned them at. I was in the military before college. AMCAS is making me submit military records for my supposed "college" class called 'Basic Training.' :laugh:
Click to expand...

Yeah, I listed it under the original school... I'll give them a call. Thanks for the advice!
 
Hi,

What is the maximum length that the AMCAS personal statement can be? Is it 2 pages single-spaced?

thanks
 
TigerLilies said:
1 page single-spaced is the maximum you can write? Wow
Click to expand...
no 5300 characters....what do you think Adcoms are gonna read 10s of thousands of 5-10 page essays that all pretty much say the same thing?
 
Chubbychaser (NC): requested: 5/14? and 5/27 Sent: 5/20, 5/28 Received: 6/4, ???(waiting)
disorder (CA): requested-5/15, 5/15, 5/19;sent-5/15, 5/16, 5/21; updated-5/22, 5/27, 6/3
erkle (CA): requested-5/23; sent-5/28; updated-waiting
berken (CA): requested-5/21; sent-5/27; updated-waiting
 
chad5871 said:
Sorry we didn't get to your question earlier.

What you need to do is list the school under "Schools Attended" and make sure that the start date is in the future. Fill out the rest of the information (major, minors, etc.). When it asks if a transcript is required, click "No." That will take you to a "Transcript Request Exception" screen. Here, select the option: "Current (spring, summer, fall) or upcoming (spring, summer) coursework, no previous enrollment at this school." You do not have to fill out the contact information on this page. Then hit "Continue" and that's it! It shouldn't delay your application or affect your verification at all.

Good luck! :luck:
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
Status: Submitted to AMCAS - Waiting for Transcripts
Click to expand...

😀 Too bad I still have to take the MCAT.

For the PS, I only used 3700 characters. So 5300 was more than enough to include everything I wanted to say. I went through the progression of my initial career path, how I changed to medicine, where I am now, and what I want to accomplish in the future.
 
pinkblue said:
I just submitted and got this message:
"Applicant has certified and submitted application but AMCAS application is pending processing while AMCAS waits for transcripts."

However, AMCAS has already received all of my transcripts. I have 3 schools listed... 2 transcripts were received & 1 transcript was not required (a non US schocol that had all credits transferred to my US school).

Did anyone else get this message? Does this mean they wont verify my grades until they get the last transcript.....which i didnt plan on sending?
Click to expand...


This happened to me as well, but when I checked again a little bit later it said "Ready for Review" so it seems to sort itself out.
 
ejay286 said:
Can or should we enter our classes we are taking on AMCAS for the upcoming year so ADCOMS can see what our schedule is looking like?
Click to expand...

Yes. Just leave the grade blank and hit continue. You'll receive a "red text" warning, just ignore it and hit continue.

This thread belongs in the "2008-2009 AMCAS Questions" thread. Moving there now...
 
pinkblue said:
I just submitted and got this message:
"Applicant has certified and submitted application but AMCAS application is pending processing while AMCAS waits for transcripts."

However, AMCAS has already received all of my transcripts. I have 3 schools listed... 2 transcripts were received & 1 transcript was not required (a non US schocol that had all credits transferred to my US school).

Did anyone else get this message? Does this mean they wont verify my grades until they get the last transcript.....which i didnt plan on sending?
Click to expand...


This happened to me, as well. I checked back about an hour later and it was changed saying they had received all my transcripts and I was ready for processing. Also, about two hours later, my application was processed! It took about six weeks last year and three hours this year. 😀
 
resposting this, as it seems to have gotten lost

Dulcina said:
Ok 2 maybe stupid questions.

On the AMCAS LOR page, it says "You are not required to complete this section prior to submission, or if you are applying only to medical schools that do not receive letters of evaluation/recommendation via AMCAS. "

Does this just mean that they don't need to have received the letter? This section still needs to be filled out and assigned to schools before submitting, right?

Also, I read this on the amcas manual "Once you have submitted your application to AMCAS you cannot remove or substitute schools on yoru designation list". I thought people often submitted early, and added schoolsl later on if they decided they wanted to apply to more places. Did I misunderstand waht they were doing?

Thanks 😳 This whole process is so unnerving.
Click to expand...
 
Dulcina said:
resposting this, as it seems to have gotten lost
Click to expand...

How ironic, I came here to post just this.

Anyone know what's up? Do we need LOR immediately to apply to these schools?
 
SBK said:
How ironic, I came here to post just this.

Anyone know what's up? Do we need LOR immediately to apply to these schools?
Click to expand...

I actually had responded to this post earlier but it was lumped in with other responses and was easy to miss.

For schools who are using the pilot AMCAS LOE system, you do not have to submit your letters to AMCAS before the primary is submitted. Instead, add all of your letters to AMCAS and assign them to the schools participating. The letters do not have to be received until you send your secondary applications in to these schools.
 
I have a feeling that AMCAS is forcing the formatting of the PS section so that the first line after a hard return is flush with the left side of the page. This is probably for consistency across applicants and to eliminate other possible formatting errors.
Click to expand...


For this problem, what I did is to leave a whole line empty after each paragraph. If you do this, it takes up one space for the space counting. I personally think it looks nicer, and whoever is reading it knows that you are going onto the next paragraph. If you have a few extra spaces, try this and let me know what you think. If you save it and look at it you will see what I mean.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
EmDeeDream said:
For this problem, what I did is to leave a whole line empty after each paragraph. If you do this, it takes up one space for the space counting. I personally think it looks nicer, and whoever is reading it knows that you are going onto the next paragraph. If you have a few extra spaces, try this and let me know what you think. If you save it and look at it you will see what I mean.
Click to expand...

That's a very good suggestion. I think, though, that each hard return counts as 2 spaces, and to use this technique you'd have to use 2 hard returns (4 spaces) after each paragraph. Still, 4 spaces is not very many and it does look much nicer.
 
chad5871 said:
That's a very good suggestion. I think, though, that each hard return counts as 2 spaces, and to use this technique you'd have to use 2 hard returns (4 spaces) after each paragraph. Still, 4 spaces is not very many and it does look much nicer.
Click to expand...
Yup that's what I did.
 
Chubbychaser (NC): requested: 5/14? and 5/27 Sent: 5/20, 5/28 Received: 6/4, ???(waiting)
disorder (CA): requested-5/15, 5/15, 5/19;sent-5/15, 5/16, 5/21; updated-5/22, 5/27, 6/3
erkle (CA): requested-5/23; sent-5/28; updated-waiting
berken (CA): requested-5/21; sent-5/27; updated-waiting
seven87 (IA): requested-5/14(x2) 5/20; sent-5/14(x2) 5/27; updated-5/21, 5/27 and 6/4


Who wants to start the primary verification thread? They had one last year...
 
whats the point of verifying your application early, if you are just going to be put on hold until they receive transcripts?
 
BDNF said:
whats the point of verifying your application early, if you are just going to be put on hold until they receive transcripts?
Click to expand...
right... which is why i havent submitted until they receive my 2nd transcript.
 
BDNF said:
whats the point of verifying your application early, if you are just going to be put on hold until they receive transcripts?
Click to expand...

Submitting early and awaiting transcripts gives peace of mind and not having to read your personal statement for the 520th time looking for needless ways to streamline it. There is an undervalued sense of relief in hitting that submit button. No need to prolong the stress of working on your app if you're satisfied with it.
 
Hey all

I am wondering, how many of you described what you learned/why the experience was significant in the 15 item list? Is it appropriate to do so for some of your activities if embedding them into your PS is out of scope? I don't necessarily mean using the entire space, but just a quip about why you joined, why it was significant, and what you learned.

thanks
 
M3dhop3ful said:
Hey all

I am wondering, how many of you described what you learned/why the experience was significant in the 15 item list? Is it appropriate to do so for some of your activities if embedding them into your PS is out of scope? I don't necessarily mean using the entire space, but just a quip about why you joined, why it was significant, and what you learned.

thanks
Click to expand...

I chose not to do this because I felt I could use a lot of this information in secondary applications and interviews. Also, LizzyM (who is on an admissions committee) has stated that her personal preference is to list just short "bullet points" about what duties were actually done.
 
I did write paragraphs for my work/activities section and I didn't lump anything together. My reasoning for not grouping awards, etc. was that I believe they gave us 15 slots for a reason. They want to know what are the most important 15 activities/honors we got. I wrote paragraphs as follows:

1st paragraph: short description of the organization/award (in case they are just glancing through my app)

2nd paragraph: what my role was....otherwords...what I did

3rd paragraph: when I felt it was important, I wrote a last paragraph on what I learned/why the activity was important.
 
chad5871 said:
I responded in this post, but I understand how it could have been easily missed.
Click to expand...


Ahh thank you!! Yes, I totally missed that =)
I'm glad they don't need it done, as my school expects to that the committee lettes done by end of august, and theres no way I want to wait that long.

Thanks again =)
 
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