2008-2009 AMCAS Questions Thread

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Question 1: For one of my entries I'm putting in my research as MS student. Close to the end of my first year, my advisor left, causing me to switch research labs. Is this ok to say in my activties/research section?

Question 2: I have a previous research opportunity where I got a publication. Should I list that as a "research" or "publication"?
 
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After submitting my AMCAS, I noticed I mislabeled 2 of my classes (they were BIOL classes but I accidentally put in CHEM). Will they correct this for me? and if so, how long will it take to get verified because of this?
 
soundesign said:
After submitting my AMCAS, I noticed I mislabeled 2 of my classes (they were BIOL classes but I accidentally put in CHEM). Will they correct this for me? and if so, how long will it take to get verified because of this?
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Yes...and probably an extra 30 seconds....
 
soundesign said:
After submitting my AMCAS, I noticed I mislabeled 2 of my classes (they were BIOL classes but I accidentally put in CHEM). Will they correct this for me? and if so, how long will it take to get verified because of this?
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AMCAS will make the necessary corrections.... considering these are the only things that need to be changed it shouldn't be much longer than usual. I think at this stage it's taking 10+ business days to get verified, and I'm sure it's going to take longer and longer as more applicants submit. Check out the 2009 AMCAS verification thread to see how long it's taking other SDNers to get verified.
 
I submitted my application to AMCAS today, but completely forgot to enter a genetics and a microbiology class I plan on taking this fall. Can I add these classes to my application now, or should I just wait and update specific schools that I plan on taking these classes.

A few schools I am applying to require genetics, so that is a tiny problem.

Thanks!!!
 
enjoydrywax said:
Does the "Print Application" button on the AMCAS main menu show how the schools will see the app or is that just a convenient way to print it for us?

Secondly will it matter if I space out the bullet points on my activies instead of using only one return after each one; example:

What I have:
- Bull**** about my activity goes here

- Trying to make it sound better than it actually was

- Stretching the Truth

Without extra returns:
- Bull**** about my activity goes here
- Trying to make it sound better than it actually was
- Stretching the Truth

Reason I put that extra space was because it looked all bunched up on the "Print Application" section.
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giving my question a little bump, any help would be appreciated.. thanks guys
 
I tried searching but couldn't find a definitive answer. I have a question about what content would be suitable for shadowing.
Would it be ok to have a simple intro explaining when (semesters/summers), how frequent (weekly, monthly) and then state saw types of cases X specialists are referred to/treatments they employ? Then I would merely need to list the doctors shadowed, hours, duration, location/hospital. Or should I just forgo that whole generic intro and just give the raw facts (no info on what I saw, ect) Or are we expected to do the opposite and explain a little more in depth?

thanks
 
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perutz said:
I tried searching but couldn't find a definitive answer. I was wondering is it enough to simply list the specialty, hours, hospital/location for shadowing or do we need to explain briefly what we observed (reviewed patient history, consultation with patient, explained specialty and cases afterwards, described lifestyle, gave advice) or is this all assumed?

thanks
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all assumed - honestly adcoms don't want to read through the same exact description of shadowing over and over again.

simply list the physician's name, specialty and the number of hours you shadowed and you should be good.
 
enjoydrywax said:
giving my question a little bump, any help would be appreciated.. thanks guys
Click to expand...

Each time you hit "enter" countes as two characters in your description so it is all a question of formatting and how much you want to pay for it. Remember yours will probably be one of the 5000-10000 applications they read so anything to stand out is good
 
hi, guys i have a few questions-
1. i plan on taking MCAT on July 10, would you guys recommend submitting the my primary application without MCAT score. will amcas verify my application without scores and will schools send me secondaries?
2. can i add more schools after i get my MCAT score and also add more activities to EC list?
3. regarding the LORs. i know the LORs sent to amcas will only be received by participating schools (which aren't many). for the rest of the schools should i just give my letter writers the school's address and my amcas id and ask them to send the letters (i'll pay the postage), or should i mail the letters myself.
i appreciate any help. thanks.
 
I did a search and did not find a similar post. I had transfered during my freshman year, but as I am finishing my primary, I noticed that both of these universities have my AP credits listed along with the courses that they count for. Do I put these AP classes twice, once for university 1 in the fall and then for university 2 in the spring? Or just list them for my current university?
 
Hi guys, where do I enter the courses that I will be taking in the fall/winter of upcoming school year... especially the courses that are listed as prerequisites by some schools... (eg, I am sending in my app this summer, but I will be taking English this upcoming school year so I want the schools to know that I will have that pre-reqs done by the end of the school year)

please let me know,
thanks!
 
uscanmd said:
Hi guys, where do I enter the courses that I will be taking in the fall/winter of upcoming school year... especially the courses that are listed as prerequisites by some schools... (eg, I am sending in my app this summer, but I will be taking English this upcoming school year so I want the schools to know that I will have that pre-reqs done by the end of the school year)

please let me know,
thanks!
Click to expand...


Enter future coursework in the same section that you entered all your previous coursework, except be sure to click the "current/future course" option.
 
Marcy1315 said:
I did a search and did not find a similar post. I had transfered during my freshman year, but as I am finishing my primary, I noticed that both of these universities have my AP credits listed along with the courses that they count for. Do I put these AP classes twice, once for university 1 in the fall and then for university 2 in the spring? Or just list them for my current university?
Click to expand...


I think you should only list AP courses once and they should be listed under your current university.
 
singh12 said:
hi, guys i have a few questions-
1. i plan on taking MCAT on July 10, would you guys recommend submitting the my primary application without MCAT score. will amcas verify my application without scores and will schools send me secondaries?
2. can i add more schools after i get my MCAT score and also add more activities to EC list?
3. regarding the LORs. i know the LORs sent to amcas will only be received by participating schools (which aren't many). for the rest of the schools should i just give my letter writers the school's address and my amcas id and ask them to send the letters (i'll pay the postage), or should i mail the letters myself.
i appreciate any help. thanks.
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1. I would submit my primary application without the MCAT score but indicate that you will be taking the MCAT in July. That way AMCAS can verify your application so you will be complete as soon as you get you score back (instead of waiting 6 weeks for verification after you get your score). Schools that don't screen should send you a secondary. Schools that screen will likely wait for the MCAT score before they send you a secondary.

2. Yes, you can add schools after you submit your AMCAS (but you can't take any off). If you will be applying based on your MCAT score, then you may want to only add one school at first (so you can get verified right away) and then add others after you get your score back. No, you can't add EC's once you submit your AMCAS. You can only change your address and other basic contact info.

3. I think you should have the letter writers mail them. I wouldn't mail them myself.
 
mslee said:
hey guys,

when I submit AMCAS tonight, can I add additional schools as soon as tomorrow? (ie. is there any time duration during which I can't make changes to my school list after submission?)
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Yes, you can add schools at any time (you must submit with at least 1 school) as long as it is before their primary application deadline.
 
iMed said:
I sent in primaries last year to 13 schools but I ended up going through with 3 secondaries. I got interviews but I didn't get in so I'm applying again this cycle.

So my question is, for the "Have you applied to this medical school in previous years? *" question, do I check "yes" for the schools I didn't complete secondaries for?

Technically I did apply but I didn't finish my application for those particular schools. Does that count as applying? Or is the question here referring to any application activity in the years past?

Thanks in advance!!
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Your primary application went to all 13 of the schools so I would put yes for all 13 of them.
 
hey guys

I have 6 units of credit granted by my school for AP US, but no grade is given on my transcript. after entering it into amcas I got the red warning:

ou did not enter a grade and/or credit hours for this course. Although red asterisks do not appear next to these fields, you may be required to enter this information. Please review the application help. Failure to include grades and credit hours may result in missed deadlines and lost application fees. This message will not display after each course. Clicking Continue acknowledges that you understand the grade and credit-hour requirements. Please contact an AMCAS Applicant Relations specialist if you have any questions: (202) 828-0600, [email protected].

do I just leave it blank like I have it now??
 
comoseshama said:
hey guys

I have 6 units of credit granted by my school for AP US, but no grade is given on my transcript. after entering it into amcas I got the red warning:

ou did not enter a grade and/or credit hours for this course. Although red asterisks do not appear next to these fields, you may be required to enter this information. Please review the application help. Failure to include grades and credit hours may result in missed deadlines and lost application fees. This message will not display after each course. Clicking Continue acknowledges that you understand the grade and credit-hour requirements. Please contact an AMCAS Applicant Relations specialist if you have any questions: (202) 828-0600, [email protected].

do I just leave it blank like I have it now??
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Leave it blank. Don't forget to check the "AP Course" box.
 
Hello everyone! First, thanks to anyone and everyone helping out people with everything, it is greatly appreciated and I, for one, would be lost without you.

I am a little confused about the way letters are sent... Do I wait until the schools to which I applied send me verification that they received my application, THEN send the letters? Or do I send the letters whenever I want to the schools? Additionally, is there a place that lists the amount of letters each school wants or requires?

Thanks for all your help (again)!
 
betheltim said:
Hello everyone! First, thanks to anyone and everyone helping out people with everything, it is greatly appreciated and I, for one, would be lost without you.

I am a little confused about the way letters are sent... Do I wait until the schools to which I applied send me verification that they received my application, THEN send the letters? Or do I send the letters whenever I want to the schools? Additionally, is there a place that lists the amount of letters each school wants or requires?

Thanks for all your help (again)!
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If you have them ready, I would send them right away (don't want to have to worry about any unexpected delays). Mine were sent 6/19 and the primary app didn't even go out til 6/24, let alone secondaries.
For the number of recs to send, most schools will tell you on the their website and/or on their secondary application (which, for the most part, you can find in advance on other threads). Also, if you send a premed committee letter w/ packet, then I don't think it matters how many letters come with the packet.
 
I'm a little confused I think.

So programs like "the 5-year college program (CP)" at case western or "a fellowship supported fifth year" program at Einstein... they are different from an MD/PhD, correct? (ie. there's no other "name" for an MD/PhD degree"?)

If I may be interested in those "special programs," would I need to specially select anything on AMCAS? (out of regular MD, Combined Medical Degree/Graduate, Combined Med Degree/PhD)

If not, does that mean that I don't have to "apply" for those programs right away (ie. now) per se, but once I matriculate I could change my mind and decide to go that route?
 
what happens if you accidentally click the submit button. Will it just send or ask you before?
 
justapremed said:
I'm a little confused I think.

So programs like "the 5-year college program (CP)" at case western or "a fellowship supported fifth year" program at Einstein... they are different from an MD/PhD, correct? (ie. there's no other "name" for an MD/PhD degree"?)

If I may be interested in those "special programs," would I need to specially select anything on AMCAS? (out of regular MD, Combined Medical Degree/Graduate, Combined Med Degree/PhD)

If not, does that mean that I don't have to "apply" for those programs right away (ie. now) per se, but once I matriculate I could change my mind and decide to go that route?
Click to expand...

The part that I feel comfortable answering is that, yes, those are different from an MD/PhD. Many MD/PhD programs are listed as MSTP.

I'm going to move your question into the AMCAS thread, because I think you are more likely to get appropriate responses there.
 
I am getting my MCAT scores back thursday, but I already submitted AMCAS, what do I have to do to get my scores sent out?
 
If I have submitted but not finalized my school list, do you know if there's any harm in adding schools all at once vs. not all at once? There are a bunch of schools I'm sure I want to add but also some that I'm still a little iffy about. If everything is really sent electronically, then shouldn't make a difference, they'll get it as soon as I add...correct?
 
yes, you can add schools after youve submitted your amcas. youll have to resubmit your app with the new schools added to your list, but that shouldnt be a problem. a lot of students do it, including myself!
 
ive got a question of my own.

im currently setting up research experience that i won't start until the fall/winter. should i still list it in my Activities if its not set in stone yet? research will make my app look so preeeetty, im dying to put it on my app. thanks!!
 
HeyGirlHey said:
ive got a question of my own.

im currently setting up research experience that i won't start until the fall/winter. should i still list it in my Activities if its not set in stone yet? research will make my app look so preeeetty, im dying to put it on my app. thanks!!
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Don't put it on your app. It's a really bad idea to put future activities on there - you should really save this for update letters.
 
Should I put the org. name in with the experience name? For example, if I was a Student Council Representative, would I put

Exp Name: Student Council Representative

or just

Exp. Name: Representative
Org. Name: Student Council
 
I went to two separate schools for my undergrad. Will ADCOMS see two separate GPA's as well as an overall, cumulative GPA, or will they only see a cumulative GPA?
 
jka0067 said:
I went to two separate schools for my undergrad. Will ADCOMS see two separate GPA's as well as an overall, cumulative GPA, or will they only see a cumulative GPA?
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Your GPA won't be broken down by school. It will be broken down by BCPM, AO and overall as well as each year of school plus overall. This will indirectly break it down by school (as long as you weren't attending them at the same time) but it won't say which school you were at. Just says "Freshman BCPM GPA, Freshman AO GPA, Freshman overall GPA" etc. Click "print application" to see that section.
 
What am I suppose toput on the amount line on the transcript request form? This is the line next to the date and signature.
 
Hey everyone, I have a quick question regarding my AMCAS GPA. I tried searching the forum for the answer, but I couldn't find it, even though I'm pretty sure it's been covered before...How does research affect your AMCAS GPA? Does it go towards the BCPM(considering I am doing bio. research) or towards the regular cum. GPA?

Thanks 👍
 
justapremed said:
I'm a little confused I think.

So programs like "the 5-year college program (CP)" at case western or "a fellowship supported fifth year" program at Einstein... they are different from an MD/PhD, correct? (ie. there's no other "name" for an MD/PhD degree"?)

If I may be interested in those "special programs," would I need to specially select anything on AMCAS? (out of regular MD, Combined Medical Degree/Graduate, Combined Med Degree/PhD)

If not, does that mean that I don't have to "apply" for those programs right away (ie. now) per se, but once I matriculate I could change my mind and decide to go that route?
Click to expand...

Anyone??? 😕
 
This question is on one of my secondaries and I know I sound dumb but I just wanted to make sure the correct answer is Yes....I don't understand why they would ask this question...its right after "did any of your parents go to our school"


Do you realize that conviction of a felony may preclude licensure in some states?



I appreciate your input!
 
Is it okay to include shadowing experiences that only lasted for a few days?
 
Pink3045 said:
This question is on one of my secondaries and I know I sound dumb but I just wanted to make sure the correct answer is Yes....I don't understand why they would ask this question...its right after "did any of your parents go to our school"


Do you realize that conviction of a felony may preclude licensure in some states?



I appreciate your input!
Click to expand...

Yes.


fuzzywuz said:
Is it okay to include shadowing experiences that only lasted for a few days?
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
XRanger said:
When I tried to create the letter of evaluation on AMCAS, it says to enter the author's address. But I don't know my author's address since I'm using interfolio, so what should I put for author's address?
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bump
 
XRanger said:
When I tried to create the letter of evaluation on AMCAS, it says to enter the author's address. But I don't know my author's address since I'm using interfolio, so what should I put for author's address?
Click to expand...

Find out the address and add it. Or if it's from a university, just put the school's main address.
 
Has anyone else been receiving mulitiple emails from AMCAS telling them that a letter of evaluation has been received by them in support of your app.? I received one email for each LOE which was verified on like June 12....and now this morning I am randomly receiving those same emails again as if they have just received my LOEs again or something....its really wierd...I just have a feeling that his whole pilot program is going to have its problems....
 
rockydoc said:
Has anyone else been receiving mulitiple emails from AMCAS telling them that a letter of evaluation has been received by them in support of your app.? I received one email for each LOE which was verified on like June 12....and now this morning I am randomly receiving those same emails again as if they have just received my LOEs again or something....its really wierd...I just have a feeling that his whole pilot program is going to have its problems....
Click to expand...

I've received multiple emails saying that they don't have my LOE yet. I think only one email at most was necessary, but at least they weren't wasting paper.
 
When putting in courses I'm going to be taking over the next year, should I check the "Incomplete" box?
 
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