2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread

[estoril]

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ooh okay thanks for the clarification

 

[gujuDoc]

I am ESL. Should I put my mother language as my Primary language or should I put English as my primary language. I think my mother language, but just wanted to confirm.

Your mother language.. Put english as other languages that you know. 🙂

 

[NeuroChaos]

Just out of curiosity, does AMCAS send our applications in paper form or does it send them electronically (i.e. pdf).

 

[LaCasta]

I have a question about the letters.

Can I submit my application without assigning any letters to schools and then when all my letters are uploaded, designate the letters? From what I have gathered, I would have to resubmit my application at that point?

 

[BlueElmo]

I have a question about the letters.

Can I submit my application without assigning any letters to schools and then when all my letters are uploaded, designate the letters? From what I have gathered, I would have to resubmit my application at that point?

Curious as well.

 

[BlueElmo]

so I took both AP Calc AB and BC but in my transcript, it says 0 credits earned for AB and 5.3 credits earned for BC. Do I still put down AB and 0 credits earned? It just looks weird. (I'm guessing my college didn't give me any credits for AB because I took BC).

 

[FutureScaresMe]

I was just logging into the AMCAS site and noticed this in red:

We are currently entering transcripts into the application that were received on 05.19.09. Please Note: Submission of the 2010 AMCAS application will not begin until on or about June 2, 2009.

Can we already start submitting transcripts to the AMCAS even before we submit our application?

 

[JJMrK]

Just out of curiosity, does AMCAS send our applications in paper form or does it send them electronically (i.e. pdf).

Not sure, but I know you get a PDF summary after verification. This leads me to believe that schools see the exact same summary (except the section that lists other schools you have applied to).

 

[JJMrK]

I was just logging into the AMCAS site and noticed this in red:



Can we already start submitting transcripts to the AMCAS even before we submit our application?

Yes, and you should if possible.

 

[JJMrK]

I have a question about the letters.

Can I submit my application without assigning any letters to schools and then when all my letters are uploaded, designate the letters? From what I have gathered, I would have to resubmit my application at that point?

Yes. You the sections you can modify after submission are: 1) LOR 2) Schools 3) Contact info

 

[JJMrK]

Oh it doesn't?
I honestly thought I had to submit on June 2 bang on to maximize my chance
If not, great!

Don't wait 3 weeks, but 3 days is nothing. Schools won't even begin to receive primary applications until early July.

 

[wahoo2010]

Do I need to list the courses I'm planning to take this fall?

 

[deleted212936]

Hello! Can someone please help answer my questions :

1/ How can I know if my transcript grades have been received and entered by AMCAS ??

2/ Will I send LoRs to the schools or to AMCAS ? I've heard that applicants will have to send LoRs to AMCAS instead of to individual schools starting this year. Is that right? How about secondary essays?

 

[CielloStelatto]

Do I need to list the courses I'm planning to take this fall?

From what I hear, not necessary. If a school asks, you can let them know. Also, if you're still in the mix come end of the first semester, might as well send along your updated transcripts.

Hello! Can someone please help answer my questions :

1/ How can I know if my transcript grades have been received and entered by AMCAS ??

2/ Will I send LoRs to the schools or to AMCAS ? I've heard that applicants will have to send LoRs to AMCAS instead of to individual schools starting this year. Is that right? How about secondary essays?

1. First thing, once AMCAS receives your transcript, they will send you an email, and you can check this on your AMCAS app under "status". Then, you finish your app and submit it after June 2nd. Only then will AMCAS even start verifying your grades. But know that you have to enter them first, they just go through and make sure it's all right. After they've verified your grades, it would show up under "status" again.

2. Yes, you send LORs to AMCAS... if they are going through the AMCAS LOR service. On the AMCAS app site under LORs, you can go through and see which schools are going through their service.

Secondaries are not through AMCAS; they are different for each school.

 

[CalBear2009]

1) Back in high school, I fufilled my Physical Education requirements at community college taking random PE/fitness classes so I could take an extra elective. I did this my freshman year of high school (2002). Do I need to worry about these classes? I'm assuming no and did not put them on AMCAS and have not requested a transcript for them.

2) I am taking an English class this summer at community college. My fear is that if I put this on my AMCAS, they will not process me until the class is complete, so I was thinking about not listing it.

What do you think?

 

[mskk]

.

 

[Dashne Gafoor]

I am really confused about the application process in regards to Letters of Recommendations. Can someone please explain the general process?

I have some of my LOR writers' information already, but I don't have all of them. Is it possible to submit the application and add these new names in later? I read the help section on the application and it says that you can add entries but you cannot edit or delete them. What does that mean?😕

Can someone please explain the process?

 

[EulerianCircuit]

I have a question about future coursework.

1) If our future schedule changes, do we have to notify AMCAS or the schools we apply to?

2) Since it is optional, should we even put it on the application?

3) Would having a Biology minor make much difference to adcoms? I don't know if my schedule will work out so that I can get the Bio minor or not, and I don't want to have to contact a school and tell them I am not going to get that minor if I put it on the application.

 

[JJMrK]

Do I need to list the courses I'm planning to take this fall?

It says that you don't have to, but if you do the courses you list are non-binding.

 

[JJMrK]

Hello! Can someone please help answer my questions :

1/ How can I know if my transcript grades have been received and entered by AMCAS ??

2/ Will I send LoRs to the schools or to AMCAS ? I've heard that applicants will have to send LoRs to AMCAS instead of to individual schools starting this year. Is that right? How about secondary essays?

1. You'll get an email when they are received; they won't be verified until after you submit your primary.

2. Both. Some schools are not participating in the AMCAS letters service.

 

[Myuu]

1. You'll get an email when they are received; they won't be verified until after you submit your primary.

2. Both. Some schools are not participating in the AMCAS letters service.

Most of the others use VirtualEvals or Interfolio, though, so you'll be staying in the electronic realm, for the most part. A few require paper submission, but they are becoming a rarer find.

 

[JJMrK]

1) Back in high school, I fufilled my Physical Education requirements at community college taking random PE/fitness classes so I could take an extra elective. I did this my freshman year of high school (2002). Do I need to worry about these classes? I'm assuming no and did not put them on AMCAS and have not requested a transcript for them.

2) I am taking an English class this summer at community college. My fear is that if I put this on my AMCAS, they will not process me until the class is complete, so I was thinking about not listing it.

What do you think?

1. I did this too. Yes, you need to list them, and yes, you need a transcript.

2. I'm pretty sure that if you enter a class as "current", you don't need to submit a transcript. Check the help button on the application.

 

[JJMrK]

I am really confused about the application process in regards to Letters of Recommendations. Can someone please explain the general process?

1. Enter you LOR information into AMCAS.
2. Have whatever service you are using (interfolio, virtualevals, your pre-med office, etc) send your letters to AMCAS.
3. Submit your letters to schools once they request them. For most schools, this is done through AMCAS, for a few others this is done through the service you used to get your letters to AMCAS.

I have some of my LOR writers' information already, but I don't have all of them. Is it possible to submit the application and add these new names in later? I read the help section on the application and it says that you can add entries but you cannot edit or delete them. What does that mean?😕

It means exactly what it says. Once you submit your applications, you can't delete or edit the information about a letter that you have entered. If you have someone else start writing you a letter, however, you can add the information pertaining to that letter.

 

[JJMrK]

Most of the others use VirtualEvals or Interfolio, though, so you'll be staying in the electronic realm, for the most part. A few require paper submission, but they are becoming a rarer find.

Sure, unless you aren't using VEvals or Interfolio at all.

 

[JJMrK]

I have a question about future coursework.

1) If our future schedule changes, do we have to notify AMCAS or the schools we apply to?

2) Since it is optional, should we even put it on the application?

3) Would having a Biology minor make much difference to adcoms? I don't know if my schedule will work out so that I can get the Bio minor or not, and I don't want to have to contact a school and tell them I am not going to get that minor if I put it on the application.

1. There is a section about this on the help button. I'm almost 90% sure that future coursework is non-binding.

2. I'm doing it for next semester only because I know that my schedule won't change, and I'm taking a pre-req (O-Chem Lab 2).

3. I don't know. Most people around here will say that minors don't mean much.

 

[linkin06]

i'm taking my mcat on thursday. searched the thread, and yes i see i can submit my amcas w/o my mcat in yet. i had my registrar send my transcript in last week...still waiting on that. i'm gonna fill out my activities by sun. i think. was wondering, if i submit come june 2 or w/e, will i be able to have my grades verified? or are they gonna wait until my mcat comes back to verify grades?

 

[Myuu]

i'm taking my mcat on thursday. searched the thread, and yes i see i can submit my amcas w/o my mcat in yet. i had my registrar send my transcript in last week...still waiting on that. i'm gonna fill out my activities by sun. i think. was wondering, if i submit come june 2 or w/e, will i be able to have my grades verified? or are they gonna wait until my mcat comes back to verify grades?

No, you can still be verified without an MCAT score, but the schools you apply to will wait for it before making a decision on your file for interviews.

 

[linkin06]

No, you can still be verified without an MCAT score, but the schools you apply to will wait for it before making a decision on your file for interviews.

ah got it, ok then i should try and get it done asap.

 

[OneMCATAway]

so i just spent half an hour on hold with amcas to verify the AP credit thing but i am back in the same place i was because they say: add it exactly as it appears on your transcript, and then say add the particular AP credits separately and then distribute the units! i only have credit for one AP but it doesnt say anywhere in my transcript that its for an AP, it just combines that with 6 units transfer credit I had from community college while in high school and say pre-fall transfer credit: 10

the class i took at community college is 5 unit and i requested that transcript to be sent but i hope amcas somehow figures out my school gave me 6 units for it was semester system and the other 4 is for AP!!!

 

[lbjwitness421]

I have a question about the LOR:

When a school says that they want a letter from a science professor who is familiar with your academic work, does a research professor count? I received credit for the research that I did (a 2-units P/NP course).

 

[LaCasta]

Yes. You the sections you can modify after submission are: 1) LOR 2) Schools 3) Contact info

Thanks

I called AMCAS as well and they said the same thing. You can submit your application and then wait until you have received all your letters and then send them to AMCAS. Once they are uploaded, you can assign the letters to all your schools and then you just hit the submit button again to save it.

This is good cause I don't think I will get all my letters in until mid June, but I can still have my app verified in the meantime.

 

[dklin29]

can you submit your application before you get all your LoRs in or should you wait to submit after AMCAS has received your LoRs?

 

[mskk]

.

 

[Raryn]

can you submit your application before you get all your LoRs in or should you wait to submit after AMCAS has received your LoRs?

Yes. For the fifth bloody time, yes!

After you submit your application, you may change three things with it:

1. Your letters of recommendation section can be edited. New letters can be added, letters can be assigned to other schools... Whatever you want.
2. New schools can be added. This means that if you want, you can fill the application out, submit it to one school, and add more later.
3. Your contact information can be changed. This is important if you ever say, move. Or change your cell phone number. Or whatever.

After changing any of these three things, you must reclick on the submit button. This will NOT delay your application in any way shape or form, but it just tells the computer to save them. Also, if you add more schools, you're obviously going to have to pay for them.

 

[Raryn]

I have 6 credits of independent study for a genetics project; however, it was done through the pharmacy program at my school and thus appears on my transcript as "Phm Sci 699". Pharmacology isn't bcmp, but my project definitely WAS bcmp. The class name on the transcript is just "advanced independent study"; is it okay to modify this to "advanced independent study (genetics)" to ensure I get bcmp credit? I'm afraid the verifier will see "phm sci" and just change the classifcation from "biology" to "health sciences" if I don't modify it.

It will almost certainly count as biology. Put down the name, and if theres any sort of dispute, the worst they will do is just change the designation to "health science" or something else. There are not any kind of penalties to counting courses mistakenly (unless you start doing ridiculous things, like saying communications is physics), so just count it as whatever will most benefit you, and AMCAS will sort it out if they don't believe you.

 

[Myuu]

I move that we modify the original post to contain an index of frequently asked questions and their answers.

 

[CielloStelatto]

I move that we modify the original post to contain an index of frequently asked questions and their answers.

sure, why not.

and I move that Myuu is in charge of updating said post.

 

[Myuu]

sure, why not.

and I move that Myuu is in charge of updating said post.

Myuu rises to point of order: Myuu is not a mod and does not have such powers.

 

[flip26]

The biggest problem with this thread and others like it is that people are clearly not bothering to read through the AMCAS PDF, particularly for the more basic questions (such as LORs)...and these questions get repeated every other page of the thread...it is very hard to read through this thread separating the helpful information from the lazy questions.

 

[Myuu]

The biggest problem with this thread and others like it is that people are clearly not bothering to read through the AMCAS PDF, particularly for the more basic questions (such as LORs)...and these questions get repeated every other page of the thread...it is very hard to read through this thread separating the helpful information from the lazy questions.

That's not a problem with the thread itself so much as the people asking questions in it. 🙁

 

[CielloStelatto]

Myuu rises to point of order: Myuu is not a mod and does not have such powers.

then clearly Myuu must acquire such powers in order to rise to the occasion.

 

[Myuu]

then clearly Myuu must acquire such powers in order to rise to the occasion.

Or sucker some intrepid mod into volunteering. 🙂

 

[Bacchus]

You're able to edit your own post. You could do this without "powers." 🙂

 

[Myuu]

You're able to edit your own post. You could do this without "powers." 🙂

What about T-U-R-T-L-E power? Besides, an edited post in the middle of the thread is not unlike a certain metal crafting tool in a loosely-arranged sea of fibrous plant matter.

 

[nick_carraway]

The biggest problem with this thread and others like it is that people are clearly not bothering to read through the AMCAS PDF, particularly for the more basic questions (such as LORs)...and these questions get repeated every other page of the thread...it is very hard to read through this thread separating the helpful information from the lazy questions.

We could simply choose not answer the more redundant questions.

Furthermore, we can just use this thread as a decoy/dumping bin for all the lazy SDNers while the rest of the forum remains litter free.

 

[Bacchus]

What about T-U-R-T-L-E power? Besides, an edited post in the middle of the thread is not unlike a certain metal crafting tool in a loosely-arranged sea of fibrous plant matter.

You make it and we can place it somewhere.

 

[Myuu]

You make it and we can place it somewhere.

Already on it with ksmi.👍🙂

 

[BlueElmo]

Or sucker some intrepid mod into volunteering. 🙂

Let's sucker Ksmi.

 

[bamtuba]

moved

 

[ksmi117]

Let's sucker Ksmi.

You're not suckering me into it if I volunteer. 😛