2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread

[CielloStelatto]

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How awesome is that? Don't forget to turn it in!

I won't forget. I have to print off three copies x 75 pages, and get the title page signed by my advisor. If I forget to do all that, it means I've really lost it. Or fallen asleep for a good week.

 

[MDman87]

So for my math class, I took Math 1A and 1B, which are first and second semester calculus.

On my trasncript, it's the same title "Intro Calculus" for both classes. The names are identical, no 1 and 2. Do I enter in "Intro Calculus" for both on AMCAS? Or should I enter in 1 and 2?

Same deal for me. None of my chemistry classes (Gen, Orgo, Bio) or labs were numbered. Glad you asked this question because I was going to leave them un-numbered. I'll take everyone's advice now and make the change

 

[BlueElmo]

Yeah I'm gonna number them, too. Seriously, though, it's probably not a big deal, like most of the questions that are asked here. I'm sure AMCAS people are smart enough figure things out.

 

[witness23]

hahaha. my bad. I had thought it was someone else.
yes, you are a dude.
it must be my lack of mental coherence today. In ten pages of editing I'll be done with college. 😱

you need to extend your stay in school. i would give up my med school acceptance if I can start college again (if totally free).

 

[OneMCATAway]

ok here's a question: if we went to two diff high schools (one in US and one in another country) im thinking we enter the one we graduated from but then how would they know you didnt go there all 4 years if it even matters to them?!

 

[witness23]

ok here's a question: if we went to two diff high schools (one in US and one in another country) im thinking we enter the one we graduated from but then how would they know you didnt go there all 4 years if it even matters to them?!

they really would not because they wouldn't really care. They could find out, but they won't. However, you should list both high schools? Is that possible?

 

[ksmi117]

Attention everyone! I have changed the name of this thread as per the OP's request. It's still the same thread I promise. 🙂 Keep up the questions and awesome advice. 👍

 

[CielloStelatto]

you need to extend your stay in school. i would give up my med school acceptance if I can start college again (if totally free).

will you pay for me?

 

[parhumn]

Yeah I'm gonna number them, too. Seriously, though, it's probably not a big deal, like most of the questions that are asked here. I'm sure AMCAS people are smart enough figure things out.

r u guys sure we won't be penalized? cuz the course numbers are different, so isn't it implied?

 

[witness23]

r u guys sure we won't be penalized? cuz the course numbers are different, so isn't it implied?

I can't guarantee anything, but when I applied last year, I was not penalized. How would you be penalized here?

 

[OneMCATAway]

i dont know if we can list both high schools can we? does anyone know about this?

 

[BlueElmo]

r u guys sure we won't be penalized? cuz the course numbers are different, so isn't it implied?

AMCAS said you can modify the names of the course titles as you see fit, so it probably doesn't matter.

 

[witness23]

will you pay for me?

to stay in Minnesnowta? Please. How can you stand that much snow. If I had to do an undergrad again, I'd only do it at UC Berk., UCSD, NYU, or Miami. Maybe UNLV and Chicago. That would be fun.

Also, apply MD only to Loyola and RFU

 

[Myuu]

r u guys sure we won't be penalized? cuz the course numbers are different, so isn't it implied?

There are no penalties here. If nothing is explicitly wrong, there are no problems.

 

[parhumn]

I can't guarantee anything, but when I applied last year, I was not penalized. How would you be penalized here?

AMCAS said you can modify the names of the course titles as you see fit, so it probably doesn't matter.

There are no penalties here. If nothing is explicitly wrong, there are no problems.

thanks guys! sorry, the thing i am most paranoid about is having the amcas application sent back due to errors, which would cost me several weeks, if not more...

time to start the personal statement... 🙁

 

[teenie]

If anyone is applying for a second time, do you know if you are supposed to change your personal statement. I think I would just like to edit it and maybe add a new paragraph. Is that okay to do??

And I had some trouble last year putting in my courses because I am prior military and had some military credits. I just filled it in as best as I could and AMCAS just fixed them when they got the transcripts. It may have added a day or two on so I wouldn't worry about getting the info in perfect. 😀

 

[CielloStelatto]

to stay in Minnesnowta? Please. How can you stand that much snow. If I had to do an undergrad again, I'd only do it at UC Berk., UCSD, NYU, or Miami. Maybe UNLV and Chicago. That would be fun.

Also, apply MD only to Loyola and RFU

I do like snow. But I'm actually in NY, and have a job in Chicago. MN is where the fam-sham is.

 

[nick_carraway]

If anyone is applying for a second time, do you know if you are supposed to change your personal statement. I think I would just like to edit it and maybe add a new paragraph. Is that okay to do??

And I had some trouble last year putting in my courses because I am prior military and had some military credits. I just filled it in as best as I could and AMCAS just fixed them when they got the transcripts. It may have added a day or two on so I wouldn't worry about getting the info in perfect. 😀

You can leave it the same if nothing new and exciting has happened in your life and you're sure that the PS wasn't the problem before.

LizzyM has said that she's never known an adcom to go through the archives to find a reapplicant's previous AMCAS. I don't think anyone would notice that it's essentially the same PS.

 

[mvenus929]

ok here's a question: if we went to two diff high schools (one in US and one in another country) im thinking we enter the one we graduated from but then how would they know you didnt go there all 4 years if it even matters to them?!

They only care about the high school that handed you a diploma. Don't worry about the other one.

 

[teenie]

You can leave it the same if nothing new and exciting has happened in your life and you're sure that the PS wasn't the problem before.

LizzyM has said that she's never known an adcom to go through the archives to find a reapplicant's previous AMCAS. I don't think anyone would notice that it's essentially the same PS.

awesome. i don't think that it was the problem. i was just too late in the cycle. the schools told me that the classes were full before i even interviewed so my chances were slim starting off.
and i have been working as an MA since my last app so i want to add that but i really feel like a lot of the old stuff showed where i was coming from and why i am interested so i wanted to leave it. Thanks for the input!

 

[elftown]

The first of many stupid questions I will be asking..

For courses, do we enter the letter grade: A
or do we enter the numerical grade: 4.00?

 

[flip26]

Hey, yeah, I read the online directions but they were confusing and didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Basically, I studied through an approved program arranged through my university. It's really just a standard study abroad experience...I enrolled at a foreign university and my credits there counted towards my home university degree. This was all arranged through my home university, but they do not run the foreign program. The classes I took there appear as P/F courses on my transcript and count towards my total credits but not towards my undergraduate GPA. Included with the official transcript my university sends out is a copy of my study abroad semester transcript (from the foreign university) with the actual grades on it (both percent % and a letter grade). These of course are different in the UK...where a 70%=A, 60%=B, 50%=C and so on.

I tried adding the foreign university as an additional college I attended, but it's not listed as an option under the UK tab (there are just a couple of American universities that have campuses there). Should I just add the courses to my home university and put them as P/F? I just don't want the adcoms to think I spent a whole semester taking only P/F courses...there's no study abroad description to add to them.

You definitely need to list the foreign school - you can manually add it in; those pulldown listings are very limited - and then check the box that it is a study abroad deal. You must list the courses under the foreign school, and the grades, too, but you indicate a transcript exception and then note that the courses are reported on your home college transcript, along with the actual grades from the foreign school added on to your transcript.

The fact that your home college recorded the grades as P/F is irrelevant to AMCAS.

 

[witness23]

I do like snow. But I'm actually in NY, and have a job in Chicago. MN is where the fam-sham is.

hmm going from NY to a job in Chicago sounds like what I almost did and what a lot of my friends actually did. Are you going to be a derivatives/options trader?

 

[TooMuchResearch]

The first of many stupid questions I will be asking..

For courses, do we enter the letter grade: A
or do we enter the numerical grade: 4.00?

List whatever grade is listed on your transcript.

 

[rZyme]

Simple question that may or may not have been answered already (sorry if it has but 10 pages is too much!) For schools attended there is no option 'present' for the end date section. Is it safe to assume I should put expected graduation date (May '10), or would it be better to put May '09?

 

[Schwann]

do we have to get an official transcript in order to input our grades?

 

[NeuroChaos]

Question:
Does any one have any tips on writing the disadvantaged essay w/o sounding whiny? Do you also state what you learnt from it or only what you did? I am speaking financially disadvantaged here.

 

[JJMrK]

Do intramurals qualify as Extracurricular or Intercollegiate Athletics? I know it's stupid, but I'm not sure what Intercollegiate Athletics covers - probably just your school's sports teams, etc

Intercollegiate. Did you compete against other schools?

 

[rZyme]

do we have to get an official transcript in order to input our grades?

Once you finish the schools attended section you can start filling in your courses and grades. Your inputted grades must be accurate as you will eventually send amcas your official transcript via the transcript request form that you must give to your registrar

 

[BlueElmo]

do we have to get an official transcript in order to input our grades?

Your unofficial transcript on hand would be sufficient, I would guess.

 

[Count Chocula]

2 questions:

1) Under course number section, do we list the section # as well? For example: my transcript lists my bio I class as BIOL-101 03, so do I write down BIOL-101 for course # or BIOL-101 03?

2) My bio major requires that we take a class called Seminar in Biology 4 times to graduate. All we do is present on a bio topic once for 50 minutes and then listen to other ppl do their presentations for the rest of the semester. Should I list this under Biology for Course Classification, or Other, since it's not really a true bio class?

gracias, amigos.

 

[Schwann]

If the course is in progress or future course we signed up for, what do we indicate under the grade?

 

[mvenus929]

2 questions:

1) Under course number section, do we list the section # as well? For example: my transcript lists my bio I class as BIOL-101 03, so do I write down BIOL-101 for course # or BIOL-101 03?

No, you don't need to put down the section number.

2) My bio major requires that we take a class called Seminar in Biology 4 times to graduate. All we do is present on a bio topic once for 50 minutes and then listen to other ppl do their presentations for the rest of the semester. Should I list this under Biology for Course Classification, or Other, since it's not really a true bio class?

You can either list it as Biology or Communication. You're going over biology material, but doing it in a way that seems more like a communications class. So, if you need the boost to your GPA, put it under bio. Otherwise, feel free to put it under communication.

 

[plsletmein]

I didn't include any of my section numbers; and I would list it as a Bio course, especially if its a class called "Seminar in Biology"

Does anyone know if AMCAS will acknowledge they received your transcript? Like for the LOE section, there's a summary page that will say whether or not they received your letters, but I can't find something similar for transcripts... i must be blind

 

[rZyme]

If the course is in progress or future course we signed up for, what do we indicate under the grade?

I'm pretty sure there is a check box for both of those options

 

[witness23]

I didn't include any of my section numbers; and I would list it as a Bio course, especially if its a class called "Seminar in Biology"

Does anyone know if AMCAS will acknowledge they received your transcript? Like for the LOE section, there's a summary page that will say whether or not they received your letters, but I can't find something similar for transcripts... i must be blind

yes

 

[Schwann]

If we are applying on the first available date, should we just automatically select early decision?
Also, if we submit the application on the first available day, do we just select the first available application deadline from the list?

Thanks.

 

[witness23]

If we are applying on the first available date, should we just automatically select early decision?
Also, if we submit the application on the first available day, do we just select the first available application deadline from the list?

Thanks.

this makes no sense to me sir. can you ask the question in a different way?

 

[CielloStelatto]

hmm going from NY to a job in Chicago sounds like what I almost did and what a lot of my friends actually did. Are you going to be a derivatives/options trader?

only if that's the new title for cerebral palsy research

 

[rZyme]

.

 

[plsletmein]

Question:
Does any one have any tips on writing the disadvantaged essay w/o sounding whiny? Do you also state what you learnt from it or only what you did? I am speaking financially disadvantaged here.

If you are/were living in a bad neighborhood / going to some terrible school with some low college acceptance rate, or if you had to work growing up because of your family's financial hardships, I would go into a little detail about how it changed you as a person (made you more mature or appreciative or gave you a desire to help etc). I don't think this would be whiny- you're just explaining the cards you were dealt in life

 

[plsletmein]

My dad went to community college but never completed any type of degree. For parental biographical information, should I check "some college" for him, or is high school graduate more appropriate?

 

[Schwann]

do we send in the transcripts after we submit the application, or can we do it before?

 

[Schwann]

this makes no sense to me sir. can you ask the question in a different way?

When i click under the colleges section, it has a tab for deadline date(with a bunch of different deadlines for each college) and a tab for early decision or regular decision. If I am submitting the application on the first available day, should I select the earliest deadline date as well as early decision?

 

[JJMrK]

2 questions:

1) Under course number section, do we list the section # as well? For example: my transcript lists my bio I class as BIOL-101 03, so do I write down BIOL-101 for course # or BIOL-101 03?

2) My bio major requires that we take a class called Seminar in Biology 4 times to graduate. All we do is present on a bio topic once for 50 minutes and then listen to other ppl do their presentations for the rest of the semester. Should I list this under Biology for Course Classification, or Other, since it's not really a true bio class?

gracias, amigos.

1. I'm not putting section numbers on mine.

2. If you got an A, list it as biology to boost your science GPA.

 

[JJMrK]

My dad went to community college but never completed any type of degree. For parental biographical information, should I check "some college" for him, or is high school graduate more appropriate?

Similar situation here. I've settled on the "some college" option. I don't think it matters either way.

 

[JJMrK]

do we send in the transcripts after we submit the application, or can we do it before?

You can and should send transcripts in ASAP. For some of us, this isn't possible because we need to wait for spring grades.

 

[AMCAS]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwann
If the course is in progress or future course we signed up for, what do we indicate under the grade?

I'm pretty sure there is a check box for both of those options

No, you check of the coursetype for current/future and leave the grade blank

 

[mvenus929]

If we are applying on the first available date, should we just automatically select early decision?
Also, if we submit the application on the first available day, do we just select the first available application deadline from the list?

Thanks.

No, you should not apply Early Decision. Why? Because that prevents you from applying to other schools. ED is intended for people who really, really want to go to one school, and want to have a slightly better chance of getting in. However, if you don't get in, the rest of you applications will be behind, since you'll only be able to apply for them come October.

And you don't have to choose a deadline date. That's just FYI.

My dad went to community college but never completed any type of degree. For parental biographical information, should I check "some college" for him, or is high school graduate more appropriate?

"Some college" is the most accurate, so put that.

do we send in the transcripts after we submit the application, or can we do it before?

Do it before. Don't wait until you submit, because that makes you wait before you're even put in line to be verified.

 

[not so calm now]

In my high school, AP wasn't offered. We had dual enrollment where we were getting community college credit as well as high school credit for some classes. Because of this, I have a transcript from that community college.

Do I put these classes in AMCAS since they're technically on a college transcript? Do they get factored into my GPA? The credits transferred to my 4 yr school, but the grades did not.