2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread

[gujuDoc]

---

Members don't see this ad.

You and everyone else... heck of a thing, at least it's not absurdly expensive...

I think you do need to send them another transcript, for sure at some point, might as well just bite the bullet and send it now. I'm honestly not sure if that'll cause more delays. Logically, I wouldn't think it would, except that everything causes more delays...

You might also be able to get away with waiting until the end of your summer session (so that the classes will be graded), especially if it's one of those short jobs that get done mid June.

How's that for waffles? I guess the bottom line is, it probably won't hurt to send an updated one now, but if your class is short, you can probably kill two birds with one stone and send the transcript once it's in the books.

This is not always wise. I know that at USF they don't process any summer grades into official transcripts until afte September. So you'll be late. send a letter of update to schools individually with a grade sheet at a later date.

 

[ksmi117]

Merging with the AMCAS Questions thread.

 

[gujuDoc]

you can't modify the primary after you submit it.

Well with the exception of 2 things anyways.

The 2 exceptions:

1. Post submission you may still add more schools.
2. Post submission you may still add letters of recommendation.

at least that's how it was this past year.

 

[kellay]

What have you been putting for classes that aren't really lectures but aren't labs in the bio/chem/physics way?

I have some studio art classes that I need to add. They are 4 hour classes, twice a week. Every couple weeks we'll have a lecture about technique, but most of the time we are working on our own projects.

They also don't have lab in the title (for the most part)

Thanks!

 

[rocketbooster]

This is just my take. You can agree or disagree with me, whatever. I don't think merging every AMCAS question into one thread is useful. In fact, I think it is detrimental to actually getting your question answered. Your initial question/thread is often neglected.

In terms of organization, that thread is 100% disorganized. You can't organize the thread by dividing into subtopics or anything. Everything is scattered through 10+ pages. There's really no point for a new poster not to post an entire new thread since it's unlikely to find your question previously asked by someone else since digging through that messy thread is just a pain. Anyways, that's my take. Just some constructive criticism. I understand it's done to try to clean up the main Pre-allo forum, but honestly, all the threads now will start pertaining to the 2009-2010 cycle anyway and combining every question into one thread takes away from the forum's usefulness, IMO.

I just think there is a better system out there to handle this. Perhaps a mod can divide the thread into subtopics on Page1 of the thread like some of the sticky threads at the top of the forum.

 

[GoSpursGo]

This is just my take. You can agree or disagree with me, whatever. I don't think merging every AMCAS question into one thread is useful. In fact, I think it is detrimental to actually getting your question answered. Your initial question/thread is often neglected.

In terms of organization, that thread is 100% disorganized. You can't organize the thread by dividing into subtopics or anything. Everything is scattered through 10+ pages. There's really no point for a new poster not to post an entire new thread since it's unlikely to find your question previously asked by someone else since digging through that messy thread is just a pain. Anyways, that's my take. Just some constructive criticism. I understand it's done to try to clean up the main Pre-allo forum, but honestly, all the threads now will start pertaining to the 2009-2010 cycle anyway and combining every question into one thread takes away from the forum's usefulness, IMO.

I just think there is a better system out there to handle this. Perhaps a mod can divide the thread into subtopics on Page1 of the thread like some of the sticky threads at the top of the forum.

I've passed your recommendation on to the mod staff for discussion.

 

[GoSpursGo]

This is just my take. You can agree or disagree with me, whatever. I don't think merging every AMCAS question into one thread is useful. In fact, I think it is detrimental to actually getting your question answered. Your initial question/thread is often neglected.

In terms of organization, that thread is 100% disorganized. You can't organize the thread by dividing into subtopics or anything. Everything is scattered through 10+ pages. There's really no point for a new poster not to post an entire new thread since it's unlikely to find your question previously asked by someone else since digging through that messy thread is just a pain. Anyways, that's my take. Just some constructive criticism. I understand it's done to try to clean up the main Pre-allo forum, but honestly, all the threads now will start pertaining to the 2009-2010 cycle anyway and combining every question into one thread takes away from the forum's usefulness, IMO.

I just think there is a better system out there to handle this. Perhaps a mod can divide the thread into subtopics on Page1 of the thread like some of the sticky threads at the top of the forum.

OK, at this point the mod staff would like to remind everyone that each thread has a search function. Therefore, if you're looking for something specific, you don't have to comb through the tremendous number of pages looking for the answer to your question, you can just search for it in-thread. We feel it is better for the forums as a whole to have all of the AMCAS questions consolidated in one place rather than have a million threads running around asking the same questions over and over.

And this thread is also being merged with the 2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread. Sorry 😳

 

[rocketbooster]

OK, at this point the mod staff would like to remind everyone that each thread has a search function. Therefore, if you're looking for something specific, you don't have to comb through the tremendous number of pages looking for the answer to your question, you can just search for it in-thread. We feel it is better for the forums as a whole to have all of the AMCAS questions consolidated in one place rather than have a million threads running around asking the same questions over and over.

And this thread is also being merged with the 2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread. Sorry 😳

hahahaha. oh well, I tried.

 

[BlueElmo]

Well with the exception of 2 things anyways.

The 2 exceptions:

1. Post submission you may still add more schools.
2. Post submission you may still add letters of recommendation.

at least that's how it was this past year.

Oops, I forgot.😳

 

[mvenus929]

I sent a transcript to AMCAS a few days ago, they still havent got it. That transcript had the summer classes that i was taking on it, but since then i have dropped a few (not withdrew, but dropped), and added others. Should i send them another transcript, or just let them verify the one i sent them? i have already deleted the courses that i dropped from the "my courses" section of AMCAS...

Thanks guys, i hate AMCAS lol

AMCAS won't verify courses that don't have a grade and are marked current/future. They are nonbinding courses, so it doesn't really matter if you send them a new transcript or not.

How does verification work exactly? Does it just check your GPA or does it also send to the schools etc? Thus, do we have to finish the essays before we can verify?

Verification looks at your transcripts and compares them to what you entered in the 'courses' section.

Your application will be sent to schools after June 20th (ish) or verification, whichever is later.

Yes, you have to finish your essays before you can verify. You can only add schools and LORs after submission. You cannot remove anything, and you cannot change anything (so double and triple check for typos).

 

[GoSpursGo]

hahahaha. oh well, I tried.

I really am sorry, it's pretty ironic

Also, I've edited the first post in the thread. Hopefully using the search function will help 🙂

 

[gujuDoc]

For the work/activities section, can we state why we decided to volunteer and what we found particularly interesting about some of the experiences? ...I guess what I'm asking is if the work/activities descriptions can be like mini personal statements or are they supposed to be written sort of with an objective tone. Please let me know if putting feeling/personality into the work/activities descriptions is a good/bad idea.😕

Do whatever it is you are more comfortable with to sell yourself to schools to the best of you ability. for some this can be done by putting in just what you did but some like to do this by telling what they learned and why they did it.

 

[gujuDoc]

For work/activities:
I helped out at my parents grocery store/fast food place for over 5 years taking orders, waiting tables, ringing people up at the cash register, etc....and then for the past 3 years to now I still help out at their movie theater sometimes too.

Could I combine these two and include them in my activities? Or would it look bad because some of it is still in high school, and because it's my parents' own business? I just thought it might be helpful to include because I learned a lot of skills helping them out...however, I'm not sure if it looks bad because it wasn't a paid position. Thanks in advance.

Also...does anyone know the answers to my question up-thread?

It is not bad because you worked for your parents but AMCAS wants activities and work done in college or post graduation from highschool. Therefore, if you are not still doing this now then it would not really count.

 

[gujuDoc]

When should I start filling it out?

The sooner the better.

 

[gujuDoc]

I want to talk about writing recreationally, but I've also published two stories in the school literary magazine and have joined as a member and have helped them fix their constitution.

So, should I enter in my writing as an artistic endeavor with information about joining the magazine in details? Or should I enter it in as membership to the magazine as an extracurricular, with a note about enjoying to write recreationally in the description?

Also this sounds like you could split the entries. If you have 2 published stories you should list that as a publication instead of just research publications. You should also list it as an artistic endeavor or hobby/ec/avocation not listed elsewhere. You could list it as either or for the second category but I'd put your pubs separately regardless.

And also while you can list it as either or, I'd venture that it would stand out more if you listed it as an artistic endeavor.

 

[gujuDoc]

Alright, I ended up just putting my writing as an artistic endeavor as I've been writing longer than I've been a member of the magazine.

I have a second question. I've been involved in community service in a number of organizations. I've done the following:

Been a member of a community service fraternity, just as a brother

Done work through the prehealth organization and prehealth honors society at my school, both of which I've been a board member of and already talked about.

Am going to be an EMT

Am now a member of the Up Til Dawn Charity and am a board member.

So how should I cut that all up?

If you have room list the leadership roles and membership roles separately. Otherwise list your leadership roles as leadership not listed elsewhere and explain that prior to being a leader in the org you were a member. Good job and choosing artistic endeavor but do list the pubs separately. That will get their attn and that will stand out.

 

[Raryn]

Well with the exception of 2 things anyways.

The 2 exceptions:

1. Post submission you may still add more schools.
2. Post submission you may still add letters of recommendation.

at least that's how it was this past year.

You can also change your contact information post-submission.

 

[Transmogrifier]

Hi,

1. When to send the Transcript? Can it be send before submitting the application to AAMC or I have to send t hem after I submit the application?

Send them ASAP

2. My school takes online request for transcript to send out, now how the AAMC will attach the transcript to my application? as I can not send the AAMC transcript request letter to college.

Tell them you have a form you need to have included with the transcript. You're probably not the first pre med from your school to do this.

3. When I enetr my AP courses: there is no grade to be entered. and I get the following message:
"You have entered one or more courses without grades and/or credit hours. Although these fields are not marked with red asterisks, you may be required to enter this information. Please review the application help and your course work to determine if additional data entry is required. Failure to include required grades and credit hours may result in missed deadlines and lost application fees. Please contact an AMCAS Applicant Relations specialist if you have any questions: (202) 828-0600, [email protected]."

Enter the grade that appears on your school's transcript. P is ok.

4. I have entered teh courses I am taking next semester. Obviously there is no grades for them For them also I get the above message.
Should I remove the courses, I am taking next semester (Fall 2009)?

Thanks

Make sure you check "current/future" course.

 

[gujuDoc]

You can also change your contact information post-submission.

Good to note. didn't realize that cuz I guess I never had to change such. lol.

 

[junkct]

just a curious question i guess... so if you send your transcript now, but don't submit till june, does amcas just create a file for you and keep it in there until they get your app or what?

Also, if there is some sort of discrepancy between what you report and what's on your transcripts, amcas will simply change it and put your app through right? they won't make a big deal or screw you over in any way? I mean, people make mistakes 😳

 

[witness23]

just a curious question i guess... so if you send your transcript now, but don't submit till june, does amcas just create a file for you and keep it in there until they get your app or what?

Also, if there is some sort of discrepancy between what you report and what's on your transcripts, amcas will simply change it and put your app through right? they won't make a big deal or screw you over in any way? I mean, people make mistakes 😳

yes. I think AMCAS starts to check your grades now anyway (if they have your transcript). It would help you get verified earlier

 

[mvenus929]

just a curious question i guess... so if you send your transcript now, but don't submit till june, does amcas just create a file for you and keep it in there until they get your app or what?

Also, if there is some sort of discrepancy between what you report and what's on your transcripts, amcas will simply change it and put your app through right? they won't make a big deal or screw you over in any way? I mean, people make mistakes 😳

It'll be linked to your open application. You have to have an application open to submit transcripts, and you should at least have your school information filled out so that they know what schools to expect transcripts from.

They'll make little marks on the side of your transcript when they change something. But, most adcoms don't really know or care what those little marks mean. If you have a lot of mistakes, it may take a little longer for you to get verified, but other than that, it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[mvenus929]

yes. I think AMCAS starts to check your grades now anyway (if they have your transcript). It would help you get verified earlier

No, they don't start checking anything until you submit your application. After all, you could very well go in and change everything in your courses section between now and the time you submit. It wouldn't behoove them to start now, then, would it?

 

[Ari1584]

1.) If i get credit and a grade for research, i would mark the lab only button, right?

 

[Appless]

1.) If i get credit and a grade for research, i would mark the lab only button, right?

yes

 

[osumc2014]

are intramural sports (I play every quarter) worth putting under activities section?

 

[BlueElmo]

are intramural sports (I play every quarter) worth putting under activities section?

definitely. I think any sports is fine to put.

 

[maybee]

OK, at this point the mod staff would like to remind everyone that each thread has a search function. Therefore, if you're looking for something specific, you don't have to comb through the tremendous number of pages looking for the answer to your question, you can just search for it in-thread. We feel it is better for the forums as a whole to have all of the AMCAS questions consolidated in one place rather than have a million threads running around asking the same questions over and over.

And this thread is also being merged with the 2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread. Sorry 😳

I'm with rocketbooster on this.. Some sort of division between the big topics would make it so much easier. I understand there's a search function within the thread, but the format in which the results are returned are kind of annoy. Only the first few lines of each post is displayed, and a lot of times these lines seems to be part of the quotes, so you don't know what the person's saying until you click the link, which wastes time. (;p i'm impatient) I think i'd be content if only the search results are displayed normally rather then partially.

Anyway, I do appriciate the forumn and the work goes into it to keep the community neat. I'm not meaning to complain, just voicing my thoughts. 🙂

 

[JJMrK]

just a curious question i guess... so if you send your transcript now, but don't submit till june, does amcas just create a file for you and keep it in there until they get your app or what?

Also, if there is some sort of discrepancy between what you report and what's on your transcripts, amcas will simply change it and put your app through right? they won't make a big deal or screw you over in any way? I mean, people make mistakes 😳

Right now if I click on the "status" link within AMCAS I see my two schools. One says "transcripts received". So yes, they keep your transcripts in a file somewhere for later verification.

 

[Sam32]

Would published abstracts go under "Publications" with other published research papers?
Or should I make a separate entry for abstracts?

 

[MegaProjectile]

Is it good to list everything on your primary or save some for secondaries? It seems some schools don't want you to repeat some stuff.

 

[ised187]

Is Geography a Natural Science? Or what should I list it under for AMCAS? I googled natural sciences, and earth sciences (geography) is listed under natural? Would this could in my BPCM!?

 

[Appless]

Is Geography a Natural Science? Or what should I list it under for AMCAS? I googled natural sciences, and earth sciences (geography) is listed under natural? Would this could in my BPCM!?

No its not BCPM. Its under "Natural/Physical Sciences (NPSC)" Also instead of googling just download to 2010 application instructions on AAMC. It will tell you what all classes should be listed under.

 

[gujuDoc]

Is it good to list everything on your primary or save some for secondaries? It seems some schools don't want you to repeat some stuff.

Put what you can on primaries. Secondaries want you to list things you haven't listed on AMCAS if you have more then what is listed there. i.e. some of thep eople on here who have 20 things in reality but can only list 15 experiences.

 

[gujuDoc]

are intramural sports (I play every quarter) worth putting under activities section?

Yes this is why they have an intercollegiate athletics category in the resume tab of categories to classify your ec type when you list it in.

It is meant mostly for varsity and intramural sport team participation.

 

[gujuDoc]

Would published abstracts go under "Publications" with other published research papers?
Or should I make a separate entry for abstracts?

Different publications should be listed separately and not grouped together, unless two publications are in the same volume, same publication date that you can group them together with the citations and explanation of what number author you are.

 

[RRTinCO]

One of the previous posts from AAMC stated that the upload time 1 week ago was about 24 hours, so including electronic delivery it would have taken about 48 hrs. I was wondering if anyone has recently sent letters to AMCAS from interfolio and had them uploaded, and approximately how long it was taking.

 

[junkct]

..

 

[RRTinCO]

An update for those using interfolio also, my letters were sent to the AMCAS on the 14th and were matched to my application today, so about a week turnaround right now. 😀

Maybe this thread would be better as part of the black hole that is known as the 09-10 application thread.

 

[ksmi117]

An update for those using interfolio also, my letters were sent to the AMCAS on the 14th and were matched to my application today, so about a week turnaround right now. 😀

Maybe this thread would be better as part of the black hole that is known as the 09-10 application thread.

Well if you insist... 🙂

 

[mvenus929]

Yes this is why they have an intercollegiate athletics category in the resume tab of categories to classify your ec type when you list it in.

It is meant mostly for varsity and intramural sport team participation.

Intercollegiate and intramural sports are two different things.

But yes, you should put them on your application if you were serious about them.

One of the previous posts from AAMC stated that the upload time 1 week ago was about 24 hours, so including electronic delivery it would have taken about 48 hrs. I was wondering if anyone has recently sent letters to AMCAS from interfolio and had them uploaded, and approximately how long it was taking.

I sent mine in last Friday, after 2 EDT, and they were uploaded sometime while I was at work on Monday.

 

[gujuDoc]

Intercollegiate and intramural sports are two different things.

But yes, you should put them on your application if you were serious about them.



I sent mine in last Friday, after 2 EDT, and they were uploaded sometime while I was at work on Monday.

But shouldn't both be classified under such because of the athletics classification and the fact that most intramural teams are school teams? I'm confused.

 

[mvenus929]

But shouldn't both be classified under such because of the athletics classification and the fact that most intramural teams are school teams? I'm confused.

They're different in the way they're set up, and that can lead to some confusion. For instance, if you're on your college's football team and actually play, chances are that you're a lot better than someone who plays intramural football. Or, at least, more dedicated to it. They can probably both be listed as the same thing, as long as you make it clear in the comments whether it's intercollegiate or intramural.

 

[elftown]

Under course number, is that for just the number like: 3565, or do we write BIOL-3565 in that spot. The main reason I am asking is because the course classification doesn't cover things like a GIS-3565 course. There is no "General Integration & Synthesis" category, so I would probably pick "History" for my GIS course about Scotland. If I only put in the number, it'll look like HIST-3565, but if I enter GIS-3565 it'll look like just that and classified as history.

 

[mvenus929]

Under course number, is that for just the number like: 3565, or do we write BIOL-3565 in that spot. The main reason I am asking is because the course classification doesn't cover things like a GIS-3565 course. There is no "General Integration & Synthesis" category, so I would probably pick "History" for my GIS course about Scotland. If I only put in the number, it'll look like HIST-3565, but if I enter GIS-3565 it'll look like just that and classified as history.

Write everything, including the department. Courses are classified by their content, not by which department gives them.

 

[gujuDoc]

They're different in the way they're set up, and that can lead to some confusion. For instance, if you're on your college's football team and actually play, chances are that you're a lot better than someone who plays intramural football. Or, at least, more dedicated to it. They can probably both be listed as the same thing, as long as you make it clear in the comments whether it's intercollegiate or intramural.

Yah I see what you are saying. That's what I was thinking that as long as you list intramural in the way you title it you are good to go.

 

[m3meems]

If I've volunteered at a weeklong camp for kids with cancer each summer for three years, how should I do the hours per week? And should I just put the first year as the starting date and Until present?

Also, is it considered non-medical volunteering?

Finally, if I interned at a non-medical office but wasn't paid, is that considered volunteering or should I put it as extracurriculars?

Thanks for the help...

 

[gujuDoc]

If I've volunteered at a weeklong camp for kids with cancer each summer for three years, how should I do the hours per week? And should I just put the first year as the starting date and Until present?

Also, is it considered non-medical volunteering?

Finally, if I interned at a non-medical office but wasn't paid, is that considered volunteering or should I put it as extracurriculars?

Thanks for the help...

Put the average hours you did per week. If you can't list it separately list the start and end date of the most recent time but explain in the description section that you did this the previous two summers for the same amount of time.

 

[buccsmf1]

quick question - Once everything is set up with amacs and i submit my app how long does it take them to process and send to med-schools?

And also, it appears that most people submit their app to amacs before they get their mcat scores. i guess amacs verifies everything and then just waits for your mcat before they send it?

 

[junkct]

Hey, so in high school I took some dual enrollment courses at a local community college. but now when I'm trying to input that college on my list of schools attended, I don't really understand how to list the "Program Type" because the only options are like undergraduate, graduate, post-bac, and some other ones that don't really fit. What should I put?