2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread

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I'm so confused! Please help me!
I'm using INTERFOLIO service to forward LoRs to schools/amcas.
All of my recommenders have sent their letters to Interfolio.

But AMCAS asks me to print out a letter request form for each recommender with a different ID on each.

Now how can I forward Interfolio LoRs to AMCAS while keeping those IDs ?????
 
What are your opinion on the amount of characters to use in the experiences section? I know some people say brevity is better, but some people say using all of them is better.

What is everybodys current opinion?
 
Athens said:
I'm so confused! Please help me!
I'm using INTERFOLIO service to forward LoRs to schools/amcas.
All of my recommenders have sent their letters to Interfolio.

But AMCAS asks me to print out a letter request form for each recommender with a different ID on each.

Now how can I forward Interfolio LoRs to AMCAS while keeping those IDs ?????
Click to expand...

The first screen in interfolio when you select deliveries asks for id- Select your AMCAS ID number here. It also asks where you are sending the letter to- type in AMCAS and select AMCAS. Once you do these 2 things, you are brought to the next screen that asks for the recommender letter ID. Put in the unique ID number here. Do not attach that letter because the letter ID will be attached to the letter already.

Repeat from beginning for each individual letter
 
HelloGoodbye said:
What are your opinion on the amount of characters to use in the experiences section? I know some people say brevity is better, but some people say using all of them is better.

What is everybodys current opinion?
Click to expand...

🙄 exactly what you said
 
Athens said:
I'm so confused! Please help me!
I'm using INTERFOLIO service to forward LoRs to schools/amcas.
All of my recommenders have sent their letters to Interfolio.

But AMCAS asks me to print out a letter request form for each recommender with a different ID on each.

Now how can I forward Interfolio LoRs to AMCAS while keeping those IDs ?????
Click to expand...

Start a delivery, and select all the letters you're going to send to AMCAS. Select the destination as AMCAS. On the following page, it will ask for the letter ID of each of the letters you're including in the delivery. Interfolio has teamed up with AMCAS... don't worry about it 🙂
 
RE: AMCAS application_Academic term = ?
I was in accelerated program at pharmacy school...Out of all options listed in AMCAS (academic term), I can't figure out which one applies to me!Any help!!!!!!!!!!!
Curriculum: http://my.lecom.edu/pharm/pharm/curric.asp
(I know it sound stupid, but worth making sure). Thanks.
 
gujuDoc said:
No 6 is ok. But more then that is too much.

and I'd only use 6 if they were a mix of professor letters and character letters i.e. 2 of your doctors and 1 PI or 2 or your PIs and 1 doctor with 3 professor letters. Too many professor letters might do no good. But extra character letters help give insight into other sorts or work ethic i.e. how you are in the lab or clinic.
Click to expand...

6 is not ok kiddies. period. most schools ask for 3-4 and no more than five. period. no one wants to read 6 letters, they barely want to read 2. You need to narrow it down to 4 at the most and then check and see how many the schools you're applying to want.
 
Ok. If you're trying to add a journal to an EC description, but you can't use italics. Do you suggest no formatting, or use quotations?
 
There's a section on the AMCAS app (called "Next MCAT") that asks if I plan on taking the MCAT between May and October.

I've already taken it but let's say I'm not sure if I want to retake during this time period, so I indicate that won't be taking it. But after I submit it, if I change my mind and do decide to retake the MCAT, would there be any detrimental consequences to this?

If I indicate 'yes' and decide not to retake, schools might delay reading my app in expectation of another score release.

If I indicate 'no' and decide to retake, it's not like they would ignore my new score, right?
 
Essex said:
There's a section on the AMCAS app (called "Next MCAT") that asks if I plan on taking the MCAT between May and October.

I've already taken it but let's say I'm not sure if I want to retake during this time period, so I indicate that won't be taking it. But after I submit it, if I change my mind and do decide to retake the MCAT, would there be any detrimental consequences to this?

If I indicate 'yes' and decide not to retake, schools might delay reading my app in expectation of another score release.

If I indicate 'no' and decide to retake, it's not like they would ignore my new score, right?
Click to expand...


hm....
For yes, it's true that they might delay...

For no, I agree that it is risky. Here is my thought... say no retake. if you decide to retake, put it in amcas, and especially if you like your new score, notify each school directly so you know they know that you took it, and will check your scores.
 
Per the new AMCAS Letter system, my school has asked us to submit letters to them and then they will send them to AMCAS as a 'letter packet'. The way I understand this is that AMCAS will NOT separate out these letters and will instead submit the entire packet to every single school. I'm sending 6 letters to my career center (3 are from PIs, but only because I'm applying to Harvard; otherwise I'd probably only have 4-5 letters total). However, since my letters are going out as a 'letter packet', will schools get mad since they'll be receiving 6 letters from me? There's really not much I can do about it, right?
 
i have basically the same issue, but i'm md/phd so i really have no choice about the pi's. they'll live.
 
so this isnt an AMCAS specific question but more of an applying in general question... if I am american citizen but not a resident (Canadian resident + citizen and where i did my undergrad) am I considered an international/Canadian applicant or just considered OOS for every school?
 
i would guess citizen means citizen, so you wouldn't be forced to go the international route (i.e. can't apply to some schools). good luck.
 
Question # 1: How would you define an academic term of LECOM (as the pharmacy program was accelerated)?

I have to enter my grades from LECOM into this med school AMCAS application - as it appears exactly on LECOM transcript. So, in order to enter those grades in AMCAS application online, I have to select a specific semester or whatever system.In my transcript, grades are entered as
1st semester (2005-06 ac yr) from 09/05 to 03/06
2nd semester (2005-06 ac yr) frpm 03/06 to 09/06
..........and so forth.................

http://my.lecom.edu/pharm/pharm/curric.asp

Ok, now AMCAS options for selecting an academic term🙁which option do I have to select for entering the grades of my 1st year)? Followings are the listed options:
Summer session (summer)
1st semester (fall)
2nd sem (spring)
Mini semister (winter/spring)
Summer quarter
1st quarter (fall)
2nd quarter (winter)
3rd quarter (spring)
Summer trimester (summer)
1st trimester (fall)
2nd trimester (winter)
3rd trimester (spring)
Full year (semester system)
Full year (quarter system)
Full year (trimester system)
4-1-4/4-4-1 Calender Summer session
4-1-4/4-4-1 Calender 1st semester (Fall)
4-1-4/4-4-1 Calender 2nd semester (Spring)
4-1-4/4-4-1 Calender mini sem (winter/spring)
4-1-4/4-4-1 Calender full year course(s)
Other term

Thanks for the help (in advance).
 
Essex said:
There's a section on the AMCAS app (called "Next MCAT") that asks if I plan on taking the MCAT between May and October.

I've already taken it but let's say I'm not sure if I want to retake during this time period, so I indicate that won't be taking it. But after I submit it, if I change my mind and do decide to retake the MCAT, would there be any detrimental consequences to this?

If I indicate 'yes' and decide not to retake, schools might delay reading my app in expectation of another score release.

If I indicate 'no' and decide to retake, it's not like they would ignore my new score, right?
Click to expand...

You'd be cheating the system. I think you should decide what you want to do now and stick to it.
 
LAman10 said:
Per the new AMCAS Letter system, my school has asked us to submit letters to them and then they will send them to AMCAS as a 'letter packet'. The way I understand this is that AMCAS will NOT separate out these letters and will instead submit the entire packet to every single school. I'm sending 6 letters to my career center (3 are from PIs, but only because I'm applying to Harvard; otherwise I'd probably only have 4-5 letters total). However, since my letters are going out as a 'letter packet', will schools get mad since they'll be receiving 6 letters from me? There's really not much I can do about it, right?
Click to expand...

Yeah, this seems like a big problem. I don't think you have many options, though.
 
CielloStelatto said:
Is there any reason to include a LOR from a non-clinical job? I know it would be a strong letter (my boss cried to my parents when they came for my graduation)...but I already have profs and PIs. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I have one. I'm only including it because I think it will be very strong.
 
CielloStelatto said:
Is there any reason to include a LOR from a non-clinical job? I know it would be a strong letter (my boss cried to my parents when they came for my graduation)...but I already have profs and PIs. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Agreed with Myuu.

All letters that are not professor letters, i.e. PI letters, doctor letters, job supervisor letters, volunteer coordinator letters, club leadership advisors writing letters for you, etc. are all character references.

People get caught up assuming that the only character references that can count are research or clinical job or doctor letters. this is not the case. Character references generally are the least important but are still required by some places and for this purpose a job supervisor or a research PI letter is more important then say a doctor shadowing letter where the doctor is not really seeing your work ethic. Now if that doctor letter was from a job supervisor where you were a med assistant, CNA, PCT, etc. etc. that might be different.
 
Thanks everyone who has spent the time to answer my questions so far.

More QUESTION: now that most schools are participating in AMCAS LOR service, should I send my LoRs to AMCAS along with PRIMARY app. ?????
 
LAman10 said:
Per the new AMCAS Letter system, my school has asked us to submit letters to them and then they will send them to AMCAS as a 'letter packet'. The way I understand this is that AMCAS will NOT separate out these letters and will instead submit the entire packet to every single school. I'm sending 6 letters to my career center (3 are from PIs, but only because I'm applying to Harvard; otherwise I'd probably only have 4-5 letters total). However, since my letters are going out as a 'letter packet', will schools get mad since they'll be receiving 6 letters from me? There's really not much I can do about it, right?
Click to expand...
That's how my school's doing it as well. I'll probably end up having 5 letters. I really really want my school to send them out as individual letters, though. I don't want to overwhelm or piss off schools with a huge packet, but also some of my letters are already done and others might take a while. I don't want to be held up by waiting on a letter if most schools don't require it.

I'll just beg my advisor I guess.
 
Steeler7588 said:
That's how my school's doing it as well. I'll probably end up having 5 letters. I really really want my school to send them out as individual letters, though. I don't want to overwhelm or piss off schools with a huge packet, but also some of my letters are already done and others might take a while. I don't want to be held up by waiting on a letter if most schools don't require it.

I'll just beg my advisor I guess.
Click to expand...

well since this is a new system, schools will just have to get used to it. I think a lot of undergrad universitites will be sending it out like this, so eventually adcoms will realize what's going on and will be forgiving
 
How should I list SHADOWING?
There isn't a "shadowing" category.
I shadowed 4 doctors and list all in one box. What should I put in "Average hours/week" ???


AWARDS/HONORS/SCHOLARSHIP:
Should I mention the merit scholarship I've got for 4 years of college?
Should I mention Dean List?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ok so I'm still completely confused about LORs

So we can either submit them to AMACS and put them on our primary or we can send them in our secondaries? Is this correct? If so, which way is preferred by medical schools?
 
When you add a school to your list on AMCAS, it will tell you if they're part of the AMCAS LOE program. For the schools on your list that are part of LOE, you send the letters to AMCAS, and AMCAS will electronically distribute them to all the LOE schools. For schools that do not participate in LOE, you'll have to send them your letters directly, however your school/you do it.


I have a question, partially my own stupidity. Does AMCAS email you when they receive your transcript? I totally forgot how they notify you, or if they even notify you, when they get your transcript.
 
sdotsom said:
I have a question, partially my own stupidity. Does AMCAS email you when they receive your transcript? I totally forgot how they notify you, or if they even notify you, when they get your transcript.
Click to expand...

yeah they notify you by email. I got an email like a week ago indicating they received my transcript and it was processing (not sure if it's done processing now? hmm)
 
Right now I have an MCAT score in the lower range (although good enough for certain safety schools I have in mind) and I am confident I can imporve it 1 or 2 points bringing it upto an acceptable range after taking the august MCAT. But the problem is that if I mark I want to retake the MCAT, many schools are saying they will not proceed with my application. That is my application won't be complete until my new MCAT score is in and thus wasting all this effort that I went through to apply early.

So I was wondering if it is possible for me to just apply to these lower range schools with my existing MCAT and mark on the application I don't plan to take the MCAT any time soon. Then, after taking the MCAT I could call up the schools and update them with my new scores.

This way I am assuming my file will be complete atleast at certain schools pretty early and I can apply to certain upperlevel schools late in the process with my new scores.

Am I correct in making this assumption, or would this not work?

Basically if I say I am not going to take an mcat on the AMCAS, but I end up taking one any way at a later point, would schools not look at the later MCAT? Or would they consider it any way if I update them about it?

Thanks in advance for your replies.
 
caduceusdude said:
Right now I have an MCAT score in the lower range (although good enough for certain safety schools I have in mind) and I am confident I can imporve it 1 or 2 points bringing it upto an acceptable range after taking the august MCAT. But the problem is that if I mark I want to retake the MCAT, many schools are saying they will not proceed with my application. That is my application won't be complete until my new MCAT score is in and thus wasting all this effort that I went through to apply early.

So I was wondering if it is possible for me to just apply to these lower range schools with my existing MCAT and mark on the application I don't plan to take the MCAT any time soon. Then, after taking the MCAT I could call up the schools and update them with my new scores.

This way I am assuming my file will be complete atleast at certain schools pretty early and I can apply to certain upperlevel schools late in the process with my new scores.

Am I correct in making this assumption, or would this not work?

Basically if I say I am not going to take an mcat on the AMCAS, but I end up taking one any way at a later point, would schools not look at the later MCAT? Or would they consider it any way if I update them about it?

Thanks in advance for your replies.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that if you have a current MCAT score you will get secondaries regardless. It just means you won't be officially complete at schools til the score comes in. if you have everything else done you will still be ok.

I know people who had to wait for september scores who ended up getting interviews and acceptances. not everyone has their stuff in exactly by end of July.
 
buccsmf1 said:
ok so I'm still completely confused about LORs

So we can either submit them to AMACS and put them on our primary or we can send them in our secondaries? Is this correct? If so, which way is preferred by medical schools?
Click to expand...

What I did was I had my letters sent to Interfolio last year and then used interfolio to send all the letters to AMCAS after I put in the entries for the letters in AMCAS. Then I did what You need to add the option of sending those letters to the specific schools. You will send it via amcas for the majority of amcas schools this year except the few exceptions listed on the amcas website. That said, you can submit letters after your amcas is verified if you don't have them before verification.
 
Athens said:
How should I list SHADOWING?
There isn't a "shadowing" category.
I shadowed 4 doctors and list all in one box. What should I put in "Average hours/week" ???


AWARDS/HONORS/SCHOLARSHIP:
Should I mention the merit scholarship I've got for 4 years of college?
Should I mention Dean List?
Click to expand...

The merit scholarship maybe. Dean's list is something you can add if you have space otherwise its a waste of space because any adcom is aware that if you have high numbers you probably made it to dean's list. Its not really hugely distinguishing.

I listed it as OTHER for shadowing because oddly enough they still don'thave that as a category. I thought I told you to do such in my previous post to you but maybe forgot to mention it.

Just guestimate or leave it blank and explain the hours in the description section.
 
imdanumb1 said:
retype personal statement or copy and paste???
Click to expand...

Copy and paste but make sure you have it typed in their format i.e. no indentations for paragraph starting points. Space between paragraphs or none if you are really crunched for characters since those are also considered as characters by amcas. No weird symbols that are not recognized by amcas i.e. greek symbols.
 
abundance said:
so this isnt an AMCAS specific question but more of an applying in general question... if I am american citizen but not a resident (Canadian resident + citizen and where i did my undergrad) am I considered an international/Canadian applicant or just considered OOS for every school?
Click to expand...

If you are a US citizen you'd just be considered OOS.
 
Athens said:
Thanks everyone who has spent the time to answer my questions so far.

More QUESTION: now that most schools are participating in AMCAS LOR service, should I send my LoRs to AMCAS along with PRIMARY app. ?????
Click to expand...

It's not necessary that they have your letters before you submit your primary, but yes, you should send them into AMCAS right away.

Athens said:
How should I list SHADOWING?
There isn't a "shadowing" category.
I shadowed 4 doctors and list all in one box. What should I put in "Average hours/week" ???


AWARDS/HONORS/SCHOLARSHIP:
Should I mention the merit scholarship I've got for 4 years of college?
Should I mention Dean List?
Click to expand...

Shadowing is 'Other'. As for the awards... how much space are you already using? What are the criteria for the merit scholarship? I decided not to mention my scholarships and academic awards, because it's pretty obvious that I'd earn something for my grades.

buccsmf1 said:
ok so I'm still completely confused about LORs

So we can either submit them to AMACS and put them on our primary or we can send them in our secondaries? Is this correct? If so, which way is preferred by medical schools?
Click to expand...

You don't send them in with your secondaries unless the school does not participate in the LOE service by AMCAS. Since most schools are participating in that service, you'll send you LORs to AMCAS, who will then pass them onto the schools.

sdotsom said:
I have a question, partially my own stupidity. Does AMCAS email you when they receive your transcript? I totally forgot how they notify you, or if they even notify you, when they get your transcript.
Click to expand...

Yes, they e-mail you, and you can also check your status by clicking the link below what currently reads 'Not Submitted to AAMC'. That'll give you a status report including all your transcripts and inputted LORs.
 
Can we submit a completed primary application without transcripts having arrived/been processed on AMCAS?
 
Could someone tell me when do the earliest secondaries arrive so I can tell my profs when LORs deadline is?
 
osumc2014 said:
Could someone tell me when do the earliest secondaries arrive so I can tell my profs when LORs deadline is?
Click to expand...

You might get some as early as mid- to late-June, depending on the school. There are generally only a few schools that do that. The bulk will come in July.
 
Myuu said:
You might get some as early as mid- to late-June, depending on the school. There are generally only a few schools that do that. The bulk will come in July.
Click to expand...

What they said above. That said if you wanna start getting ready for essays on secondaries look on these forums in the school specific discussion threads for the secondary prompts. first post of each of the secondary threads. They are helpful and don't really change from year to year.
 
SteinUmStein said:
Can we submit a completed primary application without transcripts having arrived/been processed on AMCAS?
Click to expand...

You can, but they won't verify it til they get your transcripts in.

osumc2014 said:
Could someone tell me when do the earliest secondaries arrive so I can tell my profs when LORs deadline is?
Click to expand...

AMCAS won't send the primaries to schools until June 24th. You'll receive the very first secondaries on or around that date. Most will come in the beginning or middle of July.
 
mvenus929 said:
how much space are you already using? What are the criteria for the merit scholarship?
Click to expand...
Right now I've used up 6-7 spaces.
My college has a merit scholarship awarded to high achieving freshmen coming to the college.

It's not necessary that they have your letters before you submit your primary, but yes, you should send them into AMCAS right away.
Click to expand...
Can I submit my LORs about 2 weeks after I submit the primary app. ???
In the past, LoRs were submitted with secondaries but is that no longer the case ???
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Athens said:
Right now I've used up 6-7 spaces.
My college has a merit scholarship awarded to high achieving freshmen coming to the college.
Click to expand...

If you feel it adds something to your application, then feel free to put it down. Like I said, all my awards were based on grades only, and since the committee can see my grades, I thought it kinda pointless to draw more attention to that. But it's your application.

Athens said:
Can I submit my LORs about 2 weeks after I submit the primary app. ???
In the past, LoRs were submitted with secondaries but is that no longer the case ???
Click to expand...

Yes, you can. AMCAS has a LOE service now, so most schools will get LORs directly from AMCAS, instead of you sending them to each school separately. But, the schools won't download them until they want them, or until you've put them in. It won't even be a blip on their radar until after June 24th anyway, since that's the first day schools get the AMCAS application.
 
Since there is a "CC" option for current or future courses, are we supposed to be entering courses that we are taking next year into AMCAS without a grade entered (for senior year)?
 
SteinUmStein said:
Since there is a "CC" option for current or future courses, are we supposed to be entering courses that we are taking next year into AMCAS without a grade entered (for senior year)?
Click to expand...

yes, if i'ts a premed requirement or some other requirement for a specific med school... on that note, I'm not completely sure about which classes I'm taking. There's a few classes that I definitely have set, but that's about 2 per quarter. The other classes will just be fun classes that fit into my schedule, but since I dont' know what they are yet, will it look bad to only have 2 classes listed per quarter?
 
I had a somewhat unique question about which AP credits to put on the AMCAS. I came in to college with a lot of credits, which immediately put me in to upper level tuition. I dropped a majority of the useless credits (ie History, Psych, Polysci) to get me back down to lower level tuition. On my transcript, it lists all of these credits I dropped, but says that I got 0 credits for it. Am I still allowed to list these on my AMCAS? Does it make a difference?

I asked my school's career center and they didn't know. I also emailed AMCAS, and still haven't received a response.
 
I've been told anything that shows up on your transcripts, you have to put down. Since AMCAS is going to look at your transcripts and compare them to what you put down on your app, somehow it's going to be added anyway.

If you don't hear back by email, call them tomorrow. Some of the workers there are very nice, I've heard.

(My un-expert, pretty useless opinion: i think you'll put them down as AP _____, and then click the AP box but put that you got 0 credits. But i'm not in this situation, so that's just my guess.)
 
just a clarification: so we DO have to fill out the LOR section. The only portion we DONT have to fill out is the part where you specify WHO your letters are coming from, and which schools are receiving which letters. But everything else NEEDS to be filled out before you submit your app. Is this correct?
 
i love cookies said:
I had a somewhat unique question about which AP credits to put on the AMCAS. I came in to college with a lot of credits, which immediately put me in to upper level tuition. I dropped a majority of the useless credits (ie History, Psych, Polysci) to get me back down to lower level tuition. On my transcript, it lists all of these credits I dropped, but says that I got 0 credits for it. Am I still allowed to list these on my AMCAS? Does it make a difference?

I asked my school's career center and they didn't know. I also emailed AMCAS, and still haven't received a response.
Click to expand...


My friend told me to classify AP stuff that got no credits as AP and Exempt. That's what AMCAS did to his last year.

Merging with AMCAS thread as this question is addressed in the AP FAQs.
 
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