* * 2009-2010 Application Season * * Post AACOMAS Questions HERE!!!

[katarina90]

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I had the same problem, except I already submitted my application...when I put my PS in I made sure the formatting looked good (even tweaked it a bit), but then I looked at it under the summary and it looks like one big paragraph...

I emailed aacomas and I might have to unsubmit and then resubmit. Has anyone had to unsubmit? Are there any fees or penalties, other than having to wait longer to be verified?

Nevermind, I won't have to resubmit! I sent a message to AACOMAS and got a reply back: (copy and pasted from the email)


"It will be formatted correctly when processed to send to the college. We save space in the data file until we create the pdf."

 

[slamindesi]

I actually just recently found a couple things I could add to my application after I saw CB's post on not selling yourself short.

Is it still early in the application cycle? I was talking to an admissions consultant telling me that schools are still trying to figure out their information about their 2009 incoming class, so they probably will not be looking at primaries for a bit. What is your guys take on this? I want to submit early, but I also want to make sure I have no regrets about my application 🙁

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I actually just recently found a couple things I could add to my application after I saw CB's post on not selling yourself short.

Is it still early in the application cycle? I was talking to an admissions consultant telling me that schools are still trying to figure out their information about their 2009 incoming class, so they probably will not be looking at primaries for a bit. What is your guys take on this? I want to submit early, but I also want to make sure I have no regrets about my application 🙁

Still very early. Even if you were verified today, you'd be waiting a while for most secondaries. The end of June I received my first one, last year, but most didn't come until at least mid-July. Just my $.02.

 

[slamindesi]

Still very early. Even if you were verified today, you'd be waiting a while for most secondaries. The end of June I received my first one, last year, but most didn't come until at least mid-July. Just my $.02.

Thanks CB! I guess I'll ask AACOMAS if I can edit my app and re-submit it 🙂

 

[ODorDO]

I listed all mine under AACOMAS ECs.

Organization: Dr. XYZ, D.O./M.D., Family Medicine
Position: Physician Shadow

Then I gave a brief description of the experience, since all of my shadowing was fairly hands-on and took place across many varied specialties.

Don't sell yourself short. Shadowing is a big deal, and they love to see it. 👍

say if you shadow more than one doctor, then how would you list it?

 

[Chocolate Bear]

say if you shadow more than one doctor, then how would you list it?

I listed each one separately, since they were all unique. If you shadowed, for example, two docs in the same dept./practice with similar experiences, you could consolidate the two into one entry and just add up the time for each and put that as your total.

 

[Grey Wind]

whoa, i didn't even think to list shadowing as an EC. now i will 😀

 

[Unlearner]

I'm wondering if I should include the following part time jobs i had in college since the application stated: "Enter information for each full-time and meaningful part-time job you have held." Any feed back is greatly appreciated.


Summer External Program Conference Staff
Assisted foreign exchange external program students and campus visitors with questions regarding the locations of campus building and conference program schedules. Set up and accommodated dormitory stay for the exchange students. Was available for over night on-call shift to provide any services for the foreign students.

Computer Lab Assistant
Tasks entailed answering students' questions; helping run computer programs; registering students for computer usage; maintaining facility; replenishing supplies; and closing Computer labs.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I'm wondering if I should include the following part time jobs i had in college since the application stated: "Enter information for each full-time and meaningful part-time job you have held." Any feed back is greatly appreciated.


Summer External Program Conference Staff
Assisted foreign exchange external program students and campus visitors with questions regarding the locations of campus building and conference program schedules. Set up and accommodated dormitory stay for the exchange students. Was available for over night on-call shift to provide any services for the foreign students.

Computer Lab Assistant
Tasks entailed answering students' questions; helping run computer programs; registering students for computer usage; maintaining facility; replenishing supplies; and closing Computer labs.

I'd personally keep them.

 

[Mohammed1989]

Hey guys well this is going to be a weird one I bet. Here goes

I started college in DeVry University where I took my english courses, psychology, and some other courses. Then I transfered to somewhere close to home, a community college. When I finish up here, in the coming spring '10, I will move onto a 4 year University. Anybody have any clue how my GPA will be calculated with all this moving around.

I am regreting it that I did not stay in a 4 year college from the start. I'm also worrying that it might come up on a interview you went from school to school, why?

Any advice will be appreciated

 

[BlueLiberty]

I took a Math 0960 class as a freshman and it doesn't count toward my GPA at the University I attend, but does aacomas count it? How should I enter this class? I read the detailed instructions and found nothing on this

 

[Diopstepp]

Okay so I originally sent one transcript to AACOMAS a couple weeks before my spring semester ended. They received it, and it said 1/1 transcript received and I had a check mark. A couple days after I received my spring grades, I entered in all the coursework, and after this I had my school send an updated transcript so AACOMAS could see my spring grades. This was about 2 weeks ago and my app is currently being processed, but I'm worried because shouldn't it read 2/2 transcripts received, or at the least 1/2 transcripts received? For those who have sent updated transcripts from the same school, does AACOMAS continually add these to your total: 1/1, 2/2, etc.??

 

[francais7979]

Question, when I go the Application Summary, It does not list my Overall Gpa or Science GPA, it just list all my courses and my grades. Shouldn't there be a calculated GPA in the summary since it is a summary??

 

[AdemTD]

My AACOMAS status:

Current: Verified.
Release dates appear next to schools.

So, where is my GPA calculation? I can't find it anywhere. Also, I don't see any "release date" next to any of the schools to which I've applied. Thanks for any input.

 

[gocatgo]

My AACOMAS status:

Current: Verified.
Release dates appear next to schools.

So, where is my GPA calculation? I can't find it anywhere. Also, I don't see any "release date" next to any of the schools to which I've applied. Thanks for any input.

I am verified too. But there are no release dates next to my schools😕 It still states "Submitted to AACOMAS."

 

[Black Adder]

I tutored for a cell biology course at my school for one of my previous professor's courses and I recieved pass/fail type units for this and this showed up on my transcript as a course titled "Tutoring". I was originally going to mention this experience in my personal statement because I felt like I learned a lot from it but it really doesn't fit into the theme of my personal statement and looks a bit out of place. Do you think I could also list this in my "Activities" section to explain what I did even though this appears as a class on my transcripts and it's something I recieved units for?

 

[wishintobedoc]

I am verified too. But there are no release dates next to my schools😕 It still states "Submitted to AACOMAS."

When did you submit? I had a gpa in the very beginning of filling out the app, then when I submitted it the gpa calculation went away.

 

[AdemTD]

When did you submit? I had a gpa in the very beginning of filling out the app, then when I submitted it the gpa calculation went away.

Yeah I had that too. That was an unofficial calculation though.

I don't know what their problem is, I had my AMCAS verified within hours of submission whereas AACOMAS took just over 3 weeks and I submitted both of them on the first day possible.

 

[Black Adder]

This may be a dumb question, so I apologize in advance.... but it's supposed to so "Incomplete" next to the schools you applied to when you first submit right? I submitted, and all the check marks are green and under status it reads "Processing". "Incomplete", I'm assuming means the status of my application being verified? I just wanted to check if my assumption is correct...

 

[bcgans]

This may be a dumb question, so I apologize in advance.... but it's supposed to so "Incomplete" next to the schools you applied to when you first submit right? I submitted, and all the check marks are green and under status it reads "Processing". "Incomplete", I'm assuming means the status of my application being verified? I just wanted to check if my assumption is correct...

That is weird. I have three green checkmarks, and "processing." Then, next to each school it says "submitted to AACOMAS" . . . I don't see "incomplete" anywhere.

Who knows. Its so screwy. Send them an email. Or try to call. I've talked to "their person" something like 4 times. Over the course of the 4 weeks I've called them I've only spoken to one person. A male, who does not know English very well.

I 😍 application season.

 

[Black Adder]

That is weird. I have three green checkmarks, and "processing." Then, next to each school it says "submitted to AACOMAS" . . . I don't see "incomplete" anywhere.

Who knows. Its so screwy. Send them an email. Or try to call. I've talked to "their person" something like 4 times. Over the course of the 4 weeks I've called them I've only spoken to one person. A male, who does not know English very well.

I 😍 application season.

I hate AACOMAS 😡..... it's like the evil twin of AMCAS or something. It's so glitchy....

 

[bcgans]

I hate AACOMAS 😡..... it's like the evil twin of AMCAS or something. It's so glitchy....

I feel like sometime in October, I'll get a phone call from a school offering me an acceptance (fingers crossed) and then they'll tell me that AACOMAS is all a big joke, and it is a test for pre-meds to see if they can handle how ridiculous it is, and stick it out for the sake of becoming a physician.

...but I doubt it...

 

[TruBlue]

Ok - please forgive my naivete as this is my first post and and despite searching the previous posts and else where on SDN for the past month, I don't think I have found an answer to my question so here it is...

1. I have received email confirmations from my schools that transcripts have been sent, but see no receipt of them yet from AACOMAS. Is this typical? How long does it usually take? Are they just waiting until I submit my application and pay the fee?

2. I still have a couple of classes in progress (but am trying to apply for the 2010 cycle) so does that also mean that my application will NOT be verified until ALL classes and final transcripts are rec'd?

3. Like some others have also posted on here - my ECs/volunteer stuff was all out of order despite entering it all in order originally. Is AACOMAS still fixing it for everyone? I've emailed them, but as of yet, no reply.

4. Anyone using INTERFOLIO? Wondering how it is working for everyone else. I've already requested some LORs, but I guess I should be waiting until my application is completed. Did I jump the gun? and is there any problem getting them lined up this early?

Thanks for any suggestions/thoughts.

 

[AdemTD]

I can only answer your first two questions, hopefully someone else will be able to comment on the other two.

1. I have received email confirmations from my schools that transcripts have been sent, but see no receipt of them yet from AACOMAS. Is this typical? How long does it usually take? Are they just waiting until I submit my application and pay the fee?

AACOMAS takes about 3 days from the time they receive them to actually post them to your account.

2. I still have a couple of classes in progress (but am trying to apply for the 2010 cycle) so does that also mean that my application will NOT be verified until ALL classes and final transcripts are rec'd?

Not sure what you mean here...you're not applying till next year? Anyway, you can apply with classes in progress, they just won't be figured into your AACOMAS GPA. If you get accepted to a school, that school will likely want to see your final/complete transcripts.

 

[UWBadger24]

Ok - please forgive my naivete as this is my first post and and despite searching the previous posts and else where on SDN for the past month, I don't think I have found an answer to my question so here it is...

1. I have received email confirmations from my schools that transcripts have been sent, but see no receipt of them yet from AACOMAS. Is this typical? How long does it usually take? Are they just waiting until I submit my application and pay the fee?

2. I still have a couple of classes in progress (but am trying to apply for the 2010 cycle) so does that also mean that my application will NOT be verified until ALL classes and final transcripts are rec'd?

3. Like some others have also posted on here - my ECs/volunteer stuff was all out of order despite entering it all in order originally. Is AACOMAS still fixing it for everyone? I've emailed them, but as of yet, no reply.

4. Anyone using INTERFOLIO? Wondering how it is working for everyone else. I've already requested some LORs, but I guess I should be waiting until my application is completed. Did I jump the gun? and is there any problem getting them lined up this early?

Thanks for any suggestions/thoughts.

1. I'm playing the same waiting game with transcripts. My AMCAS ones were received last week but still nothing from AACOMAS despite being mailed at the same time.

2. AdemTD is correct about classes in progress.

3. I also emailed them about this and still haven't gotten an answer...

4. I'm also using interfolio, I have about half of my letters in. What I've gathered from SDN is that you can submit your application without having all your letters in, and just come back and add the letters once you have them all in interfolio. (hopefully that's right?) So no there's no harm in getting a jump start on letters.

 

[fantasticplanet]

I still have an incomplete grade pending for one of my courses. My prof just submitted it...should I wait until that grade is in to request a transcript?

 

[CardioPlus]

3. I also emailed them about this and still haven't gotten an answer...

AACOMAS emailed me 2 weeks ago and said that everything will be put in chronological order upon verification.

 

[wishintobedoc]

AACOMAS emailed me 2 weeks ago and said that everything will be put in chronological order upon verification.

I was verified yesterday (6/10) but all of my EC's are out of order still. I have e-mailed and called about a million times and still no answer besides "We will forward this problem onto our IT department"

 

[Black Adder]

For the people who've submitted their app but havn't yet been verified, do you still see the "Pay and Submit" button at the bottom under the list of schools you applied to? Under the "status" column next to the school list for me it reads "Incomplete", but I've called the aacomas people and the guy said that's normal but I forgot to ask him about whether or not that button should still be showing up considering I've already paid and submitted.

 

[CardioPlus]

For the people who've submitted their app but havn't yet been verified, do you still see the "Pay and Submit" button at the bottom under the list of schools you applied to? Under the "status" column next to the school list for me it reads "Incomplete", but I've called the aacomas people and the guy said that's normal but I forgot to ask him about whether or not that button should still be showing up considering I've already paid and submitted.

I don't see the button "pay and submit" anywhere on the page that has the schools I applied to. And under the "status" column it just reads "submitted to AACOMAS." If the aacomas support people said that it's fine, i'm sure once you're verified, your online page will be corrected... but then who knows with this glitchy aacomas system lol

 

[CardioPlus]

I was verified yesterday (6/10) but all of my EC's are out of order still. I have e-mailed and called about a million times and still no answer besides "We will forward this problem onto our IT department"

That's ridiculous that they don't have this problem fixed. Especially since they "assured" me in their e-mail to me that it would be put in order upon verification. It also makes me a little worried about whether mine will still be out of order after verification lol Again, you would think that after the hundreds of emails they've gotten regarding this issue that it would be fixeddd!.. blahhh

 

[TruBlue]

I just checked out my status for AACOMAS and they have received one of my transcripts. It says the date rec'd was 6/4, but it just got posted today, so I'm guessing they are running about a week behind as far as getting them posted on the application. That makes me feel a whole lot better knowing that I won't have to request transcripts all over again. Hopefully the rest will be posted over the next week since they were all requested at about the same time.

 

[Semicolon]

I don't get why everyone is so worked up over the whole "out-of-order" thing. This won't affect your chances one bit. 😉

 

[francais7979]

Question, when I go the Application Summary, It does not list my Overall Gpa or Science GPA, it just list all my courses and my grades. Shouldn't there be a calculated GPA in the summary since it is a summary??

 

[CardioPlus]

Question, when I go the Application Summary, It does not list my Overall Gpa or Science GPA, it just list all my courses and my grades. Shouldn't there be a calculated GPA in the summary since it is a summary??

I wouldn't worry about it. Mine doesn't have a calculated GPA in the summary either. I expect they will have it once my primary is verified and they've done a final calculation of my GPA.

But if you are already verified and it's not showing up then there is a problem

 

[TruBlue]

I don't get why everyone is so worked up over the whole "out-of-order" thing. This won't affect your chances one bit. 😉

Yeah, you're probably right -- I must be one of those "Type A-OCD-doctor-types!"

 

[3dee]

I was wondering whether it would look bad to just enter my highest MCAT score on the ACOMAS app (even tho i know all of them would be sent in the official report)
thanks!!

 

[Black Adder]

I was wondering whether it would look bad to just enter my highest MCAT score on the ACOMAS app (even tho i know all of them would be sent in the official report)
thanks!!

It's probably best to not appear to be trying to conceal anything. I don't think you'll really be able to pull wool over their eyes, especially considering they'll be recieving all your scores anyways.

 

[nhernandez4]

Hi, I want to submit my application. I have sent in my transrcipt(which aacom has received) but it does not have spring semester grades posted on it. So I have ordered an updated transcript that has those grades which aacom will recieve in a week. Should I wait to submit my application after the updated transccript is recieved or should I submit know.

Also, I am having trouble showing the classes I am planning on taking for fall 2009 semester. It says I have to enter in a grade. So I am not sure what to put because I am not seeing a planned or in progress selection.

 

[nhernandez4]

Should we put a reference with a phone number for the extracurricular section?

 

[swamprat]

Should we put a reference with a phone number for the extracurricular section?

Nah they won't have time to call anyway it's the honor system

 

[gocatgo]

Hello everyone, my status finally changed to "Released 6/12" after showing up as "Submitted to AACOMAS" all week. Yesterday, I called AACOMAS and was told that they release the verified application to all your designated schools once a week. So, according to the AACOMAS staff member, the first batch was sent out today (6/12).
But my g.p.a. still isn't showing up.

 

[RG73]

My apologies if this has been posted in this (or another) thread already, but I haven't been able to find it (admittedly I haven't put forth an exhaustive search)--how does one go about listing scientific publications on the AACOMAS application? I'm not quite sure that falls under the "EC" category, but I don't really see another place to put it. On a related note, is it acceptable to list posters and talks presented at scientific conferences, as well as invited talks? These are things I would naturally list on my CV, so I would imagine that I'd want to list them on the application as well.

An unrelated issue I have a question with is on "average hours per week." So I have certain activities, say physician shadowing, where I have shadowed a particular physician a few times over several months. Per day this winds up being 8-10 hours, but it doesn't really make sense to average it over a week since it is not a regular activity. So do I put, say 10 hours a week (since on those weeks that I have shadowed it's 10 hours), or average over the whole span of time (so, for example, 20 hours total over 2 months being 2.5 hours/week)? I have other activities listed that are kind of irregular like this. I am a reviewer for a journal, but I'll get sent a manuscript to review once every 3-4 months. And then I'll spend a lot of time on a review for a week, and then nothing for the next few months. So again, the idea of this having a weekly average doesn't make sense to me, but leaving it blank doesn't appear to be an option.

Thanks to anyone who can give me any advice and guidance on this.

 

[premedmind]

Questions:

1. Do your EC's have to be in any particular order?

2. How "in-depth" should you explain the EC's?

3. Is it better to use Interfolio or send the LORs out by mail?

Oh yeah, and I sent out my transcripts a while ago, they still have not received them yet? What's up with that?

 

[Black Adder]

Questions:

1. Do your EC's have to be in any particular order?

2. How "in-depth" should you explain the EC's?

3. Is it better to use Interfolio or send the LORs out by mail?

Oh yeah, and I sent out my transcripts a while ago, they still have not received them yet? What's up with that?

It took AACOMAS 2.5 weeks to recieve/process my transcripts. It took AMCAS 5 days... I've learned to be patient when it comes to AACOMAS, they like to take their sweet ass time doing things.

 

[suprafliptie]

Hi everyone!
I know the AACOMAS app was available in may and the sooner an applicant submits the better.. I'm mostly done with my application, but I don't want to rush to submit it. How early should i set my deadline?

 

[swamprat]

Hi everyone!
I know the AACOMAS app was available in may and the sooner an applicant submits the better.. I'm mostly done with my application, but I don't want to rush to submit it. How early should i set my deadline?

do it when your ready, but it is unnecessary to wait for no other reason than the feeling of "rushing"

 

[Semicolon]

Hi, I want to submit my application. I have sent in my transrcipt(which aacom has received) but it does not have spring semester grades posted on it. So I have ordered an updated transcript that has those grades which aacom will recieve in a week. Should I wait to submit my application after the updated transccript is recieved or should I submit know.

Also, I am having trouble showing the classes I am planning on taking for fall 2009 semester. It says I have to enter in a grade. So I am not sure what to put because I am not seeing a planned or in progress selection.

I am pretty sure there was an option to categorize certain classes as "planned" courses so that they would not require a grade to be entered. If your spring courses are also entered as "planned" courses, then I would submit now.

Hello everyone, my status finally changed to "Released 6/12" after showing up as "Submitted to AACOMAS" all week. Yesterday, I called AACOMAS and was told that they release the verified application to all your designated schools once a week. So, according to the AACOMAS staff member, the first batch was sent out today (6/12).
But my g.p.a. still isn't showing up.

I do not believe your GPA will show up ever again. 😀 As I remember it, it only showed up when you were inputting the grades.

My apologies if this has been posted in this (or another) thread already, but I haven't been able to find it (admittedly I haven't put forth an exhaustive search)--how does one go about listing scientific publications on the AACOMAS application? I'm not quite sure that falls under the "EC" category, but I don't really see another place to put it. On a related note, is it acceptable to list posters and talks presented at scientific conferences, as well as invited talks? These are things I would naturally list on my CV, so I would imagine that I'd want to list them on the application as well.

An unrelated issue I have a question with is on "average hours per week." So I have certain activities, say physician shadowing, where I have shadowed a particular physician a few times over several months. Per day this winds up being 8-10 hours, but it doesn't really make sense to average it over a week since it is not a regular activity. So do I put, say 10 hours a week (since on those weeks that I have shadowed it's 10 hours), or average over the whole span of time (so, for example, 20 hours total over 2 months being 2.5 hours/week)? I have other activities listed that are kind of irregular like this. I am a reviewer for a journal, but I'll get sent a manuscript to review once every 3-4 months. And then I'll spend a lot of time on a review for a week, and then nothing for the next few months. So again, the idea of this having a weekly average doesn't make sense to me, but leaving it blank doesn't appear to be an option.

Thanks to anyone who can give me any advice and guidance on this.

You can list all of the things you mentioned in AACOMAS. For things like invites, I would consider placing them into the "Award/Honor" section.

For average hours per week, I would say enter in the amount of hours you would work for a typical week when actually involved in the activity (in your case, 10/week).

Questions:

1. Do your EC's have to be in any particular order?

2. How "in-depth" should you explain the EC's?

3. Is it better to use Interfolio or send the LORs out by mail?

Oh yeah, and I sent out my transcripts a while ago, they still have not received them yet? What's up with that?

1. You should generally enter them from most recent to least, although it seems that AACOMAS will screw up the order anyway. 😛

2. I wouldn't go too "in-depth"; explain what you did and how it benefited you. Try to be concise.

3. I would suggest looking into Interfolio.

Hi everyone!
I know the AACOMAS app was available in may and the sooner an applicant submits the better.. I'm mostly done with my application, but I don't want to rush to submit it. How early should i set my deadline?

No need to rush; it's still very early in the app cycle. Personally I consider early to be during the summer months (May-August).

 

[quynhhuong]

Do people at AACOMAS work on weekends??? With all of these applications sending in, one would think that they'd have lots of over time. 'cause I'm checking constantly for my transcripts to be posted and they haven't 🙁.

 

[Black Adder]

Do people at AACOMAS work on weekends??? With all of these applications sending in, one would think that they'd have lots of over time. 'cause I'm checking constantly for my transcripts to be posted and they haven't 🙁.

I doubt they do. They don't seem to be well staffed... at least that's what I've been able to gather after calling them with questions. I've called them 3 times, and every time it was the same guy who answered my questions (sort of).