* * 2010 - 2011 Application Season * * Post AACOMAS Questions Here !!!

[seap3]

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OK, so I know for AACOMAS, you don't send your LOR AACOM, but rather, to each school you are applying to. Now, my question is, do you have to wait until your secondary comes in, or can you just send them in after you submit your AACOMAS. Also, do you have to include the AACOMAS number ON the letter, or can it just be attached separately in another piece of paper?

EDIT: The reason I ask, is because the DO doctor who I am shadowing is moving away, and she has offered to write me a letter now, before I apply.

I wouldn't send the letters until the schools ask for them. Your best bet would be to open an account at Interfolio or Virtual Evals and have your DO send or upload her letter to them, then it would be available when you need it. I'm using Interfolio. Then when you send them to the schools from Interfolio, you can include your AACOMAS #.

 

[SoulinNeed]

I wouldn't send the letters until the schools ask for them. Your best bet would be to open an account at Interfolio or Virtual Evals and have your DO send or upload her letter to them, then it would be available when you need it. I'm using Interfolio. Then when you send them to the schools from Interfolio, you can include your AACOMAS #.

Do I have to? Specifically speaking, could I just just have the DO doc give me the letter in a sealed envelope, and I just include the envelope in another package that includes my AACOMAS number? I mean, truth be told, I was planning on just using a pre-health committee at my school, but I'm asking just in case. I believe the Pre-Health Committe here uses Virtual Evals. I'll just save the letters, and give them to the committee when the time comes.

I'm just wondering what I should do if I don't want to use those services, or if I can't use a committee. I'll just put them in a package, with a sheet attached with my AACOMAS info.

 

[taylormade2006]

AACOMAS doesn't have a letter service like AMCAS, so you would have to have your DO and your committee send out letters to every single school that requests them.

If you use Interfolio, then they only need to mail it once.

 

[SoulinNeed]

AACOMAS doesn't have a letter service like AMCAS, so you would have to have your DO and your committee send out letters to every single school that requests them.

If you use Interfolio, then they only need to mail it once.

It's not really my choice, the health committee uses what it uses. I understand the benefit of Interfolio, all I'm asking is IF I don't use Interfolio, but I receive a LOR early. Could I just keep it in its sealed envelope, but then send it out in a packet, with my AACOMAS ID# included on a separate sheet in the packet? I guess my question is, does your AACOMAS ID# have to be on the actual letter sheet? I'm guessing no, because no school really mentions it.

 

[DbDan]

It's not really my choice, the health committee uses what it uses. I understand the benefit of Interfolio, all I'm asking is IF I don't use Interfolio, but I receive a LOR early. Could I just keep it in its sealed envelope, but then send it out in a packet, with my AACOMAS ID# included on a separate sheet in the packet? I guess my question is, does your AACOMAS ID# have to be on the actual letter sheet? I'm guessing no, because no school really mentions it.

I understand its a pain to have interfolio but isn't it going to be worse to request 10 copies of the letter in sealed envelopes? If you do it this way have the Dr sign over the seal as well btw.

 

[SoulinNeed]

I understand its a pain to have interfolio but isn't it going to be worse to request 10 copies of the letter in sealed envelopes? If you do it this way have the Dr sign over the seal as well btw.

Well, I'll most likely use the pre-health committee at my school, and they use Virtual Evals for both AAMC and AACOMAS applications.

 

[hopefulCC]

For anyone that won't be submitting this soon- I'd really recommend you to apply for the AACOMAS fee waiver (if you qualify). I just submitted my application yesterday and it only cost $250 for 11 schools!!!

Also, it will save you $$ when secondary fees come around ($50-$150 per school). That is just an insane amount of money...


Anyway, for everyone that has already submitted- GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Tokspor]

Hi all, I am completing my AACOMAS at the moment and have a few questions.

1. When filling out transcript information, what should I enter if a course I have taken had lecture and lab components, but this isn't necessarily indicated by the course name, such as "General Biology?"

2. What if I took summer courses between academic years? Do I attach these courses to the previous academic year or the following one?

3. Also, do my recommenders need to know which schools I'm applying to in order to submit their letters to VirtualEvals or Interfolio for processing? I'm asking this because I haven't decided on all the schools I want to apply to at this point but I have letters waiting to be submitted.

Thanks guys.

 

[seap3]

Hi all, I am completing my AACOMAS at the moment and have a few questions.

1. When filling out transcript information, what should I enter if a course I have taken had lecture and lab components, but this isn't necessarily indicated by the course name, such as "General Biology?"

2. What if I took summer courses between academic years? Do I attach these courses to the previous academic year or the following one?

3. Also, do my recommenders need to know which schools I'm applying to in order to submit their letters to VirtualEvals or Interfolio for processing? I'm asking this because I haven't decided on all the schools I want to apply to at this point but I have letters waiting to be submitted.

Thanks guys.

1) I just added an L after the course number of the lab. Some of my labs were worth 1 credit and some zero, but the course name didn't specifically say lab. They verified me and didn't change this.

2) I believe in the directions it tells you how to designate the year bases on cumulative credits. I don't remember exactly, so I'll make up numbers, but if you had already earned 32 credits when starting the summer session, then summer would count as sophmore year. I'd look up the exact cutoffs to be sure.

3) No.

 

[SoulinNeed]

What should I do about the official letterhead requirement for LORs? My DO doctor doesn't have an "official" one for the clinic she works in, can she just make a letterhead in Word?

 

[gatorfann14]

What is this PDF that everyone keeps talking about? I didn't get one in an email and I can't find one on the website.
AHHH

 

[taylormade2006]

What should I do about the official letterhead requirement for LORs? My DO doctor doesn't have an "official" one for the clinic she works in, can she just make a letterhead in Word?

There has to be letterhead somewhere. Every time they send out mail to anyone, it must be on letterhead. Ask the receptionist or billing department.

What is this PDF that everyone keeps talking about? I didn't get one in an email and I can't find one on the website.
AHHH

On the AACOMAS main page, next to the schools you applied to it either says "Submitted to AACOMAS" or a date. If it is a date, click the date, which is actually a link to a pdf of the application that got sent to the school. If it just says "Submitted to AACOMAS" then wait a few days.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

its on your application on AACOMAS. click "application summary on the right side of the screen.

 

[emno]

What should I do about the official letterhead requirement for LORs? My DO doctor doesn't have an "official" one for the clinic she works in, can she just make a letterhead in Word?

I got my LOR fron the DO on a plane paper.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

I got my LOR fron the DO on a plane paper.

pretty sure you'll want to get that letter on a letterhead if you want it count.

 

[megathunder]

Hey, basic Q here: how long after you submitted your app did it get released to schools? I was verified before submission and submitted last Monday, but it's still sitting with AACOMAS. Do I have reason to worry?

 

[DrDre2001]

Hey, basic Q here: how long after you submitted your app did it get released to schools? I was verified before submission and submitted last Monday, but it's still sitting with AACOMAS. Do I have reason to worry?

I have had the "Status: Verified, release dates appear next to schools" as my status, without seeing any release dates next to the schools, for 8 days now.

 

[megathunder]

I have had the "Status: Verified, release dates appear next to schools" as my status, without seeing any release dates next to the schools, for 8 days now.

Alright cool, probably just a little early submission traffic then. Hopefully they send em out soon.

 

[BigBoosting]

I was told my application would go out to schools by the end of business today (Tues). I don't know if that means it will switch to dates tonight though. Just FYI since they do it in batches, hopefully your two apps will go out as well.

 

[emno]

pretty sure you'll want to get that letter on a letterhead if you want it count.

This letter was sent to the commitee and the pre-med commitee is sending the letters to amac.

Why do you feel that the lor has to be on teh letter head?

 

[metalgirl14]

I have had the "Status: Verified, release dates appear next to schools" as my status, without seeing any release dates next to the schools, for 8 days now.

Aw. I submitted on 6/9 so I guess mine won't be sent for a while. :/

 

[emno]

Aw. I submitted on 6/9 so I guess mine won't be sent for a while. :/

I submitted mine on 6/7 and still waiting.

 

[Mzeep]

I submitted my app weeks ago and I'm still not verified because they need my spring grades, and lucky for me my school is taking longer than usual to send my transcripts 👎

...and to think this is just the beginning 🙁

 

[sovereign]

Any help would greatly be appreciated:

1) It seems the general consensus is to group all shadowing opportunities as one entry under the "Work, volunteer, etc" category. How do I go about this if I have 3 different shadowing experiences (2 MD and 1 DO) with different dates, hours, locations, etc?

2) Any tips on description length/specificity for anything listed under the EC category?

3) For Work experience, is there any need to put in specific details such as the address or contact number?

4) How are people entering a repeat course that you haven't taken yet? I got a D in Molecular Biology (Fall 2009) and will take it this Fall 2010. So do I put RNY for both listings or do I put "Repeat 01" for Fall 2009 and "RNY" for Fall 2010?

 

[SNS]

is the extracurricular/volunteer/community service only for just those experiences. i have some research awards that i would like to give descriptions for but there's no room in the Honors/awards section. is it weird if i put them in the extracurricular section? are you guys just listing them in the awards section and just leave them to figure out what they all mean?

 

[noshie]

Any help would greatly be appreciated:

1) It seems the general consensus is to group all shadowing opportunities as one entry under the "Work, volunteer, etc" category. How do I go about this if I have 3 different shadowing experiences (2 MD and 1 DO) with different dates, hours, locations, etc?

2) Any tips on description length/specificity for anything listed under the EC category?

3) For Work experience, is there any need to put in specific details such as the address or contact number?

4) How are people entering a repeat course that you haven't taken yet? I got a D in Molecular Biology (Fall 2009) and will take it this Fall 2010. So do I put RNY for both listings or do I put "Repeat 01" for Fall 2009 and "RNY" for Fall 2010?

1. You can either combine them into one big shadowing experience EC and just list each out with dates, however if I were you I would separate them out and list some good descriptions for each.

2. Use the space provided, it's pretty big so you have tons of room to express what you did and how you have grown from the experience.

3. No need for specifics...

4. Um... I am going to take a shot of this one in the dark and say that you should list that you will be repeating it. I'll say put RO1 for the old one and RNY for the new one... But if it's wrong they will fix it so don't fret!

is the extracurricular/volunteer/community service only for just those experiences. i have some research awards that i would like to give descriptions for but there's no room in the Honors/awards section. is it weird if i put them in the extracurricular section? are you guys just listing them in the awards section and just leave them to figure out what they all mean?

If it's an award for research then it will be under awards... You can add that you won this award and describe it under the place in ECs where you put the research itself. I think it is weird to put this award in the EC section. I put mine in the awards section and just added a comment about it in my EC of the research. Also, if you won this award, you probably presented your research for it right? You can do a whole new EC for presentations of research and explain where and when you presented, then tell them about your award for that presentation.

 

[DbDan]

4. Um... I am going to take a shot of this one in the dark and say that you should list that you will be repeating it. I'll say put RO1 for the old one and RNY for the new one... But if it's wrong they will fix it so don't fret!

Thats what I did and they corrected it to RNY for both the old course and the new one. If you list it as R01 it will get changed for sure, R01 removes the course from your calculated GPA, since you don't know if the new grade will be higher they don't want you to do this until you have completed the repeat.

 

[DbDan]

I submitted my app weeks ago and I'm still not verified because they need my spring grades, and lucky for me my school is taking longer than usual to send my transcripts 👎

...and to think this is just the beginning 🙁

Ya thats what happened to me too. I submitted 6/1 and then was proceeded to be unsubmitted. I paid 46 dollars yesterday for rush transcripts overnighted to AACOMAS. It was worth it considering otherwise its a 3-5 day processing before sent and then 5 days to get there from Cali plus the week it takes them to get it entered once it does get there. At least this way I know the transcript arrived before 10:30 this morning.

 

[SNS]

thanks noshie!

 

[Mzeep]

Ya thats what happened to me too. I submitted 6/1 and then was proceeded to be unsubmitted. I paid 46 dollars yesterday for rush transcripts overnighted to AACOMAS. It was worth it considering otherwise its a 3-5 day processing before sent and then 5 days to get there from Cali plus the week it takes them to get it entered once it does get there. At least this way I know the transcript arrived before 10:30 this morning.

Holy crap seriously?! I would totally pay extra to ship it over night. I did pay for the 2 day rush delivery though, probably not quick enough. I'm at this point. I just want to get verified already!

 

[DbDan]

Holy crap seriously?! I would totally pay extra to ship it over night. I did pay for the 2 day rush delivery though, probably not quick enough. I'm at this point. I just want to get verified already!

UCLA extension costs 18 for a rushed transcript and an extra 28 to "fedex" when I asked them about it they said it was certified overnight and I was like, DONE! lol

Hopefully I'll be verified here in the next week now, we shall see

 

[sovereign]

1. You can either combine them into one big shadowing experience EC and just list each out with dates, however if I were you I would separate them out and list some good descriptions for each.

2. Use the space provided, it's pretty big so you have tons of room to express what you did and how you have grown from the experience.

3. No need for specifics...

4. Um... I am going to take a shot of this one in the dark and say that you should list that you will be repeating it. I'll say put RO1 for the old one and RNY for the new one... But if it's wrong they will fix it so don't fret!

Thanks for your help. I was able to verify (as another person said) with AACOMAS that we should designate both classes as "RNY."

Couple more q's -
1) for planned courses in the future, how many classes are people putting? Are they putting classes for both the upcoming Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters?

2) Should BLS CPR Certification go under EC's or the Awards section?

 

[FutureDoc01]

Is it normal to get verified in one night? I payed yesterday and today its verified?

 

[megathunder]

I was told my application would go out to schools by the end of business today (Tues). I don't know if that means it will switch to dates tonight though. Just FYI since they do it in batches, hopefully your two apps will go out as well.

I called today and they said the same thing (used this 'afternoon' actually)....still the same and assuming nothings going to change now until tomorrow at the earliest :-/.

 

[cbrons]

I was told my application would go out to schools by the end of business today (Tues). I don't know if that means it will switch to dates tonight though. Just FYI since they do it in batches, hopefully your two apps will go out as well.

I called today and they said the same thing (used this 'afternoon' actually)....still the same and assuming nothings going to change now until tomorrow at the earliest :-/.

I was verified on Fri, June 4th and my application status still reads "Submitted to AACOMAS" for all the schools I applied to. I e-mailed them tonight to ask when this would change.

Here is a string of e-mails from last week I sent about this issue:

.CBrons..
Thu Jun 10, 2010
Okay thank you, I was wondering if my "Status" on my home page where the schools are listed will show when my application has been sent to the schools? .
.AACOMAS..
Thu Jun 10, 2010
Yes, your applications will show a release date. Thank you .
.CBrons..
Thu Jun 10, 2010
What I'm asking is, were they already sent out to the schools? I have some friends who were verified last week when I was verified and their status reads "Sent to schools" or something along those lines. .
.AACOMAS..
Thu Jun 10, 2010
That's what I just advised. Your application will show a release date when it has been released to the schools. Yours has not been released. Thank you .
.CBrons..
Thu Jun 10, 2010
Okay I apologize and thank you for your quick response. How long does it usually take for applications to be released or when do you expect mine to be released? Thank you for your time, CBrons.
.AACOMAS..
Thu Jun 10, 2010
They are released every Tuesday by the close of business. Thank you.
.CBrons..
Thu Jun 10, 2010 Okay and I apologize, 1 last question. If my application was verified Fri June 4 how come mine wasn't sent out Tuesday? Will it be released this upcoming Tuesday then?.
.AACOMAS..
Thu Jun 10, 2010
We had an issue with the formatting of the applications after we released the first applications to the colleges. We should have it resolved by Tuesday so the applications can be released as planned. Thank you.

Call me annoying if you want, I mean I only paid what like upwards of $500 applying so I felt a little entitled to get deeper clarification

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

are you trying to get rejected pre-primary? haha jk

 

[cbrons]

are you trying to get rejected pre-primary? haha jk

Haha the guy was probably like F*** this annoying Cbrons kid (changes my gpa to 1.0) and send back "Oh yes CBrons I just sent it out for ya"

 

[cbrons]

By the way, can someone who is already receiving secondaries tell me if the application summary page (the PDF version) lists your MCAT scores and a table with GPA calculation? My app is VERIFIED but I don't see any of these things in my summary although the AACOMAS people says they are there...

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

you will be able to see the PDF that the schools get once your app is released to schools. that is where you'll be able to see those things.

 

[cbrons]

you will be able to see the PDF that the schools get once your app is released to schools. that is where you'll be able to see those things.

ty

 

[DbDan]

Call me annoying if you want, I mean I only paid what like upwards of $500 applying so I felt a little entitled to get deeper clarification

Thanks for pushing the issue and getting clarification. Now I've just got to hope I get verified by Monday so mine goes out by next tuesday. I know my last transcript got there this morning so I'll hope.

Interesting that they skipped a week of sending them out due to all of the formatting errors from the first submissions though. Guess it makes sense.

 

[futuredoc4432]

I was verified on Fri, June 4th and my application status still reads "Submitted to AACOMAS" for all the schools I applied to. I e-mailed them tonight to ask when this would change.

Here is a string of e-mails from last week I sent about this issue:



Call me annoying if you want, I mean I only paid what like upwards of $500 applying so I felt a little entitled to get deeper clarification

lol that dude is totally deleting your app

 

[Superman1978]

Hey guys, I did a poster presentation at the ACS conference last year, and have attended other scientific conferences since. Where should I put this stuff? Also, as far as hobbies go, I'm an avid rock climber and would like to put that in as well. Suggestion? Thanks!!

 

[cbrons]

hey guys, i did a poster presentation at the acs conference last year, and have attended other scientific conferences since. Where should i put this stuff? Also, as far as hobbies go, i'm an avid rock climber and would like to put that in as well. Suggestion? Thanks!!

the conference thing should go in extra curriculars maybe i put a conference i prepared research for in there

 

[azrk]

Any update on the applications? Mine should have been sent out yesterday but wasn't 🙁

Anyone get theirs released yesterday or today?

 

[BigBoosting]

Any update on the applications? Mine should have been sent out yesterday but wasn't 🙁

Anyone get theirs released yesterday or today?

I got a confirmation e-mail today from VCOM. AACOMAS sent my app out yesterday but it still says Submitted to AACOMAS. I think I read somewhere they keep it saying Submitted for a few days so colleges have time to download the applications.

 

[DbDan]

Any update on the applications? Mine should have been sent out yesterday but wasn't 🙁

Anyone get theirs released yesterday or today?

They should have been sent out to schools yesterday but will not show as being released for a couple of days to allow the schools time to download the apps. I'd say realistically the dates should show up thursday or friday.

I was told today that my application will be marked complete and verified as soon as they receive my transcript, which should have arrived via fedex overnight yesterday so I'm hoping to be entirely complete this week and have my apps out in the next batch. 👍

 

[metalgirl14]

I got a confirmation e-mail today from VCOM. AACOMAS sent my app out yesterday but it still says Submitted to AACOMAS. I think I read somewhere they keep it saying Submitted for a few days so colleges have time to download the applications.

I got this email also. Let the games begin. 😀

 

[megathunder]

I got this email also. Let the games begin. 😀

Right on, me too.

For the first time ever I had a dream about the admissions process. Dreamed that my school list page on aacomas was updated there itself w/ whether I was rejected, or offered a secondary or interview. Also, right after 'waking up' I started getting an incoming skype video call from some number I didn't know. It ended up being some cute girl from OUCOM doing an online interview. Lol, she said she was a first year and admitted she was kinda intimidated and said I was definitely in. Haha, I just remembered this one, on my schools page it said I was already accepted to this one school, and upon closer inspection it was one I accidentally selected that taught the entire curriculum in spanish .

Ahh, crazy times.

 

[gatorfann14]

Any update on the applications? Mine should have been sent out yesterday but wasn't 🙁

Anyone get theirs released yesterday or today?

im in the same boat and starting to get pissed. $500+ should buy a little urgency