2015 Application Grade Replacement Changes?

[Cardboard101]

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Does anyone have any details for how the application changed this year? I tried talking to 3 different AACOMAS representatives and they each told me something different for grade replacement.

Rep #1: Replacement course must be same or greater credit load and have the same prefix and content.
Rep #2: Replacement course does not have to be the same credit hours but need to be the same in subject.
Rep #3: Replacement course must be the same or greater credit hours and have the same subject matter.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Also it looks like AACOMAS won't be sending out applications 6/15/15 anymore and will instead be sending them out "late June"?


Update:

Rule 1: Take A Breath

To all: stop the panic

The rumors, confusion, and myths flying about previously in this thread are incorrect. I interface directly AACOMAS application services management and there have been NO, repeat, NO major changes in retake/replacement policies. Repeated course must be substantially equivalent in content , credit value, etc. They do not have to be from the same school. This is true for all courses, science and non-science. Courses that are "split" such as a combined lecture/lab and then repeated combined may be acceptable on a case by case basis.

Confusion at AACOMAS is primarily due to a new system, new process and new people.

I am still trying to confirm the policy directly from AACOMAS but below is still what is on the current application system
http://help.unicas.com:8888/aacomas...cademic-history-2/transcript-entry/index.html

"ENTERING COURSE TYPES (AKA TRANSCRIPT REVIEW):

Repeated Classes

Courses retaken at the same school or a different school for a higher grade are considered “Repeated.” If you repeated a course, mark the first attempt and each additional attempt at the same or a different institution as “Repeated”. Do not mark withdrawn attempts as a repeated course. Make sure you have entered 0.00 credits for the initial attempts. Only the final attempt should receive full credit value. Withdrawn courses and courses taken multiple times for new credit (such as physical education courses) are not considered repeated. Select “yes” and then check off each attempt at the class to mark it as “Repeated.” Only the final attempt at Repeated courses will be factored into your AACOMAS GPA.


While AACOMAS allows applicants to classify similar coursework from separate schools as repeated, the verification staff is not responsible for determining whether the content, course level, and credit hours are equivalent. AACOMAS staff can only correct incorrectly classified repeated coursework from the same school. In order for repeated coursework across institutions to be verified as repeated, the applicant must enter the initial attempts as 0.00 credits and mark each attempt repeated during Transcript Review.


IMPORTANT: As the applicant, you are responsible for entering your Repeated courses correctly according to the AACOMAS Instructions."

 

[AKNP]

This seems to be an ongoing problem for people with grade replacements. Lots of questions with few answers. However, this thread is most up to date and I recommend reading through it.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/any-hope.1140832/

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Retakes have to be from same University, with same Prefix, and equal or greater amount of units according to aacomas. If your retakes meet the criteria then you are fine.

 

[IDK22]

Does anyone have any details for how the application changed this year? I tried talking to 3 different AACOMAS representatives and they each told me something different for grade replacement.

Rep #1: Replacement course must be same or greater credit load and have the same prefix and content.
Rep #2: Replacement course does not have to be the same credit hours but need to be the same in subject.
Rep #3: Replacement course must be the same or greater credit hours and have the same subject matter.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Also it looks like AACOMAS won't be sending out applications 6/15/15 anymore and will instead be sending them out "late June"?

The fact that the reps are being so inconsistent means there is definitely miscommunication internally at AACOMAS. I think if the process has really changed, AACOM would have at least formally announced it to this years applicants, which I don't see anywhere.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

The fact that the reps are being so inconsistent means there is definitely miscommunication internally at AACOMAS. I think if the process has really changed, AACOM would have at least formally announced it to this years applicants, which I don't see anywhere.

They probably didn't mention it or announce it because they don't expect everybody to have retakes. So they probably didn't think it was that important to announce it. Plus, everything is in the instructions and FAQ, so you have to use your best judgment. They certainly aren't holding hands this cycle. Have you been verified yet?

 

[Stephanopolous]

It does not say in the FAQ/questions that the prefix must match exactly. This is a new change this year that is unannounced unless you call and speak with AACOMAS management or a rep who has been informed of the change.

 

[AKNP]

The fact that the reps are being so inconsistent means there is definitely miscommunication internally at AACOMAS. I think if the process has really changed, AACOM would have at least formally announced it to this years applicants, which I don't see anywhere.

Agreed, the inconsistency with the staff is disturbing. Hopefully, they will get this figured out soon.

 

[Abraxas65]

They probably didn't mention it or announce it because they don't expect everybody to have retakes. So they probably didn't think it was that important to announce it. Plus, everything is in the instructions and FAQ, so you have to use your best judgment. They certainly aren't holding hands this cycle. Have you been verified yet?

A simple look at past applicants would make one realize that making that assumptions would be a very very stupid idea. Honestly I think this is simply a miss communication on the part of the new company handling the applications. An AdCom I emailed yesterday stated they knew of no changes in the grade forgiveness policy for what its worth.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

A simple look at past applicants would make one realize that making that assumptions would be a very very stupid idea. Honestly I think this is simply a miss communication on the part of the new company handling the applications. An AdCom I emailed yesterday stated they knew of no changes in the grade forgiveness policy for what its worth.

Ah yeah very true. My badd. I'm flustered at the moment lol

 

[GypsyHummus]

I'm flustered too! I really hope that this grade replacement thing is just miscommunication. I turned my academic career around because of grade replacement.

 

[Cardboard101]

Wait. Retakes have to be from the same university? So my CC retakes no longer count?

 

[Major]

Wait. Retakes have to be from the same university? So my CC retakes no longer count?

This is what is happening to me at this very moment and to others on here

 

[Grace184]

Apparently if they were a "retake" you keek your original letter grade.

If it was a "w" then it doesn't matter- they take new grade since you withdrew from the class.

 

[mathnerd88]

Keep in mind that some others were also successfully able to do grade replacements from different universities as long as the rules were followed from the instructions.

 

[Dochopeful13]

I am so confused the instructions specifically state retakes can be from different schools..........

 

[mathnerd88]

I am so confused the instructions specifically state retakes can be from different schools..........

Don't worry. They are. There are only a few cases that they haven't counted, but it was due to extenuating circumstances where the courses' prefixed don't align up, etc.

Every year, there are always going to be some people who have miscalculated GPA's. For most, it will be fine.

 

[Dochopeful13]

Don't worry. They are. There are only a few cases that they haven't counted, but it was due to extenuating circumstances where the courses' prefixed don't align up, etc.

Every year, there are always going to be some people who have miscalculated GPA's. For most, it will be fine.

I hope your right. Is it also true that credits do not have to match anymore because that is what they told me on the phone.

 

[mathnerd88]

I hope your right. Is it also true that credits do not have to match anymore because that is what they told me on the phone.

That I'm not sure of. I don't believe it was in the instructions and faqs.

 

[whooooopwhoop]

I'm going through an informal post-bacc currently and retaking courses. I'm getting worried because Biochemistry/Physiological Chemistry was offered in the Biological Sciences department at my first school, and I retook it at a school that had it as a Chemistry course. The subject matter was near identical, but prefixes are very different.

And what about universities that have unique departments, such as Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at UC Davis. Systemic Physiology is in the NPB department at UCD, but usually in the Biology/Biological Sciences department at other schools. NPB is unique, you can't find an exact match anywhere else...

 

[asdf123g]

🙁

 

[Stephanopolous]

I would question as to if this is happening to a handful of people vs there are not enough people verified yet to tell. If others are having retakes counted, from the same university but with slight prefix changes I would love to know. Per management at AACOMAS they are making “no exceptions”.

 

[Stephanopolous]

Rule 1: Take A Breath

To all: stop the panic

The rumors, confusion, and myths flying about previously in this thread are incorrect. I interface directly AACOMAS application services management and there have been NO, repeat, NO major changes in retake/replacement policies. Repeated course must be substantially equivalent in content , credit value, etc. They do not have to be from the same school. This is true for all courses, science and non-science. Courses that are "split" such as a combined lecture/lab and then repeated combined may be acceptable on a case by case basis.

Confusion at AACOMAS is primarily due to a new system, new process and new people.

First off, thank you for providing us with some reassurance. Can you tell me who I should speak with if AACOMAS is rejecting my repeated course. It meets the requirements for having the same level and content, and was repeated at the same university. I spoke with Vicky and she advised me that the decision was made by their upper level manager Nicole, stating the following reason: All re-takes must have the same prefix attached to the course in order to be counted as a repeat. I feel that I have reached out to the proper people at AACOMAS but this doesn’t line up with what you were told. I have also e-mailed AACOM asking for help with the issue. Thanks in advance for your time @gonnif .

 

[Major]

@gonnif

Thank you so much!

 

[NoTownPreMed]

Really great info Gonnif.

 

[QueenJames]

Straight from the instructions:

In the case of a repeated course, AACOMAS will calculate the MOST RECENT grade received whether it is higher or lower than the first time the course was taken. To ensure this is calculated correctly, you should record the “credits attempted” for all initial attempts of the course as 0.00 in your coursework section and label these courses “not applicable.” You should still record the grade received. Please note that withdrawn courses are NOT considered repeats.

I called and talked to somebody this last week and they said to use your best judgment.

 

[Stephanopolous]

DEAL!

 

[mathnerd88]

.

 

[Major]

DEAL!

This!

 

[Cardboard101]

"and credit hours are equivalent"

So, I can't replace a 5 unit class with a 4.5 unit class? Bummer. Rep #2 had me all excited.
Thank you for the clarification(s) gonnif. Cheers.

 

[Cardboard101]

Fair enough.
If I do retake a class and they reject it as a retake, are the new grades just averaged in?

 

[Major]

@gonnif

the policy you posted is the same one we see in the new application portal.

What is written for the retake policy, doesn't match at all with what is happening to us and being told to @Stephanopolous

I know this bone has been chewed to the marrow so far, but we confirmed with an AACOMAS rep before hitting submit that our retakes were entered in correctly and should work.

So when we got the verification email and gpas showing the complete opposite, this is one cause for the worry/angst

 

[NoTownPreMed]

Thanks gonnif for bringing this matter into light for some of the members.

 

[NoTownPreMed]

That's why my Father calls me son 'cause I'm so bright!

🤣🤣🤣

 

[Cardboard101]

That's why my Father calls me son 'cause I'm so bright!

Can you be our premed adviser. Ours kept telling me grade replacement didn't exist for any med school when I asked >.>

 

[Major]

@gonnif

Gosh dang!


THANK YOU SO MUCH GONNIF!

 

[GypsyHummus]

@gonnif or anyone else having this issue

Do you know of any problems from people trying to match retake courses split up between lecture and lab and an equivalent course not spilt up? For instance, General Chemistry 1 at old school counts as 3 credit hours lecture and a 1 credit hour lab=4 and General Chemistry 1 at new school is 4 Credit hours (lecture and lab lumped together)

 

[Cardboard101]

@gonnif or anyone else having this issue

Do you know of any problems from people trying to match retake courses split up between lecture and lab and an equivalent course not spilt up? For instance, General Chemistry 1 at old school counts as 3 credit hours lecture and a 1 credit hour lab=4 and General Chemistry 1 at new school is 4 Credit hours (lecture and lab lumped together)

I believe the rule is you can use that new 4 unit Gen Chem class to replace the lecture only portion of your 3 units Gen Chem class and not the lab. Grade replacement is 1 class to 1 class.

 

[GypsyHummus]

I believe the rule is you can use that new 4 unit Gen Chem class to replace the lecture only portion of your 3 units Gen Chem class and not the lab. Grade replacement is 1 class to 1 class.

Ok. When I contacted AACOMAS last year, they said that I would go ahead with the replacement but with this new system Idk

 

[Mavs88]

So umm...what are we supposed to do? wait for them to fix it?

 

[Stephanopolous]

If you are affected by this then I would strongly suggest following the instructions above and sending an email to AACOM. Strength in numbers.

 

[k3riddler_doc]

Hello All,

So I have been following this thread for a while and followed exactly what you said to do @gonnif .

However before I sent my email I made a call first...right when they opened 6:00am PT for me. And luckily I didnt have to wait and was directed to someone immediately. Now here is what happened. My situation was that when my application was verified there were some classes that I know for sure I put as 0.0 for credits for my initial attempt for the class, that were somehow changed to show actual credits, but that change was signified in that changed credits section. While the other issue I had were the classes that I guess stayed as 0.0 credits weren't recognized as such, so in the changed credit section were given the credits that are for the given class.

So when I called I made clear to my helper both issues. With the first problem he said he couldn't do anything about, because what the coursework shows is that I put credits for the course and because the application is verified he can't change that. Essentially he was saying that there was no way that AACOMAS couldve changed my credits from 0.0 to for example: 4.0 without indicating that they actually changed it. ( Which I can't believe because I know what I did, I reviewed my app 5+ times so I know that I put those classes as 0.0 and not 4.0). However with my second problem, the classes that actually remained as 0.0 and were not treated as such, and instead assigned there credit back. He was able to take down all those classes, then ask me what other classes essentially replace the grade for the initial one. So I told him which classes those where. And that was the end of our conversation. He was very helpful and great with me. Fastforward 3 hours later I get an email notifying me that my application has been verified (again) and in this "new" verification accounted for my second problem and those classes that had the 0.0 reassigned with point were changed to just have 0.0 with no other credits beside them. So that was great.

I explain all this to say 1ST thanks for the advice and hooray the grade replacement grades were changed!!! However I want to know if anyone else has had the same problem that I had with my first problem? Where they know they assigned 0.0 for certain courses but when they got their verification back those 0.0 credits were replaced with actual credits as if you didn't assign that 0.0 at all? This would be a great help to know!!!

Anywho everyone good luck in the process.