AACOMAS FAQ 2014-2015 Application Cycle

[shim0shim]

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Alright guys I have a problem. In fall 2013 I took 2 courses with another institution. One was 3 credits and its completed, the other is 6 credits and it is still in progress ( it is a 1 whole year course). The system in AACOMAS does not allow me to put 2 courses in one term if one is completed the other is still in progress. I messaged AACOMAS and this is what they said:

"You will need to move the in progress course to another term."

I asked if they want me to move the course in the term before or the term after. And this is what they said: "You cannot put an in progress term before a completed term."

They are not so helpful. What do you guys think they are trying to say. Should I put the in progress course in Spring 2014 even though I
was enrolled in it in Fall 2013?

 

[HappyFeet14]

When does AACOMAS transmit application info to medical schools? The second you are verified? Or is there a start date like AMCAS (June 27th or whatever)?

 

[Stephanopolous]

I just wanted to share this experience in case it helps anyone else.

Took organic chem I for 3.0 credits, no lab- failed

Re-took organic chem I for 4.0 credits (including lab) got a B

The first time I called the application center the man I spoke with told me I CAN'T grade replace because the original class didn't include lab like the second class.

I called back 5 minutes later- the female I spoke with (Katie) said YES IT WILL REPLACE the grade.

I was also advised by her that the tentative GPA they list on the application usually isn't spot on because the calculator on their site is "glitchy".

 

[shim0shim]

When does AACOMAS transmit application info to medical schools? The second you are verified? Or is there a start date like AMCAS (June 27th or whatever)?

Once everything is verified, AACOMAS will send you application to schools right away. You will know when they send it.

 

[shim0shim]

I just wanted to share this experience in case it helps anyone else.

Took organic chem I for 3.0 credits, no lab- failed

Re-took organic chem I for 4.0 credits (including lab) got a B

The first time I called the application center the man I spoke with told me I CAN'T grade replace because the original class didn't include lab like the second class.

I called back 5 minutes later- the female I spoke with (Katie) said YES IT WILL REPLACE the grade.

I was also advised by her that the tentative GPA they list on the application usually isn't spot on because the calculator on their site is "glitchy".

I am so glad you talked about your story here. At the moment, I am having the exact same problem. I am waiting for AACOMAS to receive my transcripts before I talk to them about it. I took a chem class that was spread about, 2 credits for course and 2 credits for lab and it also shows separate on my transcript. I retook it at another institution but they had both the class and the lab as one class for 3 credits. Would you know how they count the grade replacement in a case like this?

 

[polylux]

Alright guys I have a problem. In fall 2013 I took 2 courses with another institution. One was 3 credits and its completed, the other is 6 credits and it is still in progress ( it is a 1 whole year course). The system in AACOMAS does not allow me to put 2 courses in one term if one is completed the other is still in progress. I messaged AACOMAS and this is what they said:

"You will need to move the in progress course to another term."

I asked if they want me to move the course in the term before or the term after. And this is what they said: "You cannot put an in progress term before a completed term."

They are not so helpful. What do you guys think they are trying to say. Should I put the in progress course in Spring 2014 even though I
was enrolled in it in Fall 2013?

So this is just fully wrong. In AACOMAS instructions, they state you should NOT submit transcripts until spring semester classes are finished. So you can put the course in either term (I suggest fall 2013). Put in a random grade for now and change it to the actual grade once you get it and before you submit your app. Assuming you have no summer classes, there should not be any in progress classes on your class list because all the spring ones need to be finished before submission.

I just wanted to share this experience in case it helps anyone else.

Took organic chem I for 3.0 credits, no lab- failed

Re-took organic chem I for 4.0 credits (including lab) got a B

The first time I called the application center the man I spoke with told me I CAN'T grade replace because the original class didn't include lab like the second class.

I called back 5 minutes later- the female I spoke with (Katie) said YES IT WILL REPLACE the grade.

I was also advised by her that the tentative GPA they list on the application usually isn't spot on because the calculator on their site is "glitchy".

I am so glad you talked about your story here. At the moment, I am having the exact same problem. I am waiting for AACOMAS to receive my transcripts before I talk to them about it. I took a chem class that was spread about, 2 credits for course and 2 credits for lab and it also shows separate on my transcript. I retook it at another institution but they had both the class and the lab as one class for 3 credits. Would you know how they count the grade replacement in a case like this?

From what I know, the 4-credit course will replace the 3-credit one for sure.
For the separate 2 and 2 courses, your 3 credit course will likely replace the 2-credit lecture grade, but not both the 2-credit lecture and 2-credit lab.

 

[Theseus]

I had this exact same thing. I emailed AACOMAS and they first told me (as you would expect) to put everything down exactly as it is in your unofficial transcript. I then pressured further because what grade would you put then, if it is worth zero credits? They said to put down 0.0 credits and call it a "pass" for the grade and put it under pass/fail category. When they go to verify your application, they will know what the course is and that it is attached to the lecture, they deal with tens of thousands of applications a year.

Alright, thanks.

 

[shim0shim]

So this is just fully wrong. In AACOMAS instructions, they state you should NOT submit transcripts until spring semester classes are finished. So you can put the course in either term (I suggest fall 2013). Put in a random grade for now and change it to the actual grade once you get it and before you submit your app. Assuming you have no summer classes, there should not be any in progress classes on your class list because all the spring ones need to be finished before submission.

Sorry I believe there is a misunderstanding. I was enrolled in the course in Fall 2013 and it is still in progress and will be until the end of the summer. I cannot place a random grade. Because in my official transcript it says "in progress" I have to place it as in progress when I submit it. But, I cannot do that if I have completed a course also in Fall 2013. Let me know if that makes more sense. If not, I'll explain it more..

 

[chiralC]

hey guys, joining the party a little late. I'm a non-trad and will be applying to both DO and MD schools. I've been following the posts here and I've got a question. Under my work experiences, I'm not sure whether or not to lump together two different paid research tech jobs? I was a research tech for both, but each one focused on different research and I was employed by different universities. I'm getting the feeling I should make separate entries for them..

 

[polylux]

Sorry I believe there is a misunderstanding. I was enrolled in the course in Fall 2013 and it is still in progress and will be until the end of the summer. I cannot place a random grade. Because in my official transcript it says "in progress" I have to place it as in progress when I submit it. But, I cannot do that if I have completed a course also in Fall 2013. Let me know if that makes more sense. If not, I'll explain it more..

That makes more sense. In that case, I would put the class as in progress for the summer, as that's when you'll earn the credits. Since you have another spring and fall class (I think?) you need to put the spring and fall semester as finished and can't have a class as pending.

 

[shim0shim]

That makes more sense. In that case, I would put the class as in progress for the summer, as that's when you'll earn the credits. Since you have another spring and fall class (I think?) you need to put the spring and fall semester as finished and can't have a class as pending.

Yes I took 5 classes this past spring and have completed them all. Okay, that makes sense I guess. Even though I enrolled in it in Fall 2013, because it is in progress, I will put it in as Summer I 2014 and state as "in progress". Correct?

 

[shim0shim]

hey guys, joining the party a little late. I'm a non-trad and will be applying to both DO and MD schools. I've been following the posts here and I've got a question. Under my work experiences, I'm not sure whether or not to lump together two different paid research tech jobs? I was a research tech for both, but each one focused on different research and I was employed by different universities. I'm getting the feeling I should make separate entries for them..

Yes, different research, different institutions = different experiences. 2 separate entries.

 

[polylux]

Yes I took 5 classes this past spring and have completed them all. Okay, that makes sense I guess. Even though I enrolled in it in Fall 2013, because it is in progress, I will put it in as Summer I 2014 and state as "in progress". Correct?

Yup.
Although there is a just "Summer" isn't there?
Summer I and Summer II are usually specific like 4 week terms for certain schools, not sure if it directly applies to you.

 

[shim0shim]

Yup.
Although there is a just "Summer" isn't there?
Summer I and Summer II are usually specific like 4 week terms for certain schools, not sure if it directly applies to you.

That was my other question. What is the difference between Summer I and Summer II. No, there is no just Summer. usually summer classes taken between May and August.

 

[chiralC]

Yes, different research, different institutions = different experiences. 2 separate entries.

thanks for the response. I figured that would be the case, but what about if the same research is done as a job during the summer and continued as a class through the school year? Would that also be lumped under one category (extracurricular perhaps?) or would I need to separately list them since I am getting paid in the summer and not during the school year?

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

thanks for the response. I figured that would be the case, but what about if the same research is done as a job during the summer and continued as a class through the school year? Would that also be lumped under one category (extracurricular perhaps?) or would I need to separately list them since I am getting paid in the summer and not during the school year?

I sort of had this happen as well. I had an internship during the spring semester and then after that ended they hired me as a contract lab technician. Because one was paid and one was not, as well as having some differences in what I did during those two periods (the lab tech job technically was for a different lab than I interned in, but I still did some work in my original lab as well), I am keeping them separate - one as an EC and one as a work experience.

 

[yipyipyip]

Sorry as I'm sure this has been asked and answered but I can't find it using the search function. I understand LORs are not handled by the AACOMAS like they are for the AMCAS but we don't need to send them in until we receive secondaries for those schools? Is that a uniform policy?

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Sorry as I'm sure this has been asked and answered but I can't find it using the search function. I understand LORs are not handled by the AACOMAS like they are for the AMCAS but we don't need to send them in until we receive secondaries for those schools? Is that a uniform policy?

Exactly, you are on the money.
You can start sending your letters to interfolio or whatever now. But each school will ask you for letters either when they send you secondaries or invite you to an interview. So it will be like this:
You submit primary
Month or Two later hopefully you get some secondaries
Secondaries will say: answer questions 1-4 and send your LOR back to us.
You send all that back
Interview Invite

Ideally 😉

 

[yipyipyip]

Thanks for the quick reply! One more quick question. In terms of noting Dean's List awards, am I supposed to list it once on the awards section and then write another listing on the ECs section expanding on each time I received it?

The instructions say "For example, an applicant who makes the Dean's List each term should enter this only once, AND ALSO note in the extracurricular section that this occurred multiple times."

Grammatically, this is really confusing.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Yes, that is how to do it.

 

[TheCheerDoc]

Are you guys including conferences that you have attended or participated in as part of your EC's?

Yes, I included conferences in mine.

 

[csx]

For Deans list...I've made deans list 4 times (according to my GPA/cr hours for those semesters), however I only received a letter twice officially stating I made deans list....How would I go about recording this on my app? I've made it 4 times...but I didnt?

 

[shim0shim]

For Deans list...I've made deans list 4 times (according to my GPA/cr hours for those semesters), however I only received a letter twice officially stating I made deans list....How would I go about recording this on my app? I've made it 4 times...but I didnt?

For my schools, whether you made the Dean's list or not will appear on your official transcript. It seems like for your school, they give you an official letter instead. You can only include it under the awards list once anyways, regardless of how many times you received it. However, in your EC's you can mention that you have made the Dean's list multiple times. You do not need the letters, but you can always ask the Dean about the letters and see if you can get them.

 

[lwgw]

Hello,

1. I attended community college, then transferred to a 4-yrs university and got a degree after spending 2 years there. Then I went back to the same community college to take some classes (I already have all the necessary courses, so the class that I'm taking right now has nothing to do course requirement.). With that, how should I put in the second times at the same community college? Two separate entries? I don’t see an option on the application where I can put the dates that I attended twice under a single college.

2. Since I”m taking a class now and the grades will not come out until the last week of June, can I turn in the transcript from the community college w/o the Spring quarter grades?

Thanks

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Two separate entries.

 

[shim0shim]

Can you submit and pay for your application before June 3rd? And if you can, does that mean the application will be verified before those that submit after June 3rd?

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Should I list any of these as extracurriculars on my application?
-raced in several motocross events
-high school varsity golf team
-high school varsity cross country team captain
- participated in volunteer day at UCLA where students went to underprivileged areas of LA and cleaned, repainted, and helped with the schools.
-runs/walks (March for Babies (raised $200 to donate), Brain Injury Awareness Walk)
-volunteer at San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon at water station
-UCLA Neuroscience Undergraduate Society (no leadership, was a group where students could talk about neuroscience, classes, exams, had meetings sometimes, and had events)

Let me know if I should list and of these. Thank you!

P.S. This isn't the only EC I have. I have other stuff like research and medical volunteer, but I was just seeing if any of this would be good to put on the application.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Two separate entries.

Wait, so I attended a CC from 2006-2010, then I transferred to UCLA for 2 years. However, in the last quarter at UCLA, I took an online course at my CC. On my application I put that was went to the CC from 2006-2013. Is this wrong?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Wait, so I attended a CC from 2006-2010, then I transferred to UCLA for 2 years. However, in the last quarter at UCLA, I took an online course at my CC. On my application I put that was went to the CC from 2006-2013. Is this wrong?

No you're right.

 

[csx]

For my schools, whether you made the Dean's list or not will appear on your official transcript. It seems like for your school, they give you an official letter instead. You can only include it under the awards list once anyways, regardless of how many times you received it. However, in your EC's you can mention that you have made the Dean's list multiple times. You do not need the letters, but you can always ask the Dean about the letters and see if you can get them.

It is even worth noting it in the EC's that you made deans list multiple times? A glace at your transcript would make it pretty obvious. Otherwise I think it'll come off as trying "too hard" to impress, no?

 

[shim0shim]

It is even worth noting it in the EC's that you made deans list multiple times? A glace at your transcript would make it pretty obvious. Otherwise I think it'll come off as trying "too hard" to impress, no?

The problem is the schools dont see your official transcript. Only AACOMAS does. So, that is why you mention it in your EC's. If you are afraid of coming off as "trying too hard" then just mention it in the awards and leave it at that.

 

[csx]

The problem is the schools dont see your official transcript. Only AACOMAS does. So, that is why you mention it in your EC's. If you are afraid of coming off as "trying too hard" then just mention it in the awards and leave it at that.

On AACOMAS you input your grades for every semester. While not as easy to read as an OT, it still gets the job done and I can imagine adcomms are used to reading them. Is this a fair assumption?

 

[JDMcNugent]

Should I list any of these as extracurriculars on my application?
-raced in several motocross events
-high school varsity golf team
-high school varsity cross country team captain
- participated in volunteer day at UCLA where students went to underprivileged areas of LA and cleaned, repainted, and helped with the schools.
-runs/walks (March for Babies (raised $200 to donate), Brain Injury Awareness Walk)
-volunteer at San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon at water station
-UCLA Neuroscience Undergraduate Society (no leadership, was a group where students could talk about neuroscience, classes, exams, had meetings sometimes, and had events)

Let me know if I should list and of these. Thank you!

P.S. This isn't the only EC I have. I have other stuff like research and medical volunteer, but I was just seeing if any of this would be good to put on the application.

You probably should omit the high school stuff but include any volunteer, philanthropical/service participation. Also, list the neuroscience undergrad society. Not sure about the motocross.

 

[shim0shim]

On AACOMAS you input your grades for every semester. While not as easy to read as an OT, it still gets the job done and I can imagine adcomms are used to reading them. Is this a fair assumption?

Okay, not sure what exactly we are talking about now. I was only referring to the Dean's list status that you were concerned about

 

[csx]

Okay, not sure what exactly we are talking about now. I was only referring to the Dean's list status that you were concerned about

When you input your grades into AACOMAS and get verified, I'm assuming the schools you apply to can see your grades on a semesterly basis when they exam your primary app. SO in turn, wouldn't they be able to see which semester you made Dean's list based on the GPA for that semester. If Adcomms could not see your semesterly GPA's, having an upward trend would have no positive effect as they wouldnt be unaware.

 

[shim0shim]

When you input your grades into AACOMAS and get verified, I'm assuming the schools you apply to can see your grades on a semesterly basis when they exam your primary app. SO in turn, wouldn't they be able to see which semester you made Dean's list based on the GPA for that semester. If Adcomms could not see your semesterly GPA's, having an upward trend would have no positive effect as they would be unaware.

I see what you are saying. I guess whether you make the Dean's List is different for everyone depending on what school they have attended. The rules on grades, GPA and credits are different for each school so adcoms can't asssume that you made the Dean's List by just looking at your semesterly grades. But, you are right, they can tell whether you demonstrate an upward trend.

 

[Lost Complex]

It is even worth noting it in the EC's that you made deans list multiple times? A glace at your transcript would make it pretty obvious. Otherwise I think it'll come off as trying "too hard" to impress, no?

I put 'Dean's List - 4 times' as a record under awards, then for the year I put the year that I first got on the dean's list. I personally didn't mention it in the ECs.

 

[nolimits1]

I put 'Dean's List - 4 times' as a record under awards, then for the year I put the year that I first got on the dean's list. I personally didn't mention it in the ECs.

That seems like the best idea if there are other things on the awards section that don't need explaining.

I had a couple things in the awards section that needed a little bit of explaining so I just made a single entry in my ECs explaining everything in the awards section (including Dean's list) in one go.

 

[barndt91]

Hey guys,

I am really sorry if this is simply a repeated question, but it is very simple and important. I am applying during this cycle, probably exclusively to DO, and I am taking the MCAT at the end of July. I have started the AACOMAS application and I have to wait until next week for my university to have the final transcripts available for those of us who just graduated.

Am I where I should be right now? I cannot complete the primary without MCAT scores, can I? I was wondering if I would be able to complete the primary and then get secondaries from the schools that I am interested in. This way, I could have everything complete as soon as my MCAT scores come through. Thanks!

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Hey guys,

I am really sorry if this is simply a repeated question, but it is very simple and important. I am applying during this cycle, probably exclusively to DO, and I am taking the MCAT at the end of July. I have started the AACOMAS application and I have to wait until next week for my university to have the final transcripts available for those of us who just graduated.

Am I where I should be right now? I cannot complete the primary without MCAT scores, can I? I was wondering if I would be able to complete the primary and then get secondaries from the schools that I am interested in. This way, I could have everything complete as soon as my MCAT scores come through. Thanks!

You can submit primary without Mcat scores to get the ball
Rollin (verification). Apply to one school that you aren't that interested in. Then once scores come in, apply to the reat.

 

[csx]

That seems like the best idea if there are other things on the awards section that don't need explaining.

I had a couple things in the awards section that needed a little bit of explaining so I just made a single entry in my ECs explaining everything in the awards section (including Dean's list) in one go.

Is this something a lotta people do/we are instructed to do?? you're the first i've heard to do this; namely if the award is not a part of an organization you've been a part of (in which case you note it under that respective EC)

 

[nolimits1]

Is this something a lotta people do/we are instructed to do?? you're the first i've heard to do this; namely if the award is not a part of an organization you've been a part of (in which case you note it under that respective EC)

I have 2 scholarships from my University and the names of the scholarships as listed on the transcript are really ambiguous and in short-form. So I thought it was best to describe it.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I'm pretty sure you guys are overthinking this stuff. Just get it on your app. Don't worry about the teeny tiny details.

 

[cdistel]

Hey everyone, I hope the application process is going smoothly. I searched for an answer to my question but can't seem to find an answer. I see a lot of posts on sdn that lists clinical experience, is there a section on the application that we put this under? All of my clinical experience is from work, would I need to re-list this under the EC, volunteer experience section? Thanks for any help!
-C

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Hey everyone, I hope the application process is going smoothly. I searched for an answer to my question but can't seem to find an answer. I see a lot of posts on sdn that lists clinical experience, is there a section on the application that we put this under? All of my clinical experience is from work, would I need to re-list this under the EC, volunteer experience section? Thanks for any help!
-C

Experiences you get paid for would go under "work experience." The adcoms will everything and see that you have your clinical experience.

 

[barndt91]

You can submit primary without Mcat scores to get the ball
Rollin (verification). Apply to one school that you aren't that interested in. Then once scores come in, apply to the reat.

So, I will just complete the entire application, sans MCAT scores, and then have it sent to a single school. Is the advantage that my application will be completely ready to go once I have my MCAT scores so that there is a minimum delay between getting the scores and having the schools I am interested in seeing my application?

I had thought that you could get a secondary from schools even without your MCAT scores?

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

[Q UOTE="barndt91, post: 15266499, member: 476901"]So, I will just complete the entire application, sans MCAT scores, and then have it sent to a single school. Is the advantage that my application will be completely ready to go once I have my MCAT scores so that there is a minimum delay between getting the scores and having the schools I am interested in seeing my application?

I had thought that you could get a secondary from schools even without your MCAT scores?[/QUOTE]

Correct. As soon as your Mcat is ready, your app should be already verified and ready to rock.

 

[chiralC]

for anyone that played a division I or II sport, what are you listing for the average hours per week? I am thinking of putting 30, especially since I was a captain one year but does that seem overboard? I figured between practices, meetings, games, traveling, etc. that 30 is actually an underestimation

 

[csx]

for anyone that played a division I or II sport, what are you listing for the average hours per week? I am thinking of putting 30, especially since I was a captain one year but does that seem overboard? I figured between practices, meetings, games, traveling, etc. that 30 is actually an underestimation

You do not have to list the # of hours. Notice there is no "*" by those questions. With that said, is it disadvantageous to not list those hours but just the activity?

 

[chiralC]

You do not have to list the # of hours. Notice there is no "*" by those questions. With that said, is it disadvantageous to not list those hours but just the activity?

I think for a significant experience it would seem advantageous to include the number of hours. Ultimately, over a period of 4 years does it really matter if you're off some? I took a very rough estimate but I think I'm going to leave it at 30 and if I were asked I would just explain my reasoning.