AACOMAS FAQ 2014-2015 Application Cycle

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Well, seeing as none of us work in admissions, I doubt anyone knows.
 
I think every ADCOM does it their own way which may be different from other ADCOMS
 
Hi guys,

super confused on how to enter my coursework (the aacomas directions are a bit grey on the subject). I took grad classes my senior year of college to count towards my master's degree. I wasn't officially in the program until the summer before I started it (the credits rolled over and ONLY count towards my grad degree not my undergrad). Should I mark the classes as 'grad status' and keep them in my undergrad degree because that's the time frame when I took them or just move them over to my actual grad degree? Or would it be best to just have one long entry (instead of 1 undergrad and 1 grad entry) like on AMCAS? I hope this is clear, I'm just super confused.

Thanks!
 
*Decided to apply after getting my score back*
 
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Are applications verified on Tuesday released that same day? or Next Tuesday?
 
Fedxup said:
Are applications verified on Tuesday released that same day? or Next Tuesday?
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There is no set date. After verification, it takes some time to be released. Mine was released approximately 2 weeks after verification.
 
shim0shim said:
There is no set date. After verification, it takes some time to be released. Mine was released approximately 2 weeks after verification.
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2 weeks after verification is...kind of absurd.
 
On MCAT THx i'm not getting the option to the send my new MCAT score to AACOMAS. It's trying to make me send both scores (this includes my first test which i have already added to my app). Also, my app has been verified and is supposed to get sent to schools today.

EDIT: Or is the new MCAT score gonna get automatically sent to AACOMAS? If so, will the schools see the score if AACOMAS already sent my app without the new score?
 
Omppu27 said:
On MCAT THx i'm not getting the option to the send my new MCAT score to AACOMAS. It's trying to make me send both scores (this includes my first test which i have already added to my app). Also, my app has been verified and is supposed to get sent to schools today.

EDIT: Or is the new MCAT score gonna get automatically sent to AACOMAS? If so, will the schools see the score if AACOMAS already sent my app without the new score?
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No the new mcat score will not be automatically sent to schools. You will need to update AACOMAS regarding your new score, the same way as you did for the first score. Once, it is sent to aacomas (will take about a week), aacomas will release the new score to schools.
 
shim0shim said:
There is no set date. After verification, it takes some time to be released. Mine was released approximately 2 weeks after verification.
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I agree (read the convo above). Two weeks is really absurd unless you mean being verified on wednesday and then next tuesday being released? My application got verified today at 11-something AM and I don't see the release dates next to the school. Guess I have to wait till next week ;/
 
Fedxup said:
I agree (read the convo above). Two weeks is really absurd unless you mean being verified on wednesday and then next tuesday being released? My application got verified today at 11-something AM and I don't see the release dates next to the school. Guess I have to wait till next week ;/
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Nope. I meant what I said. My application was verified on June 10 and was released June 22, so approximately 2 weeks. My application was part of the first batch of applications to be released as it was submitted the first day. Regardless of it being absurd or not, that's how it went down. Giving you a heads up as that might be the case for many. Good luck!
 
Question about LORs...I had all of my letter writers send my letters to my pre-med advisor and she was putting them into a committee letter..if I am using interfolio to submit letters do I just send one request to her and send only whatever she uploads or do I have to ask all my letter writers myself to upload to interfolio? sorry very confused
 
So I want to submit my application to one school to get verified then go back when applying to my others schools and change my personal statement. Can I do this? Can anyone find a source? I'm pretty sure you can but can't find a source for it
 
I'm verified I can still make changes to my personal statement.
DoctorSynthesis said:
So I want to submit my application to one school to get verified then go back when applying to my others schools and change my personal statement. Can I do this? Can anyone find a source? I'm pretty sure you can but can't find a source for it
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123GO said:
Question about LORs...I had all of my letter writers send my letters to my pre-med advisor and she was putting them into a committee letter..if I am using interfolio to submit letters do I just send one request to her and send only whatever she uploads or do I have to ask all my letter writers myself to upload to interfolio? sorry very confused
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It should be 1 request since she is compiling all your letters into one.
 
Where can I see the release date on AACOMAS? I got emails from schools saying they received my application but there is no release date listed in front of those schools on my AACOMAS.
 
I'm freaking out over here because I my scores were just released today and I looked at the applicant copy that was released to the schools today and I realized that none of my AP credits are on the application. I just never did that. eek. I need 2 of them (chem and english) to fulfill prereqs and currently in all the applicant coppies it says that I have not fulfilled the prereqs. What should I do? Call AACOMAS? I don't want the school to screen me out initially becuase it says I don't have them when I really do? ahhhhhhh help.
 
If they screen you out, you can send them an e-mail or call them about the situation. I forgot to put down physics on mine last cycle, and it ended up being nbd.
 
was yours required as a prereq keels99? how early did you catch your mistake? Did you just call AACOMAS and did they help you figure it out?
thanks for the reassurance
 
Yes, Physics is a pre-req for every school as far as I am aware. I didn't realize it until I got a rejection on one of my secondaries. The other three schools I applied to didn't even notice it. I just called the school and told them I was currently enrolled in the class and they went ahead and sent the secondary. I would forget about talking to AACOMAS because it may delay everything.
 
oh gawd that sounds hectic. I'll call AACOMAS first and see what they recommend I do.
 
It was no big deal at all. They sent me a secondary same day. It was literally a 3 minute conversation on the phone.
 
I didn't apply to just one school, and it wasn't a mistake for just one school. My primary was sent to 8 schools with the missing pre req. I still received a secondary for 7/8 schools.
 
ah well glad everything got straightened out for you and thank you for sharing your experience. definitely reassuring!
 
odd question: anyone know if individual schools see your transcripts? or are they just for AACOMAS's eyes?
 
greenflash5 said:
odd question: anyone know if individual schools see your transcripts? or are they just for AACOMAS's eyes?
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I'm pretty sure they only see what you enter into AACOMAS, or else the Physics problem I had would have never been an issue as the school would have seen that I had taken it. The transcripts are just to verify what you entered is correct.
 
greenflash5 said:
odd question: anyone know if individual schools see your transcripts? or are they just for AACOMAS's eyes?
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For now, they'll just see your aacomas application but if accepted and matriculating, they will request all transcripts to be submitted directly for their records.
 
called AACOMAS they fixed it no prob. schools won't see the courses until next Tuesday so I emailed the schools to give them a heads up.
 
When listing college level classes that I took in high school does anyone have any idea what to put for term type (quarter, semester, trimester, unit)? I am stumped. I do not even know what a unit is. The transcripts do not say what term it was, they just say "special".
 
CstatePride said:
When listing college level classes that I took in high school does anyone have any idea what to put for term type (quarter, semester, trimester, unit)? I am stumped. I do not even know what a unit is. The transcripts do not say what term it was, they just say "special".
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I'd also like to know this.
 
All college classes you take during high school are always through some college (ex. local community/state college.) You need to get the transcripts from the college that you obtained the transcripts from (not your high school) to figure this out. Hope that helps.
 
I was told that it best to retype my personal statement into application. Is this true? I thought that using notepad or something other than MS Word would be alright.
 
I've taken an 'Anatomy & Physiology II' course, which was essentially the same course as a 'Vertebrate Physiology' course, ie both were systems physiology courses, with the A&PII course taken later, and counting for more credit. In my discussion with the AACOMAS rep, he couldn't be sure that they would be considered the same course yet. Does anyone know if the classes are deemed not equivalent, will they just list them separately and then ship the application off? In the grand scheme of things, this would be fine for me, but I'm just curious if there will be any longer or more complicated steps that will slow down the transmission.
The courses were taken in 2003 and 1999 respectively, and neither are offered in that fashion any longer. I have found links to the descriptions, and they are pretty close. I'm assuming that I would need to be prompted to send in any course descriptions.
 
nontrad78 said:
I've taken an 'Anatomy & Physiology II' course, which was essentially the same course as a 'Vertebrate Physiology' course, ie both were systems physiology courses, with the A&PII course taken later, and counting for more credit. In my discussion with the AACOMAS rep, he couldn't be sure that they would be considered the same course yet. Does anyone know if the classes are deemed not equivalent, will they just list them separately and then ship the application off? In the grand scheme of things, this would be fine for me, but I'm just curious if there will be any longer or more complicated steps that will slow down the transmission.
The courses were taken in 2003 and 1999 respectively, and neither are offered in that fashion any longer. I have found links to the descriptions, and they are pretty close. I'm assuming that I would need to be prompted to send in any course descriptions.
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I took both courses you are talking about, and I listed mine as separate (non-repeating) courses. My AACOMAS app was not held up for any reason. Also, the courses were similar, but the material was covered in a different way so I personally would not considered them duplicates of each other.
 
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ALF85 said:
I took both courses you are talking about, and I listed mine as separate (non-repeating) courses. My AACOMAS app was not held up for any reason. Also, the courses were similar, but the material was covered in a different way so I personally would not considered them duplicates of each other.
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I've already submitted, and I decided to go ahead and list them as retakes. I figured the worse that could happen would be that they would just reject the retake proposal and list them separately. It wouldn't kill my application if they are listed separately, but it would help some if they weren't. I'm just hoping if there is a change that has to be made, it won't lengthen the transmission.
 
ggmills said:
I was told that it best to retype my personal statement into application. Is this true? I thought that using notepad or something other than MS Word would be alright.
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You can always view how your pasted personal statement looks like by looking at "View Application Summary" on AACOMAS. I copy pasted from Microsoft Word and had no problem.
 
I submitted mine June 3rd, was verified June 10th and released June 19th.
medception said:
Does it normally take close to a month for AACOMAS to verify applications? I submitted mine on June 19th....crickets as of today. AMCAS was much quicker - submitted June 14th, verified June 30th.
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Guys I have a few questions,

it tells me that 0-32 hours is a freshman
32-64 is a sophomore
64-96 junior
96+ senior.

Do I include pass fail course credit hours in this as well as the courses I withdrew from? Because that is what I did, even if I have a W I counted it as a credit against this scale.

Also another question, I held two different positions in the same organization, should I include them as two separate extracurricular activities? I was a member for one year, secretary another, and president the last year.

Any clarification would greatly be appreciated.
 
DrDreams said:
Guys I have a few questions,

it tells me that 0-32 hours is a freshman
32-64 is a sophomore
64-96 junior
96+ senior.

Do I include pass fail course credit hours in this as well as the courses I withdrew from? Because that is what I did, even if I have a W I counted it as a credit against this scale.

Also another question, I held two different positions in the same organization, should I include them as two separate extracurricular activities? I was a member for one year, secretary another, and president the last year.

Any clarification would greatly be appreciated.
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Put every class exactly as it is written on your transcript. Just put the semester you took it and grade that you got and AACOMAS will figure the rest out. I took a few classes and failed them in high school. I then took a little over 32 credits my actual freshman year of college. So I ended up having something like 45 credits by the time my "freshman" year was over. AACOMAS will straighten everything out. They kept all the courses that I designated as "freshman" but then changed up some other classes for my senior and supersenior year. They will do what they do, your job is to just put stuff in exactly as it is written in your transcript so as not to confuse them. They will not hold your application if you designated stuff as being freshman when it shouldve been sophomore, they WILL hold your application or send it back to you if you withhold courses that are on your transcript.

Personally I would put those as the same. I would describe your growth in membership in the 750 character space provided.
 
Awesome Sauceome said:
Hey is anyone aware on how to print/get a pdf of your Fee Waiver? I know that for most schools, in order to be eligible for the waiver for secondaries, you need to send a copy of your accepted fee waiver. I only know that I received the waiver because I received an email in my AACOMAS file that said I received it. There is nowhere that I can view the accepted waiver as a PDF or anything. Maybe I should contact them? Or maybe that option would become available once my application is verified and/or sent to the schools?
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AACOMAS sends all osteopathic schools a list of who received fee waivers so the schools you've applied to should know by checking the list. It is also helpful if you can forward the email you received informing you of the waiver to the admissions office's of your selected schools. The fee waiver lists from AACOMAS don't come out every week, so you may have your notification before the school does.
 
Awesome Sauceome said:
Put every class exactly as it is written on your transcript. Just put the semester you took it and grade that you got and AACOMAS will figure the rest out. I took a few classes and failed them in high school. I then took a little over 32 credits my actual freshman year of college. So I ended up having something like 45 credits by the time my "freshman" year was over. AACOMAS will straighten everything out. They kept all the courses that I designated as "freshman" but then changed up some other classes for my senior and supersenior year. They will do what they do, your job is to just put stuff in exactly as it is written in your transcript so as not to confuse them. They will not hold your application if you designated stuff as being freshman when it shouldve been sophomore, they WILL hold your application or send it back to you if you withhold courses that are on your transcript.

Personally I would put those as the same. I would describe your growth in membership in the 750 character space provided.
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Thank you. I will definitely go back and make sure.

What about classes that I had taken for my GED review? Those are on my unofficial transcript but they are not credited courses.
 
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