AACOMAS FAQ 2014-2015 Application Cycle

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Fedxup said:
I read above but both my parents are my guardians. Should I repeat info for one of them because it doesn't let you proceed without the education level
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Fill in information for both your mother and father. Under guardian, leave everything blank. Under guardian's education, click the "No Answer" option.
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Fedxup said:
I read above but both my parents are my guardians. Should I repeat info for one of them because it doesn't let you proceed without the education level
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No. You literally only answer the Guardian education level as "no answer" and leave the rest blank.
 
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May be a dumb question(but no such thing!)- should we list non medical jobs in the "Work Experience" section of the aacomas application? I bartended all through college along with lifeguarding and a few others..
 
malamed said:
May be a dumb question(but no such thing!)- should we list non medical jobs in the "Work Experience" section of the aacomas application? I bartended all through college along with lifeguarding and a few others..
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Absolutely. Leaving these out would actually hurt you. The whole 'well-rounded applicant' thing.
 
Do step parents have to be included in the parent section?
 
Do we have to include our ex-girlfriends, ex-aunties, the third wife of our fathers...?

Why is AACOMAS asking for these personal information?

I have a bunch of relatives, and I am afraid of an auto-rejection because the middle name of my aunt's cousin appears differently on her Indian documents than it does on AACOMAS.
 
Sean Lee said:
Do we have to include our ex-girlfriends, ex-aunties, the third wife of our fathers...?

Why is AACOMAS asking for these personal information?

I have a bunch of relatives, and I am afraid of an auto-rejection because the middle name of my aunt's cousin appears differently on her Indian documents than it does on AACOMAS.
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Have you even looked at the application? There are only spots for your mother and father and then for a guardian if you don't have a father/mother specifically.

There is a section that asked for any relatives that have medical degrees, but even then, it doesn't ask for names, just the degree and the school they earned it from. Your aunt's cousin's name has no relevance, unless she is your legal guardian.

I don't want to be mean, but please refrain from asking questions that you would know the answer to if you just took 15 minutes to read the instructions and look through the application.
 
Can anyone confirm whether we have to send in our transcripts and have courses verified BEFORE we are able to submit the primary?

Conventional wisdom says: submit completed primary in early June, submit transcripts shortly after/alongside primary, verification by AACOMAS once transcripts and primary are both submitted.

But someone told me that in the prior cycle, you have to submit your transcript/verify your course work BEFORE having the option to submit the primary.
 
malamed said:
May be a dumb question(but no such thing!)- should we list non medical jobs in the "Work Experience" section of the aacomas application? I bartended all through college along with lifeguarding and a few others..
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I would definitely list that as a work experience because that is exactly what it is.
 
I am having trouble deciding how to list activities on the application. For example should I pool vice president and president position in the same club and have them under one record? Any thoughts?
 
Sean Lee said:
Can anyone confirm whether we have to send in our transcripts and have courses verified BEFORE we are able to submit the primary?

Conventional wisdom says: submit completed primary in early June, submit transcripts shortly after/alongside primary, verification by AACOMAS once transcripts and primary are both submitted.

But someone told me that in the prior cycle, you have to submit your transcript/verify your course work BEFORE having the option to submit the primary.
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You asked this in another thread, please dont spam.

The only way your primary is verified is if you submit your transcripts. What else would they verify? How does that not make sense?

Yes. Submit your transcripts and once they are received and the application is open in June, then click submit. 2-6 weeks later, they will verify your primary application, and then send it out to schools that you selected, or you can add more schools.

Doesn't take long to actually look things up.
 
Fedxup said:
I am having trouble deciding how to list activities on the application. For example should I pool vice president and president position in the same club and have them under one record? Any thoughts?
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Yes, combine them.
 
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Bea5T said:
Do step parents have to be included in the parent section?
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I would assume that if you already filled in information for a mother and father, you would not have to include more information for step-parents, and you would leave the guardian section blank. I would be comfortable doing that, but for a definite answer, you should contact AACOMAS.
 
Fedxup said:
I am having trouble deciding how to list activities on the application. For example should I pool vice president and president position in the same club and have them under one record? Any thoughts?
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If it helps, what I did was say "President, previously VP and various chair positions".
 
polylux said:
The handbook actually says to just put "no answer" for your guardians education if you dont have a guardian other than your parents, nothing else.
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I guess either would work. This is all I could find from the handbook " Family Information: This section includes Mother, Father, and Guardian questions. Please note that “Education” is a required field for each section. You may select “No Answer” from the drop-down list in order to leave a section blank. " So it doesn't say just to leave it blank but it says how you can. That's where I was a little confused.
 
When do you have to apply for FAFSA if you're applying for August 2015?
 
Anyone know how I can list non academic awards? There's a section for it on TMDSAS and I was wondering if I could list them under the Awards, Honors, Scholarships section. I can understand about school stuff only, and it being significant only as well. But, all my stuff is significant. Thanks
 
WesternRedCedar said:
You asked this in another thread, please dont spam.

The only way your primary is verified is if you submit your transcripts. What else would they verify? How does that not make sense?

Yes. Submit your transcripts and once they are received and the application is open in June, then click submit. 2-6 weeks later, they will verify your primary application, and then send it out to schools that you selected, or you can add more schools.

Doesn't take long to actually look things up.
Click to expand...

Wait, so you submit your transcripts BEFORE you submit your primary application? I have two issues:

1) That's not how it worked in past cycles
2) For AMCAS, you can submit your primary before submitting your transcripts.
 
Sean Lee said:
Wait, so you submit your transcripts BEFORE you submit your primary application? I have two issues:

1) That's not how it worked in past cycles
2) For AMCAS, you can submit your primary before submitting your transcripts.
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I literally answered this question already twice. LAST CYCLE I had to have my transcripts in BEFORE they would verify the primary. There is a list of check boxes and everything has to be checked before they verify. Once everything is verified, they will send out the primary to all the schools you checked.
 
keels99 said:
I literally answered this question already twice. LAST CYCLE I had to have my transcripts in BEFORE they would verify the primary. There is a list of check boxes and everything has to be checked before they verify. Once everything is verified, they will send out the primary to all the schools you checked.
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I know that your transcript has to be in in order to verify the primary! Of course!

But I asked if you have to submit your transcripts BEFORE being able to submit your primary when it opens. And also, if you submit transcripts before you submit the primary app, wouldn't the transcripts be lost?

I am not asking whether or not the app will be verified without transcripts, I simply want to know if I can submit the primary before AACOMAS receives my transcripts.
 
What is the point of submitting your application without it being verified? Have some sense. It would just sit there stagnate until you submit your transcripts and will remain unverified and useless.


Please read the instructions.
 
Sean Lee said:
I know that your transcript has to be in in order to verify the primary! Of course!

But I asked if you have to submit your transcripts BEFORE being able to submit your primary when it opens. And also, if you submit transcripts before you submit the primary app, wouldn't the transcripts be lost?

I am not asking whether or not the app will be verified without transcripts, I simply want to know if I can submit the primary before AACOMAS receives my transcripts.
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Okay, I am wondering who you think you are submitting your primary to. How do you think your transcript will be "lost"? You have to start your account before sending in your transcripts. Where would they get lost at? Seriously.

The steps are verification then send out of primaries.
 
keels99 said:
Okay, I am wondering who you think you are submitting your primary to. How do you think your transcript will be "lost"? You have to start your account before sending in your transcripts. Where would they get lost at? Seriously.

The steps are verification then send out of primaries.
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I see. But I am pretty sure that for the AMCAS, you can submit your primary on June 1st BEFORE sending in your transcripts.
 
Hey, @Sean Lee, please PM me. I can help you with all your questions better in PM and we can avoid cluttering this up more.
 
You can submit your AACOMAS before sending in your transcripts to. BUT THERE IS NO POINT.

What is your point?
 
why would you want to send out a primary without verification/transcripts anyway?
 
WesternRedCedar said:
You can submit your AACOMAS before sending in your transcripts to. BUT THERE IS NO POINT.

What is your point?
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THANK YOU!!!

That's all I was trying to ask!

If I am not able to send my transcripts to AACOMAS by June 1st, I want to be able to submit my primary anyway. I know it won't be verified until both the transcripts and primary are submitted.
 
Hey guys, in the future, please direct people to this post if they are confused with the submission/verification process.

On the main AACOMAS page, the following instructions are listed:
  • Begin the application.
    • In other words, fill out the application itself.
  • Request that your transcripts be delivered to AACOMAS
    • This simply means that you will request your school(s) send in your transcript(s) to AACOMAS. They must be sent directly to AACOMAS to be valid.
  • Request that your MCAT scores be released to AACOMAS.
    • This is done by providing AACOMAS with your AAMC number and through AAMC. Instructions may be found in ACCOMAS itself.
  • Submit your application to AACOMAS.
    • This step may only be performed on June 1 and after you have selected the schools you wish your application to be submitted to. You should submit your application once you have filled it out to the best of your ability and are ready for it to be submitted.
AT THIS POINT: You are (for the most part) done with your primary application. AACOMAS will receive your transcript(s). Once you hit "submit" and AACOMAS receives your transcript(s), they will then begin the verification process. Depending on volume and timing, this can take anywhere form 2-6 weeks.

Please note: You should submit your application to AACOMAS as well as have your transcript(s) received by AACOMAS for them to begin your verification.

Once your application has been fully verified and you have paid everything you need to pay to AACOMAS, your verified application will then be submitted by AACOMAS to the schools you indicated. You may come back and indicate more schools for your application to be forwarded to later. You can track your verification through the AACOMAS site.

CONGRATS. You are now done with the primary application. Once schools receive your primary from AACOMAS, you will be reviewed and secondaries will be sent out as appropriate. and the cycle continues.
 
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Lost Complex said:
When do you have to apply for FAFSA if you're applying for August 2015?
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Do it after you are accepted, and after January so you have all your tax information. I think for scholarships and stuff, each school has their own fafsa deadline to give you the best chance. Once you're accepted, your school will let you know. It's nothing to worry about now.
 
Lost Complex said:
When do you have to apply for FAFSA if you're applying for August 2015?
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If you're applying for matriculation in August 2015, then fill out the FAFSA asap. If you're applying in August 2015 for the 2015-2016 cycle, then ideally between January-March 2015.
 
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trs88 said:
Anyone know how I can list non academic awards? There's a section for it on TMDSAS and I was wondering if I could list them under the Awards, Honors, Scholarships section. I can understand about school stuff only, and it being significant only as well. But, all my stuff is significant. Thanks
Click to expand...

Non-academic and academic awards, honors, scholarships all go under the same "Awards, Honors, and Scholarships" section.
 
Sean Lee said:
Wait, so you submit your transcripts BEFORE you submit your primary application? I have two issues:

1) That's not how it worked in past cycles
2) For AMCAS, you can submit your primary before submitting your transcripts.
Click to expand...

1) Yes, this is how it worked in past cycles.
2) This is the AACOMAS application thread, so whatever AMCAS does has no bearing here.
 
Is there any way we can rearrange the order of the records listed in the volunteer page? I noticed they are rearranged automatically. Maybe that's just the way it is.
 
DoctorCupcake said:
If you're applying for matriculation in August 2015, then fill out the FAFSA asap. If you're applying in August 2015 for the 2015-2016 cycle, then ideally between January-March 2015.
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Wait, we have to fill out financial aid information/materials RIGHT NOW?
 
In relation to Freshman, sophmore, etc designation, do you count the number of AP credits received and added them to the current term? Or ignore them completely.

Also, when writing the description of activities. Is better to write in paragraph form or bullets?
 
Fedxup said:
Also, when writing the description of activities. Is better to write in paragraph form or bullets?
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In the thread by hushcom, an adcom member, he specifically stated that a non-verbose paragraph format was best. Take that for what it's worth (a lot, IMHO).
 
So, when selecting term, should you select the calendar year the term started or ended? For instance, if my fall quarter started in 2010 and ended in 2010, you obviously put Fall 2010. But for a winter quarter starting in 2010 and ending in 2011, do you put as Winter 2010 or Winter 2011?
 
polylux said:
So, when selecting term, should you select the calendar year the term started or ended? For instance, if my fall quarter started in 2010 and ended in 2010, you obviously put Fall 2010. But for a winter quarter starting in 2010 and ending in 2011, do you put as Winter 2010 or Winter 2011?
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How is it written on your transcript? It's best to write everything the way it's written on the transcript. It'll make the verification process a bit faster/easier for the people at AACOMAS.
 
polylux said:
So, when selecting term, should you select the calendar year the term started or ended? For instance, if my fall quarter started in 2010 and ended in 2010, you obviously put Fall 2010. But for a winter quarter starting in 2010 and ending in 2011, do you put as Winter 2010 or Winter 2011?
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Started for sure.
 
DoctorCupcake said:
In the thread by hushcom, an adcom member, he specifically stated that a non-verbose paragraph format was best. Take that for what it's worth (a lot, IMHO).
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Great! Thanks

DoctorCupcake said:
How is it written on your transcript? It's best to write everything the way it's written on the transcript. It'll make the verification process a bit faster/easier for the people at AACOMAS.
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It has a separate category but shows as fall xxx but is not with rest of my grades from fall xxxx or reflected in the cumulative credits of that semester or any other semester. It is a little complicated to explain I guess. I will email AACOMAS.
 
DoctorCupcake said:
If you're applying for matriculation in August 2015, then fill out the FAFSA asap. If you're applying in August 2015 for the 2015-2016 cycle, then ideally between January-March 2015.
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Why would you apply before you've even been accepted to a school? What would you put when it asks for your school code?
 
DoctorCupcake said:
If you're applying for matriculation in August 2015, then fill out the FAFSA asap. If you're applying in August 2015 for the 2015-2016 cycle, then ideally between January-March 2015.
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Thank you! Yes, I'm applying now to hopefully matriculate August 2015. I hadn't filled out a FAFSA in a while, so I completely forgot when you needed to fill it out.

Edit:

DoctorKrieger said:
Why would you apply before you've even been accepted to a school? What would you put when it asks for your school code?
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Wait, now I'm confused.
 
DoctorKrieger said:
Why would you apply before you've even been accepted to a school? What would you put when it asks for your school code?
Click to expand...

The original poster's "applying for August 2015" bit was a little ambiguous as to whether he/she was trying to apply at that time or matriculate at that time.

For purposes of the Student Aid Report (generated only by completing the FAFSA) for the AACOMAS application financial aid, the FAFSA needs to be completed before submitting in applications. The school code can be left blank here.

To receive financial aid from the school to which he/she will be matriculating, the FAFSA for the year of matriculation needs to be submitted. The school code here would obviously be that of the school to be attended.
 
DoctorCupcake said:
The original poster's "applying for August 2015" bit was a little ambiguous as to whether he/she was trying to apply at that time or matriculate at that time.

For purposes of the Student Aid Report (generated only by completing the FAFSA) for the AACOMAS application financial aid, the FAFSA needs to be completed before submitting in applications.

To receive financial aid from the school to which he/she will be matriculation, the FAFSA for the year of matriculation needs to be submitted.
Click to expand...
Oh so OP was just wondering about getting a fee waiver for AACOMAS by having to send their undergrad fafsa?
 
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