AACOMAS FAQ 2014-2015 Application Cycle

[docemmettbrown]

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So I am curious how do transcript updates work after submission?

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[TheBoneDoctah]

So on my transcript for my Chem classes the lab was included. However on my transcript it just says "general chem I" and "general chem 2". How do they know I took my labs?

 

[Fedxup]

So on my transcript for my Chem classes the lab was included. However on my transcript it just says "general chem I" and "general chem 2". How do they know I took my labs?

Leave them as they are on your transcript. Don't added anything.

I think they know by the number of credits, not too sure. Usually 4 credits includes lab and 3 would be without.

 

[medickdb]

Leave them as they are on your transcript. Don't added anything.

I think they know by the number of credits, not too sure. Usually 4 credits includes lab and 3 would be without.

This is true.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Also, what if on my transcript it says "mtbsm&enym" should I write it exactly like that or should I write out metabolism and enzymes?

Also, I was a neuro major at ucla and some of the "psych" classes I took were bio based. Like, for instance, one class I had was the physiology of learning. It was all biology, but labeled as PSYCH on the transcript. Can I list this as biology still?

 

[Fedxup]

Also, what if on my transcript it says "mtbsm&enym" should I write it exactly like that or should I write out metabolism and enzymes?

Also, I was a neuro major at ucla and some of the "psych" classes I took were bio based. Like, for instance, one class I had was the physiology of learning. It was all biology, but labeled as PSYCH on the transcript. Can I list this as biology still?

Yes write "mtbsm&enym" and they will count as psych because they have no way of knowing they were bio based. I think they just go by the labels but you can try to email them present your case.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Yes write "mtbsm&enym" and they will count as psych because they have no way of knowing they were bio based. I think they just go by the labels but you can try to email them present your case.

No, they will count. All of my neuroscience courses in psychology counted as Sci.

 

[dramatrauma]

No, they will count. All of my neuroscience courses in psychology counted as Sci.

Did you input them as science courses or did AACOMAS automatically verify them as science when you inputted them as non-sci?

 

[Fedxup]

No, they will count. All of my neuroscience courses in psychology counted as Sci.

I stand corrected.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Did you input them as science courses or did AACOMAS automatically verify them as science when you inputted them as non-sci?

I entered them as science and they counted as science. No one is going to fight that a neural systems class is biology or that my course in bio psychology of aggression wasn't an animal behavior and neuro ethology course.

 

[dramatrauma]

I entered them as science and they counted as science. No one is going to fight that a neural systems class is biology or that my course in bio psychology of aggression wasn't an animal behavior and neuro ethology course.

Not disagreeing, they're definitely biology classes. Just trying to figure out how AACOMAS works.

 

[Doghead]

Can I use awards/scholarships I was awarded in high school? I can't much think of anything else applicable for this section...

 

[medickdb]

Can I use awards/scholarships I was awarded in high school? I can't much think of anything else applicable for this section...

I didn't, but I'm sure you can. There's nothing stating otherwise.

 

[Doghead]

What are some general examples that an admittedly award-less individual, such as myself, might be able to use?

 

[WesternRedCedar]

You don't need to fill it if you don't have awards. Most people don't.

 

[WesternRedCedar]

Quality of application, not just trying to fill out things

 

[rzoo14]

What are some general examples that an admittedly award-less individual, such as myself, might be able to use?

I put in dean's list, publications and conferences I presented a talk or poster in

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

No, they will count. All of my neuroscience courses in psychology counted as Sci.

Was the class labeled as "PSYCH" or "NEURO?" I was a neuroscience major, but took some elective psychology courses that were heavy in biology. The course is labeled as "PSYCH- ABNORMAL PSYCH-BIOLOGICAL BASES"

Also, what is considered to be "economically disadvantaged?"

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Was the class labeled as "PSYCH" or "NEURO?" I was a neuroscience major, but took some elective psychology courses that were heavy in biology. The course is labeled as "PSYCH- ABNORMAL PSYCH-BIOLOGICAL BASES"

Also, what is considered to be "economically disadvantaged?"

Mine were psych department neuroscience courses as my school has a decentralized neuro program.

And were you economically disadvantaged?

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Mine were psych department neuroscience courses as my school has a decentralized neuro program.

And were you economically disadvantaged?

Okay, well I'm asking if I class labeled as "psych" that has a lot of neuro bio content considered biology.

I don't know. I don't know what the criteria is. Do you have to be living in a box? I don't get what this means. I pay for my own schooling and make less than 30k a year at my job. My parents don't help me with anything. I don't know if this is economically disadvantaged or not.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Okay, well I'm asking if I class labeled as "psych" that has a lot of neuro bio content considered biology.

I don't know. I don't know what the criteria is. Do you have to be living in a box? I don't get what this means. I pay for my own schooling and make less than 30k a year at my job. My parents don't help me with anything. I don't know if this is economically disadvantaged or not.

Yes, a class in any department can count as biology if the majority of the material is biology. For example taking a biomechanics course in Kinesiology = Bio. A neuroscience of Hearing in Audiology or Speech Science = Bio. A nutrition chemistry course = Science. etc etc. I find that AACOMAS tends to be very fair with recognizing whether your classes are science or not.

If you have to ask whether you're economically disadvantaged then chances are you're not economically disadvantaged.



P.S Bio basis of abnormal psych is biology.

 

[csx]

For work experience and the EC section, do we list straight up what the job/EC entitled or was; a cut and dry approach. Or do we also talk about what we took from the experience as well?

 

[hawkeye3211]

I took an AP exam in high school which I did not pass, so I got zero credits for it. It is shown on my transcript, but with zero credits compared with the other exams which I had passed that have credits. Do I still have to enter this even though I received no credits for it?

 

[dramatrauma]

I took an AP exam in high school which I did not pass, so I got zero credits for it. It is shown on my transcript, but with zero credits compared with the other exams which I had passed that have credits. Do I still have to enter this even though I received no credits for it?

If it's on your official transcript, it needs to be reported as it currently exists.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

For work experience and the EC section, do we list straight up what the job/EC entitled or was; a cut and dry approach. Or do we also talk about what we took from the experience as well?

I tied each job to how it would better me as a physician and what I took from the job.

 

[Omppu27]

I'm sure this has already been asked, but my search didn't turn anything up...

How exactly should we fill in our course name? On my transcript i have a "course" section and a "description" section. The "course" section is the department and the "description" is the actual name of the class within the department. For example, for Introduction to African American Studies i have "AFAMAST" under "course" (that stands for African American Studies) and under "description" i have "introduction."

Any help?

Thanks.

 

[csx]

1) For summer classes that were taken over the course of 6 weeks during the summer session, what do you list the term type? "quarter, semester, unit, etc"

2) what do we put for classification of transfer credits? "AP, honors, deferred, p/f, etc"

3) I assume we leave classification alone for regular classes not taken honors, p/f, etc? correct?

4) If there are spelling errors on your transcript, do I write it as is still? ie: "Boilogy" instead of "Biology." I am looking at my unofficial transcript

 

[polylux]

1) For summer classes that were taken over the course of 6 weeks during the summer session, what do you list the term type? "quarter, semester, unit, etc"

2) what do we put for classification of transfer credits? "AP, honors, deferred, p/f, etc"

1. If you are normally on a semester system, that term will still be a semester. It might just be a Summer 1 or Summer 2 term.

 

[csx]

I tied each job to how it would better me as a physician and what I took from the job.

But is that what we are supposed to do??

 

[docemmettbrown]

But is that what we are supposed to do??

I worked at McDonald's before my current job... Trying to tie that to medicine would be difficult... "My work experience has helped me be able to tolerate impatient people."

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[polylux]

But is that what we are supposed to do??

There's no hard and fast rule as to what we're supposed to say in the 750 characters they give us for ECs. Generally, people either explain what they did, what they learned, or something else similar.

 

[dramatrauma]

I'm sure this has already been asked, but my search didn't turn anything up...

How exactly should we fill in our course name? On my transcript i have a "course" section and a "description" section. The "course" section is the department and the "description" is the actual name of the class within the department. For example, for Introduction to African American Studies i have "AFAMAST" under "course" (that stands for African American Studies) and under "description" i have "introduction."

Any help?

Thanks.

Write what's under "course" for course name. It seems a little counterintuitive to not add additional information to it, but that's just how AACOMAS wants it.

 

[dramatrauma]

I worked at McDonald's before my current job... Trying to tie that to medicine would be difficult... "My work experience has helped me be able to tolerate impatient people."

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Haha! That's hilarious. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I would write something to that effect, just in a better way.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I worked at McDonald's before my current job... Trying to tie that to medicine would be difficult... "My work experience has helped me be able to tolerate impatient people."

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For something like this I would say something like how it taught you how to work as a team in order to accomplish a similar
Goal and then give examples.

 

[shim0shim]

Hi everyone,
I have a question that usually does not pop up in the FAQ's. I have been debating whether or not I should include links or contact information of the organizations that I have volunteered for in the description section of AACOMAS. However, that is hard to do as there is a limit on how much you can write. So, I was wondering whether anyone has experienced it before, where the admission committees ask you to provide proof/confirmation of your involvements, or ask you to bring contact info or more proof during interviews?

 

[polylux]

Hi everyone,
I have a question that usually does not pop up in the FAQ's. I have been debating whether or not I should include links or contact information of the organizations that I have volunteered for in the description section of AACOMAS. However, that is hard to do as there is a limit on how much you can write. So, I was wondering whether anyone has experienced it before, where the admission committees ask you to provide proof/confirmation of your involvements, or ask you to bring contact info or more proof during interviews?

I think the assumption is that you are an honest individual who isn't going to make up things you did...

 

[WesternRedCedar]

Why doesn't it ask for it anyway? I will include it, AMCAS requires it, so its copy/paste.

 

[shim0shim]

I think the assumption is that you are an honest individual who isn't going to make up things you did...

Alright, I guess that indirectly answers my question. You do not need to include contact information

 

[Omppu27]

Write what's under "course" for course name. It seems a little counterintuitive to not add additional information to it, but that's just how AACOMAS wants it.

Thanks. Where did you find this info? I looked through the instructions and they weren't specific.

 

[JDMcNugent]

As a potential reapplicant, is it fine to keep my "descriptions" the same under the extracurricular, volunteer and community service section? Also, if I made deans list 3 consecutive quarters, do I list each one under "awards" or just list the most recent? It seems redundant to enter it in 3 separate times.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

As a potential reapplicant, is it fine to keep my "descriptions" the same under the extracurricular, volunteer and community service section? Also, if I made deans list 3 consecutive quarters, do I list each one under "awards" or just list the most recent? It seems redundant to enter it in 3 separate times.

you just say deans list 2010-2014. Say it once, but have it encompass all of the times you got it.

 

[dramatrauma]

Thanks. Where did you find this info? I looked through the instructions and they weren't specific.

Called AACOMAS regarding the "what to write under course" issue a few days ago, and they kept stating the same thing: write exactly what's on the transcript, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

When can we submit? June 1st?

 

[dramatrauma]

When can we submit? June 1st?

Monday, June 2nd.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Monday, June 2nd.

Thank you.

 

[polylux]

As a potential reapplicant, is it fine to keep my "descriptions" the same under the extracurricular, volunteer and community service section? Also, if I made deans list 3 consecutive quarters, do I list each one under "awards" or just list the most recent? It seems redundant to enter it in 3 separate times.

This specific example is actually in their instructions.

 

[shim0shim]

As a potential reapplicant, is it fine to keep my "descriptions" the same under the extracurricular, volunteer and community service section? Also, if I made deans list 3 consecutive quarters, do I list each one under "awards" or just list the most recent? It seems redundant to enter it in 3 separate times.

It says in AACOMAS on top
of the awards page that if you made the Dean's list more than once you only enter it in the awards list once. If you'd like you can make a section in the EC's lists that state you have made
the Dean's section more than once. Let me know if you cant find such instruction stated in aacomas and ill quote it for you here.

 

[shim0shim]

This specific example is actually in their instructions.

"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. This will give you the opportunity to enter a date span and an explanation that you received this award numerous times."

There you go!

 

[JDMcNugent]

"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. This will give you the opportunity to enter a date span and an explanation that you received this award numerous times."

There you go!

Great. Thank you!

 

[medickdb]

This specific example is actually in their instructions.

No one has time to read instructions. Just stick it in the microwave for 5 minutes. Wash it with unlike colors. Live a little on the edge!