Aacomas open today at 10am!!!!!

[JanikeyDoc]

---

Members do not see this ad.

When is the earliest that we can actually submit the application? I was just wondering.

 

[lmnguye4]

OMG I THINK I'M CRAZY, but I submitted my application today. I think I rushed it...

So YUP, you can submit applications today, May 1st. Good luck everyone! And good luck to me too! 😀 I don't know what I'm doing.

 

[RySerr21]

When is the earliest that we can actually submit the application? I was just wondering.

You can submit them right away. That doesnt mean they will start processing them right away. Last year even the people who submitted sometime in May took 4-6 weeks to process.

p.s. i cant believe the new cycle already started. Holy crap. I still remember opening it up the first day it came out last year.

 

[thethethe]

The question is: "Why Medicine?" Since you're applying to osteopathic schools, I'd also work in "why osteopathic medicine" in there.

Wouldn't that question be answered in the secondaries?

My PS is just why medicine, I looked over a lot of 2ndaries and they ask in one way or another why osteopathic medicine.

 

[francais7979]

Thanks all, but where in the application does it say the personal statement question is "WHY MEDICINE"?

SOrry to sound so annoying but I was just wondering why dont they tell us what kind of personal statement to write? Or if they do can someone let me know where the question is?

 

[AdemTD]

Thanks all, but where in the application does it say the personal statement question is "WHY MEDICINE"?

SOrry to sound so annoying but I was just wondering why dont they tell us what kind of personal statement to write? Or if they do can someone let me know where the question is?

It doesn't say "why medicine." Just know that it's a "personal statement" and can be about anything you want, however, I would refer to "Depakote's PS tips" that were posted last year in the Pre-MD forum. Those tips really helped me write mine.

 

[2560hill]

I have a question about LOR's. I already have set up who I am getting them from, but where do I tell them to send them? For the D.O. I shadowed, do I need to give her information to send it directly to all of the schools admissions buildings for where I am applying to? This would mean she would have to send 7 or so copies...it seems a bit tedious, no? Or for instance, I just asked another of my letter writers to write one, but haven't finalized exactly what schools I am going to apply to so I have no clue what to tell him. Thanks for your help!

ps. I am sooo excited to apply!!!

 

[Revilla]

Wouldn't that question be answered in the secondaries?

My PS is just why medicine, I looked over a lot of 2ndaries and they ask in one way or another why osteopathic medicine.

I understand what you're saying and that's exactly what I thought as well. But all I can tell you is what I was told by admissions counselors. They said I should have added that in my personal statement. You can go more in-depth in the secondaries, but it's not a bad idea to touch on it in your PS, IMO, just to be safe.

 

[Revilla]

Thanks all, but where in the application does it say the personal statement question is "WHY MEDICINE"?

SOrry to sound so annoying but I was just wondering why dont they tell us what kind of personal statement to write? Or if they do can someone let me know where the question is?

It doesn't say "why medicine," but it's your personal statement for medical school. You're supposed to tell them why you're applying.

 

[Revilla]

I have a question about LOR's. I already have set up who I am getting them from, but where do I tell them to send them? For the D.O. I shadowed, do I need to give her information to send it directly to all of the schools admissions buildings for where I am applying to? This would mean she would have to send 7 or so copies...it seems a bit tedious, no? Or for instance, I just asked another of my letter writers to write one, but haven't finalized exactly what schools I am going to apply to so I have no clue what to tell him. Thanks for your help!

ps. I am sooo excited to apply!!!

I would get an Interfolio account and have everyone send the LORs there. You can have them sent to the individual schools through Interfolio.

 

[CycloneDO]

Quick question: can I submit aacomas application before accomas recieves my official transcripts or do I have to wait until they are all in?
😕

 

[lmnguye4]

Quick question: can I submit aacomas application before accomas recieves my official transcripts or do I have to wait until they are all in?
😕

you can submit application before aacomas receives transcripts. however, they won't start processing/verfiying your application until they receive all of the transcripts.

 

[ODorDO]

Somebody actually called AACOM couple of days ago and found out that you CAN submit it starting today.

Good luck, my future colleagues. I'm still reviewing Personal Statements so shoot me a PM if you need a fresh set of eyes for it.

Do you guys think it would make any difference if I turn it in today or June 1st? I mean schools are probably still busy with 2009 app cycle, and even if I turn it in early it'll just get pile up.

 

[lmnguye4]

Do you guys think it would make any difference if I turn it in today or June 1st? I mean schools are probably still busy with 2009 app cycle, and even if I turn it in early it'll just get pile up.

I think it makes a difference... takes about 4-6 weeks for AACOMAS to verify applications, after they verify THEN they send them out to the schools. If you turn it in today, it may be verified by June 1st, which is the date when most schools start accepting the applications. But if you submit on June 1st, then most likely your application won't be verified until mid July and thus your application won't be viewed my schools until late July or early August.

Do you already have scores for your MCAT? Your application for schools isn't complete until they received an MCAT score, so they won't even look at your application until they receive an MCAT score... I won't receive my scores until August since I'm taking on July 30. So, I'm late...

 

[ODorDO]

ur taking the late July mcat? does that mean u'll get ur score back around late Aug and get verify couple of weeks after that?

On the side note, does it cost anything to update my transcript? lets say i submit everything now but i want to include my spring semester grades (which wont come out untill later June)... or i should just wait till later June?

 

[beckhunter116]

I think it makes a difference... takes about 4-6 weeks for AACOMAS to verify applications, after they verify THEN they send them out to the schools. If you turn it in today, it may be verified by June 1st, which is the date when most schools start accepting the applications. But if you submit on June 1st, then most likely your application won't be verified until mid July and thus your application won't be viewed my schools until late July or early August.

Do you already have scores for your MCAT? Your application for schools isn't complete until they received an MCAT score, so they won't even look at your application until they receive an MCAT score... I won't receive my scores until August since I'm taking on July 30. So, I'm late...

Your app can be verified and sent without the MCAT score. Since some schools don't screen you may get secondaries without it.

 

[binko]

OMG I THINK I'M CRAZY, but I submitted my application today. I think I rushed it...

So YUP, you can submit applications today, May 1st. Good luck everyone! And good luck to me too! 😀 I don't know what I'm doing.

I did it too. I also don't know what I'm doing.

 

[Back 5]

Is there a chart or graph somewhere that shows which schools give preference to in-state/out-of-state? I plan on applying broadly, but I didn't want to send money to a school that is predominately in state etc.

I'm having a tough time finding the information.

Thanks!

 

[Ibn Rushd]

Crap! Now I'm freaking out. I'm not even done with my personal statement yet, I haven't finalized the list of activities/work experiences I want to include, and I haven't ordered transcripts!

How many people usually submit in these days? Would I be at a significant disadvantage if I submit two-three weeks later?

 

[Cruel Entropy]

Is there a way to add research papers to the AACOMAS primary application?

 

[RySerr21]

Crap! Now I'm freaking out. I'm not even done with my personal statement yet, I haven't finalized the list of activities/work experiences I want to include, and I haven't ordered transcripts!

How many people usually submit in these days? Would I be at a significant disadvantage if I submit two-three weeks later?

Do you guys think it would make any difference if I turn it in today or June 1st? I mean schools are probably still busy with 2009 app cycle, and even if I turn it in early it'll just get pile up.

Okay. Lets take a second to breathe. I konw this can be a stressful time, but lets just try breathe. It WILL NOT make a difference if you turn your AACOMAS in right now, or a week from now, or sometime in June....its still insanely early. I didnt turn in my AACOMAS app until mid june and i was at the first interveiw day for a number of schools. Most people havent even begun to think about the primary app yet. ITS THE SECOND DAY OF MAY. Do not rush your primary app. Take your time and fill it out right. If your PS is not done yet....so what? Its the 2nd day of May. Make sure everything is as perfect as you can make it. You all are way ahead of the game. Its not going to make a difference if you submit it now or 3 weeks from now. I promise.

Wouldn't that question be answered in the secondaries?

My PS is just why medicine, I looked over a lot of 2ndaries and they ask in one way or another why osteopathic medicine.

The question is: "Why Medicine?" Since you're applying to osteopathic schools, I'd also work in "why osteopathic medicine" in there.

This topic is debated quite often. My advisor told me the same thing "You have to include why osteopathic medicine in the personal statement." I heard differnt opinions from everyone and in the end decided that I was just going to use the same PS for MD and DO (more or less). I saved "why DO" for the secondaries and interviews and it did not hurt me at all. If you are a competitive applicant and you apply early, they aren't going to dock you points b/c you didnt explain why you want to go DO in your PS. If you have a LOR from a DO or have done work with DOs (and you put that in your primary app somewhere) they will know you are seiorus about becoming a DO. The hype about including it in your PS is not necessary. Most importantly, they want to konw why you want to go into medicine. So tell them.

Is there a way to add research papers to the AACOMAS primary application?

If you were published as a result of a job that you had working in a lab or something, just add it in your description for that work activity. If you did it on a volunteer basis then put it in the description for your volunteer work.

 

[doggydog1]

I have shawdowed multiple allopathic doctors and am currently in the process of setting up shadowing with DO doctors.

1) Should I include the MD shadowing in my DO application?

2) Should I wait to submit my application until I have done DO shadowing, or should I submit it right now and include my DO shadowing on my secondary application?

 

[RySerr21]

I have shawdowed multiple allopathic doctors and am currently in the process of setting up shadowing with DO doctors.

1) Should I include the MD shadowing in my DO application?

2) Should I wait to submit my application until I have done DO shadowing, or should I submit it right now and include my DO shadowing on my secondary application?

1) Yes.

2) You can list future plans on your primary app. When you put in the date you can just say "June 09" or something so that they know you have this set up for the future. I did this for a few things that I had planned for that summer and fall. Worked out fine.

 

[Dissected]

Crap! Now I'm freaking out. I'm not even done with my personal statement yet, I haven't finalized the list of activities/work experiences I want to include, and I haven't ordered transcripts!

How many people usually submit in these days? Would I be at a significant disadvantage if I submit two-three weeks later?

I didn't submit until late july and I was getting invites for the second or third interview days for most schools. Don't stress. Spend a few weeks polishing it up. Submit in June or July 🙂

 

[CycloneDO]

1)

2) You can list future plans on your primary app. When you put in the date you can just say "June 09" or something so that they know you have this set up for the future. I did this for a few things that I had planned for that summer and fall. Worked out fine.

Does shadowing experience go in the volunteer, EC area of the app?

 

[BabyKangaroo]

I didn't submit until late july and I was getting invites for the second or third interview days for most schools. Don't stress. Spend a few weeks polishing it up. Submit in June or July 🙂

Same here. Still really early yet.

 

[RySerr21]

Does shadowing experience go in the volunteer, EC area of the app?

Yup! Unless you got paid to shadow for some reason, which would be a pretty sweet deal!

 

[CycloneDO]

Yup! Unless you got paid to shadow for some reason, which would be a pretty sweet deal!

uhhh. that would be super sweet! thanks.

 

[LaCasta]

I'm not even done with finals until May 14th. It will take another 10 days at least for my transcript to be updated with this semester's grades, so I guess I will be applying 'late' by SDN standards 😛

 

[RySerr21]

I'm not even done with finals until May 14th. It will take another 10 days at least for my transcript to be updated with this semester's grades, so I guess I will be applying 'late' by SDN standards 😛

Yea, you might as well just wait and apply for the next cycle. Most schools have already stopped giving out interviews. 😛

 

[LaCasta]

Yea, you might as well just wait and apply for the next cycle. Most schools have already stopped giving out interviews. 😛

lol

😀

 

[Semicolon]

Most of you are utterly insane.

Just had to say that. 😀

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YA!

 

[binko]

Uh... I was under the impression that we could update our AACOMAS even after submitting it until it closes in 2010... but apparently we can't? This is a problem. I completely neglected to enter any of my shadowing hours. Maybe I should just put it on the secondary?

 

[CycloneDO]

lol, I love SDN!! Although I'm not sure if it makes me less or more neurotic when I read through these posts!

 

[RySerr21]

Uh... I was under the impression that we could update our AACOMAS even after submitting it until it closes in 2010... but apparently we can't? This is a problem. I completely neglected to enter any of my shadowing hours. Maybe I should just put it on the secondary?

you can email AACOMAS and tell them you want to change something. I did it last year and they said they changed it. I'm not sure how they'll respond to adding an entire new activity though. But you have nothing to lose. If not, just try to work it into the secondaries somehow, as long as you dont force it in to a question that is not related haha.

 

[robrobbberts]

are engineering courses considered "Other Science" ?

not sure how to fill out the coursework here.

 

[scummie]

are engineering courses considered "Other Science" ?

not sure how to fill out the coursework here.

You are correct. Worse comes to worse, if you make a mistake, they will correct it when they do the verification process.

 

[binko]

you can email AACOMAS and tell them you want to change something. I did it last year and they said they changed it. I'm not sure how they'll respond to adding an entire new activity though. But you have nothing to lose. If not, just try to work it into the secondaries somehow, as long as you dont force it in to a question that is not related haha.

Good suggestion. I emailed them... we'll see.

The terrible thing is, when I applied to SURF at the same school, I forgot to put a pretty significant scholarship I received on my app and had to have the admissions director put a note in the file. I'd feel reeeeeally stupid having to do that again, with the same admissions director and everything.

 

[robrobbberts]

You are correct. Worse comes to worse, if you make a mistake, they will correct it when they do the verification process.

so does that mean it's calculated into my science gpa?

what about the programming classes i took (comp sci)? are they also considered 'Other Science' ?

 

[scummie]

so does that mean it's calculated into my science gpa?

what about the programming classes i took (comp sci)? are they also considered 'Other Science' ?

This list has been posted before, but it's the one AACOMAS gives us to determine what to put everything under.

Behavioral Science
Anthropology
Community Health
Criminal Justice
Educational Psychology
Ethnic Studies
Human Sexuality
Marriage/Family
Personal Health
Physiological Ethics
Psychology
Social Science
Social Work/Sociology

Bio/Zoology
Animal Science
Anatomy
Bacteriology
Biology
Botany
Cellular & Molecular Biology
Cellular Physiology
Ecology
Evolution
Genetics
Hematology
Histology
Immunology
Microbiology
Micro-Organisms
Natural Science
Neurology
Oceanography
Parasitology
Pathology
Physiology
Virology
Zoology

Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Physiological Chemistry

English
Bible Literature
Composition
English
Journalism
Literature
Poetry
Reading Skills
Rhetoric
Theater Literature

Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry, General
Medical Chemistry
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Qualitative Analysis
Quantitative Analysis
Readings in Chemistry
Research in Chemistry
Special Topics in Chemistry
Structures & Bonds

Math
Behavioral Statistics
Biostatistics
Chemical Math
Computer Science
Mathematics

Organic Chemistry
Bio-Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Readings in Organic Chemistry
Special Topics in Organic Chemistry

Other Non-Science
Acting
Agriculture
Archeology
Art
Bioethics
Business
Communications
Cultural Geography
Economics
Education
Emergency Med-Tech
Ethics
First Aid
Foreign Language
Forestry
Geography
Government
Health/Personal Hygiene
History
Humanities
Law
Logic
Medical Terminology
Military Science
Music
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physical Therapy
Political Science
Public Health
Public Speaking
Religion
Respiratory Therapy
Social Ethics
Speech
Speech Pathology
Teaching Science
Theater
Theology
Word Processing

Other Science
Agricultural Science
Astronomy
Chiropractic
Electronics
Engineering
Epidemiology
Geology
Kinesiology
Medical Technology
Meteorology
Nutrition
Pharmacy
Physical Anthropology
Physical Geography
Physical Science
Physician Assistant
Radiology

Physics
Electricity & Light
Magnetism
Mechanical Heat
Physics
Thermodynamics



The programming classes that I took were also taught by the comp sci department and according to this list, they should be put under Math, so that's what I did.

 

[Semicolon]

Uh... I was under the impression that we could update our AACOMAS even after submitting it until it closes in 2010... but apparently we can't? This is a problem. I completely neglected to enter any of my shadowing hours. Maybe I should just put it on the secondary?

That's what happens when you rush. You fail to read instructions.

Relax. They'll "undeliver" your application so you can make the changes yourself, then you resubmit it to them and they'll continue the process. However, make sure you're good this time, because this DOES delay the verification process.

 

[robrobbberts]

.

 

[swamprat]

Does anyone know how long it takes for your mcat score to show up on the app? MCAT thx says its "complete" but it hasn't shown up yet?

 

[Ibn Rushd]

^ I have the same question. It says "No scores on file" under the "Official MCATs" tab. I've entered my "unofficial" scores though.

I ordered all of my transcripts today and now I'm working on that personal statement. I hope I can submit the primary in a week or two!

 

[Semicolon]

Does anyone know how long it takes for your mcat score to show up on the app? MCAT thx says its "complete" but it hasn't shown up yet?

As far as I can remember, it was pretty quick. Give it a few days max, but I doubt it'll take that long.

 

[binko]

That's what happens when you rush. You fail to read instructions.

Relax. They'll "undeliver" your application so you can make the changes yourself, then you resubmit it to them and they'll continue the process. However, make sure you're good this time, because this DOES delay the verification process.

But I read every document on the AACOM website for several months before it opened! I just misunderstood. 🙁

I'm not worried about delay at this point... my MCAT scores don't come back for nearly three weeks, and my transcript requests just went out yesterday, so it's waiting on other things too.

OKAY EVERYBODY LET'S PANIC ABOUT LOR'S NOW!

 

[scummie]

Damn.. my engineering courses are going to bring down my science gpa. 🙁 . As a career changer, that doesn't seem quite fair.. I wish it was just biology, physics and chemistry like AMCAS.

🙁

Yeah, I know, but at least taking all those classes made us the better. Right? I guess it's an trade off of sorts for complete grade replacement. I think AMCAS classifies your engineering classes differently than AACOMAS does.

 

[dani042]

Oh my....I'm glad I didn't find SDN until November last year or I would have been freaking out after hearing everyone submitting on the first day. I worked on my PS over the summer and took the MCAT in May and in August. I submitted in August before my second set of scores came back and they were updated seamlessly. I was verified in I think 5 to 6 weeks and I had secondaries rolling in soon after that. I had interviews in October and November. Also had one in Feb. but that was my LOR not getting done on time and not to do with my application. I was accepted to two schools and waitlisted at another. So everyone, JUST BREATHE!

 

[bvn]

I'm just wondering if it is possible to resubmit the AACOM application like you can do for the AMCAS? I mean can you add schools later and resubmit? I ask because I have a poor MCAT and like to improve that in the upcoming May test, so can I just submit to one school in order to be verified and then wait for the future score to come in and do the rest? Is this possbile? Thanks.

 

[Semicolon]

I'm just wondering if it is possible to resubmit the AACOM application like you can do for the AMCAS? I mean can you add schools later and resubmit? I ask because I have a poor MCAT and like to improve that in the upcoming May test, so can I just submit to one school in order to be verified and then wait for the future score to come in and do the rest? Is this possbile? Thanks.

Yes, you can do all that, if you wish.