AADSAS Lacksadaisical?

[armorshell]

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Hmmm, due to all the rumors I've heard about AADSAS being really inefficient with the transcript verification process I've let me LOR writiers be lazy about finishing letters, but my GPA was verified today!

My transcripts were only received on Friday! I have to light a fire under their butts!!!

So my real question is: Has AADSAS figured themselves out this year as opposed to other years or are tons of people still having problems? Trying to figure out if I should send my letters to AADSAS or to individual schools, bc I'm applying to a lot of schools (14)

 

[prez_al]

I have nothing against AADSAS. My grades were verified in about a week after I submitted my app. But I do hate the character limits they place in some parts, such as background info and the damn personal statement.

 

[Lidopaine82]

if the schools will allow you to send it directly to them, then i'd say do it.

but i think the main reason aadsas sucks so bad is because it's another part of the weeding out process. Besides having the grades to get in, it shows you have the desire to stick with it thru the crappy process.

 

[KOM]

I have nothing against AADSAS. My grades were verified in about a week after I submitted my app. But I do hate the character limits they place in some parts, such as background info and the damn personal statement.

Yeah, it's definitely a challenge to try and describe some of these experiences in 150 words or so...especially research. The med school applications I'm pretty sure allow 1500 for each section...work experience, volunteering, etc.

 

[KOM]

I have nothing against AADSAS. My grades were verified in about a week after I submitted my app. But I do hate the character limits they place in some parts, such as background info and the damn personal statement.

AADSAS hasn't screwed anything up yet on my part. We'll see what happens with them sending my letters because they're receiving them at all different times. I think instead of sending what they have in the first mailing...and then sending the rest that they've received later in subsequent mailings they should just wait to send letters once they have them all. That would probably cut down on the errors. Maybe they do that already...have no idea.

 

[armorshell]

Yeah, it's definitely a challenge to try and describe some of these experiences in 150 words or so...especially research. The med school applications I'm pretty sure allow 1500 for each section...work experience, volunteering, etc.

Yeah, trying to condense 5 months of research and a publication into 150 words was one of the most challenging parts of my application!

They really need to expand the character limit for that section, not sure about any of the others though. 4500 characters seems to be enough for most people to fit their ps into.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

Honestly, I was quite pleased with AADSAS and didn't have a problem either. I don't mean to sound bitchy, but I think a LOT of the problems people complain about can be reduced or avoided by carefully reading the directions or contacting AADSAS!! People immediately post a question on these forums when they can research the answer right on AADSAS. And if you're early and stick to their guidlines, it seems quite rare that they'd mess up out of thin air. Sure, there will be unlucky moments, but it's the same for any big process like this.

As for the character limits, I think it makes a lot of sense. First of all, allowing applicants to add another 1000 characters will not aid the adcom in knowing more about you, but it would make it a lot more difficult to get through the applications they get (and it may even become MORE competitive since they wouldn't have the time to devote to everyone).

Also, I think their asking you to limit yourself as part of the responsibility; you have to choose your words and prioritize; limiting the characters is PART of the application! So sure, it was definitely difficult choosing what to say, absolutely, but I can see how they would have set it up like that.

To the OP, if you'd feel more comfortable, send it right to the schools. It seems like if AADSAS does make errors, it's losing individual pieces of a multi-part app (as opposed to wrong calculations or problems with the main app itself). Can't hurt! 😎 👍 Good luck!

 

[54807]

Hmmm, due to all the rumors I've heard about AADSAS being really inefficient with the transcript verification process I've let me LOR writiers be lazy about finishing letters, but my GPA was verified today!

My transcripts were only received on Friday! I have to light a fire under their butts!!!

So my real question is: Has AADSAS figured themselves out this year as opposed to other years or are tons of people still having problems? Trying to figure out if I should send my letters to AADSAS or to individual schools, bc I'm applying to a lot of schools (14)

With the ever continuous updates from other SDN members, just thought I'd put in my info on timing of AADSAS.

Transcripts sent (6 Schools) - ~May 20th
AADSAS Submitted - June 2nd AM
GPA Calculations Done - June 14th

Guess 4-8 weeks isn't really the case!

So...anyone have any idea what this means now? My GPA is done and AADSAS is basically done with their part. They just have to send it out. Do they wait and do it in batches every few weeks or so?

 

[jorUW]

Guess 4-8 weeks isn't really the case!

It seems to work well now, but as the summer goes on the REAL complainers will come out of the woodworks. At the end of the summer and into the fall AADSAS is very backed up w/ a high volume of aps. Not their fault really. Think about how many people plan on taking the summer to study for the DAT. I bet the peak submission is end of August early Sept.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

It seems to work well now, but as the summer goes on the REAL complainers will come out of the woodworks. At the end of the summer and into the fall AADSAS is very backed up w/ a high volume of aps. Not their fault really. Think about how many people plan on taking the summer to study for the DAT. I bet the peak submission is end of August early Sept.

Good point! Reason 38472735423 to apply early 😉 Maybe they're too new to be able to handle that kind of volume...

 

[pine88]

Sorry to complain, but I'm not thrilled with AADSAS. It took them a over a month to post the status of my transcripts, so I didn't find out that one of my transcripts got sent to the wrong address until 1 1/2-2 weeks ago. I had the school resend it right away and they still say they haven't received the new one. Submitted my application almost a month ago now, and still waiting... 🙁

 

[Yellow Snow]

I am in the middle of getting screwed by AASDAS. I sent all of my transcripts together and ordered backup copies sent directly from all schools incase they didn't accept the ones I sent. They received some but not all even though they were all sent together! I have e-mailed several times, no response and when I called today they simply said, "we have not received X transcript".

They really need to move the operation out west where you can hire customer service types for reasonably low wages that still enjoy doing a good job. It was the same when I lived back in Philly, service isn't 1/2 of what it is in the West.