Advice/Input on AMCAS transcripts

[ticktock5051]

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Hey all, I'm hoping to get some advice/insight for a predicament in which I find myself:

During a gap year between high school and college I took a course at my local community college and earned my EMT certification. This is what inspired my to pursue pre-med.

I worked really hard in undergrad to safeguard my GPA and ended up with c3.85. Before my junior year, I got spooked about the prospect of taking orgo and decided to take an orgo course at the same local community college just to get exposure to the material. After a couple weeks in the course, I thought: "this is challenging, but I think I'll be able to hack it once I get to school." So I stopped going and earned a "WS" a withdrawal because I stopped attending. The community college didn't factor this into my GPA there. The only grade affecting the GPA is the EMT course.

I just found out that AMCAS requires that we report ALL grades that we've ever earned. I don't mind reporting the EMT grade, but I don't want this course - which, for all intents and purposes I was auditing anyway - to tank my GPA.

My question is:

-I'm not sure how AMCAS will handle a "WS." Will they treat is as an F? I read in the instruction manual that: "Depending on how they are considered by your school, grades of "IF" or unauthorized/unofficial/administrative withdrawal may be treated as an "F" in your AMCAS GPA."

-Of note, the community college has three withdrawal policies:

• WN - Withdrawal, never attended
• WS - Withdrawal, stopped attending
• WF - Withdrawal, stopped attending and failing. The WF grade counts in the GPA.

If AMCAS counts the WS as an F, can I effectively petition them with an Academic Change Request to get it not counted?

-With this risk in mind, should I bother sending in these transcripts from my community college and just try to get by without them?

-I know you're supposed to send them ALL in, but AMCAS will really be none the wiser if I don't report those grades. I'm more worried about what an individual school might say when they read my personal statement - and see EMT certification frequently mentioned - and don't see a corresponding transcript.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[meupatdoes]

I don't know how they will handle a "WS." But, you have to send in the transcript! It doesn't matter you have to send it in. You should read the full directions from AMCAS.

"How do I know if AMCAS requires an Official Transcript?
One (1) official transcript is required from each U.S., U.S. Territorial, or Canadian postsecondary institution at which you have attempted coursework, regardless of whether credit was earned. This includes but is not limited to:
 College-level courses attempted while in high school, even if they did not count toward a degree at any college.
 Colleges at which you originally attempted a course, even if the credit was subsequently transferred to and accepted by another school.
 Colleges where you registered but did not earn any credit (e.g., incompletes, withdrawals, failures, audits, etc.).
 Courses that did not count toward a degree, regardless of whether credit was earned or transferred.
 Extension programs through which you attempted courses, if a separate transcript is provided by the Extension Division.
 Correspondence and home study programs.  Military education.  American colleges overseas.  U.S., U.S. Territorial, and Canadian medical schools."

 

[Catalystik]

Hey all, I'm hoping to get some advice/insight for a predicament in which I find myself:

During a gap year between high school and college I took a course at my local community college and earned my EMT certification. This is what inspired my to pursue pre-med.

I worked really hard in undergrad to safeguard my GPA and ended up with c3.85. Before my junior year, I got spooked about the prospect of taking orgo and decided to take an orgo course at the same local community college just to get exposure to the material. After a couple weeks in the course, I thought: "this is challenging, but I think I'll be able to hack it once I get to school." So I stopped going and earned a "WS" a withdrawal because I stopped attending. The community college didn't factor this into my GPA there. The only grade affecting the GPA is the EMT course.

I just found out that AMCAS requires that we report ALL grades that we've ever earned. I don't mind reporting the EMT grade, but I don't want this course - which, for all intents and purposes I was auditing anyway - to tank my GPA.

My question is:

-I'm not sure how AMCAS will handle a "WS." Will they treat is as an F? I read in the instruction manual that: "Depending on how they are considered by your school, grades of "IF" or unauthorized/unofficial/administrative withdrawal may be treated as an "F" in your AMCAS GPA."

-Of note, the community college has three withdrawal policies:

• WN - Withdrawal, never attended
• WS - Withdrawal, stopped attending
• WF - Withdrawal, stopped attending and failing. The WF grade counts in the GPA.

If AMCAS counts the WS as an F, can I effectively petition them with an Academic Change Request to get it not counted?

-With this risk in mind, should I bother sending in these transcripts from my community college and just try to get by without them?

-I know you're supposed to send them ALL in, but AMCAS will really be none the wiser if I don't report those grades. I'm more worried about what an individual school might say when they read my personal statement - and see EMT certification frequently mentioned - and don't see a corresponding transcript.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Think twice before signing the required Certification statement that AMCAS requires when you submit, that your application is true and complete.

AMCAS has partnered with Student Clearinghouse which tracks post-HS educational enrollments. They will know if you omitted a transcript "by accident" and your verification will be delayed while you sort things out:

Student Clearinghouse: http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/colleges/studenttracker/
AMCAS partners with Clearinghouse PDF: http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/about/media_center/press_releases/files/release_2013-11-06.pdf

I suggest you call or email AMCAS and ask them your question. The most likely answer is that if the school didn't count it as an F, neither will they. But check to put your mind to rest.