AMCAS : All Questions Here

[kmjannie]

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also, on the forums, you often hear "science GPA" used interchangably with BCPM GPA (as it appears on AMCAS, right?). so when you input your BCPM grades, do you omit classes from other science departments like pharmacology, microbio, physiology, etc.? in other words, is your BCPM GPA exclusively bio, chem, phy, and math? again, i assume this is so, but i just want to make sure.

thanks.

You should go look at a thread called Epi Course AMCAS Classification in the re-apps forum. I acutally emailed AMCAS with a question about a grad school course, and the answer they gave me should clear alot of things up about some psychology courses, etc. G'luck.

 

[kmjannie]

please, need clarification on 441 vs 414 vs triimester??? difference?

I dont know about trimesters, but I was on a 4-1-4 in undergrad. We had a normal fall semester (where you took 4 classes) then a January-term (one class) and then Spring semester (4 classes again). I believe the 4-4-1 is the same thing, only with a "May-term" instead of a "January-term". Trimester, I am not so clear on.

 

[superdevil]

thanks for the help so far, guys. i now have all the pdf manuals, and they're pretty good.

i'll be back, though...... 😀

 

[krebse]

Hey guys-

how are you doing, or how did you do, the descriptions of your EC's? How much detail did you go into about the experience? Did you make sure to relate each one to medical school/being a physician later? Did you treat it like a resume? Did you make it flow from one to another with explanations for why you started doing this and why you quit it? I have NO IDEA (in case that wasn't clear already 🙂) what they're looking for and I'd love some guidance from all you beautiful, intelligent, amazing kids - thanks

Liz

 

[CoverMe]

I'm treating it like a resume... Putting in all the highlights, and none of the petty BS... (ie: Community Service / medical... picked a flea off of my boyfriend's dog in 1996). The only time i mention leaving, is going in between jobs... or why i left my last law enforcement job (left to pursue further education and eventually apply to medical school).

I'm listening for advice though...

Seasonal Firefighter [Paid Employment - not Military]
From JUN-1992 To AUG-1994

Reserve Deputy-Coroner [Paid Employment - not Military]
From JUN-1992 To JUN-1996

Back Country Search & Rescue Specialist & Coordinator [Community Service/Volunteer - not Medical/Clinical]
From JUN-1992 To AUG-1996

Police Officer [Paid Employment - not Military]
From JUN-1996 To AUG-2000

Police Explorer Advisor [Community Service/Volunteer - not Medical/Clinical]
From DEC-1997 To AUG-2000

EMT - Intermediate [Paid Employment - not Military]
From AUG-2000 To AUG-2002

Trauma Center Volunteer [Community Service/Volunteer - Medical/Clinical]
From SEP-2000 To AUG-2005

Therapeutic Riding Assistant [Community Service/Volunteer - Medical/Clinical]
From OCT-2000 To DEC-2003

Member [Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocations]
From AUG-2001 To JUN-2005

Member [Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocations]
From SEP-2001 To JUN-2005

Laboratory Instructor [Teaching/Tutoring]
From AUG-2002 To AUG-2005

 

[kp7]

Does anyone know what to do for joint enrollment...is that considered high school or college ??

Should you enter courses you are taking in the fall ??

You should include the courses you will take in the fall and even in the spring.
what is joint enrollment?

 

[kp7]

mdsadler,
I'm pretty sure that you should post your upcoming semester classes and click the currrent/future button (at least that's what I'm planning on unless I hear otherwise).

Here's a question that's been bugging me. They ask for an official transcript from every institution you've attended. Does going to grad school at the same university you did you undergrad count as one "institution"? All my grades from grad and Ugrad are on the same transcript, but I don't want them waitin' around for a second transcript if grad school is considered a different institution.

I would assume that you only send out one transcript. But, I would talk to the registrars office of both the undergrad and the graduate schools before taking anyone's advice from this forum.

 

[kp7]

Its been available for a couple days. June 1 is the day we all hope to click submit and prepare for an onslaught of secondaries.

I thought you start submitting on June 15th?

 

[kp7]

I just started tonight. . . 64 page manual!

And if you surf the aamc webpage and print out everything you need to know for 2005's application process. the total number of pages add up to 256.

 

[kp7]

Are there specific time periods when we can and can not access our amcas information? I'm trying to log in but I get nothing when I enter my user name/ password. I'm all motivated to enter some grades but this is a huge obstacle.

Yes, you can't access amcas between the hours of 5am and 7am and some weekend hours that is posted on the aamc web page.

 

[kp7]

This looks like a lot of damned schools!! I am afraid of the secondaries!!!!

Designated Schools
120 Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
186 Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
121 Emory University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
123 George Washington University Sch of Med & Hlth Sci (Regular M.D.)
132 Jefferson Medical Coll. of Thomas Jefferson Univ. (Regular M.D.)
139 Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medici (Regular M.D.)
801 Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
151 New York Medical College (Regular M.D.)
152 New York University (Regular M.D.)
155 Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicin (Regular M.D.)
172 Temple University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
179 The University of Vermont College of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
176 Tulane University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
821 Uniformed Services University of the Health Scienc (Regular M.D.)
145 University of Michigan Medical School (Regular M.D.)
153 University of North Carolina School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
163 University of Rochester School of Medicine and Den (Regular M.D.)
173 University of TN Health Science Cntr Coll. Of Med. (Regular M.D.)
181 University of Virginia School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
182 Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicin (Regular M.D.)
106 Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
Number of Schools Designated: 21
*Total Fee Currently Owed
for Designated Schools: $330.0

If you are not a NY resident, I would suggest that you don't waste your money sending your primaries to the NY schools. My advisor tells me that 98% of the time, they don't accept out of state students.
21 schools and only $330? $130 + (20x30) = $730.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

He's got FAP.

 

[kp7]

He's got FAP.

What is FAP?

 

[Mistress S]

Hey I've got a question: should I list an EC I will just be starting this June? I am excited about it and plan to continue until I matriculate (it's non-medical volunteer work, if it matters), but won't begin the training until June. I would like it to be on my app but I'm not sure what the protocol is. I would have started it earlier but they only periodically do trainings and the one they offered earlier this year conflicted with my classes. Thanks!

 

[Cerberus]

If you are not a NY resident, I would suggest that you don't waste your money sending your primaries to the NY schools. My advisor tells me that 98% of the time, they don't accept out of state students.
21 schools and only $330? $130 + (20x30) = $730.

Your advisor is on crack, MSAR shows that those schools accept over 50% over their entering class from out of state. Plus I ahve FAP.

 

[Eraserhead]

Your advisor is on crack, MSAR shows that those schools accept over 50% over their entering class from out of state. Plus I ahve FAP.

The funniest thing I've seen in months:
"
"blah blah blah frog research blah blah frogs blah Berkely blah blah rankings blah blah"

BerkeleyPremed"

Good luck Cerberus!

 

[MD2B_81]

Here is what I did at two different Universities:

Fall Semester - Took anywhere from 12 - 18 credits
Winterim - Didn't take any, however my school offers 2 week courses.
Spring Semster - Took anywhere from 12 - 18 credits
Summer - Took a 1 credit research session

Do I select S1 = Fall Semester, S2 = Spring Semester, SS = Summer Session

OR

Do I select 4-1-4 or 4-4-1 calender?

This probably is very self-explanatory, but I don't want to screw it up, and I can't tell if quite how they want it...

Thanks!

Tim

 

[MD2B_81]

I took 2nd Semester Spanish and got an A, and therefore, got 4 credits of satisfactory performance for 1st Semester Spanish (which I never took).

How Do I list this in AMCAS?

Thanks.

 

[scooter31]

Exercise Science courses--- Biology, Health Sciences, or Other for a classification?

Any UCD'ers out there that were Exercise Science/Bio majors out therehave some ideas?

 

[hamhamfan]

What is FAP?

I think it's some program that waives fees or something.

 

[hamhamfan]

Exercise Science courses--- Biology, Health Sciences, or Other for a classification?

Any UCD'ers out there that were Exercise Science/Bio majors out therehave some ideas?

I'm guessing those are like gym classes? I had some ES classes...and i put them under "other"

 

[hamhamfan]

Here is what I did at two different Universities:

Fall Semester - Took anywhere from 12 - 18 credits
Winterim - Didn't take any, however my school offers 2 week courses.
Spring Semster - Took anywhere from 12 - 18 credits
Summer - Took a 1 credit research session

Do I select S1 = Fall Semester, S2 = Spring Semester, SS = Summer Session

OR

Do I select 4-1-4 or 4-4-1 calender?

This probably is very self-explanatory, but I don't want to screw it up, and I can't tell if quite how they want it...

Thanks!

Tim

Yeah I was going to call them and ask this.. but forgot. Anyone know how these two systems work?

 

[derf]

Here is what I did at two different Universities:

Fall Semester - Took anywhere from 12 - 18 credits
Winterim - Didn't take any, however my school offers 2 week courses.
Spring Semster - Took anywhere from 12 - 18 credits
Summer - Took a 1 credit research session

Do I select S1 = Fall Semester, S2 = Spring Semester, SS = Summer Session

OR

Do I select 4-1-4 or 4-4-1 calender?

This probably is very self-explanatory, but I don't want to screw it up, and I can't tell if quite how they want it...

Thanks!

Tim

I would do this:
Fall Semester - Took anywhere from 12 - 18 credits ---> S1
Winterim - Didn't take any, however my school offers 2 week courses. --->if applicable, SM...the M is for mini
Spring Semster - Took anywhere from 12 - 18 credits -->S2
Summer - Took a 1 credit research session --->SS

the 441 or 414 is when colleges have "defined" 4 course- 4 course - 1 course and so on, systems in place for accelerated learning or something. I think that's how its done based on what an earlier poster wrote.

 

[liverpoolufmd08]

Hey Guys,

I'm sure this a dumb question, but I'd appreciate any advice. I already wrote my PS but in it I didn't discuss the bad semester (where I screwed things up but due to circumstances beyond my control-I mean C's--not failing anything) that hurt my science GPA (it's still good though-for engineering I guess)...and since then it's been all A's and a few B's thrown in.

However, I do want to mention it because I would have done well in the classes but it all got screwed up during finals (due to the circumstances-I was going into the finals with good grades and that semester does stick out compared to the rest). Is there anywhere I can put it in AMCAS and discuss it outside the PS? Or do I have to hope I get secondaries and address the situation in there? I'm a wee bit afraid that they'll look at the grades (a couple of them are in core classes) and reject me before I can explain. or am I just being a little too worried? My PS is pretty good and I don't want to change it unless I really have to.

Thanks and I appreciate all the help!

 

[docmemi]

Hey Guys,

I'm sure this a dumb question, but I'd appreciate any advice. I already wrote my PS but in it I didn't discuss the bad semester (where I screwed things up but due to circumstances beyond my control-I mean C's--not failing anything) that hurt my science GPA (it's still good though-for engineering I guess)...and since then it's been all A's and a few B's thrown in.

However, I do want to mention it because I would have done well in the classes but it all got screwed up during finals (due to the circumstances-I was going into the finals with good grades and that semester does stick out compared to the rest). Is there anywhere I can put it in AMCAS and discuss it outside the PS? Or do I have to hope I get secondaries and address the situation in there? I'm a wee bit afraid that they'll look at the grades (a couple of them are in core classes) and reject me before I can explain. or am I just being a little too worried? My PS is pretty good and I don't want to change it unless I really have to.

Thanks and I appreciate all the help!

well, many people have said not to write negative things in your ps. and you arent...thats good. there is no where else on amcas that you can discuss this.
if you think your gpa is good and youll get secondaries then dont worry about it. i think most schools will look at trends and since you improved thats fine. they will most likely glance at your final sci and overall gpas to decide to give secondaries. and then some secondaries will give you space to discuss that semester if you want.
my final answer...depends on your final gpas. if good, dont worry bout it...

 

[docmemi]

I took 2nd Semester Spanish and got an A, and therefore, got 4 credits of satisfactory performance for 1st Semester Spanish (which I never took).

How Do I list this in AMCAS?

Thanks.

is spanish 1 on your transcript, ie, did you get 4 units of credit on your transcript?? if yes, ide say put it and put it as a pass/credit (i assume thats what "satisfactory performance means")

 

[docmemi]

Hey I've got a question: should I list an EC I will just be starting this June? I am excited about it and plan to continue until I matriculate (it's non-medical volunteer work, if it matters), but won't begin the training until June. I would like it to be on my app but I'm not sure what the protocol is. I would have started it earlier but they only periodically do trainings and the one they offered earlier this year conflicted with my classes. Thanks!

YES, you may put it on your application. just make sure you put the right dates. this is okay to do accd to many schools.

 

[docmemi]

What is FAP?

😕

 

[TripleDegree]

Is it 5300 characters with spaces, or without?

Thanks!

 

[Jonathanamine]

with spaces i think.
there was a counter-thing on the page last year if i remember correctly.

try writing it in word, then copy it to microsoft notepad (txt format)
then copy from notepad to AMCAS...make SURE you look for typos and/or character conversion errors.

 

[gdk]

just wondering if anybody has experience with engineering classes with an engineering course label that were really just math classes. i have 2 of these that are labeled engineering, but were really calculus classes taught by the engineering department. i'm going to try to enter them as math instead of engineering but i'm wondering if amcas is going to change these to engineering, so i would be better off just classifying them as engineering to start with.
anybody been through something like this?

 

[Cerberus]

😕

FAP is the fee assistance program that the AAMC offers to po peeps like myself. Anyone who thinks they may apply feel free to email me for more info. It is a great thing to have as it gives you ten free primary aps and almost all schools wave the secondary fee for people with FAP.

 

[jp2004]

hello

im starting to put my ec's on my amcas application...i will be volunteering around july, should i state this on my amcas or just send an update letter to the school??? i will be sending my application by june the latest...

thanks for any info... 🙂

 

[liverpoolufmd08]

well, many people have said not to write negative things in your ps. and you arent...thats good. there is no where else on amcas that you can discuss this.
if you think your gpa is good and youll get secondaries then dont worry about it. i think most schools will look at trends and since you improved thats fine. they will most likely glance at your final sci and overall gpas to decide to give secondaries. and then some secondaries will give you space to discuss that semester if you want.
my final answer...depends on your final gpas. if good, dont worry bout it...

Thanks Docemi. yeah I decided I'm going to just go ahead and not mention it and hope that I'll get something later where i could just mention it.

ANyway, good luck to everyone in this crazy process!

 

[docmemi]

hello

im starting to put my ec's on my amcas application...i will be volunteering around july, should i state this on my amcas or just send an update letter to the school??? i will be sending my application by june the latest...

thanks for any info... 🙂

yes. put it on amcas. see an earlier post. just make sure you put the right dates. it is okay to do this.

 

[TripleDegree]

with spaces i think.
there was a counter-thing on the page last year if i remember correctly.

try writing it in word, then copy it to microsoft notepad (txt format)
then copy from notepad to AMCAS...make SURE you look for typos and/or character conversion errors.

Thanks!

I like your alias, btw 😀

 

[superdevil]

ok, i'm back...

so, is shadowing a physician something that should be listed/discussed in the "post-secondary experiences" section, or would that be lame? if it is worth listing, what is it: "comm. service/volunteer--clinical," or "other"?

thanks again.
sd

 

[kmjannie]

ok, i'm back...

so, is shadowing a physician something that should be listed/discussed in the "post-secondary experiences" section, or would that be lame? if it is worth listing, what is it: "comm. service/volunteer--clinical," or "other"?

thanks again.
sd

I would definitely list it.
I put it under "other", which is what I put it under the last time I applied too.

 

[superdevil]

done.

thanks, kmjannie.

sd

 

[Cerberus]

About shadowing, so i've been shadowing two docs since last demember but dont really have a set schedule. Sometimes i'll come in and do a 14 hours trauma call shift and sometimes i'll just come in and do morning rounds. How should I list these hours?

 

[superdevil]

from what i understand, cerb, you pretty much just estimate an overall average to the best of your abilities. i doubt any adcoms are going to do some kind of hardcore nazi-style audit on your hours spent at the hospital. then again..... 😀

just take a stab at it. i think my average over a five-month period came to like 5-6 hrs/wk.

 

[Beth_yu]

If you have been working in a lab for a year and then suddenly you were awarded a scholarship or etc.. for it. Do you list them as different things? as in
1) Reserach Scholarship (awards/honors)
2) student reserach assistant (research/lab)
3) summer reserach (presentation/posters)

???? correct? I mean all of those things happened because I work in thesame lab for a long time. DO I need to grpoup them as one seperate?

Also, I have a thousand millions things on my resume, I should just list the most important one right?

 

[docjolly]

I'm not sure if this question has been asked, but even if it has, I'd really appreciate it if somone could be kind enough to answer:

when are we officially required to submit the initial fees for all of the schools that we are applying to? is it after we submit the AMCAS application? Also, what if I initially applied to a school, but decided the very next day, that I did not want to apply. Would I receive a refund on the $30(?) that was used to initially apply to the school?

Thanks 🙂 ---docjolly

 

[superdevil]

man, i've been working at this stupid thing all day...

ok, so for transcript request forms: the site and instructions guide keep prompting you to give your transcript request form to your school's registrar so they can send your transcript AND the request form directly to AMCAS when you ask for it. my school allows us to walk up to the registrar's office, pay $10, and walk out with an official transcript in about 10 minutes.

so...my question is this: why can't i just get a transcript myself, staple their stupid form to it, and send it in on my own without having to worry if the turds who work at the registrar's office did everthing they were supposed to?
it seems like this would greatly reduce unneeded stress.

thanks.
sd

 

[raom_dtpi]

I transfered grade from a course that I took at another school. And the transfred grade shows up on my transcript at the school i actually graduated from. Do I still have to get a separate transcript from that other school where I took the class?

Thanks!

 

[docmemi]

I transfered grade from a course that I took at another school. And the transfred grade shows up on my transcript at the school i actually graduated from. Do I still have to get a separate transcript from that other school where I took the class?

Thanks!

if you plan on telling amcas that you took the class at the other school, as you should, then yes. better safe than sorry.

 

[docmemi]

man, i've been working at this stupid thing all day...

ok, so for transcript request forms: the site and instructions guide keep prompting you to give your transcript request form to your school's registrar so they can send your transcript AND the request form directly to AMCAS when you ask for it. my school allows us to walk up to the registrar's office, pay $10, and walk out with an official transcript in about 10 minutes.

so...my question is this: why can't i just get a transcript myself, staple their stupid form to it, and send it in on my own without having to worry if the turds who work at the registrar's office did everthing they were supposed to?
it seems like this would greatly reduce unneeded stress.

thanks.
sd

nooooooooo, sorry you cant. your school has to send it DIRECTLY. dont worry about it...its their job and they have been doing it for many years. just chillax and let them do it.

 

[docmemi]

I'm not sure if this question has been asked, but even if it has, I'd really appreciate it if somone could be kind enough to answer:

when are we officially required to submit the initial fees for all of the schools that we are applying to? is it after we submit the AMCAS application? Also, what if I initially applied to a school, but decided the very next day, that I did not want to apply. Would I receive a refund on the $30(?) that was used to initially apply to the school?

Thanks 🙂 ---docjolly

um, credit card payment to amcas. it will prompt you when you submit later on to give payment info...so you pay amcas. once you apply, you apply...thats it, no turning back. you could not return the schools secondary later on, but thats all you can do and i think that school will still consider you as an applicant...so lets say you had to reapply, you would be a reapplicant even if you never followed through with the secondary.

 

[docmemi]

If you have been working in a lab for a year and then suddenly you were awarded a scholarship or etc.. for it. Do you list them as different things? as in
1) Reserach Scholarship (awards/honors)
2) student reserach assistant (research/lab)
3) summer reserach (presentation/posters)

???? correct? I mean all of those things happened because I work in thesame lab for a long time. DO I need to grpoup them as one seperate?

Also, I have a thousand millions things on my resume, I should just list the most important one right?

first, you should only list important things. important things mean things that contributed to your decision and committment to becoming a physician.

second, if you were working on the same project, i would prolly put 1 and 2 (scholarship and assistant as one thing) and your presentation as a third. its totally up to you how to do it...just dont be redundent, remember your limit is 15, and only pick relevant things.

i hope that helps a bit.

 

[Cerberus]

This may have been asked but on the "schools attended" section on dates attended to I put my planed graduation date as the "To" part?