amcas primary language

[baylormed]

I'm filling out my amcas.
It is asking for a primary language + any additional languages.

Now, my first language is Spanish, I was born and raised in Mexico until 15 yrs of age, but I have come to think of English as my primary language because I am completely fluent (I learned it in school) and that is all I use.
At home we speak mostly Spanish, but that's just at home. If I'm out in social settings/school/work I only use English.
What do I do???

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[MollyMalone]

I don't think you can really go wrong, whichever you pick, but you could email AMCAS and ask them. The manual really isn't too helpful on this point -- I can see why you're ambivalent.

[email protected]

 

[UMP]

i'm curious too... I have the language that I learned first and use at home, and English which I use everywhere else... keep us up to date if you send out the email

 

[Quetzal]

I'm filling out my amcas.
It is asking for a primary language + any additional languages.

Now, my first language is Spanish, I was born and raised in Mexico until 15 yrs of age, but I have come to think of English as my primary language because I am completely fluent (I learned it in school) and that is all I use.
At home we speak mostly Spanish, but that's just at home. If I'm out in social settings/school/work I only use English.
What do I do???

i think when they ask about primary language they usually refer to the language you learned first. i was in the same situation when filling out the amcas, and i put down spanish. hope that helps.

 

[baylormed]

Several questions for Quetzal:

Did you get into medical school?
Did you use English more than Spanish in your life at the point of application?

The question isn't "first language" but "primary language".

I don't want them to think that I can't speak English properly if I put down Spanish as primary. I don't know why but I think it might give me a disadvantage.

 

[Quetzal]

Several questions for Quetzal:

Did you get into medical school?
Did you use English more than Spanish in your life at the point of application?

The question isn't "first language" but "primary language".

I don't want them to think that I can't speak English properly if I put down Spanish as primary. I don't know why but I think it might give me a disadvantage.

i learned english when i came to the states (15y/o), before that i didnt know any english, so that's why i put spanish as primary language. when i was applying (this past cycle) i spoke both languages equally (or maybe english a bit more). i got into all the schools i applied to, most of them top ten (not to brag, but to support a point). if you have any more questions pm me.

 

[gujuDoc]

I'm filling out my amcas.
It is asking for a primary language + any additional languages.

Now, my first language is Spanish, I was born and raised in Mexico until 15 yrs of age, but I have come to think of English as my primary language because I am completely fluent (I learned it in school) and that is all I use.
At home we speak mostly Spanish, but that's just at home. If I'm out in social settings/school/work I only use English.
What do I do???

It shouldn't matter either way. You can list English as primary and Spanish as secondary language or vice versa. Knowing both is a good thing and will help if you practice somewhere like Cali, Florida, Texas, etc.

 

[Quetzal]

It shouldn't matter either way. You can list English as primary and Spanish as secondary language or vice versa. Knowing both is a good thing and will help if you practice somewhere like Cali, Florida, Texas, etc.

agree

 

[PomPom]

primary language means the one with which you're more fluent. For example, if you were to write a book, would you feel more comfortable using English or Spanish? If Spanish, then that's your primary language.

 

[baylormed]

primary language means the one with which you're more fluent. For example, if you were to write a book, would you feel more comfortable using English or Spanish? If Spanish, then that's your primary language.

That's exactly the problem. I can use both with the same degree of fluency/speed/good grammar, etc. I am not more fluent in one than on the other.

 

[Hurricane95]

I would put english primary and spanish secondary, just in case...I would be paranoid about them thinking that I haven't fully mastered english. Even though of course your personal statement is in english, so I guess that shows you know the language. I put english first just in case even though my first languages were spanish and portuguese.