AMCAS questions

[creativekat]

---

Members don't see this ad.

This may just be my premed mentality/neuroticism kickin' in as we all prepare for this but...

1. My school's on the quarter system and my GPA has always +/- 0.01 from a 3.9. I don't think the GPA is going to change. Can I just send in my transcript in May instead of waiting until late-June?

2. Will they be able to link transcripts to me that were sent in before I submit my app? (ex. community college transcripts...one says it takes 20 business days 😱)

3. It's always been emphasized quality over quantity. The application has 15 slots for activities/experiences...and I can fill them all up. All right, or do I just look like a neurotic resume-builder? Some of them are pseudo-repeats like research netting a summer research grant/award, publication and a conference (=4 "experiences")

4. Do you submit rec letters right after submitting the primary app, or before or after submitting the secondary? Or when the school tells you to?

5. Apply to 25 schools (sigh...CA...) and summer research program for first half of summer, summer school/volunteering second half = suicide? ...Already thinking of ideas for secondaries thanks to you helpful bunch. 🙂

Grazie!

 

[JamesBond15]

1) Do NOT wait till late-June to send in your transcripts. Send them in as soon as the app becomes available. If you wait till June to send, it will take like 10 days (?) or so for them to just say they received them. Only once they have your transcripts will they start to verify your app. So add like 4 more weeks or so.

2) Yes. Once the app becomes available you will print a transcript form to accompany all your transcripts. They will just scan that form and know exactly which file to place your transcript into.

3) *shrug* I just filled them up.

4) LOR will be asked for with the secondary. For schools that do AMCAS LORs, send in your LORs as soon as you can (even before you get secondaries).

5) Just get your secondaries in as soon as you can and you will be good. Look at this years secondary prompts to get an idea of what you will need to write. The prompts don't really change.

Have fun 🙂

 

[creativekat]

TY!!

But with regards to #1...I know others here have said to wait until spring grades come in. My GPA's not going to change unless I fail a class. Which has greater weight: timing of the app (in the context of this transcript problem) which I guess you say would delay my app by a month, or having that last quarter on there just so I look like I'm not hiding anything?

...Or should I send one transcript in May with up to Winter grades and then send one in late-June with the spring grades on there?

...sorry I'm one of those people who OCD about doing everything early...like going to school 30 min early or being at the front of the line while waiting for cafeteria food to be served

 

[chief illiniwek]

TY!!

But with regards to #1...I know others here have said to wait until spring grades come in. My GPA's not going to change unless I fail a class. Which has greater weight: timing of the app (in the context of this transcript problem) which I guess you say would delay my app by a month, or having that last quarter on there just so I look like I'm not hiding anything?

...Or should I send one transcript in May with up to Winter grades and then send one in late-June with the spring grades on there?

...sorry I'm one of those people who OCD about doing everything early...like going to school 30 min early or being at the front of the line while waiting for cafeteria food to be served

yep, this is what i would recommend.

 

[JamesBond15]

yep, this is what i would recommend.

I don't think AMCAS will look at the second transcript. Once they verify, they are done. People wait to send their Spring grades because they are on the semester system and get out in May. I wouldn't wait if you are on the quarter system since you finish mid-June. You can update the schools with your grades later in the secondary or update letter.

 

[mkj07]

I don't think AMCAS will look at the second transcript. Once they verify, they are done. People wait to send their Spring grades because they are on the semester system and get out in May. I wouldn't wait if you are on the quarter system since you finish mid-June. You can update the schools with your grades later in the secondary or update letter.

Assuming I do well my spring quarter and my GPA were to increase from a 3.6 to a 3.64, would it be worth it to include the spring quarter grades?

I'm not familiar with this, but would a 3.6 prevent me from getting a secondary rather than a 3.64 or is there very little difference between the two?