Amcas Transcript Question

[Bostonienses]

Ok here's the deal: I got 15 college credits because I have an IB (International Baccalaureate; it's the European version of the AP stuff, but it's harder so you get more credits out of it) diploma. So I started college as a 2nd semester freshman. I took enough summer classes and stuff so I graduated a year earlier (in college from 1997-2000). On my college transcript, it says that I got credits from my IB credits. When I applied to graduate school, BU didn't care about the fact that my grades weren't there; there were satisfied to see that whatever I got on my IBs was enough for my undergrad institution to grant me credits.
Question: WILL THE IB OFFICE (which is in Europe, pain in the arse) HAVE TO SEND A DIPLOMA REPORT TO AMCAS?
Furthermore, the IB classes are graded from 1-7. WILL THE IB OFFICE HAVE TO PROVIDE A MEANS OF CONVERTING THE NUMBERS TO THE A, B, C, etc GRADING SYSTEM?
Third and last question: SINCE I SKIPPED A YEAR IN COLLEGE, WILL THAT MESS THINGS UP IN THE AMCAS STUFF SINCE I DON"T HAVE A SOPHOMORE YEAR?
Anyone with a similar problem? The reason why I am thinking about this now is that it takes FOREVER for you to get any info in regards to the IB stuff, so I need to get moving on that. Thanks for any clues!

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[UCLAMAN]

hmm...do IB credits even count for medical school? i thought most med schools require you to have taken whatever requirements are necessary at the college level. then again i could be wrong on that. as far as ib/ap credits that aren't necessary medical school prereqs..... if i remember correctly, ap/ib credits are listed on your amcas but aren't used in figuring your gpa. (after referring to a printout of my amcas primary my ap credits are listed as "AP" and aren't even given a grade.) i'm pretty sure that you don't need to worry about your ib grades/scores.

i don't think missing a year will be a problem as long as you've completed all the required courses for your degree. what'll probably happen is that you will have 3 gpas(one computed for each of your 3 years) rather than 4 gpas(one for each of the 4 years).

 

[PrincessCKNY]

I think AMCAS needs documentation of some sort in order to verify that the grades you reported are correct. If that means sending a diploma report, then that's what has to be done. They need documentation from EVERY institution where you've received college credit. (Except high school, because your undergrad school has already verified that stuff.)

Skipping a year doesn't mean anything as long as you've completed all the required courses. Just make sure that the courses you took overseas fulfill the prereqs at the different schools you applied to. I know the AP system is different, but just as an example, not all schools took AP and so I had to take an additional course to cover the missing class.

This is my best guess, but I think the best thing to do is just to call AMCAS up.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by PrincessCKNY
I think AMCAS needs documentation of some sort in order to verify that the grades you reported are correct. If that means sending a diploma report, then that's what has to be done. They need documentation from EVERY institution where you've received college credit. (Except high school, because your undergrad school has already verified that stuff.)

Right...so since IB is a high school program it should already be verified on the transcripts that you send to amcas from BU(or whichever undergrad institution you have reported those IB credits to) IB and AP credits will be listed on amcas but will not have letter grades or any other kind of grading system associated with them and will have no effect on your gpa. you will list them because they will be in your college/undergrad transcripts. but they are essentially useless for the app process.

My UCLA transcripts have my AP credits on them. Your college transcripts should have your IB credits on them. thats enough verification. No need to hack through the IB red tape to get confirmation from them to send to amcas.

hope that helps!

 

[Bostonienses]

Thanks guys! Luckily all the IB credits I received are for electives! My undergrad transcripts have the IB credits on them, meaning that they verified them (I had to send them the official report; took forever for them to get it!).
One other question: (I promise that I will stop!) Do I have to send a transcript from my graduate school? Or are the AMCAS only concerned with your undergraduate classes/GPA?
Thank you so much...

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by Bostonienses
Thanks guys! Luckily all the IB credits I received are for electives! My undergrad transcripts have the IB credits on them, meaning that they verified them (I had to send them the official report; took forever for them to get it!).
One other question: (I promise that I will stop!) Do I have to send a transcript from my graduate school? Or are the AMCAS only concerned with your undergraduate classes/GPA?
Thank you so much...

both your undergrad and grad school transcripts will be necessary

 

[Bostonienses]

Thanks! I know I have time to figure this out, but psychologically speaking it just helps knowing these things in advance...