Completing AMCAS and Secondaries without applying

[Excelsius]

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I am not applying to medical school until next year (likely), but I have some extra time this summer and this is what I am trying to do:

1. Complete AMCAS and save it
2. Complete a few secondaries at my top choices


Is it possible to complete AMCAS without paying any fees or applying this season? I don't want any information to be released to schools, so I am assuming that if I don't list any schools, I won't be viewed as a reapplicant when I finally do apply.

Also, is there a way to obtain paper secondaries without having to apply to a school? I know that there is a thread that lists some of the essay questions, but I want to look at the full application to have a better idea about what the schools I want to get in consider to be important.

If there is a paper AMCAS form with fillable fields, I could do that instead of doing it online.

I probably should call AMCAS and some schools, but before asking them any unusual questions, I wanted to know if someone has already done what I am trying to do and what he/she did.

If you are still wondering why I am doing this, suffice it to say that I am trying to distribute some of the work I have to do next year to this year. I might have to apply to many schools and some of the schools seem to have grueling secondaries (Duke).

One more thing: has any of you successfully scheduled an in-person appointment with an adviser from your top medical school to discuss what you can do to become a strong applicant for the school? I am especially talking about the UCs and Stanford, which may be within reach geographically, but not necessarily academically.

 

[MossPoh]

It is not a continuous database. Your stuff will just get deleted. The most extreme thing I'd do is work on a personal statement a little bit if you want. I wrote mine last fall during a writing course, so I had about 15 revisions of it and just copied and pasted it in.

A year is a long time to add stuff. It doesn't take THAT long. I did mine in a solid 6 hours probably.

 

[Excelsius]

It is not a continuous database. Your stuff will just get deleted. The most extreme thing I'd do is work on a personal statement a little bit if you want. I wrote mine last fall during a writing course, so I had about 15 revisions of it and just copied and pasted it in.

A year is a long time to add stuff. It doesn't take THAT long. I did mine in a solid 6 hours probably.

I don't know. Some people have been complaining a lot about secondaries. Some have even chosen to not apply to a school because the secondary was a "killer." I definitely want to look at the most rigorous ones to get some idea. As for AMCAS, can I at least look at everything they ask for? Is there a PDF version or something? If the only way I can look at it is if sign up for AMCAS, I will do it, but if anyone can post the whole application, that would be great.

 

[1956Goldtop]

you can DL the amcas work sheet to see what kind of stuff you will need to prepare. As far as secondaries go, you can do a search of previous years where posters have uploaded the prompts.

However, if I an add my opinion, I don't think this is necessary. Honestly, the AMCAS took me a total of a few hours (and I am meticulous as all heck) and each secondary took a few hours at most to complete. There is no guarantee that any of the prompts will remain exactly the same, so you may be wasting time anyways.

 

[doomknight]

Duke University School of Medicine you mean? I had great aspirations to go to Duke med school as a freshman, for my top choice. I still wish to go, but due to the show House, and the 6 essays required, I have become indecisive.

 

[p30doc]

As for AMCAS, can I at least look at everything they ask for? Is there a PDF version or something? If the only way I can look at it is if sign up for AMCAS, I will do it, but if anyone can post the whole application, that would be great.

What is wrong with signing up for AMCAS? Your MCAT username and password will work for it, if you have taken the MCAT. You will eventually need to register with the AAMC. Anyway it is free to sign up, takes 30 seconds and you don't have submitt anything you don't want to once you sign up.

 

[Excelsius]

What is wrong with signing up for AMCAS? Your MCAT username and password will work for it, if you have taken the MCAT. You will eventually need to register with the AAMC. Anyway it is free to sign up, takes 30 seconds and you don't have submitt anything you don't want to once you sign up.

Haven't taken the MCAT. Probably another year until I do.

 

[chad5871]

Even if you haven't taken the MCAT, you can get an AAMC ID for free, relatively quickly. With this you can access AMCAS in all of its glory and see what there is to see. You're not obligated to submit anything. If you did submit this year, you'd be considered a re-applicant next year.

For secondaries, just look at the Official Secondary Prompt Thread from the 2008 cycle (and check in on the new 2009 thread around August to get this year's prompts).

 

[Excelsius]

Even if you haven't taken the MCAT, you can get an AAMC ID for free, relatively quickly. With this you can access AMCAS in all of its glory and see what there is to see. You're not obligated to submit anything. If you did submit this year, you'd be considered a re-applicant next year.

For secondaries, just look at the Official Secondary Prompt Thread from the 2008 cycle (and check in on the new 2009 thread around August to get this year's prompts).

Thanks. I am glad I asked since my concerns were founded. I now have to be very careful to not press any wrong buttons to avoid becoming a reapplicant without ever applying!

I am aware of that thread, but I want to see everything they ask in the secondaries. I don't even know what they look like. Maybe I'll make a separate thread and hope that someone posts the entire secondary of some of the schools I am interested in.

 

[copperfrog09]

You need to relax. Go find a hobby. Have you tried fishing, or maybe knitting?
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[WinterLights]

Thanks. I am glad I asked since my concerns were founded. I now have to be very careful to not press any wrong buttons to avoid becoming a reapplicant without ever applying!

I am aware of that thread, but I want to see everything they ask in the secondaries. I don't even know what they look like. Maybe I'll make a separate thread and hope that someone posts the entire secondary of some of the schools I am interested in.

The AMCAS application cannot be submitted anyways if you do not select any schools. So you do not have to worry about pressing the submit button on accident.