Credit Hours Problem

[sammmmmisosa]

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So long story short:

I submitted my AACOMAS following the guidelines but have run into one major issue after verification.

It is stated that you must enter credit hours exactly how it appears on your transcript. I complied but my school (Canadian) does not distinguish between credit hours between non-lab and lab courses like the vast majority of American schools. So, now my credit hours are below the requirements for schools.

I called AACOMAS before I submitted to ask about the issue, and they said that it would be resolved as long as you label the courses as lecture and lab. However, it clearly wasn't.

I am wondering if anyone has dealt with this and knows of any resolution?

 

[mc_bio19]

I can't be much help personally, but this sounds like an issue you're going to have to work out with AACOMAS directly.

 

[de Ribas]

It is stated that you must enter credit hours exactly how it appears on your transcript. I complied but my school (Canadian) does not distinguish between credit hours between non-lab and lab courses like the vast majority of American schools. So, now my credit hours are below the requirements for schools.

Can you please clarify what you are saying?
I also took some science courses where it had lab component. Later in the App, you can mark courses which included lab as well.

 

[sammmmmisosa]

Can you please clarify what you are saying?
I also took some science courses where it had lab component. Later in the App, you can mark courses which included lab as well.

Yeah so, basically on my official transcript the conversion of credits to hours if the same regardless of whether or not the class had a lab component. So correct me if I'm wrong but usually in American schools, a course with a lab will have a greater hour value than a course without a lab, if they are the same length.

My school does not make this distinction, so all my lab courses are worth a couple hours less. E.g. MSU requires 8 hours of bio + lab / I have 6 hours - However, if you look at course work, my courses should meet the requirements (specific amount of lecture and lab time).

Before I submitted I called AACOMAS to make them aware of the situation, they said it should be resolved during the verification process, however it wasn't and the courses still have a lower value. I called them yesterday after verification and they said they're unable to change anything at this point in time. I've emailed schools directly, only one has gotten back to me at this point but I haven't reach a resolution with them yet.

Just wondering if anyone knows a solution to this.

Edit: yes i did mark these courses as lecture + lab but they still fall below credit hours (even though based on course work they should be acceptable / full year 3+ hours lecture a week, 3+ hour lab a week)

 

[de Ribas]

So correct me if I'm wrong but usually in American schools, a course with a lab will have a greater hour value than a course without a lab, if they are the same length.

Yes, but not always. I had 2 classes with labs that were only 3 credits.

I dont really understand what conversion you are looking for. Maybe I am unaware of something, but AACOMAS verifies hours based on transcript not on how many hours you spent in class per week.

I took organic chemistry lab and we had 1 hour of lecture and 8 hours of lab per week. Should it be 9 credit hour course? It was only 4 credits.

Edit: yes i did mark these courses as lecture + lab but they still fall below credit hours (even though based on course work they should be acceptable / full year 3+ hours lecture a week, 3+ hour lab a week)

Marking courses that had lab component is to show that you meet the criteria requirements when title doesnt mention lab. Otherwise, you are still responsible for having adequate number of hours per each subject.

 

[de Ribas]

If working with AACOMAS falls through, contact each medical school directly about your issue as you've done with the first one. You've taken what they want you to take, so it shouldn't be a problem! I know it's a stressful situation, but it'll all work out.



Many medical schools, for example, require a year of general biology including both lab and lecture. In U.S. colleges, that requirement amounts to 8 total credit hours (3 credit hours for lecture I + 1 credit hour for lab I + 3 credit hours for lecture II + 1 credit hour for lab II). Some medical schools require a minimum of 8 credits for a year of general biology to ensure that their prospective students have taken the lab and lecture component of both courses.

Sammmmmisosa has taken a year of general biology including both lab and lecture, but at his school that amounts to just 6 total credit hours (3 credit hours for lecture I + 0 credit hours for lab I + 3 credit hours for lecture II + 0 credit hours for lab II). He's wondering what he should do in this situation because he's taken the same courses as other applicants but falls short of the credit requirement due to his college's bookkeeping.

He can try contacting schools directly, but it's not AACOMAs job to convert or separate credits. Schools can individually take a look at his situation and decide.