Does taking classes at more than one school make for a confusing application or look "bad"

[peregrino]

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Does taking a mixture of classes at more than one school at the same time make for a confusing set of transcripts, say on the AMCAS and AACOMAS applications?

In order to fit my work and volunteer schedule and satisfy both work coursework and premed coursework, I am taking my classes at two different schools. I am taking (and, in some cases re-taking) old premed science classes at a 4-year college through their extension sciences program. I also need to take some classes to satisfy some work requirements (CEUs and related coursework), and to improve my writing and thinking ability. These courses I am taking at a junior college because they are not offered through the sciences program in which I am enrolled.

 

[ppushpak]

You’re fine

 

[premedbrah]

it literally does not matter

 

[etp123]

I'm fairly certain someone last cycle had like 10 transcripts. All AMCAS/AACOMAS have to do is just go line by line verifying that you actually took x course at y school and got z grade. They're not in the business of verifying whether that's a prereq or not.

 

[Ell19]

It does not matter, you just have to make sure each school sends in an official transcript and exactly what etp123 said, they just are going to verify that you attended x school, took y class and got z grade;

I have 4 total transcripts if it makes you feel any better

 

[peregrino]

I'm fairly certain someone last cycle had like 10 transcripts.

I have 4 total transcripts if it makes you feel any better

I am not sure if non-credit classes count, but if I count just the schools from which I took classes for a letter grade, I will have attended at least 11 colleges.
I have been taking college classes for decades, both for my past careers and just for fun. Another reason for so many schools is that I moved across my state twice so I would take classes from wherever I settled down again.

Does the AAMC or AACOMAS mind that one has so many courses, especially if they have to read through them all to verify the coursework?

In an earlier post I asked about ways to manage my transcripts; someone suggested Pivio. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[etp123]

I am not sure if non-credit classes count, but if I count just the schools from which I took classes for a letter grade, I will have attended at least 11 colleges.
I have been taking college classes for decades, both for my past careers and just for fun. Another reason for so many schools is that I moved across my state twice so I would take classes from wherever I settled down again.

Does the AAMC or AACOMAS mind that one has so many courses, especially if they have to read through them all to verify the coursework?

In an earlier post I asked about ways to manage my transcripts; someone suggested Pivio. Does anyone know anything about this?

AAMC/AACOMAS don't "mind" anything, they're not gonna have opinions on how you take your classes. I mean, maybe the employee might take a deep sigh at having to look through 11+ transcripts haha but regardless they'll process you all the same. They look at tons of transcripts and thousands of courses from different institutions every day anyway. They're just there to verify and then transmit to your respective med schools. The admissions committees on those med schools are the ones that will have an opinion on this lol. Lifelong learning isn't a bad thing though!

 

[curr4410]

They asked me in my interview and I was just honest - time, cost, and I just like to learn so I usually end up taking some classes wherever I live. I also went over how I feel it’s helped me adapt to multiple learning styles, cultures, and expectations which I think will help with rotations in particular. They said good answer! (I’ve now taken classes at 9 different colleges/universities.) Just be aware thise transcripts get expensive!

 

[peregrino]

The admissions committees on those med schools are the ones that will have an opinion on this lol. Lifelong learning isn't a bad thing though!

From some colleges which I attended, I just took classes for the enrichment and enjoyment. From others, it was for certifications and licenses. I hope the AdComms don't hold having so many classes as a negative thing. Although most of these classes are in allied health, they were taken before I committed to the premed route.

 

[Goro]

Does taking a mixture of classes at more than one school at the same time make for a confusing set of transcripts, say on the AMCAS and AACOMAS applications?

In order to fit my work and volunteer schedule and satisfy both work coursework and premed coursework, I am taking my classes at two different schools. I am taking (and, in some cases re-taking) old premed science classes at a 4-year college through their extension sciences program. I also need to take some classes to satisfy some work requirements (CEUs and related coursework), and to improve my writing and thinking ability. These courses I am taking at a junior college because they are not offered through the sciences program in which I am enrolled.

It's not a problem

 

[M&L]

i had 5 schools.....

 

[peregrino]

i had 5 schools.....

Good. I have already have attended 11 colleges and I might have a 12th college by the time I apply for medical school.

 

[M&L]

Good. I have already have attended 11 colleges and I might have a 12th college by the time I apply for medical school.

oh... it will suck for you. Requesting the transcripts from all the places might be a nightmare.... as far as whether it will impact you or not, - that depends. If you had some administrative actions in the schools and were kicked out, - thats one thing. But if you were military and was moving around, or something like that, - i think you will be just fine. Its all about telling your story. Good luck

 

[peregrino]

Thanks M&L. With exception of my first time in college, I have had no administrative actions. That one time I did, I was working full-time and trying to attend school full-time. I went on probation but cleared it up the following semester; I was never kicked out. Also the school was changing between semester and quarter system, which affected how I handled the workload. But that was 30+ years ago. Since that time, there has been nothing bad on my record; I even won some scholastic awards at my other schools.

I need(ed) some classes for work requirements and because I like learning. In order to fit my (past and current) work and volunteer schedule, I choose classes at night and sometimes on the weekend. However, because not all schools offer the classes in which I am interested, I have to change schools sometimes. to get those classes. That's why I have attended so many schools.

So, yes, ordering transcripts and having to enter hundreds of courses into AMCAS and AACOMAS isn't going to be fun. It is also going to suck trying to reconstruct all my volunteer work; I've been volunteering in health care almost as long as I've been working full-time.

 

[MusicDOc124]

I applied having 6 transcripts, and at one point attended 2 schools at once (my 5th and 6th transcripts). I got in on my first app cycle. It won't matter. Everyone has different reasons for attending different schools, or even attending more than 1 school at once. It never came up in my interviews at all - I'm assuming no one even thought twice about it.