grade replacement

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For Point B, unless I misread what you wrote, retakes done at different schools even community colleges had no problem being used to replace grades prior to the new app changes. Issue present now is that it didn't for some folks on here. However, on another thread, two posters did have their retakes (from different schools) successfully passed through as expected.
Call it an unlucky computer glitch?
 
I suspect one reason why retake at different university didn't count for one poster above is perhaps the course was taken in a different department name at 2nd school. ("MBIO" as opposed to just "BIO")
 
It also could be possible credits don't match. In that case there will be some problems too.
 
MajorUnderDog said:
So far that seems correct. For example at my current university, it used to be called the "Zoology Department". Then last year they changed the name of the whole department to "Biology".

So this genetics course went from being called ZOO333 to BIO333. Same professor and everything, only thing that changed was the prefix. So AACOMAS is NOT giving it credit as a retake. Instead they are just throwing in the original grade along with the second attempt instead of the newest attempt replacing the old attempt.

Part 2:

Now I retook most of my poor grades at my current unversity and I made sure that I signed up for courses that are the same level, credits, and descption

So AACOMAS is not replacing this:

University 1: BIO303 Microbiology 3 Credits F

Unversity 2: MBIO383 Microbiology 3 Credits A



So they are still giving the old F grade 3 credits instead of the zero. So different university, different prefix, BUT Same amount of Credits and Course Level and AACOMAS is NOT counting it as a retake.

Sorry if this confusing everyone. I am very stressed right now, to say the least
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I don't know if this is hypothetical scenario or actual. Atleast department NAME has to match if taken at different university. Number obviously would be different in most cases.
 
WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE
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Erm... FWIW I talked to somebody at the AACOMAS and she verified that courses taken at different schools with similar titles and content will count toward grade replacement, so...:shrug:
 
LOL. I just recalculated my AACOMAS under this nightmare scenario and now my AMCAS BCPM GPA is higher than AACOMAS sGPA.
 
Gordon Gekko said:
LOL. I just recalculated my AACOMAS under this nightmare scenario and now my AMCAS BCPM GPA is higher than AACOMAS sGPA.
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Mine already is, because AACOMAS doesn't count math (I had A's in every single math class I've taken up to Advanced Calculus.) Also, AACOMAS counts B+ as 3.3 but my college uses half step grades and count pluses as the half step. My school does not offer minuses. I'm doubly screwed on AACOMAS.
 
I am deeply sorry for your trouble folks. Wow I sincerely feel bad for the people affected by this. This is outrageous on so many levels. I hope everything works out for you guys and gals. Keep trying. First we had the corrupt letters and now this.
 
Yeah that's really concerning to hear that others are having their re-takes approved. Sadly, I have no way to prove this so I doubt it would mean much to AACOMAS to point it out.
 
@yes_sir_44

Yeah, I mean it's a mixture of issues I'm having here. Classes that are described exactly the same, such as "Microbiology" having the exact same credit hours, and same level,3000, just taken at a different university with different prefix are NOT being allowed to replace the old grade.

All previous cycles there were no issues with the prefixes being different nor the course titles not matching 100%. What did matter in previous cycles was the credits matching, or being greater for the new grade, and the course being identical i.e. General Bio can't replace Biochem etc.


So what is happening right now is completely new issue, not reported in previous cycles (as far as I know and from others that applied in previous cycles)

I can hope that this is just a mixup and not some set in stone new policy. If it is, I feel it is against the exact spirit of what DO schools are about and what to foster

This will keep a huge amount of future great great physicians out if this stands
 
"While AACOMAS allows applicants to classify similar coursework from separate schools as repeated, the verification staff is not responsible for determining whether the content, course level, and credit hours are equivalent. AACOMAS staff can only correct incorrectly classified repeated coursework from the same school. In order for repeated coursework across institutions to be verified as repeated, the applicant must enter the initial attempts as 0.00 credits and mark each attempt repeated during Transcript Review."

Lets see if this section of the instructions changes in the next few days. I can't prove it, but I am pretty sure that the section that affected me wasn't in the instructions until after a couple of days after I received their response.
 
I took screen shots of the instructions in case they do try and change it without announcing.
 
@gonnif Do you have any pull or contacts at AACOM or LiaisonCAS? It seems the retake policy is currently in flux. This would have an impact on quite a few oldpremeds.
 
MajorUnderDog said:
@yes_sir_44

Yeah, I mean it's a mixture of issues I'm having here. Classes that are described exactly the same, such as "Microbiology" having the exact same credit hours, and same level,3000, just taken at a different university with different prefix are NOT being allowed to replace the old grade.

All previous cycles there were no issues with the prefixes being different nor the course titles not matching 100%. What did matter in previous cycles was the credits matching, or being greater for the new grade, and the course being identical i.e. General Bio can't replace Biochem etc.


So what is happening right now is completely new issue, not reported in previous cycles (as far as I know and from others that applied in previous cycles)

I can hope that this is just a mixup and not some set in stone new policy. If it is, I feel it is against the exact spirit of what DO schools are about and what to foster

This will keep a huge amount of future great great physicians out if this stands
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I agree with you 100%. I think those courses should definitely count as repeats. I mean, how similar do they have to be when both say "Microbiology." I wasn't defending AACOMAS, I was simply offering an explanation as to why they might not have counted as a repeat. Many people were freaking out and I thought it was worth pointing out why AACOMAS didn't count it as a repeat. I think this much is clear: Applicants are not getting the benefit of the doubt with repeat courses whereas in the past they were. You guys need to talk to AACOM and hopefully they can clear this out with AACOMAS new app system. Keep us updated.
 
^. I feel ya. You're good. I wasn't trying to vent my frustrations on you or anything inadvertently. I just wanted to make super clear how ridiculous and unprecedented this all is
 
I know this sucks yall, but you really should not consider the Caribbean a viable option. I figure yall are joking somewhat, but I just want to snuff out anyone who is even mildly considering it.

Financially it is a scenario where the risk:reward ratio is way too high. And that risk will only be getting higher over the next few years with the merger.

I know it sucks not having the chance to be a doc because some stupid administrative thing. But multiply that feeling by 10; imagine graduating medical school, being 200k+ in debt and then running into an issue of not being able to practice because of some fault of your school. You can find legitimate examples of this happening to people here on SDN from Caribbean school. It is a well known phenomenon.

Life sucks sometimes and I can't imagine how you guys feel through this, but Carib is still, in no situation, the way to go. The only way it's viable is if you happen to have 4 or 5 years of life that you are willing to throw away, along with $200,000 set aside in the bank. Your best options towards the medical field in this type of situation is a direct linkage post bacc program (ie you pass the post bacc and you are in med school - both DO and MD schools have these), or a solid field like podiatry or something.

Let me know if there is anything at all I can do to help anyone.

Ps: I still have faith that if every single person bugs the living **** out of AACOMAS then they will let yall squeak through and will fix your stuff haha. They are a small group of people working there, eventually it has to hit them how much of a screw up they have this year.
 
Yea it had to be this year try changed everything. I'm still wrestling with getting corrupt letters deleted so med schools don't get doubles of all of them
 
S
Gordon Gekko said:
Actually, I don't want it counted, but this yr it is. I had some problems back then.
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so you didn't have it on your previous app submissions? Or are you referring to how the calculate the sciences now(I know they include pharm classes?
 
Grace184 said:
S

so you didn't have it on your previous app submissions? Or are you referring to how the calculate the sciences now(I know they include pharm classes?
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In previous cycles, OD, DDS, JD, PharmD not combined with BS, etc were exempt. All my OD classes were displayed as 0.0 credits and not included in any of the GPA breakdowns. This cycle it will be included in all breakdowns, so I'll be seeing line items with GPAs in the 1.xx and 2.xx range.
 
Gordon Gekko said:
In previous cycles, OD, DDS, JD, PharmD not combined with BS, etc were exempt. All my OD classes were displayed as 0.0 credits and not included in any of the GPA breakdowns. This cycle it will be included in all breakdowns, so I'll be seeing line items with GPAs in the 1.xx and 2.xx range.
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Oh f-me. I have a PharmD....

But I had an extreme upward trend once we got I got into 4/5 yr (which they never counted)

But in my clinical years they were P/F, and on my actual transcript received 4.0, so maybe this is good. I'll just have to see...

Edit: p/f aren't avg into it
 
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mathnerd88 said:
These posts make me feel nervous about my English requirement. My registrar counts Chinese Cinema as English, but AACOMAS may say differently.
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Seems unlikely to count as English, unless it had the ENG prefix. A lot of schools count courses with a good deal of writing as English courses, but for AACOMAS purposes they need to be courses offered by English or Literature departments, not simply courses with a writing component.
 
Let this thread be a lesson to any still in undergrad- if you're coming up in an F it a D, withdraw rather than hoping you'll make it to the end and magically pull off a decent grade at your final. A withdraw is easily forgiven and doesn't affect your GPA, and you'll just end up having to take the course a second time (which you would have anyway, only now you'll have to pray they don't screw up the substitution calculation). I know so many people that wished they would have had the foresight to take a W.

OP and underdog, good luck. I hate stupid bureaucracies like the AACOMAS that struggle to get out if their own way when anything not 100% predictable and by the book comes their way, it's so infuriating and I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
 
Mad Jack said:
Seems unlikely to count as English, unless it had the ENG prefix. A lot of schools count courses with a good deal of writing as English courses, but for AACOMAS purposes they need to be courses offered by English or Literature departments, not simply courses with a writing component.
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Not always true. It DOES depend on the class. I never took an English or literature class but instead had some other course with a writing component substitute.
 
diesel2101 said:
Not always true. It DOES depend on the class. I never took an English or literature class but instead had some other course with a writing component substitute.
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Looking at the new rules, it appears you're correct. It's much more lenient than in years past for English categorization.
 
Idk how the rules are this year, but I applied last cycle. That being said, they should change the criteria. Not everybody was required to take English to graduate, and it's useless for medical schooling purposes.
 
Awesome Sauceome said:
I know this sucks yall, but you really should not consider the Caribbean a viable option. I figure yall are joking somewhat, but I just want to snuff out anyone who is even mildly considering it.

Ps: I still have faith that if every single person bugs the living **** out of AACOMAS then they will let yall squeak through and will fix your stuff haha. They are a small group of people working there, eventually it has to hit them how much of a screw up they have this year.
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It's frustration more than anything else at this point. Can you imagine if you're a non-trad, 30+ years old, and you just found out that your 2+ years of re-takes were essentially useless? I really hope this circus gets resolved sooner than later.
 
diesel2101 said:
Idk how the rules are this year, but I applied last cycle. That being said, they should change the criteria. Not everybody was required to take English to graduate, and it's useless for medical schooling purposes.
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The English requirement was recently added, and for a reason. As a physician, you do a hell of a lot of writing. And even moreso if you plan on doing research. You would be shocked at how bad some physicians are when it comes to writing their notes, they can be physically painful to read. The English requirement is just supposed to help with that, supposedly. And I didn't realize English was required by AACOMAS last year (I applied two cycles ago, when it was a school-by-school requirement), how quickly things change.
 
I truly cannot empathize with you since I have never been there, but I can sympathize with the frustration.

I just want to help as much as I can to get people to make wise decisions even under this kind of frustration and stress. I figure that 9/10 times people are just airing their frustration, but especially with how I have watched the pre-DO group have more and more allo applicants over the past couple years, I am trying to knock some sense into that 1/10 applicant who is really considering the Caribbean.

But anywho, I am 100% with you, I think it is absolutely asinine how they are approaching retakes this year. I really hope yall can put enough heat on them to get them to look in their own rule books and stick with what they originally said, not this hodge podge of random unwritten rules about what counts as a retake and not. It is screwing over many people, plenty of whom I have been actively helping extensively over the past year, so I definitely have a little skin in this game.
 
I agree with AwesomeSauceome above. I think seriously if enough of us raise cane to AACOMAS about this, then we can get it changed back to the old way they accepted retakes.
 
Mad Jack said:
The English requirement was recently added, and for a reason. As a physician, you do a hell of a lot of writing. And even moreso if you plan on doing research. You would be shocked at how bad some physicians are when it comes to writing their notes, they can be physically painful to read. The English requirement is just supposed to help with that, supposedly. And I didn't realize English was required by AACOMAS last year (I applied two cycles ago, when it was a school-by-school requirement), how quickly things change.
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I thank the many faced god ( Game of thrones reference) that I took two english classes from a CC that transferred to my main University.
 
My school would never have let me have a degree unless I fulfilled one year of English. That's a requirement for my major, so if they don't count it, I'll take it up with AACOMAS and my school can write a letter to them.

I also did a thesis for my research, so that's another intensive writing component. Even my school lists it as their intensive writing course.

http://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/ladr/writing-requirement#C
 
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I hope this works out for all of us. Just reading is giving me so much stress and anxiety.
 
mathnerd88 said:
My school would never have let me have a degree unless I fulfilled one year of English. That's a requirement for my major, so if they don't count it, I'll take it up with AACOMAS and my school can write a letter to them.

I also did a thesis for my research, so that's another intensive writing component. Even my school lists it as their intensive writing course.

http://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/ladr/writing-requirement#C
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It'll be fine. They got really max about what is considered English in the new rules.
 
Podiatry isn't a career that would be fulfilling to me. I say this after talking with podiatrists that have privileges at our hospitals. If this doesn't get resolved I will apply to one Caribbean school, if it comes down to not getting a US residency then maybe I will just apply for a foreign residency and move back to Colombia where my family is from. I just can't see giving up and at my age I'm not interested in accruing another 10-20k in debt doing an SMP.

I could also attempt to transfer to a US medical school after my second year. I work with a doctor who successfully did that.
 
Hoping it all works out for the best for all of us
 
DetectiveAlonzo said:
My sister had the same thing happen to her recently after she got verified.

So I guess the new policy is, and after confirming with AACOMAS, that retakes have to come from the SAME UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE, with the SAME PREFIX, but don't know about the course units. I'm assuming equal or greater.
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What were the courses that she tried to replace? I'm thinking this may be with only very specific/unique courses, but I'm still wondering if general pre-req classes like gen chem, physics, organic chemistry which are essentially the same across all schools applies with this policy...

As I'm entering my grades on AACOMAS it says this:
"If you repeated a course, mark the first attempt and each additional attempt at the same or a different institution as “Repeated”. Do not mark withdrawn attempts as a repeated course. Make sure you have entered 0.00 credits for the initial attempts. Only the final attempt should receive full credit value."

How can it be then that it must be from the same institution if this is written in the directions?
 
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IDK22 said:
What were the courses that she tried to replace? I'm thinking this may be with only very specific/unique courses, but I'm still wondering if general pre-req classes like gen chem, physics, organic chemistry which are essentially the same across all schools applies with this policy...

As I'm entering my grades on AACOMAS it says this:
"If you repeated a course, mark the first attempt and each additional attempt at the same or a different institution as “Repeated”. Do not mark withdrawn attempts as a repeated course. Make sure you have entered 0.00 credits for the initial attempts. Only the final attempt should receive full credit value."

How can it be then that it must be from the same institution if this is written in the directions?
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It's not for very specific classes. In my case it was Biology II
 
Stephanopolous said:
It's not for very specific classes. In my case it was Biology II
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Biology II could be anything. What was the title of the course? "Cell/Molecular, Microbiology, Human biology, Ecology/Evolution..."
 
DetectiveAlonzo said:
I think it's for classes across the board. I didn't have to retake any courses but as a result she will have to apply either later this cycle once she finishes these classes or probably next year. She went from a university to a CC and tried to replace physics and chemistry. They merely averaged the grades for her and GPA dipped as a result.
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Same quarter/semester system and units? Did she try following up with AACOMAS to confirm that this wasn't an error? Really doesn't make sense since it explicitly says we can list repeats from different universities.
 
FWIW I had saved a copy of my application after it was submitted and before they verified (essentially the copy showing what I had input) and AACOMAS management had me send them the sheets showing I input the classes correctly- to no avail.
 
Stephanopolous said:
FWIW I had saved a copy of my application after it was submitted and before they verified (essentially the copy showing what I had input) and AACOMAS management had me send them the sheets showing I input the classes correctly- to no avail.
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I'm sorry this happened and I really feel for you. I hope you don't mind me asking but what are your GPAs now? Will they not count ANY of your retakes? Can you take them again these next months within a summer semester or summer session? I'm rooting for you.
 
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