grade replacement

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Update: response from my email to AACOM, Dionna Knox

Hello Stephanie,

Please know that we have received your emails regarding your repeated coursework. We are looking into your situation and will have an answer back to you soon. We certainly appreciate your patience during this.

Also, please be advised that AACOMAS customer service is the best contact information for receiving a response and follow up to your immediate concerns.

Thank you and we will be in touch.

AACOMAS

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
Application Service (AACOMAS)
p 617-612-2889 | aacomas.liaisoncas.com | facebook
 
Stephanopolous said:
Update: response from my email to AACOM, Dionna Knox

Hello Stephanie,

Please know that we have received your emails regarding your repeated coursework. We are looking into your situation and will have an answer back to you soon. We certainly appreciate your patience during this.

Also, please be advised that AACOMAS customer service is the best contact information for receiving a response and follow up to your immediate concerns.

Thank you and we will be in touch.

AACOMAS

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
Application Service (AACOMAS)
p 617-612-2889 | aacomas.liaisoncas.com | facebook
Click to expand...

At least they are working with you. I tried to get ahold of them and can't get ahold of them via phone
 
Does it say the call volume is too high and to try later? I just kept redialing until the message changed and it put me through.
 
I emailed a AACOMAS rep last night about the same question and they replied today with this:

Per our repeat policy, a repeated course with FEWER credits than the original NEVER qualified as a repeat. Therefore, that 3 credit course will not replace the 4 credit course
 
Dochopeful13 said:
[QUOTin the="Thelonious Chunk, post: 16560758, member: 651427"]Fortunately, nowhere in the instructions does it explicitly say that credit hours need to be equal to or greater than to replace. I have email correspondence and phone correspondence verifying that my 3 credit course of same prefix, course #, and same institution will replace my earlier 4 credit course. Because of this I decided to not retake the class this summer and the date to sign up has already passed. If they fail to verify the repeat I may appeal because I think that makes a solid case, but we shall see. I think it will only be honorable to make an exception because of the misinformation provided. I suppose I'll just have to see how it plays out and hope for the best. Luckily for me my GPAs can survive the lapse but it will significantly effect my success (drops sgpa 0.3).

Quite a shame that this administrative issue is having real effects on applicants such as myself and others on this board.
I am in the same boat. Is it a 100 percent certain that credits have to match?
Click to expand...

It is already in the AACOMAS instructions and faqs, so YES.
 
Thelonious Chunk said:
Yes, a vague implication at best. Neither explicit nor clear, especially when directly contradicted by live AACOMAS representatives multiple times.

I stand by my statement that it is not honorable to not count the repeat. It is what it is. It doesn't make it ok.
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What do you mean? If you're going to retake a course, it has to be the same credit hours. Does that mean that anyone who fails the course should be able to take a course that doesn't require as many hours in class for? (or lab?) Of course not.
 
I totally agree. I was told multiple times that credits no longer have to match as they hav moved to the "honor system". Whatever that means.
 
Lol literally on the phone 5 minutes ago. Rep says yes, my 3 credit repeat will replace my 4 credit original of the same prefix, course # and institution. It will be verified...don't know who to trust, internet forum or the actual company. I guess I'll call tomorrow? and talk to someone higher up?
 
Thelonious Chunk said:
Lol literally on the phone 5 minutes ago. Rep says yes, my 3 credit repeat will replace my 4 credit original of the same prefix, course # and institution. It will be verified...don't know who to trust, internet forum or the actual company. I guess I'll call tomorrow? and talk to someone higher up?
Click to expand...

Yeah but the actual company stated ALL of my retakes should have worked but they didn't after the verification process was completed....So there ya go
 
As far as CREDIT goes, the repeated course has to be EQUAL or GREATER in units. I can confirm because my bf's retakes counted.
 
gonnif said:


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.
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Perhaps I'm misinterpreting this paragraph, but to me when it says "verification staff is not responsible for determining whether the content, course level, and credit hours are equivalent," I thought it meant AACOMAS verification staff is going to go based off of what you say. Which goes along with what many of the reps told me about the "honor policy". Additionally, the following sentence states that "AACOMAS staff can only correct incorrectly classified repeated coursework from the same school." To me, this means they will only correct someone's app if it lists repeated coursework at the same school that has a slight discrepancy like non-matching prefixes or course titles.

Is this not how other's interpreted this paragraph?
 
QueenJames said:
As far as CREDIT goes, the repeated course has to be EQUAL or GREATER in units. I can confirm because my bf's retakes counted.
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I don't quite follow your logic. Do you mean to say that as far as credit goes, the repeated courses CAN be equal to or greater in units? To be able to confirm that they MUST be, you would need to have confirmation that retakes equal to or greater in credits counted, while retakes with less credits did not count. Right?
 
It's quite simple bro.

EXAMPLE:

You have a 3-unit O-chem course... taken in semester format... and you get a D.

You take ANOTHER O-chem course... ATLEAST 3 units or MORE... in the SAME SEMESTER format... and you get an A.

THE A will REPLACE the D. See how it works?

Keep in mind. With Semester and Quarter system conversions...

5 quarter units = 3.3 semester units
4 quarter units = 2.7 semester units
3 quarter units = 2 semester units

So for instance: You take a 3 QUARTER unit Math class. Get a D. You can replace it with a 2 SEMESTER unit math course (with the same prefix, title, content, etc.) or more.

This is how it worked last cycle and I'm pretty sure it is working this cycle.

People on SDN get so riled up with little stuff and all this crap about them screwing up grade replacement but they really haven't. They go exactly by transcripts and you need to USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT. There is no honor policy, because everybody and their mothers would be trying to replace a 4 unit course with a 2 unit one and vice versa. It's straightforward.

good luck
 
I hate to be a debbie downer, but quite frankly trying to replace a greater unit course with one that has less units just doesn't make any sense. Even if that is what a rep told you over the phone, it goes against a lot of common sense that any clear minded applicant should have reservations about. How can you rely on a word of mouth statement that is essentially a disguised opinion on an issue that requires $ for enrollment + a 4-6 month time investment? If the person on the other end of the phone wasn't willing to provide something more concrete, approach the situation with a tremendous amount of caution NOT entitlement.

I was in this same boat 8 months ago after having received two different answers over the phone. Because I saw how beneficial the retake was for my gpa, I signed up to take the class at a school 50 minutes away over one that was 10 minutes away tops just to ensure that the retake would have had more units.

Plain and simple it just isn't fair to take a class with a lesser time commitment and less overall work only to be rewarded as if it were more rigorous. If the lower unit retake was done way back in the day, you were probably praying for an exception. If you proceeded to enroll in the retake after you were told about some theoretical honor code without first attaining concrete proof you have no one to blame but yourself.
 
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Thelonious Chunk said:
Lol literally on the phone 5 minutes ago. Rep says yes, my 3 credit repeat will replace my 4 credit original of the same prefix, course # and institution. It will be verified...don't know who to trust, internet forum or the actual company. I guess I'll call tomorrow? and talk to someone higher up?
Click to expand...
To be fair, AACOMAS reps haven't been the most consistent of late.
 
leslieknope2015 said:
i retook a class at my school, at first it was zoo 100 and then i retook and it became bio 100. it was the same exact class. is this not gonna count?
Click to expand...

leslieknope2015 said:
well update:

I just called the representative, she said as long as I put everything in correctly, including the o credits and then marked as repeat, it does not matter. The course description (in my case introductory biology) is the exact same. She said it will be counted as a repeat.

hope that helps someone.
Click to expand...

I'm glad to hear this worked out for you. I'm in a similar situation....
I took a course originally called "CHEM 1301: Introductory Chemistry" and then retook it a few years later after they changed it to "CHEM 1301: Preparatory Chemistry".
I'm hoping this won't be an issue.
 
So talked with them today

Retakes are apparently on the honor system if they are taken at different institutions. I asked if there was any need for a written confirmation, and she said no, the retakes would not be rejected. I even asked about Lab credit being rolled up into 4 credit hours.

There is so much miscommunication that Im not entirely sure they aren't communication via wookie speech.
 
GypsyHummus said:
So talked with them today

Retakes are apparently on the honor system if they are taken at different institutions. I asked if there was any need for a written confirmation, and she said no, the retakes would not be rejected. I even asked about Lab credit being rolled up into 4 credit hours.

There is so much miscommunication that Im not entirely sure they aren't communication via wookie speech.
Click to expand...


Please read @Stephanopolous response 6 posts above.
 
So, to summarize:
Retakes at another university are being accepted. They do not have the be the same or greater credit hours but do have to be the same in subject matter. Lab+Lecture combined classes can replace lecture but not both lecture and lab if separate. Retakes at the same university need to have the same name. Is this about right?
 
Cardboard101 said:
So, to summarize:
Retakes at another university are being accepted. They do not have the be the same or greater credit hours but do have to be the same in subject matter. Lab+Lecture combined classes can replace lecture but not both lecture and lab if separate. Retakes at the same university need to have the same name. Is this about right?
Click to expand...


In my case, my retakes completed at different universities and within the same university are being rejected even though the credits, course description, course content, and course level are the same.

What is different is the prefixes/numbers. Such as 1 school using CHE (for chemistry) and another using CHEM
 
Have you heard anything back from AACOMAS? I tried emailing again asking for more information. Their turnover rate for emails seems to be quite long.
 
It seems to me that AACOMAS is being flooded with apps and calls. It was only a week turnaround time for verification. Now it seems to be a couple days longer. Whenever I call, I get disconnected saying that they have too many calls right now.
 
mathnerd88 said:
I just called and they're still making the apps available to DO schools on June 15th, NOT the end of June as some have suggested.
Click to expand...

I don't think they even know what they are doing. They are giving some much conflicting information on everything. It's a joke.
 
mathnerd88 said:
I just called and they're still making the apps available to DO schools on June 15th, NOT the end of June as some have suggested.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, my information that they changed the date the applications will be available to schools wasn't a suggestion, it came directly from Vicky, the customer relations manager at AACOMAS. She not only told me this on Friday 6/5/15 but also yesterday when I called.
 
Update: I received an e-mail from AACOMAS about an hour ago stating my transcript had been re-verified.
s
I checked my portal and the GPA AND repeated class have been fixed. They counted my repeated course. What is odd is that in the hours/quality points the numbers are still slightly incorrect, but in the GPA column they are correct.
 
Stephanopolous said:
Just to be clear, my information that they changed the date the applications will be available to schools wasn't a suggestion, it came directly from Vicky, the customer relations manager at AACOMAS. She not only told me this on Friday 6/5/15 but also yesterday when I called.
Click to expand...

Can you really trust them? Are you convinced they are telling you the truth?
 
Update: I received an e-mail from AACOMAS about an hour ago stating my transcript had been re-verified.

I checked my portal and the GPA AND repeated class have been fixed. They counted my repeated course. What is odd is that in the hours/quality points the numbers are still slightly incorrect, but in the GPA column they are correct.
 
Stephanopolous said:
This isn't about trust I just want to make sure that others reading this get clear cut, correct information.
Click to expand...

No, I mean they might just be giving you a vague answer "end of June" just to put you at ease with them.
 
yes_sir_44 said:
No, I mean they might just be giving you a vague answer "end of June" just to put you at ease with them.
Click to expand...

True, I did ask her multiple different times why the date had changed and she had no answer for me.
 
@gonnif Why are AACOMAS reps STILL giving mis-information? They are telling some people a 3 credit class will replace 4 credit class. To some, they are saying no it won't replace. Which one is it? They need to put out a clear instructions on this and all theirs reps need to be on same page. Ugh..so frustrating. Thanks for your help!
 
If they're following an "honor" system this year, does that mean kids applying next cycle who repeated courses in other institutions screwed?
 
torontopharmcycle ost: 16563687 said:
If they're following an "honor" system this year, does that mean kids applying next cycle who repeated courses in other institutions screwed?
Click to expand...
Why would kids next cycle get screwed?
 
Dochopeful13 said:
Why would kids next cycle get screwed?
Click to expand...

If the "honor" system only lasts this year, and they reject retakes from kids who took courses at other institutions (under different prefixes etc.) next cycle.
I was just speculating of course 🙂 It seems that they're working on the issue and as @gonnif mentioned this just seems like a miscommunication rather than anything else.

I have 7 re-takes under different prefixes/institutions etc. So my immediate reaction is to be pessimistic :lame:
 
Hey guys. I am also looking to replace a 5 credit combined lecture and lab with a 3 credit lecture only course. (The 5 credit breakdown was 3 credit lecture and 2 credit lab so I found out this was gonna be OK). I was told however that I need a registrar letter to show this 5 credit breakdown.

1) I was told starting this cycle this will no longer be the case. Can anyone confirm this?

2) I notice on the app that you can pay to have the DO service to input the grades in for u. However, if I would like for it to be a repeat, do u think it's better if I input them in myself? I assume if they do it for me and they don't replace it the way I want I can refute it, but maybe it's easier if I input it the way I want in the first place.
 
Stephanopolous said:
Update: I received an e-mail from AACOMAS about an hour ago stating my transcript had been re-verified.
s
I checked my portal and the GPA AND repeated class have been fixed. They counted my repeated course. What is odd is that in the hours/quality points the numbers are still slightly incorrect, but in the GPA column they are correct.
Click to expand...

So are your GPA's back to where you expected them to be??
 
ILOVEMED123 said:
Hey guys. I am also looking to replace a 5 credit combined lecture and lab with a 3 credit lecture only course. (The 5 credit breakdown was 3 credit lecture and 2 credit lab so I found out this was gonna be OK). I was told however that I need a registrar letter to show this 5 credit breakdown.

1) I was told starting this cycle this will no longer be the case. Can anyone confirm this?

2) I notice on the app that you can pay to have the DO service to input the grades in for u. However, if I would like for it to be a repeat, do u think it's better if I input them in myself? I assume if they do it for me and they don't replace it the way I want I can refute it, but maybe it's easier if I input it the way I want in the first place.
Click to expand...

I'm not understanding what you're saying.

How is it a combined class if you're acknowledging the fact that its a 3 credit lecture, 2 credit lab? If your transcript says its a 3 credit lecture and 2 credit lab, then its not a combined class and you would therefore be able to replace the 3 credit lecture with your new and improved 3 credit lecture.

If its clumped together on your script, ex. Chemistry 150 5 units (description: lecture and laboratory for first semester students) then no you will not be able to replace it with your 3 unit lecture.

You can always mark it as repeated anyways and see what happens, but I pesonally know people that were denied when they tried to sneak in a quick one by marking a 4 unit original class and 3 unit retake as repeated
 
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Just update my situation:

I sent one of the longest emails I have ever written to anybody, to AACOMAS yesterday. I was as detailed and organized as possible to clearly show which retakes should be replaced. I followed the protocol Given by Gonnif.

I then emailed several upper levels of AACOM to let them know about the issue.

I know I should call, like Steph did, but I am stuck at work all day. I have tomorrow and Friday off so I am going to call first thing at 9am.
 
Quick update

I followed the protocol given to us by Gonnif to a T. I emailed AACOMAS yesterday morning. No reply yet. I know I need to call but can't until tomorrow and Friday. I'll keep yall posted
 
Hello all!

I have been facing issues with AACOMAS not following the policy they outline on their published website as well, which you can read about more here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/sgpa-fail-desperate-for-help.1142246/#post-16566430

Basically the courses listed under "Other Sciences" are said to be calculated as a part of the sGPA, however verification is following some other list that does not match up (you can find the excel sheet in the thread I posted above)

@gonnif has been a tremendous amount of help and here is how I am working to get my issue resolved:

1. I called the hotline & asked to speak to a manager. The manager/supervisors name is Michelle and she is very nice and understanding, so ask for her. After explaining my situation and probably sounding close to tears she understood the discrepancy and took my number & said she would talk to the big guys.

2. Michelle called me back and said they fixed part of my problem by changing some of the classifications I had from bioengineering >> biomedical engineering (although both of these are listed under Other Sciences, the verification team was told to only calculate biomedical engineering towards the sGPA)

3. I protested and said what about all the other applicants & fellow engineers who are following what is outlined on the website & whose sGPAs are messed up? It's not fair to us to basically lie to us about what will be used in the calculations. The discrepancy needs to be solved. Michelle agreed and told me she would again make phone calls & get back to me later today.

I am still waiting for her phone call. Basically, complain & kick & scream & cry until someone listens to you because if they are going against the policy clearly outlined on their published website they are in the wrong.
 
Update:

Michelle just called back! She said the vice-president and the development team have all been notified and are working to resolve the issue aka count all those classes that are listed under other sciences towards the sGPA like the website clearly states they should be.

Again, if you have any problems definitely ask for Michelle.
 
swollcat said:
I'm not understanding what you're saying.

How is it a combined class if you're acknowledging the fact that its a 3 credit lecture, 2 credit lab? If your transcript says its a 3 credit lecture and 2 credit lab, then its not a combined class and you would therefore be able to replace the 3 credit lecture with your new and improved 3 credit lecture.

If its clumped together on your script, ex. Chemistry 150 5 units (description: lecture and laboratory for first semester students) then no you will not be able to replace it with your 3 unit lecture.

You can always mark it as repeated anyways and see what happens, but I pesonally know people that were denied when they tried to sneak in a quick one by marking a 4 unit original class and 3 unit retake as repeated
Click to expand...
The course I originally took was a combined 5 credit course. However I called my registrar an the breakdown they said is 3 credit lecture and 2 credit lab.
I was told previously that I can replace the lecture component with a 3 credit lecture only as long as I have a letter accompanying it from my registrar saying the breakdown of the original combined 5 credit course.
However I was told this is no longer the case for this app cycle. So ur saying this for sure can no longer happen?
 
gonnif said:
NOTE TO ALL:

Some applicants are reporting that requests for re-verification are producing retakes being counted, etc. Please follow my outline for how to contact AMCAS and followup . If you dont ask, they cant say yes
Click to expand...
What outline?
 
I don't think I have a basis to appeal anything. They did tell me I can replace it earlier this year, but now they changed their policy so I can't. They change their policy... So how can I appeal anything? When they told me the first time I can replace it they didn't know at that point that they were gonna change their policy.
gonnif said:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...de-replacement-changes.1141572/#post-16559115

sorry I think there are two threads going on
Click to expand...
a basis for them
 
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