Guys, I need some AMCAS help

[atomi]

---

Members do not see this ad.

-

 

[thoffen]

As a non-trad, I guess I'm kind of out of the loop on the application process. If someone could be patient enough to work with on a few basic questions, I would really appreciate it.

1. When do I need to submit my AMCAS application by?

I think the deadline is December 1, but you will need to submit it much earlier to have a chance. The right answer is ASAP.

2. Are the schools I select in AMCAS the only ones I can apply to? -- I.e., can I apply to more schools after I submit?

Absolutely. You can add schools at any time.

3. I already sent my transcripts and AMCAS has them, but I have not submitted. Will they do anything with them before I submit?

No. You'll have to wait the usual time for verification.

4. Can/should I submit without LORs? Will schools send me a secondary unless they have the LORs, or are those only important after the secondary?

Schools won't send you a secondary & ask for LORs until you have submitted the primary. Submit your AMCAS ASAP and make sure you have your letters ready by the time it gets verified. Schools won't consider your application until it is complete (primary, secondary, secondary fee, MCAT, LORs received).

5. How do I send LORs? Interfolio? I just know the name - not how it works - i have no idea what to tell the people I'm going to ask the write the recommendations to do with them.

Check out interfolio.com and create an account there. Then go to add a letter and follow the instructions. It will allow you to e-mail or print a paper with instructions for your letter writer on the many ways they can get the letter to interfolio. When interfolio has them, you can electronically submit them to most schools or have interfolio send paper copies to the few that don't have electronic submission.

6. How many LORs do I need? Who should I get them from? Professors, coworkers? people I volunteer with, etc?

This varies greatly by school. Typically, most will want 2 science-professors and 1 non-science professor. However, most are willing to let a non-trad submit an alternate letter from your place of employment, for example. Some schools will want more than 3 letters. Some will allow you to submit more than 3 letters if you have them. My suggestion is to get at least 5. Looks like you need to get on this ASAP. Most people ask months in advance.

7. In the activities sections, should you list the max (15 activities)? I actually have more. I listed all my work experience (which is engineering related, not medical) along with descriptions of what I do - should I have done this even though it's not related to medicine? Should I list my shadowing here - I didn't see a 'shadowing' option, so I just omitted it (it's not much, only like 20 hours)

List the most important and relevant experiences you have. Secondary applications will very frequently ask you about your experiences again, so you can place it there if it wasn't on your AMCAS. You can try to combine related activities. I definitely would list shadowing, even if it's so little. Medically-related experience is the most important EC to have.

8. How does the cost structure work? Do I have to pay the schools again when I submit the secondaries, or is the cost that AMCAS charges me the only money I'll have pay? I was surprised that the first school I added cost so much ($160), but the others only raised the price by $30 or so.

You have to pay a certain fee for the AMCAS application and then $30 per school. After you submit your primary, schools will send you a secondary application along with an additional secondary fee. The price for the secondary fee varies ($30 to $150).

9. I'm waiting 2 more weeks for my mcaT score so I know which schools to apply to. Good/bad idea, or should I just submit it now?

If you are going to apply regardless of your MCAT results, then submit the application ASAP. I twill take longer than 2 weeks for the AMCAS to be verified. If you might want to wait to apply next year if your MCAT score is not great, then you can hold off. Or you can submit with only 1 school selected and then add more schools when your MCAT gets in (also saves you money if you decide not to apply to certain schools).

10. What happens after I submit? Does AMCAS send the applications to the schools and they send me secondaries or do I have to do anything else?

After AMCAS verifies the applications, everything else is automatic. The schools will contact you (usually via e-mail) with secondary applications and other updates/instructions.

This whole process is very cryptic and it has been hard to get information without an adviser guiding me through it. My big concern is what to do about the LOEs. Thanks!

Don't worry about it. SDN is your advisor. 🙂 It's all many people had (including myself), and we're proof that it's all you need. Definitely, though, get those LORs squared away ASAP. Don't dig yourself a hole. You won't be evaluated at any school until they have ALL your materials!

 

[atomi]

Thanks, this post was an enormous help!