Help: what if... your transcript would not be ready until august?

[IrishOarsman]

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Hey all...

I'm sorry to be yet another single-issue poster asking for help with their specific situation (I don't mind those who are, it's just unlikely too many other people will benefit from this thread...) but I need some opinions.

So. It's June 3. All you SDN'ers have submitted today, right? Hehe, I know that's not the case, but what if you were ready to but unable because of forces outside of your control?

I'm doing an abroad year at Trinity in Ireland (as some may already have heard around here) and today I got the wonderful news that transcripts will come out probably between late july and september . Basically, that means even if I'm lucky the medical schools will have nothing on me until August. Grr.

I'm almost done with my personal statement and the rest of the app, know what schools I want to apply to, have my MCAT scores (from last august)... it's just these damn grades. The real problem is that without these grades, I only have marks for 6 credits out of 31 on the year (most of the classes were yearlong with no half-year evaluations.) However, my GPA at home was excellent and believe this year will be much the same. Also, I did not take any required courses for med schools this year (except for a little bonus cell bio/biochem/micro)...

What should I do? Should I just submit it, courses listed w/o grades, and pray that I get secondaries, to which I can attach my grades when they are finally available at the end of the summer? Or is that too great a risk, because some schools will not even give me secondaries, unable to understand my very unique circumstances?

 

[Wardens]

Hey, I think I can help you out because I'm in the same boat. I emailed AMCAS about it, but they weren't all that much help. Since I get credit for the whole year abroad at once and like you it won't show on my transcript until late august or september, I suggested putting all my classes under full year (whatever system) and all as current/future coursework. I also figure it works because I technically still am taking these courses.
When I sent this to AMCAS they didn't seem to mind, for they just wrote something back defining current/future coursework and that they won't make changes to coursework after verification has begun. I guess whatever you submit, as long as your home transcript lines up with it, it's fine. My pre-med advisor said this sounds alright as well. You do have to make sure though, that your transcript reflects that your studying abroad at an approved program and if it isn't reflected on the transcript, you should ask for a letter to be attached. (Don't feel bad if you missed it, I did and had to send two)
Basically, it all means you only have grades from the first two years of college. I guess it'll give you some good ammunition for letters of interest and such when the grades finally do come. It seems like it'll work out for both of us gpa wise, but hopefully they won't be too skeptical about only two years of work to go by. Ah well.

 

[bosco]

Originally posted by IrishOarsman
Hey all...

I'm sorry to be yet another single-issue poster asking for help with their specific situation (I don't mind those who are, it's just unlikely too many other people will benefit from this thread...) but I need some opinions.

So. It's June 3. All you SDN'ers have submitted today, right? Hehe, I know that's not the case, but what if you were ready to but unable because of forces outside of your control?

I'm doing an abroad year at Trinity in Ireland (as some may already have heard around here) and today I got the wonderful news that transcripts will come out probably between late july and september . Basically, that means even if I'm lucky the medical schools will have nothing on me until August. Grr.

I'm almost done with my personal statement and the rest of the app, know what schools I want to apply to, have my MCAT scores (from last august)... it's just these damn grades. The real problem is that without these grades, I only have marks for 6 credits out of 31 on the year (most of the classes were yearlong with no half-year evaluations.) However, my GPA at home was excellent and believe this year will be much the same. Also, I did not take any required courses for med schools this year (except for a little bonus cell bio/biochem/micro)...

What should I do? Should I just submit it, courses listed w/o grades, and pray that I get secondaries, to which I can attach my grades when they are finally available at the end of the summer? Or is that too great a risk, because some schools will not even give me secondaries, unable to understand my very unique circumstances?

I'm a little confused... Can't you just submit and list those classes under "current/future coursework"? This could circumvent the problem.

 

[IrishOarsman]

Cheers wardens for the response... that is heartening. I think I'm going to be on the phone a lot tonight figuring it all out.

Bosco- I can just do the current/future bit, I'm just thinking in terms of 'what makes me the stronger applicant'

 

[IrishOarsman]

okay, I will be that guy today because I feel like I'm going to have to make a decision very soon....

BUMP

Does anyone have a +/- opinion on Wardens plan? Is there any chance that a school, despite good numbers, might not send me a secondary out of spite, disinterest, or a feeling that I'm doing something shady here?

 

[IrishOarsman]

I admit it, I'm an addicted BUMPER.

 

[spumoni620]

You aren't taking pre-med classes at Trinity, right? You have a good GPA back home...so it's not like you need some good grades to bump it up. You can still let schools see what you're currently taking by listing them as current/future courses. So...it seems as though Warden's plan is right for you. I studied abroad in England as well, and believe me--it does take a while for those grades to be converted back to U.S./home school standards. So rather than waiting, I would submit asap and then update with secondaries. seems logical to me...