Help with entering Coursework in AMCAS application

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

johncalvin

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2008
Messages
473
Reaction score
3
I am trying to enter course names exactly as listed on my transcript.

However, I have two problems:-

(1) My University's transcript does not distinguish, by name, between General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II. So they are both listed as GENERAL CHEMISTRY. Their respective course numbers, however, are different. (160:161 and 160:162). Such is also the case for Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II [both listed as ORGANIC CHEMISTRY]; and even Physics I and Physics II. So, is it okay if I enter the name of the course as it appears, but then append a (I) or (II) after the name, for clarity?

(2) Due to scheduling methods, my Physics class is listed twice on my transcript, each semester. Both listings have the same name, same course number, and even the same grade. The only difference is that one of the listings has 4 credits (with lab included) and the other listing has 0 credits. Is it okay, then, for my to not enter the 0 credit listing, even though it has a grade (same grade as the 4 credit listing)? Now, combine this problem with (1), and I have IDENTICAL listings, by name, for 2 semester courses.

Thank You.
 
(1) My University's transcript does not distinguish, by name, between General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II. So they are both listed as GENERAL CHEMISTRY. Their respective course numbers, however, are different. (160:161 and 160:162). Such is also the case for Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II [both listed as ORGANIC CHEMISTRY]; and even Physics I and Physics II. So, is it okay if I enter the name of the course as it appears, but then append a (I) or (II) after the name, for clarity?

Yes, you can enter the roman numerals to indicate part I and part II.

(2) Due to scheduling methods, my Physics class is listed twice on my transcript, each semester. Both listings have the same name, same course number, and even the same grade. The only difference is that one of the listings has 4 credits (with lab included) and the other listing has 0 credits. Is it okay, then, for my to not enter the 0 credit listing, even though it has a grade (same grade as the 4 credit listing)? Now, combine this problem with (1), and I have IDENTICAL listings, by name, for 2 semester courses.

What is the purpose of the 0 credit class?

And you should probably be posting these questions here:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=624943&page=12
 
Yes, you can enter the roman numerals to indicate part I and part II.



What is the purpose of the 0 credit class?

And you should probably be posting these questions here:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=624943&page=12

Didn't realize the thread; will do after this question is resolved.

Well, the purpose of the 0 credit class is to help students register for the lab portion. They should have really made the lecture part 3 credits, and the lab part 1 credit; but that's misleading because you don't get separate lab and lecture grades.

Either way, this weird scheduling method translates into a dumb-looking transcript. It literally looks like this:

PHYSICS FOR SCIENCES | (750:193) | Grade: A | Credits: 4
PHYSICS FOR SCIENCES | (750:193) | Grade: A | Credits: 0
 
Didn't realize the thread; will do after this question is resolved.

Well, the purpose of the 0 credit class is to help students register for the lab portion. They should have really made the lecture part 3 credits, and the lab part 1 credit; but that's misleading because you don't get separate lab and lecture grades.

Either way, this weird scheduling method translates into a dumb-looking transcript. It literally looks like this:

PHYSICS FOR SCIENCES | (750:193) | Grade: A | Credits: 4
PHYSICS FOR SCIENCES | (750:193) | Grade: A | Credits: 0

Some of my intro bio classes are like that (separate lab course and grade); however, we also received 1 credit for the lab, and 3 credits for lecture. I would just list it how it is-the 4 credits being lecture only, and the 0 credit one being lab only, and input both of the grades. I would also put Physics for Sciences-lab for the lab portion, as AMCAS says you can type out the full name of the course if it's abbreviated on your transcript. So I would just check the lecture only box for the 4 credits and the lab only box for the 0 credit one. It's what I did. The AMCAS people will figure it out 🙂
 
Some of my intro bio classes are like that (separate lab course and grade); however, we also received 1 credit for the lab, and 3 credits for lecture. I would just list it how it is-the 4 credits being lecture only, and the 0 credit one being lab only, and input both of the grades. I would also put Physics for Sciences-lab for the lab portion, as AMCAS says you can type out the full name of the course if it's abbreviated on your transcript. So I would just check the lecture only box for the 4 credits and the lab only box for the 0 credit one. It's what I did. The AMCAS people will figure it out 🙂

Thanks for the advice. A friend of mine (took the same class with me) just got off the phone from AMCAS; they told him to write "Lecture w/ Lab" for the 4-credit one and completely ignore the "0" credit listing.

Said friend also cautioned me, though, that the AMCAS rep. didn't fully understand the situation, and he suspects the rep. said "don't write it" without fully understanding.
 
Thanks for the advice. A friend of mine (took the same class with me) just got off the phone from AMCAS; they told him to write "Lecture w/ Lab" for the 4-credit one and completely ignore the "0" credit listing.

Said friend also cautioned me, though, that the AMCAS rep. didn't fully understand the situation, and he suspects the rep. said "don't write it" without fully understanding.

Hmm, be careful then, I suppose you should just do as the representative says, although I would call just to double check. Usually, though, lectures are 4 credit and the lab is 0 credits so I'm sure it won't be a problem for them to figure it out.
 
Some of my intro bio classes are like that (separate lab course and grade); however, we also received 1 credit for the lab, and 3 credits for lecture. I would just list it how it is-the 4 credits being lecture only, and the 0 credit one being lab only, and input both of the grades. I would also put Physics for Sciences-lab for the lab portion, as AMCAS says you can type out the full name of the course if it's abbreviated on your transcript. So I would just check the lecture only box for the 4 credits and the lab only box for the 0 credit one. It's what I did. The AMCAS people will figure it out 🙂

I would not do that. I have 0 credit courses for my general biology labs because I was exempt from them. If you list one of those as being a lab only course, but it's worth 0 credits, they may think you were simply exempt from the lab portion, and that may affect how your schools determine whether or not you meet the pre-reqs.
 
I would not do that. I have 0 credit courses for my general biology labs because I was exempt from them. If you list one of those as being a lab only course, but it's worth 0 credits, they may think you were simply exempt from the lab portion, and that may affect how your schools determine whether or not you meet the pre-reqs.

The OP received a grade for the lab course, though, which indicates that the course was taken and completed.
 
The OP received a grade for the lab course, though, which indicates that the course was taken and completed.

I don't believe the grade next to the lab portion refers to my grade in lab, per se. It doesn't really matter since I got an A in both the lecture and the lab anyway. But, say, I had gotten a C in lab, but a B in the course, both lines would have displayed "B"
 
Top