How did you describe military service on AMCAS?

[KickedOut]

Just wondering what everyone put down in the description. Did you actually talk about your job? Did you use stuff that translates more (i.e., supervised so many people, etc.)? Just interested because I'm scratching my head a little here...

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Choo]

I used multiple categories. I separated ones that were in a hospital setting and described that. Then you should put any leadership role you were in, maybe combine that into one post; I would include how many people you supervised, and what you accomplished. I even put the awards I received in the award section; I think that's intended for academic awards, but I think it wouldn't hurt to add it.

 

[teddy bear doc]

Did you already get the aarts transcript? I didn't know I needed it until last Thursday... Now the office has totally dropped off the face of the planet?!?!? Have you already dealt with that? How did it turn out?

Sorry for the 20 questions. To answer your question, as a description, I basically just talked about what I did and why it was important. I'm not one to use bullet points, though, so if you prefer that route I would think just the basic info (what, when, how long, etc) would suffice.

 

[bold text]

Just wondering what everyone put down in the description. Did you actually talk about your job? Did you use stuff that translates more (i.e., supervised so many people, etc.)? Just interested because I'm scratching my head a little here...

Did you get kicked out? I'm asking because of your username.

Are you guys listing every command separately? (boot camp, schools, assigned units etc.)

 

[teddy bear doc]

I just put it all together. Just "Paid employment- military" and my job title with the description. I did delineate between basic, ait etc. in the description, though. I was trying to avoid making it too tremendously technical; not everyone is familiar with military jargon. That was just my personal take on it, however. I'm sure there are a million ways to handle it.

 

[KickedOut]

Did you get kicked out? I'm asking because of your username.

No, I was honorably discharged from the military. My user name makes reference to something else.

Right now I'm thinking about having a short description of my primary job. Then describe secondary duties that have more application in additional paragraph(s). Stuff about leadership, responsibility, etc.

 

[Simplify]

I lumped it all together in one category.

 

[bryce]

As for being NCO of the year, I separated that into "awards"... As for all of my tabs I listed together... I do believe that I listed Commissioning separately & into awards as well to emphasize my learned leadership skills, abilities. In speaking to my buddy pertaining to this same subject a couple of years ago he said that it doesn't really matter as long as it is indeed listed.

I'll hollar at him [seeing him today as a matter of fact] & let you know when I get back. Happy 4th kids...

 

[jinx520]

How did you guys list your credits off the AARTS transcript? Right now I'm inputting my recommended courses and credits, but I'm not sure how to list in under the AMCAS "course category" section. Should "Radar Systems" go under "Engineering", under "Computer Science/Technology" or "Other"? Or should I just list everything on the AARTS transcript as "Other"?

 

[KickedOut]

How did you guys list your credits off the AARTS transcript? Right now I'm inputting my recommended courses and credits, but I'm not sure how to list in under the AMCAS "course category" section. Should "Radar Systems" go under "Engineering", under "Computer Science/Technology" or "Other"? Or should I just list everything on the AARTS transcript as "Other"?

Honestly, I don't think that AMCAS knows better...or even cares too much for that matter. If I recall correctly I think I put just about everything as "Other" with a couple of "Computer Science/Technology" thrown in there. I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you.

 

[EdLongshanks]

How did you guys list your credits off the AARTS transcript? Right now I'm inputting my recommended courses and credits, but I'm not sure how to list in under the AMCAS "course category" section. Should "Radar Systems" go under "Engineering", under "Computer Science/Technology" or "Other"? Or should I just list everything on the AARTS transcript as "Other"?

If I were an adcomm, my eyes would barely register the name of the course and pay attention to the department. In courses that could be either Comp Sci or Eng, I would divide them up equally, since those are impressive categories - I wouldn't use "Other" if I could help it.

I even snuck one CS course into the Math category - CS 3023 (or something) was "Discrete Math" so I scored it "math" and they took it. That bumped up my Science GPA by a point or two.

 

[teddy bear doc]

@jinx-

Did you already get your AARTS transcript in? How and when were you able to get a hold of someone? Tomorrow is finally a business day after the longest-seeming weekend in history, so I can hopefully start getting some info, but anything you have to say would be greatly appreciated as well!

Nvm. I saw your post on the military medicine forum. Keep me posted and I will do the same. GL.

 

[TheDocness]

Are you trying to call them in order to request transcripts? I just mailed in a transcript request form....it took about 3 weeks from when I mailed it in to when AMCAS verified. Remember you are dealing with government workers....often they move at their own pace without regard to your urgency. Good luck.

 

[teddy bear doc]

Thanks Docness-

Yeah, I am trying to contact them. I have spent hours on the phone actually. I have talked to (in no particular order): ACE, ATRRS, tried all the AARTS numbers several times (all disconnected with no forwarding number), DC office for my congressman, local office for my congressman, AMCAS (multiple times), Leavenworth Ed Center (multiple times), Ft. Riley Ed Center, Ft. Knox Ed Center, Offutt AFB Ed. Center (my husband is AF here, this was a longshot), Ft. Knox Base Operator, several individuals in the Human Resources Command for the Army at Ft. Knox, and left a message for the G1 in charge of the HRC move at Ft. Knox.

The AARTS office is moving as part of a BRAC move. The best info I have right now is saying that they were supposed to be there by 14 June, have been out of contact since around 10 days ago, and "didn't set up things very well to have a smooth transition." Who knows when they will be back up? The federal guidelines say no later than 30 Sep of this year. Needless to say, I will be totally screwed if they don't get their **** together pretty soon.

Off to make more phone calls. Not like it will do any good... But at least I will feel like I am doing SOMETHING.

PS. The reason I am trying to call is to obtain a correct address. The only address on the website is their old one at Ft. Leavenworth, at an office that no longer exists.

 

[SFGuy2011]

If you're requesting an AARTS transcript then I strongly recommend faxing the request. It took less than a week for AMCAS to receive mine after I faxed the transcript request to AARTS.

 

[EdLongshanks]

Just wondering what everyone put down in the description. Did you actually talk about your job? Did you use stuff that translates more (i.e., supervised so many people, etc.)? Just interested because I'm scratching my head a little here...

I think that people see the open ended section of AMCAS as a point of confusion instead of an opportunity. You can describe anything any way you want. That is the point. You ought to view the 15 part activities section of the AMCAS as an invitation to write 15 little essays, each one of them on any subject you want, as long as it is an "activity"

 

[Simplify]

I don't know if there is a right way or not but I wrote brief descriptions of each activity in past tense, like a resume. My military service was all lumped into one category. I didn't give away everything because my hope is that it will give me something to talk about in interviews!

 

[teddy bear doc]

If you're requesting an AARTS transcript then I strongly recommend faxing the request. It took less than a week for AMCAS to receive mine after I faxed the transcript request to AARTS.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm sorry to say that I already tried, and it didn't work. Truthfully, I didn't expect it to. Literally all the numbers are disconnected and that includes the fax apparently. The problem isn't knowing where or how to obtain the transcript. The problem is that the office is off the grid completely. There is literally no way to get a hold of them, and the addresses are wrong, but no new addresses are posted, so sending the request is like throwing it into a black hole.

On a high note, I finally got a hold of the G1 from HRC and he gave me a contact for someone at the new location and told me that he would personally go down there and straighten it out if I can't get a hold of anyone by Monday afternoon. So there is (maybe) some light at the end of this long, murky, bureaucratic tunnel.

 

[2 Wycked]

On a high note, I finally got a hold of the G1 from HRC and he gave me a contact for someone at the new location and told me that he would personally go down there and straighten it out if I can't get a hold of anyone by Monday afternoon. So there is (maybe) some light at the end of this long, murky, bureaucratic tunnel.

Please let us know if you have any success with this. I'm in the exact same situation. The first AARTS transcript I requested back in May went to Morehouse College instead of AMCAS.

I don't know how that happened as I included the AMCAS transcript address. After sending numerous additional requests to AARTS, I finally saw this thread. Hopefully they have some address or some point of contact, because this is getting ridiculous. Thanks and good luck!

 

[KickedOut]

Please let us know if you have any success with this. I'm in the exact same situation. The first AARTS transcript I requested back in May went to Morehouse College instead of AMCAS.

I don't know how that happened as I included the AMCAS transcript address. After sending numerous additional requests to AARTS, I finally saw this thread. Hopefully they have some address or some point of contact, because this is getting ridiculous. Thanks and good luck!

Good luck with AARTS guys, I have a problem with the Community College of the Air Force. I requested a transcript for myself back in May so I could use it to input all of my classes into AMCAS, and I received it within five business days from my request. Well about three weeks ago I put in a request that they send my transcript to AAMC and I think it might be sent sometime next week (if I'm lucky). I don't understand this huge discrepancy in time.

On the bright side, I just found out that George Washington waives the secondary application fee ($125) if you have been active duty within the past three years. I love DC, glad I applied 🙂

 

[2 Wycked]

I've never understood time discrepancies like that. It's as if the more you need something, the longer it will take or the greater the chance something will be messed up about it.

I didn't know about the George Washington secondary fee waiver, thanks!

 

[teddy bear doc]

And the saga continues...

Keep trying guys. Last week I sent all the transcript info to both addresses, the one provided by the aarts website and the one provided by amcas. We'll see how it turns out. Called more people. Left more messages. The waiting is killer!!!

 

[thitchcock]

I faxed mine this morning and it went through "successfully", but cant get through to call anyone, one email address isnt valid anymore and Im waiting on a reply from one email address with "conus" in it regarding verification that they received my fax, Im not going to wait around and just guess that they got it, I need to know, lol
this situation is just a "little" important...
SFGUY2011.. what fax number did you use that it was received at and mailed to AMCAS?

 

[teddy bear doc]

Don't know what got up their tail, but something did apparently! I sent 1 copy of the request to each address (the amcas-supplied one and the aarts-supplied one), gave a copy to the military case rep for my congressperson, called everyone even vaguely affiliated with aarts and emailed just about every single person on the interwebz...

Whatever it was, it worked. Transcript received and verified today!!! 👍 Good luck to the other aarts-ninjas on this site. I am pulling for you.

 

[2 Wycked]

@thitchcock

I had success with the @conus... email address. So if worse comes to worse you can scan in a copy of your transcript request and send it to that address. That's what I did, and I saw an update on the AARTS website showing that it was sent today. Hopefully it arrives at AMCAS soon. Good luck.

 

[thitchcock]

when did you both do this though, how long did it take them? whats my best bet besides faxing

 

[2 Wycked]

I emailed them to check on the transcript status on Monday (7/12), got a reply and emailed my scanned request form later that day. It was processed on the 13th and mailed today. All in all a very quick turnaround.

 

[teddy bear doc]

when did you both do this though, how long did it take them? whats my best bet besides faxing

I started trying like... hmmm. 7/1 I think? But they must be set up to take requests again. For the longest time, they were completely unreachable, but obviously by now there is someone handling the requests (since mine and 2wycked's got mailed). Keep trying.

 

[thitchcock]

Saw that the have a post at the top of the AARTS webpage saying to fax it to the number I had faxed it too, so someone must be getting flack for it all, lol
still no reply to my email to verify reciept of the fax though