How does AMCAS/Schools decide whether a course in online?

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premedaeouwo

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In my 1st year, I took a 2nd-semester Physics course "online" (as a distance studies course) in order to free up the 3 lecture hours per week so I could get into Biology lab section during one of the days. However, I did complete the lab component and no one ever went to class anyways.

I was wondering how AMCAS/schools decide if a course is an online course or not. This course has the same course code as the regular course although the section number is the same number than those associated with online courses.

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You TELL them it was online. That's how they know.

Tip: Even a small lie can destroy your career. Choose your steps wisely.

In my 1st year, I took a 2nd-semester Physics course "online" (as a distance studies course) in order to free up the 3 lecture hours per week so I could get into Biology lab section during one of the days. However, I did complete the lab component and no one ever went to class anyways.

I was wondering how AMCAS/schools decide if a course is an online course or not. This course has the same course code as the regular course although the section number is the same number than those associated with online courses.
 
That is incorrect.

1) Some schools/universities may have additional info on official transcripts about online courses or sections

2) AMCAS uses the National Student Clearing House (NSCH) database of college course catalog descriptions and registrar course/section info as the first automated step in the verification process. I would say that full information from at least half of the schools in the country exist in this database with lesser amounts of data for the rest. So your section number can give you up in seconds

3) At individual schools, coursework is not typically checked for fulfillment until after you have taken up an offer of acceptance during prematriculation. Here schools may perform indepth due diligence that may include contacting school registrar and/or requiring verification from other sources. This indepth due diligence is becoming more common as medical schools fall under the umbrella or association of large hospital systems.

4) the LCME will conduct audits for re-accreditation that will include reviewing select / random admissions application and files. As such schools will conducts audits prior to this to make sure their files hold no suprises. Since school are accreditited based in part on admssions policies approved and adherence to those policies, schools and parent health systems do not want bad publicity that will affect their brand and marketing if the LCME dings them

5) By the time you start medical school, you will agreed at least 3 times (primary, secondary, matriculation agreement) that you have provided accurate info and have followed all applicable requirements and policies. If you are ever fond out, it would be an ethical violation and likely dismissal

6) As such, all acceptees and matriculants are subject to having acceptances rescinded up through until the degree is conferred on the student. While this exceedingly rare, the federal courts upheld schools right to do so.

7) if you are dismissed, the DOE and banks may demand loans to be repaid via civil suit. If there is evidence of gross violations federal criminal fraud charges could be brought against you

So with all these checks within the system, is it really worth any risk, no matter how small, to have your entire medical career over before it begins over a piddling online course

All I know is that many schools do not distinguish between online courses and in person courses on their own transcripts and AMCAS does not ask you to report whether or not the course was online. So if they don't ask there is no way they would know.

I'm aware that some schools will ask in their secondaries to report online courses and of course in that case you would report it.
 
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