How to enter future coursework as a non-trad applicant

[ewelling]

I have a quick question. I am a non-trad applicant and have been out of school for almost 2 years. I still need to take the organic 1 & 2 LABS since most schools either require or recommend them. I plan to take these courses at a local college in Fall 2013 and Spring 2014, respectively. Since Fall registration won't open before I would like to submit to AACOMAS (June 1), how do I show the schools I plan to take these courses. When I enter it as an in progress/planned course, it still says I will need a transcript or enrollment verification, but that won't be available before I submit. How do I make sure the schools don't automatically weed me out because I haven't taken these labs yet?

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[BB8730]

Schools won't care about the prereqs until you interview or after you've been accepted. Your situation is common - don't worry about it. 😉 Just apply without future coursework listed.

 

[ewelling]

Thanks for the response! So they don't automatically filter out people who haven't completed pre-reqs? I know a lot of students haven't fulfilled their pre-reqs by the time they submit, but usually they have a transcript for that school. I was confused because since I have never enrolled at this local college, I won't have any transcript or enrollment verification by the time I submit. I would hate for AACOMAS to kick back my app because I don't have a transcript for this school. I would love to have my app verified and sent to schools ASAP, as I'm sure every applicant wants!

 

[BB8730]

I just did a search to make sure I was giving you correct advice and I found one post by someone who claims to have run into trouble with 2 schools - LECOM and UNECOM - for not having prereqs complete before applying. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4433414&postcount=6

But then here's someone who claimed it wasn't a problem for UNECOM:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10039884&postcount=48

So I don't really know what to make of that. Even many traditional applicants don't have all of the prereqs fulfilled or listed because they are taking a prereq in the spring semester before they graduate (which won't show up on a transcript at application time), so I find it hard to believe that a school would screen you out for not having them listed. The vast majority of people on SDN report that schools only start to care about prereqs during interview time or later. At a school I interviewed at, we sat down with a faculty member and either made sure we had all prereqs fulfilled or made a plan for completing any unfulfilled prereqs.

You could shoot an email or a phone call to the schools you're interested in applying to and ask them about it just to be safe. Otherwise, like I said, most people don't run into problems. Good luck!

 

[hallowmann]

I just did a search to make sure I was giving you correct advice and I found one post by someone who claims to have run into trouble with 2 schools - LECOM and UNECOM - for not having prereqs complete before applying. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4433414&postcount=6

But then here's someone who claimed it wasn't a problem for UNECOM:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10039884&postcount=48

So I don't really know what to make of that. Even many traditional applicants don't have all of the prereqs fulfilled or listed because they are taking a prereq in the spring semester before they graduate (which won't show up on a transcript at application time), so I find it hard to believe that a school would screen you out for not having them listed. The vast majority of people on SDN report that schools only start to care about prereqs during interview time or later. At a school I interviewed at, we sat down with a faculty member and either made sure we had all prereqs fulfilled or made a plan for completing any unfulfilled prereqs.

You could shoot an email or a phone call to the schools you're interested in applying to and ask them about it just to be safe. Otherwise, like I said, most people don't run into problems. Good luck!

I had 2 classes in progress and got an ii for LECOM, so I doubt that's really an issue (now?). I'm not sure about UNECOM, no love for me as a non-new englander.

That LECOM thread is also really old (7 years ago), and the person had 8 credits left, not just 2. Its possible they put a limit of 6 in progress credits, but I doubt OP will have an issue with just 2.

 

[Anicetus]

I just did a search to make sure I was giving you correct advice and I found one post by someone who claims to have run into trouble with 2 schools - LECOM and UNECOM - for not having prereqs complete before applying. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4433414&postcount=6

But then here's someone who claimed it wasn't a problem for UNECOM:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10039884&postcount=48

So I don't really know what to make of that. Even many traditional applicants don't have all of the prereqs fulfilled or listed because they are taking a prereq in the spring semester before they graduate (which won't show up on a transcript at application time), so I find it hard to believe that a school would screen you out for not having them listed. The vast majority of people on SDN report that schools only start to care about prereqs during interview time or later. At a school I interviewed at, we sat down with a faculty member and either made sure we had all prereqs fulfilled or made a plan for completing any unfulfilled prereqs.

You could shoot an email or a phone call to the schools you're interested in applying to and ask them about it just to be safe. Otherwise, like I said, most people don't run into problems. Good luck!

I honestly think with UNECOM there is some course discrimination going on there. They may prefer you have the chem reqs completed versus the 6 unit English credit.

To be honest, it isn't as hard to jump into any literature or writing course at extension or a CC to fulfill that req at any time, but Chemistry is usually one of the bigger course reqs. Just trying to make sense out of this because I am in a similar situation.

 

[ewelling]

So I read the AACOMAS instructions again, it's states:

Planned/In Progress Courses: "You must be enrolled in these courses and they must appear on your official transcript or you will be asked to remove them during verification"

Then it notes: "AACOMAS does not review Planned/In Progress courses and cannot provide approval or a decision based on incomplete courses"

I am confused, will they kick back my application for courses I plan to take in Fall 2013 and Spring 2014, which I am not currently enrolled in? First they say they will, then they note that they don't review them. So confusing!

 

[TXKnight]

So I read the AACOMAS instructions again, it's states:

Planned/In Progress Courses: "You must be enrolled in these courses and they must appear on your official transcript or you will be asked to remove them during verification"

Then it notes: "AACOMAS does not review Planned/In Progress courses and cannot provide approval or a decision based on incomplete courses"

I am confused, will they kick back my application for courses I plan to take in Fall 2013 and Spring 2014, which I am not currently enrolled in? First they say they will, then they note that they don't review them. So confusing!

That is exactly right. Once you register and pay for the class, it will appear on your transcript as "in progress" or something like that. AACOMAS needs to see this on your transcript, otherwise they will bounce it per their instructions. That also means that while you may be able to note the summer classes you will take, you will not be able to note the fall 2013 or spring 2014. Think about it, I can say I will take particle physics 4 on paper, but maybe I never will.

 

[ewelling]

That is exactly right. Once you register and pay for the class, it will appear on your transcript as "in progress" or something like that. AACOMAS needs to see this on your transcript, otherwise they will bounce it per their instructions. That also means that while you may be able to note the summer classes you will take, you will not be able to note the fall 2013 or spring 2014. Think about it, I can say I will take particle physics 4 on paper, but maybe I never will.

I agree, but they say "it is important to list all courses that you are presently taking or plan to take and not just the courses you have completed"

How do the schools know what people plan to take their last semesters of school (Fall2013 & Spring2014)? I'm sure a lot of applicants may have some pre reqs still to take. I think I read that AMCAS "takes your word for it" on future courses because they know you need to take all pre reqs to matriculate, so yet trust you will take them.

AACOMAS is confusing because of that note that they don't "review" planned courses. Does that mean they don't verify them and "take your word for it" as well? I tried calling AACOMAS but I didn't get a very clear answer.

 

[hallowmann]

I agree, but they say "it is important to list all courses that you are presently taking or plan to take and not just the courses you have completed"

How do the schools know what people plan to take their last semesters of school (Fall2013 & Spring2014)? I'm sure a lot of applicants may have some pre reqs still to take. I think I read that AMCAS "takes your word for it" on future courses because they know you need to take all pre reqs to matriculate, so yet trust you will take them.

AACOMAS is confusing because of that note that they don't "review" planned courses. Does that mean they don't verify them and "take your word for it" as well? I tried calling AACOMAS but I didn't get a very clear answer.

I think it means that they won't review grade info for those courses, but they will verify whether they are on your app.

At most schools you could register for the fall now, before paying. You usually don't have to pay for the courses until the semester starts or is about to start. You can't label the Spring 14 stuff, but you should be able to register for the Fall 13 class and submit the transcript from that college.

Either way like brakk and I said, it really only becomes an issue after you are accepted, especially for someone in your position that only has to complete 2 credits of pre-reqs.

 

[ewelling]

FYI... AACOMAS just told me that you can list future course without having to submit transcripts (don't have to be enrolled yet) IF they are pre reqs!! Yay!!