International grades

[willowedacorn]

Aaa

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[wysdoc]

Here is the relevant section in the AMCAS guide

Independent Attendance, Credits Not Transferred
Courses (other than MD coursework) attempted independently at a foreign institution do not have to be
listed if credit has not been transferred to a U.S. or Canadian institution, except to meet medical school
prerequisites unduplicated by other listed coursework. Such courses include coursework taken in a
foreign country before formally enrolling in a U.S. or Canadian institution as well as coursework taken
independently after enrolling in a U.S. or Canadian institution.
You are not required to list these courses in your AMCAS application, but you may do so if you’d like to
make medical schools aware of them. The AMCAS program will not verify the coursework and will not
include the courses in your AMCAS GPAs.
If you include this coursework in your application:
• Include the foreign institution in Schools Attended, request a transcript exception for the school, and
select Foreign Institution — No credits transferred. Do not send foreign transcripts or certificates to the
AMCAS program.
• Provide all required course data from the foreign institution except credit hours attempted and grades.

 

[willowedacorn]

I think I need to upload a Wes equivalency to AMCAS to show that my degree is the foreign equivalent of a US bachelors. My 60 credits in the US were part of a post bacc not second degree.

Do you recommend not listing my courses on my application at all?

 

[wysdoc]

Yes as stated above ask for transcript exception, if unsure message AACOM

 

[willowedacorn]

Got it. Just clarifying; should I apply to schools like I have a 4.0. Or apply to schools like I have reinvented myself?

In other words; apply exclusively to MD programs, including some t20s. Or apply to reinvention friendly MD schools and DO’s?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Got it. Just clarifying; should I apply to schools like I have a 4.0. Or apply to schools like I have reinvented myself?

In other words; apply exclusively to MD programs, including some t20s. Or apply to reinvention friendly MD schools and DO’s?

Check against MSAR and/or talk with admissions staff about your (potential) application. If you are coming in as an "international applicant," chances are they would prefer to see some grades from accredited US institutions rather than rely on your transcripts from non-US institutions.

 

[willowedacorn]

I’m a us citizen I just did my undergrad abroad. I’d be classed as a domestic applicant.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

... My postbacc at a 4-year US college was hilariously easy in comparison. Most courses had ~40% of students get an A.

Then I presume you had a 4.0 GPA at the postbac program? How many credit hours? This would need transcript verification and would comprise the AMCAS GPA.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hey thank you so much for your help so far! I hate to take up more of your time but I have one quick question. My official AMCAS gpa is 4.0, and my MCAT is 518. I have 2 questions.

(1) As mentioned before, my UK grades do not count towards my GPA, and I’m not required to list them. I went to a prestigious school (the London School of Economics) and studied a unique and challenging degree (law). Should I list my courses on AMCAS or not? The downside is that listing my courses may increase the chances of the school asking for a WES report (which says I have a 3.1).

(2) Do schools care much about diversity of thought? In other words, should I focus my personal statement and application on my unique experiences (born and raised in the UK, Law degree, experiences with the NHS) or focus on my premed experiences, which are rather typical.

I defer to the AMCAS Guide. I don't know if you qualify for a transcript request exception before you submit your AMCAS.

You should focus your personal statement on your story why you want to become a medicine, and provide whatever context as necessary to articulate your journey throughout your application. Breathe some life into the applicant information you provide.

 

[willowedacorn]

I defer to the AMCAS Guide. I don't know if you qualify for a transcript request exception before you submit your AMCAS.

You should focus your personal statement on your story why you want to become a medicine, and provide whatever context as necessary to articulate your journey throughout your application. Breathe some life into the applicant information you provide.

Hi!

According to AMCAS I have two options:
1) Do not list foreign coursework at all.
2) List foreign coursework. I will only be allowed to list the name and level of each course, I cannot include details of grades/ credit hours. I am also required to file for a transcript exception if I go down this route; AMCAS will not accept my transcript.

AACOMAS, on the other hand, will require my transcript and a WES report.

This may put me in an odd category where I’m more competitive for MD Schools than DO schools (although I am applying to both).

Would you recommend option 1 or 2?

And thank you so much for your help so far! I don’t have access to a premed advisor so this has been super helpful.

 

[willowedacorn]

Hi!

According to AMCAS I have two options:
1) Do not list foreign coursework at all.
2) List foreign coursework. I will only be allowed to list the name and level of each course, I cannot include details of grades/ credit hours. I am also required to file for a transcript exception if I go down this route; AMCAS will not accept my transcript.

AACOMAS, on the other hand, will require my transcript and a WES report.

This may put me in an odd category where I’m more competitive for MD Schools than DO schools (although I am applying to both).

Would you recommend option 1 or 2?

And thank you so much for your help so far! I don’t have access to a premed advisor so this has been super helpful.

@Mr.Smile12

 

[Mr.Smile12]

@Mr.Smile12

Punting to see if other experts can comment. I would check the AMCAS helpdesk. The policy in the AMCAS applicant guide is posted above by wysdoc, so I think you don't need to list any foreign coursework unless a US institution somehow accepts credits for a bachelor's degree. That doesn't sound like this is your situation. But I would check if you qualify for a transcript exemption (as wysdoc also advises above).

I'm not sure if you are more competitive for MD than DO. You'd have to ask the DO schools what they would do with your international transcripts.