2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread

[rockthecasbah]

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When I'm entering course, how do I enter a summer course? For example, if I took a class in Summer 2008, does that fall under the 2007-2008 academic year or 2008-2009 academic year? Or does it matter as long as I'm consistent?

Thanks.

 

[Abdullaah]

I typed my PS and Work/Activities sections on Microsoft Word and I'm really worried that the formatting is going to get messed up after I copy/paste. I was thinking of saving as a Word "Plain Text, .txt" file, and then copy/pasting that onto AMCAS. But would it be better to copy and paste my Word onto Notepad, and then copy/paste that unto AMCAS? Is there a way to check if everything turned out okay? I.e. If the application looks good in the "print view" does that mean no formatting issues took place? And yeah, i'm not really trying to retype everything onto AMCAS. Thank you much!

 

[bonoz]

Quick question: On the application it asks the specific range of dates I attended. It's something like:

Date's of Attendance: Month, Year - Month, Year.

My question is, if I started in Fall 2005 and will graduate Fall of 2009 (next December or January) - what Months do I use? Thanks.

 

[bonoz]

Should you send your transcript AFTER you have entered your grades and classes?

 

[Abdullaah]

Quick question: On the application it asks the specific range of dates I attended. It's something like:

Date's of Attendance: Month, Year - Month, Year.

My question is, if I started in Fall 2005 and will graduate Fall of 2009 (next December or January) - what Months do I use? Thanks.

August, 2005 - December, 2009 (or January, 2010). What's the issue?

Should you send your transcript AFTER you have entered your grades and classes?

It doesn't make a difference when you send in your official transcript. Its a good idea though to have a separate transcript with you so you can make sure you type in the course names accurately as they appear on the transcript. Typically, people get their official transcripts sent to AAMC early to knock one item off the list and avoid processing delays.

 

[Appless]

I typed my PS and Work/Activities sections on Microsoft Word and I'm really worried that the formatting is going to get messed up after I copy/paste. I was thinking of saving as a Word "Plain Text, .txt" file, and then copy/pasting that onto AMCAS. But would it be better to copy and paste my Word onto Notepad, and then copy/paste that unto AMCAS? Is there a way to check if everything turned out okay? I.e. If the application looks good in the "print view" does that mean no formatting issues took place? And yeah, i'm not really trying to retype everything onto AMCAS. Thank you much!

As long as when you print it out off your app on amcas and it looks good, then there are no errors. I pasted from word and there were no real errors. A few of the spacing things were off but they showed up in the application when i printed it and i fixed them. I wouldnt worry.

 

[jooface]

So if I did research and it's under a class that's listed in my transcript (psych 99) and I got a LOR from the PI/Professor would that count as a "LOR from a class I've taken" AND a LOR about my research too?

 

[gujuDoc]

So if I did research and it's under a class that's listed in my transcript (psych 99) and I got a LOR from the PI/Professor would that count as a "LOR from a class I've taken" AND a LOR about my research too?

No for science professor letters they want you to get people who've taken test based classes with i.e. lecture and exam classes not research redit classes. i remember reading that somewhere long time ago.

So someone like a prereq professor.

 

[GuitarFreak]

Hey guys
Which course do we select "Repeat" for, in the Special Course Types? The class with the unsatisfying grade that we repeated, or the class that replaced the bad grade?

Thanks all!

 

[Appless]

So if I did research and it's under a class that's listed in my transcript (psych 99) and I got a LOR from the PI/Professor would that count as a "LOR from a class I've taken" AND a LOR about my research too?

it could count as that but most schools will not allow this. I remember asking around something similar and more often then not i got a response back saying no it doesnt count. Your best bet is to call/email each school and find out.

 

[Abdullaah]

I'm trying to figure out how to document my Ochem lab, which is separate from lecture. The transcript says "Organic Chemistry" and it doesn't look cut-off but the full name in the university's schedule of classes is Organic Chemistry Lab. What should I put as the course name?
Ochem lecture's course name is "Lecture Organic C" in the transcript, which I modified to Lectures in Organic Chemistry (again referencing the course list) for AMCAS.

 

[mvenus929]

I know this has probably been answered before (actually, I think I remember reading about it) but just to check, because I called AMCAS and the person who answered there didn't seem sure...

Regarding class standing. By the time I finished first semester of freshman year, I had 33 credits (including 2 credits earned in summer programs and 11 AP credits). I listed the 2 summer program credits as HS, the 11 AP credits as FR, and the other 20 normal first-semester credits as FR. AMCAS says your freshman year should consist of 32 credits, so... do my 2nd semester freshman year courses start counting as sophomore?

I'm sorry to ask a repeat question, but in the instruction book, it seems like it should go by credit numbers... but then the lady at AMCAS said not to change class standing within a year... but maybe she got confused and actually meant don't switch within a semester?

Does anyone know for sure?

Include your ENTIRE first year as 'Freshman'. She meant it when she said don't switch in the middle of the YEAR.

Should you send your transcript AFTER you have entered your grades and classes?

Ideally, you should send your transcript as soon as your spring grades are posted.

 

[gujuDoc]

I'm trying to figure out how to document my Ochem lab, which is separate from lecture. The transcript says "Organic Chemistry" and it doesn't look cut-off but the full name in the university's schedule of classes is Organic Chemistry Lab. What should I put as the course name?
Ochem lecture's course name is "Lecture Organic C" in the transcript, which I modified to Lectures in Organic Chemistry (again referencing the course list) for AMCAS.

If you click the lab button when you put it in the transcript that should be fine. that is odd that wouldn't have L or Lab written in the transcript.

 

[Abdullaah]

I see. Did I push it too far when I modified "Lecture Organic C" (transcript) to "Lectures in Organic Chemistry"? I called AMCAS a few times and I know they are really specific about the course names. Similarly, I changed "Introductory Biol" to "Introductory Biology II," is that too much?

 

[lola12]

I graduated today from my 4 yr honors program. But I'm returning back to my univ. for a special undergraduate year. I'll be taking higher level courses then. How do I mention this in my AMCAS application? I appreciate any ideas regarding this.

thanks😀

 

[witness23]

no thats not too much at all. you put your courses in by the way they appear on your transcript. you probably did not take 10 courses per semester. they have been doing this for a while. they got it.

 

[Sleight]

So now I am confused...If I reached the cut off to be a junior standing by the second semester of sophomore year do I count that semester as Junior year or sophomore? What about if I reached the next class standing for my summer courses?

 

[Simran1031]

so I just submitted my amcas but in the status it says that they are waiting for my transcripts..

however, they received my transcripts like 2 to 3 weeks ago, and in the transcript section, it says received..did anyone face this issue

or are they just backed up? should I email them?

help someone..=(
i figured it out =)

 

[wingiv]

If you already enrolled in your classes, you can put them up in your AMCAS coursework without any grades. Also on secondaries for a lot of schools, there's sections that ask if there's anything else you might want to add on your application.

 

[rickyricardo]

1. Should you have HS awards (for research, like INTEL and other national awards). Obviously research continued into high school, but are these awards considered big in college?

2. Does it matter "Experience Type" you list on the AMCAS? e.g. if something is leadership and volunteer (non-medical), is one better to list than another? Like say you started a rape crisis counseling center, that's volunteer work, but most of the stuff you do is leadership-related regarding running the thing.

3. I have 3 clinical volunteering/shadowing things...One is an abroad experience, one is a list of all the docs I shadowed, and one is a desc of 1 doc that I shadowed and volunteered with extensively. Is it ok to name them all "Clinical Volunteering and Shadowing" or is the Experience Name supposed to be more specific than that.

4. (yeah I know its more than 3) What are you supposed to put for "Experience Name" in general. Would you put "Research Internship" or "Research Intern?" Like do you put the thing that you were or the thing that you participated in. Or if you were an officer of a club, would you put "Club Officer" or "Club Executive Board?"

 

[DNAbaby]

1. Should you have HS awards (for research, like INTEL and other national awards). Obviously research continued into high school, but are these awards considered big in college?

2. Does it matter "Experience Type" you list on the AMCAS? e.g. if something is leadership and volunteer (non-medical), is one better to list than another? Like say you started a rape crisis counseling center, that's volunteer work, but most of the stuff you do is leadership-related regarding running the thing.

3. I have 3 clinical volunteering/shadowing things...One is an abroad experience, one is a list of all the docs I shadowed, and one is a desc of 1 doc that I shadowed and volunteered with extensively. Is it ok to name them all "Clinical Volunteering and Shadowing" or is the Experience Name supposed to be more specific than that.

4. (yeah I know its more than 3) What are you supposed to put for "Experience Name" in general. Would you put "Research Internship" or "Research Intern?" Like do you put the thing that you were or the thing that you participated in. Or if you were an officer of a club, would you put "Club Officer" or "Club Executive Board?"

Question 1:
Get ready that your interviewer will google your awards right there in front of you -- is there information posted online about your awards? if yes, then definitely include them. if no, then I would group all of your HS awards into one bullet and still include them.

Question 2:
Use experience type to balance your application. For example, if a given volunteering experience fits into both "volunteer" and "leadership" categories, and your application has too many "volunteering" bullets, then call it "leadership". It's good to have diversity.

Question 3:
As long as your title communicates concisely what your experience is about, it's fine.

Question 4:
The space provided for the name is limited, so I tried to make mine as detailed, but still short, as possible. For example, my research jobs were called "Research Associate" and my volunteering job was called "Play Space Leader" etc. If you do a good job I don't think it matters much; if you do a sloppy job -- it will matter.

Good luck!!!

 

[rickyricardo]

How heavily are HS awards weighed though? I have all 15 spots on the AMCAS taken up, and only 2 are "questionable" (I was a member of each organization for 2-3 years but in one just took a small leadership role for 1 semester, and in the other, had no leadership role and only spent 3 hours per week on it).

 

[AMCAS]

When I'm entering course, how do I enter a summer course? For example, if I took a class in Summer 2008, does that fall under the 2007-2008 academic year or 2008-2009 academic year? Or does it matter as long as I'm consistent?

Thanks.

Summer courses should always be entered with the following academic year. So if you took the course in Summer 2008, it would be included with the 2008-2009 academic year.

 

[snitchseeker88]

Ok, so you don't have to notify the schools directly if your "future courses" change? I was confused because it says in the instruction book that these entries are "not binding," but then it also says that if because AMCAS will not change anything after submission, if anything changes, contact the schools direclty. So I was confused about that.

Also, are most secondaries sent online or through the mail?

 

[AMCAS]

so I just submitted my amcas but in the status it says that they are waiting for my transcripts..

however, they received my transcripts like 2 to 3 weeks ago, and in the transcript section, it says received..did anyone face this issue

or are they just backed up? should I email them?

help someone..=(
i figured it out =)

You should contact AMCAS directly with this question.

 

[osumc2014]

Is waiting for review the same as under review? I saw that someone who submitted yesterday says they are already under review, and I submitted 6/6 and is still waiting for review. I'm just wondering.

 

[rockthecasbah]

Include your ENTIRE first year as 'Freshman'. She meant it when she said don't switch in the middle of the YEAR.

I just called AMCAS, and the lady I spoke to told me to go by credit hours. She said you can switch in the middle of a year if you get enough credits, but not in the middle of a term.

 

[CielloStelatto]

Is waiting for review the same as under review? I saw that someone who submitted yesterday says they are already under review, and I submitted 6/6 and is still waiting for review. I'm just wondering.

waiting for review means you're in line.
under review means there is an AMCAS person going through your file, verifying it.

 

[LaCasta]

So I called AMCAS and they said whatever is in the envelope that the LORs come in gets included as well. So if anyone else used their school letter service, and if they include cover sheets with the LOR, the cover sheets will be scanned with each letter as well.

 

[rickyricardo]

How heavily are HS awards weighed though? I have all 15 spots on the AMCAS taken up, and only 2 are "questionable" (I was a member of each organization for 2-3 years but in one just took a small leadership role for 1 semester, and in the other, had no leadership role and only spent 3 hours per week on it).

Any input on these? I'm talking about Intel STS, ISEF, Siemens, etc.

 

[mvenus929]

So now I am confused...If I reached the cut off to be a junior standing by the second semester of sophomore year do I count that semester as Junior year or sophomore? What about if I reached the next class standing for my summer courses?

Classify the entire year as one standing. Summer courses count towards the following year.

so I just submitted my amcas but in the status it says that they are waiting for my transcripts..

however, they received my transcripts like 2 to 3 weeks ago, and in the transcript section, it says received..did anyone face this issue

When you first submit, it'll say 'waiting for transcripts'. If all your transcripts are in, you can refresh in about 5 minutes and it'll change.

Is waiting for review the same as under review? I saw that someone who submitted yesterday says they are already under review, and I submitted 6/6 and is still waiting for review. I'm just wondering.

No.

I just called AMCAS, and the lady I spoke to told me to go by credit hours. She said you can switch in the middle of a year if you get enough credits, but not in the middle of a term.

Well, I did that initially, and after verification, it was changed so that my first year was Freshman (total of 58 credits for first semester, and 17 for second semester, so 75 in all; more then 58 credits would have been considered 'sophomore'), my second year was sophomore, and my third and final year was senior.

So, it seems that not even AMCAS has a definitive answer.

 

[rockthecasbah]

When entering AP classes, what do I put under grade? My transcript shows a 'K' so for now I have it listed as K, but should I be putting "pass" instead?

Also, when listing a class for which exemption was given rather than credit (so 0 credit hours) and thus no grade, I should just leave the grade field blank, right?

 

[mvenus929]

When entering AP classes, what do I put under grade? My transcript shows a 'K' so for now I have it listed as K, but should I be putting "pass" instead?

Also, when listing a class for which exemption was given rather than credit (so 0 credit hours) and thus no grade, I should just leave the grade field blank, right?

If your transcript says K, put down K.

Probably 🙂

 

[snitchseeker88]

Ok, so you don't have to notify the schools directly if your "future courses" change? I was confused because it says in the instruction book that these entries are "not binding," but then it also says that if because AMCAS will not change anything after submission, if anything changes, contact the schools direclty. So I was confused about that.

Also, are most secondaries sent online or through the mail?

Anyone? Especially about the secondaries...I'm sure it's an obvious question with an obvious answer, but I just want to make sure.

 

[farf]

Anyone? Especially about the secondaries...I'm sure it's an obvious question with an obvious answer, but I just want to make sure.

I called an asked AMCAS this and they said that schools do not consider your future classes at all, except if you haven't fulfilled some requirements in which case they take it as an indication to keep their eyes open for when you send those grades in.

 

[rockthecasbah]

If your transcript says K, put down K.

Probably 🙂

That's what I did, but I just wanted to make sure.

Thanks!

 

[yellowtiger]

One quick question guys, can you add more schools after submitting AMCAS?

 

[mvenus929]

One quick question guys, can you add more schools after submitting AMCAS?

Yes. You just have to pay for the additional schools and re-certify your application.

 

[snitchseeker88]

I called an asked AMCAS this and they said that schools do not consider your future classes at all, except if you haven't fulfilled some requirements in which case they take it as an indication to keep their eyes open for when you send those grades in.

Oh ok. Thanks very much.

Does anyone know about the secondaries? If they are sent by mail or email?

 

[Appless]

Oh ok. Thanks very much.

Does anyone know about the secondaries? If they are sent by mail or email?

some online, other snail mail, depends on the school.

 

[gujuDoc]

some online, other snail mail, depends on the school.

yah most are via email but some might be via snail mail. I think i remember mine being all via online but the decisions would vary more in terms of giving the decision via email or snail mail.

I think the ones I had to send out snail mail came as a pdf via online but you had to mail it back to them via snail mail.

 

[ichewu]

Hey guys, heres my question...

i have 2 of the 3 necessary letters of rec for med school secured but im still waiting on my third professor. my question is, is it ok to submit my primary application even though i dont have all my recs in at the moment? or is it better to wait for the final rec to come in then submit?

thanks in advance

 

[Thyroid Gland]

submit your primary asap! you don't need any/all letters to do so

 

[ichewu]

thanks for the info.

so when are the letters of recs actually needed to be turned in to the medschools??? when you submit secondaries?

 

[GoSpursGo]

Hey guys, heres my question...

i have 2 of the 3 necessary letters of rec for med school secured but im still waiting on my third professor. my question is, is it ok to submit my primary application even though i dont have all my recs in at the moment? or is it better to wait for the final rec to come in then submit?

thanks in advance

Merging with the 2009-2010 AMCAS Questions Thread.

 

[mvenus929]

thanks for the info.

so when are the letters of recs actually needed to be turned in to the medschools??? when you submit secondaries?

Yes. Your application won't be complete at schools (most of them, anyway, I think some like UNC and Mayo are exceptions) until they have your secondary, fee, and LORs.

 

[mbe36]

I have the latest version of IE on my PC- it is 8.

However, AMCAS will not let me log in. It says it only supports up to IE version 7.

Can anyone help? How do I downgrade to IE 7? Thanks!

 

[flip26]

I have the latest version of IE on my PC- it is 8.

However, AMCAS will not let me log in. It says it only supports up to IE version 7.

Can anyone help? How do I downgrade to IE 7? Thanks!

Rather than trying to figure that out, download Firefox...will take only a few minutes...best browser ever.

 

[Sleight]

Quick question (may have been asked before): so amcas sends out ALL of the applications on June 24th no matter when you submitted (as long as you are verified of course)? Is that correct? So ppl that submitted on June 2nd and ppl that submitted on June 15th will be sent at the same time as long as they are both verified?

 

[mvenus929]

Rather than trying to figure that out, download Firefox...will take only a few minutes...best browser ever.

Ditto. I love Firefox. Sooo much better than IE.

Quick question (may have been asked before): so amcas sends out ALL of the applications on June 24th no matter when you submitted (as long as you are verified of course)? Is that correct? So ppl that submitted on June 2nd and ppl that submitted on June 15th will be sent at the same time as long as they are both verified?

Yes, but there's no guarantee that someone who submitted June 15th will be verified by then.