Made Spelling Mistake On Amcas On Ec, Am I Screwed?

[apple408]

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Hey guys. I feel like **** right now. I have been working non stop since the MCAT came out and since I am a borderline applicant, I submitted as soon as I could and thought I checked the application 3 times. BUT I made a really minor spelling mistake twice out of my fifteen experiences. No mistakes on the Personal Statement.

Am I really screwed?

 

[bkmonkey]

I wouldn't worry. I made about the same number of mistakes. I don't think it caused any probelms...

 

[TRUE]

I would say you're fine. Two mistakes out of fifteen experiences is not that big of a deal (quite frankly, I doubt anyone reads all 15 anyway, and if they do, not very closely).

 

[SoulRFlare]

This is the worst part of the app process--hitting send and placing ones trust in the whim of the 4 winds...
I suspect that two minor mispellings will not endanger your chances. Think of all the times you were im'img with a buddy, your buddy mispells a word, and you don't really pick up on it until he/she makes the stellar correction--thats *misspell to you 😉

 

[Syranope2]

don't worry. i'd say that's about par for the course. schools seem to understand that it's harder to proofread your amcas when it's on the computer in the format that it's in. it definitely won't prevent you from getting a secondary. smiles all around! 🙂

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Yeah, you are cool, no worries.

 

[apple408]

thanks u guys. it's good to hear it from the other people who already seem to be all set with the medical future. I was literally panicking and having weird pains in my stomach.

don't we just hate reading the damn application over and over and over and over and over and over and this happens??

 

[Medikit]

Is there a guide on how to do the experiences section?

 

[niceguy2004]

you can call amcas and they will make the correction for you .....delay application 2 to 5 week though 😡

 

[SaltySqueegee]

HAHA!!! That reminds me of the time I misspelled the name of one of my Letter Writers, right in the AMCAS PS.

I almost pooped my pants when i caught the error the next day.

However, I don't think it was a problem in the end...

 

[UCLAMAN]

you can call amcas and they will make the correction for you .....delay application 2 to 5 week though 😡

is this true?...back in my day whatever you sent was final. i remember the computer program turned all of my question marks and some of my quotations into exclamations. stupid cut and paste.

in any event i was tripping like the op was. so i decided to send a hardcopy to all the schools i applied to highlighting the corrections on the hardcopy. but then i dont know if you want to do that since the mistakes are more due to you than due to cut and paste on the computer.

in any event all these other posters are correct...i remember at my wake interview the doc was like "ya we get minor mistakes on ps all the time. we dont really care. we know the online amcas system is kinda difficult to deal with."

 

[Anka]

To the OP,

You need to calm down a little and work on perspective. If you don't, you run a serious risk as far as psychological health goes in the long run (not to mention over the next nine months or so as you do secondaries and hit the interview train).

I realize all of this neurosis is part of the pre-medical culture, but you're having panic attacks! As a side note, if this is common with you, you might want to talk to your primary care type about it. It's better to get it treated now, than get in over you're *misspell head.

Peace and good vibes,
Anka

 

[chopper]

I don't think this is a big deal anyway. These ADCOMs are reading thousands of just PERSONAL STATEMENTS, just think of the thousands * 15 sec experiences out there. I know I wouldn't care.

For those of you (like me) who are still working on finishing AMCAS, might I recommend:
1. Write up the experiences in word or other word processor.
2. Spell Check
3. Save as a text file (to get rid of all the formatting B.S.)
4. Cut and paste into AMCAS.

Don't think it really takes that much more time, and you get the peace of mind of a spell check.

Make sure you do look over what you wrote as well. Spell checks don't pick up (to vs too) or (their vs there) etc.

My .02 cents

 

[felipe5]

just to echo what everyone else has said, I think the OP will be just fine. Not only will adcom's have read 1000's of these suckers, but also the human brain has a tendency to either skim over or auto-correct little mistakes when reading things whe one reads things to themselves (thats why sometimes its best to edit your statements by reading them outloud). As far as how to write the experiences, I just suggest that you explain the activity along with what you did/got out of the experience......one of your main goals should be to not make it sound like it came from a brochure

 

[BubbleBobble]

Chill. I made a spelling error on my PS, and the only reason I found out was because it was *circled* when I saw a copy of it on the desk of Associate Dean Dolores Brown at my Northwestern interview.

I ended up waitlisted, in case that matters.

 

[CaMD]

you can call amcas and they will make the correction for you .....delay application 2 to 5 week though 😡

Can anyone verify that this is true?

 

[Premedtomed]

I would say you're fine. Two mistakes out of fifteen experiences is not that big of a deal (quite frankly, I doubt anyone reads all 15 anyway, and if they do, not very closely).

I agree, even my premed review board cared less unless you have very few experiences or you were president of MAth Club and that's all.

Spelling mistakes, screw you haha, but it should be ok. I don't think they pay very close attention to such things

 

[Ascensionmd]

not only did my personal statement have mistakes cuz it replaced all my quotes with "?"s, but i made spelling errors on two of my secondaries. i got interviews and acceptances to both schools!!!

i worried my ass off, but i think it was just my anal premed attitude.

good luck!

 

[Fermata]

I've read stories online on SDN about people's interview experiences in which they've seen the interviewer holding their PS with all the spelling mistakes circled in red.

What to take from this: you are le screwed.

FIRE LE MISSILES!!!!

 

[kingcer0x]

Am I really screwed?

yes

 

[felipe5]

I've read stories online on SDN about people's interview experiences in which they've seen the interviewer holding their PS with all the spelling mistakes circled in red.

What to take from this: you are le screwed.

FIRE LE MISSILES!!!!

LOL, WTF mate???? Fermata, are you bored at work like me????

Honestly, some interviewers don't even read the PS's until 2 minutes before the interview, and with any quick skimming (as a previously said) you're not as likely to catch minor spelling mistakes. Whats done is done, so I wouldn't freak out if I were you.......you'll have plenty of time to freak out later.

AAAAAH MOTHERLAND!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mcjay]

you are screwed!! I made only one spelling error in my personal statement, and now I am waitlisted at four schools.

Just kidding, you'll be fine. I bet it doesn't even get noticed.

Best luck! 👍

 

[Tippy007]

I'd say it depends on what you mispelled. If it was your name for example, you might be in a bit of trouble.

I wouldn't worry unless there were several mistakes or glaring errors in your PS. Good luck.

 

[monopolova]

I misspelled the name of an organization I participated in. lol I wrote "blank blank Opportunity blank" on the title line (which is correct) but then in my explanation I wrote "blank blank Opportunities blank".

Furthermore, I referred to the hospital I worked at as blank Hospital rather than blank Medical Center.

I regret this very much as I am currently processed and there's nothing I can do, but I mean who can blame me for making these dumb mistakes? I focus on my experiences wherever I work not the freakin' name. Still, it'd have been nice to not have made any weird errors.

Ah well. If I don't get in because of that, well, that would be pretty crappy to say the least. lol

 

[CUMD]

To the OP:

I made about 3 grammatical/spelling errors in my AMCAS 2004 application in the EC section, which I submitted last July around this time. I remember being upset about it, but my worries were put to rest when I started getting interview invites. Never was I once asked about my proofreading skills on my app, and everything worked out for me in the end. Feel free to PM me if you want me to lend you some encouraging words, because I was in probably the exact same boat as you are in now.

I think you'll be fine...relax! I'm positive that adcoms understand how stressful this process really is, and I highly doubt that they would question your competence as a physician based on such a minor oversight. I really sympathize with all you guys applying now, but trust me, it works out in the end. Good Luck!

 

[1viking]

I did the old word processor save as text file copy paste deal. When i proofed it, all the formatting was good, until i submitted and it was gone. A space of about 200 characters was placed before my final paragraph. It kinda screwed up my last sentence (i was soooo mad). I called AMCAS and they said, "tough." They recommended I send a new letter to all the schools, which I did. This was just last year.
Moral? You probably won't be able to make a change to your app unless AMCAS changed their policies this year (unlikely).