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conure,
yeah, someone brought this up earlier. has anyone spoken with amcas about this? i have already requested my transcripts be mailed so am hoping they are being mailed to the right address. hmm.... it would really suck if they weren't.
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%$%#^%&@&^!!! every time i friggin call amcas i get this message that says "announcement not recorded please try again later", and it hangs up on me. has anyone else gotten this? it is SOOOO annoying. i wrote them an e-mail like a week ago and they still haven't responded.
 
ok, i got through to amcas. i had to pretend i didn't have a touch tone phone in order to actually speak with someone.

for anyone who is interested... the foreign coursework goes under your u.s. institution even if you didn't get grades but got credit. this seems like it will make more sense than entering it under the foreign school, but i could have sworn the instructions said to enter it under the foreign school.

the correct address to send the transcripts to is 2450 N St NW. this is the one you get when you request a transcript only be sent to AMCAS (not to yourself). you probably shouldn't worry about the M street address... the guy on the phone said that is also their address, so they should still get it. the best address is N street, though, if you haven't already done it.
 
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by lola:
•%$%#^%&@&^!!! every time i friggin call amcas i get this message that says "announcement not recorded please try again later", and it hangs up on me. has anyone else gotten this? it is SOOOO annoying. i wrote them an e-mail like a week ago and they still haven't responded.•••••What I found to work everytime last year: try calling any number to get through to AAMC (that's right, not AMCAS but AAMC) and have them transfer you over to a live person at AMCAS. Usually the initial person would wait on the phone with me until someone from AMCAS actually picked up. I can't remember the phone numbers that worked best, but these are some that I tried:

(202) 828-0400
(202) 828-0695
(202) 429-9628
(202) 331-0099
 
Lola,
Thanks for braving the AMCAS call center for all of us. :) Luckily, I haven't sent in my OT requests yet so I'll be sure to send it to the N. St. address instead of the M. street address.
Another question...What does supplementary credit mean? I took an art and photo class post-bacc at a JC and it won't let me enter the photo class grade. AMCAS automatically counts the units as supplementary credit. WHY? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />
 
Thanks Lola we owe you one. :clap:
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by curlyMD:
•should we use the abbreviations on the transcript or spell the course names out fully? i've got some weird abbreviations on my transcript... i.e., i thought i took intro to stat, but apparently it's BA CPT STAT/DA ANAL

go figure. i just took the courses they told me to take.•••••I think it is best that you stick with the abbreviations as shown on the transcript. The AMCAS people might get confused when there are verifying your application if they see a course you listed that is not on the transcript.
 
Hey everyone, I hope you all are having a pleasant day. I'm deciding whether I should classify my Biology Lab, Organic Chemistry Lab, and Cell Biology Lab as courses which are 1) "Lab Only" or 2) "Both Lab and Lecture". The reason I'm deliberating is because these labs actually do have their own lecture (one before each experiment). What do you all think?

Thanks,
Yogurt
 
Woohoo! Finally finished the courses section!!!
:clap:

Yogurt - when in doubt, go with what makes you look better! I'd put them as both lecture and lab.

u2ecila
 
Has anybody been assigned multiple AAMC IDs? A few months ago I signed on to AAMC to release my MCAT scores on line and was assigned an AAMC ID at that time. I sent an email to AAMC wondering if this would be the same ID for AMCAS and they responded that it would. I had given this AAMC ID to letter of rec writers, which have been completed and identify me with that ID.

When I signed into AMCAS 2003 last week, I was given a different AAMC ID. So, I have two AAMC IDs: one for the MCAT on-line score release system (and the one used to identify me in letter of recs) and the AAMC ID listed in AMCAS.

Anybody else have the same discrepancies? I called AAMC and spoke with somebody named Don Scott and he said that the two IDs are indeed different. But that disagrees with the email I had received from AAMC earlier. Thoughts?
 
Regarding AP courses and grad/post bac classes:

I just read in the AMCAS instruction manual that AP courses receiving college credit should be listed at Freshman status, not high school.

Also, Post Bac status should be applied to any grad classes that do not go towards a graduate degree.

:p
u2ecila
 
More info on Course Names and Numbers!

Here is what the manual says:

Enter the exact course name in English and the exact course number in the
designated boxes. If the exact course name does not fit, enter a logical
abbreviation. This information is critical for AMCAS to verify each course on the
official transcript and to the medical school's evaluation of your application. If a
course number does not fit in the space provided, include the last eight digits
rather than the first ones. Decimal points, if part of the course number on your
official transcript, should be included when entering the course number.
Enter designations for all of your lab course work exactly as they appear on the
official transcript. If the lab credit is included with the lecture course credit,
append the phrase "and lab" to the exact course title as it appears on the
official transcript. For example, if "General Chemistry II" appears on the official
transcript and lab credit is included with the lecture course credit, enter
"General Chemistry II and Lab" and indicate "Yes" in response to the question,
"Did this course include a lab section?"

Ok, that means I need to go change mine. I guess I should learn to read directions first!
:rolleyes:

Here is the link to the <a href="http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/2003instructionbook.pdf" target="_blank">instruction manual</a>.

fun, fun
u2ecila
 
Hey guys,

I'm on the quarter system - and when I type in my year (2000) and the quarter (winter) - it puts it in the 2000 academic year when in fact it's the 1999 academic year. Know of any ways to fix that? I've sent them an email, but to no avail (of course).

Also, has anyone gotten an "error" page when they go to log in (instead of the normal log in page).

What a pain in the ass.
 
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Forensic Chick,
If you want to select Winter quarter of the 1999-2000 academic year, enter 1999 for the year and 2nd quarter/winter quarter. However, I noticed that if it's spring quarter you want, you'll have to select 2000 for the year and 3rd quarter/spring quarter. It's kinda confusing but it worked for me. :)
 
In an earlier post, I meant "supplemental credit" not supplementary credit. :D Heehee Temporary mental lapse. Does anyone know why my post-bacc photo class is considered supplemental credit and not eligible for grade input?????
Another thought: For OT requests, did anyone highlight the pertinent sentence, "Please attach this form to my official transcript." and the mailing address for the registrar officials? With all the stories I'm hearing about transcripts, I went ahead and did just that. Maybe a tip for others as well.
 
•••quote:••• "Hey everyone, I hope you all are having a pleasant day. I'm deciding whether I should classify my Biology Lab, Organic Chemistry Lab, and Cell Biology Lab as courses which are 1) "Lab Only" or 2) "Both Lab and Lecture". The reason I'm deliberating is because these labs actually do have their own lecture (one before each experiment). What do you all think?

Thanks,
Yogurt "
••••My Chemistry Lab course also had a lecture. I classified it as "both lab and lecture", but I'm not sure if this is right. I'll try contacting AMCAS today or tomorrow and let you know what I find out.
 
hmm... i kind of thought the both lab and course option was for people whose lab was part of the course rather than a separate course. for example, my general chemistry class is worth 3.5 units and includes the lab. the lab also had a short lecture, but if it was a separate lab course with a short lecture i would not have said it was a lab and lecture -- just a lab.
 
More AMCAS questions:
1) for publications- should we put the actual reference for the journal - like the journal name, date, and authors in the description section? Also do you think we should put the abstract in that description section as well?

2) What would you guys put down as the 'title' for someone who does research in a lab as a student.
 
Put the title, journal (with volume and date), and authors in the description section.

A student that works in a lab is often called a research assistant.
 
I agree that the lecture and lab designation is just for classes with lab included in the lecture. If it is just a lab, separate from the lecture class, you should designate it as just a lab. At my school, physics has the lab as part of the course, so it is a lecture and lab course. Orgo has lab separately and you have to take a separate class for the lab.
 
Hey!

For all you that have "shadowed" a doctor before what did you write as your "title" when writing the experience description part of your application?

UCLA Paratrooper
 
Is anyone else with A- or B+ grades not getting calculated in the coursework section? It is automatically going to supplemental grades.
 
•••quote:•••Hey!

For all you that have "shadowed" a doctor before what did you write as your "title" when writing the experience description part of your application?

UCLA Paratrooper ••••I used "volunteer" as my title because while I was shadowing I did help out a little here and there. And I had to get a volunteer badge to be let in the hospital. I explained exactly what I did in the explanation part at the bottom of the screen though.
 
Re: Lab and lecture designations

As an AMCAS veteran...the correct way to designate a class that was just a lab (even if it has a lecture pre-lab) is as a lab. Lecture and Lab is reserved for courses that have lab as a component of a larger class. Ex. a class that would include 3-5 hours of lecture a week and a lab.
 
Does anyone know if the first day to submit our AMCAS applications has been pushed back again? Or is it still 6/5???!? Thanks!!!! :)
 
Did anyone take any college courses while still in high school? I did but I am not sure if I should put that date as my starting date for attendance or the semester that I began as a full time student?

Also what if a student completes all required courses but decides to stay another year to take some extra courses. Can we then have two "senior" years?

I applied last year and my coursework is still listed on the application, but now the academic year selections have changed. They no longer have SS, S1, S2. Should I change them?
 
Hi everyone. This is a great thread. I have a question myself.

Would you include a publication if you were only in the acknowledgements section? I know this isn't a publication, but I though it would should your involvement in the reserch.

Thanks!
 
I would include it as a research opportunity. In the description of the research you could add that you were acknowleded in Title of Paper in So and So Journal, Volume X, Date.
 
I would do the same.
 
i know this is kind of a silly question, but can you work on your classes/coursework , and still go back to your personal statement?
 
yes, you can go back. even if you put you have finished filling in all coursework (or whatever it says), you can still go back to the coursework section or any other section. if certain parts seem inaccessible (they are in grey & you can't click on them), it's b/c you need to go back to a section and say you've finished it even if you haven't. you can keep making changes on any section until you submit it.
 
•••quote:••• Hey guys,

I'm on the quarter system - and when I type in my year (2000) and the quarter (winter) - it puts it in the 2000 academic year when in fact it's the 1999 academic year. Know of any ways to fix that? I've sent them an email, but to no avail (of course).

Also, has anyone gotten an "error" page when they go to log in (instead of the normal log in page).

What a pain in the ass.••••Here's how it works - (quarter system: school term = mcas appearance) Fall 2000 = 2000/Q1, Winter 2001 = 2000/Q2, Spring 2001 = 2000/Q3, Summer 2001 = 2000/QS, Fall 2001 = 2001/Q1. But when you enter the year, choose the ACTUAL year that you were enrolled. e.g. for Spring 2001, select Q3 & 2001, but it will appear as 2000 Q3.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by T-bruin:
•Hi everyone. This is a great thread. I have a question myself.

Would you include a publication if you were only in the acknowledgements section? I know this isn't a publication, but I though it would should your involvement in the reserch.

Thanks!•••••T-Bruin, I posted a similar question in the form about "acknowledgements--and if they should be included on AMCAS." Feel free to drop by and look at people's responses.

Tweetie
 
anybody getting "N/A" for end dates for Post Sec Experiences?

sheesh, I had that problem all of yesterday and it's still not changed. :rolleyes:
 
ok, I am embarassed to even ask this question but somebody's gotta do it--
On the "course TYPE" section, there are a whole bunch of "check marks" you can make depending on what kind of course you took. eg: AP/CLEP/Exempt/etc etc. I assume that if NONE of them apply, NONE of them need to be checked. Right? In other words, assuming you took a class and let's say it wasn't ANY of those categories, you just don't check anything, right?
You would think they would assign a category for "completed class" or something. It just makes me nervous. so, most of your classes on your transcript do not have any of these checks (unless you have a "not so good" record) right?

This whole Course work think has me confused.
 
Hey Guys,

I hope everyone is doing sexy. I have volunteered in a hospital for two years, and I am trying to decide if I should classify the experience as medical or non-medical. I was spending time with patients--keeping them company, providing non-clinical care. I also worked with nurses doing some paperwork, etc.

Thanks A Lot!

Yogurt
 
definitely medical
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Yogurt the Kid:
•Hey Guys,

I hope everyone is doing sexy.

Yogurt•••••yes, definitely medical. :)

And that was funny <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />
 
ok, this is it........I am going officially AMCAS CRAZY!!!
I went to school on a 3 quarter system. When I put in calendar year as 1997 and Q2, it is supposed to change to "academic year 1996" and Q2 but it's not!! If I took classes in winter quarter of that started in 1997, what should AMCAS see it as?
 
ok so I am noticing that whatever I put in as the "calendar year" also turns out to be the "academic year." AMCAS is not changing anything for those that are on quarter systems. Correct?

And what's the deal with "after translation." The HELP menu says that "after translation" the dates may be changed. Does translation = verification? HELP! anybody there?????
 
in response to all of the QUARTER QUESTIONS on amcas.
the answer is in the help section, but it's confusing.
if you are on the quarter system and your winter quarter starts in JANUARY, and on your school's official transcript for the academic year 199X-199Y it says WINTER 199Y, amcas doesn't like you. (assuming, of course, that X+1=Y)

amcas's quarters assume that winter quarter starts in December 199X. to adjust for this, when you select the quarter for the coursework, use the year 199X instead of 199Y.
your OT's WINTER 199Y will now be amcas's WINTER 199X. this way, it'll appear in the 199X year that amcas lumps all of the terms in.

i'm sorry if i confused you even more
g/l
 
whew! I think AMCAS needs to hire you intead of those lab monkeys they got answering phones. Thanks so much! This is all I needed to hear. :) :clap: :)
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Tweetie_bird:
•ok, I am embarassed to even ask this question but somebody's gotta do it--
On the "course TYPE" section, there are a whole bunch of "check marks" you can make depending on what kind of course you took. eg: AP/CLEP/Exempt/etc etc. I assume that if NONE of them apply, NONE of them need to be checked. Right? In other words, assuming you took a class and let's say it wasn't ANY of those categories, you just don't check anything, right?
You would think they would assign a category for "completed class" or something. It just makes me nervous. so, most of your classes on your transcript do not have any of these checks (unless you have a "not so good" record) right?

This whole Course work think has me confused.•••••Don't check anything. Leave that area blank.

To answer your other question on the second post, if youre on the quarter system like I am put the WHOLE year as the same year. So all three quarters in the 1999-2000 year would go under 1999 year, for example. I hope that answered your question. Sorry if it didnt. :)
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by medical22:
•Did anyone take any college courses while still in high school? I did but I am not sure if I should put that date as my starting date for attendance or the semester that I began as a full time student?

Also what if a student completes all required courses but decides to stay another year to take some extra courses. Can we then have two "senior" years?

I applied last year and my coursework is still listed on the application, but now the academic year selections have changed. They no longer have SS, S1, S2. Should I change them?•••••Can someone please help me???
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by medical22:
•Did anyone take any college courses while still in high school? I did but I am not sure if I should put that date as my starting date for attendance or the semester that I began as a full time student?

Also what if a student completes all required courses but decides to stay another year to take some extra courses. Can we then have two "senior" years?

I applied last year and my coursework is still listed on the application, but now the academic year selections have changed. They no longer have SS, S1, S2. Should I change them?•••••I just realized how long and likely to be unread this post is, so I'll summarize:

(1) go by the date of the first term on your OT
(2) two years of being a senior all combine into senior category

Hi Medical22 (by the way, 22, great number :) )
I can't answer all of your questions, but some, yes.

for the college you attended while in high school, was that the same one you attended as a full-time student? if so, look at your OT from the school. whatever's the earliest date on that. but, because amcas asks for those grades, i'm thinking the date(i.e. month) when you first took classes in h.s. again, look at the OT.

as far as the senior part [sigh] b/c i had ap credits, i was a senior during my 3rd year. i'm now a fifth year. i also did a summer abroad. so my total quarters of being a senior comes to...9! Talk about a super-senior! (I never realized that before. I feel so old!)

If you've looked at the UC's "not substitute" for the application, there's only one space for senior. I talked to a UCLA ADCOM before and asked her about that. She said that the two senior years would be combined into that one line.

Wanna see some odd stats (mine, of course):
year # terms
FR 1
SO 4
JR 2
SR 9!

I just followed the registration status my school designates (it goes by units)
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by medical22:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by medical22:
•Did anyone take any college courses while still in high school? I did but I am not sure if I should put that date as my starting date for attendance or the semester that I began as a full time student?

Also what if a student completes all required courses but decides to stay another year to take some extra courses. Can we then have two "senior" years?

I applied last year and my coursework is still listed on the application, but now the academic year selections have changed. They no longer have SS, S1, S2. Should I change them?•••••Can someone please help me???•••••Hey Medical

re: college courses in high school, classify them as high school of course. Your starting date for that college is when you took your FIRST class there, even if it is during high school

re: 2 senior years. Yes you can have two years classified as senior. Essentially, you choose how you classify your years. Unless you seriously have GAPS in your education do NOT use the unit guide instead just follow this simple guide (this will help schools keep track of your years)

high school stuff= HS
summer before academic year 1 and after HS grad=FR
academic year 1= FR
summer after academic year 1= SO
year 2= S0
etc
summer after year 3=SR
year 4=SR
summer after year 4=SR
year 5=SR (even if you are taking grad classes but are NOT in a grad program and have not received a BS/BA)

EXCEPTION: IF YOU RECEIVED YOUR BACHELORS AFTER YOUR 4 then YEAR 5 is *NOT* SR but PB. IF you received your BS/BA after year 4 and ARE now in a grad program, of course then it is not considered SR but graduate level

ONLY USE THE UNIT GUIDE IF YOU HAVE SERIOUS GAPS IN YOUR EDUCATION!!!

hope that helps
 
QUOTE]Don't check anything. Leave that area blank.

To answer your other question on the second post, if youre on the quarter system like I am put the WHOLE year as the same year. So all three quarters in the 1999-2000 year would go under 1999 year, for example. I hope that answered your question. Sorry if it didnt. :) [/QB][/QUOTE]
yeap! makes good sense. :) thanks :clap:
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by BrentwoodBoy:
•ONLY USE THE UNIT GUIDE IF YOU HAVE SERIOUS GAPS IN YOUR EDUCATION!!!

hope that helps•••••I hope you're right.
I'm going to change my course classifications. I think it'll change my GPAs for the better: more terms is more well-rounded.
Glad I have cable modem.
I could NOT do this with a dial-up. If anybody out there is, kudos to you.

Thanks BWBoy
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by pocwana:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by BrentwoodBoy:
[QBONLY USE THE UNIT GUIDE IF YOU HAVE SERIOUS GAPS IN YOUR EDUCATION!!!

hope that helps•••••I hope you're right.
I'm going to change my course classifications. I think it'll change my GPAs for the better: more terms is more well-rounded.
Glad I have cable modem.
I could NOT do this with a dial-up. If anybody out there is, kudos to you.

Thanks BWBoy[/QB]••••I am certain I am right. Even the help guide says that you ONLY should use the unit guide if you have gaps in your education (or at least it did last year) and it also mentions how summers should be classified. Since people take a different unit load per year, you simply classify according to the acadmic year you took the classes.

Even if you took 50 S/Q units while in HS, your FIRST YEAR post HS diploma is FR and not SO or JR even if your college classifies you as an entering SO. Actually this system is much simpler.

In the end, how you classify your year is at your discretion because I believe the help guide says AMCAS wont audit it unless there are some serious discrepencies.

Good luck and you're welcome
 
And dont forget to list your classes in the ORDER THEY APPEAR on your transcripts. It's a pain in the neck but I guess it helps them verify it quicker and trust me you will want that :D !
 
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