*official* Amcas 2006

[BaylorGuy]

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Thanks for the update and the help guys. Yeah, i went and took your advice and looked at the the start date and stop dates of my activities and they go in order from most recent to a long time ago.

I guess i just got thrown off considering some of my awards that i wanted to be near the bottom of the app wound up being near the top. Oh well, thanks for the help all.

 

[junebuguf]

I retook Bio and Chem several years later. The second time, however, it was the honors course. Does that count as a repeat, because they might cover a lot of the same material, but its not technically the same course.

 

[45408]

How much are you crazy kids writing for the work/activity/honors descriptions? I was planning on just BRIEFLY describing what it is I did for each in 3-5 sentences. Are most people writing mini-essays for each? Or is a tiny blurb sufficient?

I didn't plan on writing too much for some activities, but this was where I was planning on explaining my research.

 

[45408]

Also, they suggest that you change term every 32 credits or so. For example, change from freshman to sophomore after 32 credits. However, what if you have 40 credits freshman year. Do you just arbritrarily assign some to sophomore year?

I was planning on indicating my class standing as what my school had designated me to be, although I'm not sure. I was a junior a semester early (and then a senior a semester early), so I think I might write it down like that.

 

[laya533]

How did you guys classsify humanities in course classification?

 

[QofQuimica]

How did you guys classsify humanities in course classification?

You have to split them up by subtypes. I was a Spanish major, so I counted my Spanish classes that were in Spanish as "foreign language" and the ones taught in English as "English literature." And then I had a philosophy class, which also is its own category, and two art classes, which go under "fine arts." I had one class that was difficult to categorize; it was a mixture of science, social science, and humanitites, and I ended up calling it "politics" for lack of a better name.

 

[MoosePilot]

I was planning on indicating my class standing as what my school had designated me to be, although I'm not sure. I was a junior a semester early (and then a senior a semester early), so I think I might write it down like that.

You know, if it took you four years to graduate, I think it's easiest to just do it by calendar year. It doesn't really matter how many hours you have. I came in with a bunch of AP credits and I took summer school my first two years, so I think that technically I was a Sophomore for my first Spring Semester and a Junior for my second. Last app cycle I just said I was a Freshman for my first year, a Sophomore for my second, etc. and AMCAS did not care.

 

[DrMom]

I came in with a bunch of AP credits and I took summer school my first two years, so I think that technically I was a Sophomore for my first Spring Semester and a Junior for my second. Last app cycle I just said I was a Freshman for my first year, a Sophomore for my second, etc. and AMCAS did not care.

I was in the same boat and did the same thing. I think it makes the most sense to just go by school year regardless of how your particular university classified you each semester.

 

[Ambs]

I was in the same boat and did the same thing. I think it makes the most sense to just go by school year regardless of how your particular university classified you each semester.

I had a bunch of AP credits going in, so I also used the school year to indicate my standing. Otherwise, it would have gotten too complicated for me to bother caring. I agree that it makes more sense that way.

 

[Avenue Q]

You have to split them up by subtypes. I was a Spanish major, so I counted my Spanish classes that were in Spanish as "foreign language" and the ones taught in English as "English literature." And then I had a philosophy class, which also is its own category, and two art classes, which go under "fine arts." I had one class that was difficult to categorize; it was a mixture of science, social science, and humanitites, and I ended up calling it "politics" for lack of a better name.

wait - wouldn't a class taught on spanish literature be in the "foreign lanagueage and lterature" classification, even if taught in translation?

 

[45408]

wait - wouldn't a class taught on spanish literature be in the "foreign lanagueage and lterature" classification, even if taught in translation?

that's how I would consider it - if it says "Spanish" in the title, I'd put it under foreign language/literature.

 

[tigress]

yet another question!

is credited fieldwork (hospital volunteering) lecture or lab, since it is neither?

since it was credited through biology, i'm catagorizing it as that, but it also seems kinda weird.

Also, is special studies only for afro-american studies, american studies, or gender studies? can another "studies" like Jewish Studies, be put there since it does not fall under any other catagory? otherwise, since it is interdisciplinary, I'm putting it in other.

I have a bunch of Jewish courses with names nobody is going to understand, and I stuck them under philosophy/religion, because they are religion courses. And then for Jewish history I put it under history. I guess if yours don't fit any category you could put them under other. It probably doesn't really matter much.

 

[tigress]

I was planning on indicating my class standing as what my school had designated me to be, although I'm not sure. I was a junior a semester early (and then a senior a semester early), so I think I might write it down like that.

I just wrote Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior for my first, second, third, and fourth years of college, respectively. Actually, according to credit classifications, I entered college as a sophomore. But I just thought it made more sense to put it the way I did. I guess it probably doesn't matter much either way.

 

[AxlxA]

For Acitivites:

My situation is the follow:

I presented a poster for my Honors research thing at my school and i won some sort of awards for it(about 10 others won this).

should i list this 2x, one under Poster/prsentation. other under awards?

I wrote completely different descriptions for both.

 

[DarkFark]

For Acitivites:

My situation is the follow:

I presented a poster for my Honors research thing at my school and i won some sort of awards for it(about 10 others won this).

should i list this 2x, one under Poster/prsentation. other under awards?

I wrote completely different descriptions for both.

Can you fit both descriptions in one blurb? I split up my lab work and my field research because I wanted space to talk about both, but I would have put them under the same heading if there were no character limitations.

I say split 'em, unless you need all 15 slots. If the reader just skims the description, they may never know about your award unless you make sure they see it with a new entry.

 

[AxlxA]

I've got so many slots left..... I only have 6 slots taken. Yes i suck but quality > quantity!!

 

[MoosePilot]

I've got so many slots left..... I only have 6 slots taken. Yes i suck but quality > quantity!!

Too true. If I was a traditional student, I wouldn't be able to fill many of them at all. Six isn't bad, especially if they're all quality stuff that you'd be proud of.

 

[willthatsall]

I've only filled like 14 slots, but it is all REALLY good/prestigious stuff. Stuff like Beta Club and National Honor Society. I can't think of anything to fill up the last slot, but I'll think of something soon. If I won a speed typing contest with 90 WPM, do you think that is worth putting on there? I know you don't have to type that much in med school, but 90 wpm shows finger dexterity.

 

[DarkFark]

Okay, physician shadowing. It goes under "other", right? I can't really justify it as community/volunteer: clinical, but I just hate to use "other". Its so non-specific.

 

[45408]

I've only filled like 14 slots, but it is all REALLY good/prestigious stuff. Stuff like Beta Club and National Honor Society. I can't think of anything to fill up the last slot, but I'll think of something soon. If I won a speed typing contest with 90 WPM, do you think that is worth putting on there? I know you don't have to type that much in med school, but 90 wpm shows finger dexterity.

well, only if you're planning on applying to surgery-heavy schools, because finger dexterity isn't so important if you're going into radiology or something

 

[AxlxA]

Okay, physician shadowing. It goes under "other", right? I can't really justify it as community/volunteer: clinical, but I just hate to use "other". Its so non-specific.

I'd use volunteering/clinical. It fits better than "others"

 

[AxlxA]

Another Question:

I took college level classes when i was in high school but i'm still gonna send in the transcript for them. Do any of you know if they'll count toward my GPA?

 

[DrBowtie]

Another Question:

I took college level classes when i was in high school but i'm still gonna send in the transcript for them. Do any of you know if they'll count toward my GPA?

Yes, unfortunately for me.

 

[tank you]

is it worth putting in activities that i was just a member of AMSA??

 

[45408]

is it worth putting in activities that i was just a member of AMSA??

did you do anything as a member? volunteer? attend conferences? If you can't make a conversation about your experiences as a member, then don't list it (goes for anything).

 

[AxlxA]

did you do anything as a member? volunteer? attend conferences? If you can't make a conversation about your experiences as a member, then don't list it (goes for anything).

Good tip on that convo stuff. I've only got 6 activities and don't plan to put more cause i dont want to lie.

 

[Scrub MD]

Another Question:

I took college level classes when i was in high school but i'm still gonna send in the transcript for them. Do any of you know if they'll count toward my GPA?

Only if you got college credit and a grade for them. Do not send in your high school transcripts. Only send the school which awarded college credit.

 

[hardy]

I've only filled like 14 slots, but it is all REALLY good/prestigious stuff. Stuff like Beta Club and National Honor Society.

I guess you and I have a different definition of prestigious.
What kind of stuff would you call not good/prestigious?

 

[AxlxA]

Only if you got college credit and a grade for them. Do not send in your high school transcripts. Only send the school which awarded college credit.

that's what i meant. They're college equivilant and got good grades in them so it'll be a GPA booster of two hundredths of a decimal!!

 

[taddpole]

I have a bunch of Jewish courses with names nobody is going to understand, and I stuck them under philosophy/religion, because they are religion courses. And then for Jewish history I put it under history. I guess if yours don't fit any category you could put them under other. It probably doesn't really matter much.

I'm a judaic studies major, and thus most of my classes are Judaic studies, though theyre from all sorts of fields- history, religion, law, even health etc.

I just put everything under "Religion/philosophy", I have a feeling the AMCAS people are going to see a transcript, and base it on the designation the school gives it, so they'll see "Jud stud" and give it religion/philosophy and wont pay attention to the actual course title- they have thousands of these things to do...

 

[iwutitan]

I've only filled like 14 slots, but it is all REALLY good/prestigious stuff. Stuff like Beta Club and National Honor Society.

??? I am not sure what is your definition of REALLy prestigious... Sorry don't want to offend anyone. I am just trying to find an answer for myself. I mean any honor society has a list of >50 members per chapter. According to that, many many people would have a prestigious list of activities....I am a member of 6 (that I can think of now) professional honor societies but it seems like alot of people have that too so what would be likely to make a more stand out impression to admission people? Obviously be in exec board would be one... what else?

 

[MollyMalone]

Question for the non-trads: how far back are you all going for your work experiences? I have a clinically based employment history for 13 years now, and I have a LOT of extra slots on the work/activites page 🙁 I'm just wondering how far back is too far back.

Also, I have been getting independent study credit for the research that I've been doing for the last year and a half... should I also put it down under work/activities? I would like to talk about it a little on the app and it isn't going to show up in my PS, so I'd like to include it, but I wonder if that's double-dipping, so to speak 😕 😕

Thanks for any advice!

 

[gujuDoc]

Question for the non-trads: how far back are you all going for your work experiences? I have a clinically based employment history for 13 years now, and I have a LOT of extra slots on the work/activites page 🙁 I'm just wondering how far back is too far back.

Also, I have been getting independent study credit for the research that I've been doing for the last year and a half... should I also put it down under work/activities? I would like to talk about it a little on the app and it isn't going to show up in my PS, so I'd like to include it, but I wonder if that's double-dipping, so to speak 😕 😕

Thanks for any advice!

I'm not nontraditional, but I would put the most recent things you have done. I have often talked to admissions deans and they have said that they want the things you are doing currently. If you still have room on your application for older stuff, then I would put it on there.

 

[gujuDoc]

Okay, physician shadowing. It goes under "other", right? I can't really justify it as community/volunteer: clinical, but I just hate to use "other". Its so non-specific.

There is a section for medical/clinical/volunteering

You would put anything that is clinical under that category, unless it is paid work, at which case you would put it under employment. Also the other exception would be if you had clinical research, in which case you could put it under any of the various research categories

 

[DarkFark]

There is a section for medical/clinical/volunteering

You would put anything that is clinical under that category, unless it is paid work, at which case you would put it under employment. Also the other exception would be if you had clinical research, in which case you could put it under any of the various research categories

I'd use volunteering/clinical. It fits better than "others"

Thanks. I was hesitant to use this category because it has "community/volunteer" in it, and shadowing isn't performing any service (except for yourself), but I guess it's still the best fit.

 

[MoosePilot]

Question for the non-trads: how far back are you all going for your work experiences? I have a clinically based employment history for 13 years now, and I have a LOT of extra slots on the work/activites page 🙁 I'm just wondering how far back is too far back.

Also, I have been getting independent study credit for the research that I've been doing for the last year and a half... should I also put it down under work/activities? I would like to talk about it a little on the app and it isn't going to show up in my PS, so I'd like to include it, but I wonder if that's double-dipping, so to speak 😕 😕

Thanks for any advice!

I went all the way back, because I thought it was valuable to show them I worked during my undergraduate time as well. Otherwise I look like I've never held a menial job and that paints an inaccurate picture.

 

[QofQuimica]

wait - wouldn't a class taught on spanish literature be in the "foreign lanagueage and lterature" classification, even if taught in translation?

I guess they could be--but those two classes fulfill my college English requirement, and most of the students in the class with me were English majors, not Spanish majors. So I think that technically they ARE English classes, but they just happened to be on novels written by Spanish authors, which was why I chose them. Plus, I took other Spanish literature classes where we read the books in Spanish and even the class discussion was conducted in Spanish, and I counted those as being "foreign language." So I think that the way I divided them makes the most sense, because they were two distinct types of classes. And also, if I do as you suggested, I don't have no college English classes. 😱

 

[tigress]

I guess you and I have a different definition of prestigious.
What kind of stuff would you call not good/prestigious?

Um, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I sort of thought willthatsall was joking when he wrote his last post. 😕

 

[QofQuimica]

Too true. If I was a traditional student, I wouldn't be able to fill many of them at all. Six isn't bad, especially if they're all quality stuff that you'd be proud of.

I agree. I think if you're a traditional-aged student, having six meaningful things is more than reasonable, and you should not feel at all bad about not having 15 things. I think I only have three things from my college years. I mean, how much can a person reasonably be expected to have done in just three or four years while being a full-time student, right? 🙄 I was talking about this with another non-trad applicant. Here is the one time where being 50% older than the traditional applicants is actually of benefit instead of yet another obstacle to be overcome. 😛 But I'm still not sure that I'm gonna make it all the way to fifteen things. 🙄

 

[MoosePilot]

Um, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I sort of thought willthatsall was joking when he wrote his last post. 😕

With Will that's generally a good assumption 😉

 

[QofQuimica]

Question for the non-trads: how far back are you all going for your work experiences? I have a clinically based employment history for 13 years now, and I have a LOT of extra slots on the work/activites page 🙁 I'm just wondering how far back is too far back.

Also, I have been getting independent study credit for the research that I've been doing for the last year and a half... should I also put it down under work/activities? I would like to talk about it a little on the app and it isn't going to show up in my PS, so I'd like to include it, but I wonder if that's double-dipping, so to speak 😕 😕

Thanks for any advice!

I would, TheDarkSide, if they were meaningful experiences that relate to what you're doing now and why you're going to medical school. No high school activities, because even the traditionals aren't supposed to do that. But anything you've done post-high school is fair game. How to divvy should depend on how relevant the activities are to you now and to your reasons for attending medical school. I've decided to use my undergrad research, MS research, and PhD research as three separate activities, for example, because I want to explain each in depth, and also show that I have a history of research experience since 1996, and it's not like I just woke up one day out of the clear blue and mysteriously found myself in a PhD program. 😛 Also, I was on student gov. in college, and I've kept that up in grad school, so I'm going to talk about that, too. But in that case, I'll make it one entry for "student gov." and talk about it at all three school levels, rather than using it as three separate entries, because it isn't as important as the research.

 

[DrYo12]

I went all the way back, because I thought it was valuable to show them I worked during my undergraduate time as well. Otherwise I look like I've never held a menial job and that paints an inaccurate picture.

good idea

😉

 

[MollyMalone]

Thanks for the input!

 

[LabMonster]

Bump

 

[desikudi]

hey guys,
This might sound silly, but when is the earliest we can submitt the AMCAS application(like June 1st or june 15 or even now...??).
Thanx.

 

[Daichi Katase]

hey guys,
This might sound silly, but when is the earliest we can submitt the AMCAS application(like June 1st or june 15 or even now...??).
Thanx.

I like your signature 👍

 

[MollyMalone]

Ok, new question - Rape/Sexual Assult/Domesit Violence crisis counslor. Is this clinical (psych?)? I wasn't putt it as such, but something just made me think that maybe it was. I guess it doesn't really matter, they will see what it is...

I don't think it much matters, but you could certainly make a case for going with clinical.

 

[javert]

hey guys,
This might sound silly, but when is the earliest we can submitt the AMCAS application(like June 1st or june 15 or even now...??).
Thanx.

I believe in past years AAMC releases a target date of when submissions can be received, but it could be delayed a few days because of the all-too-frequent AMCAS errors. Anyway, it doesn't really matter that much...the apps aren't sent off to schools until mid-August.

 

[MollyMalone]

I believe in past years AAMC releases a target date of when submissions can be received, but it could be delayed a few days because of the all-too-frequent AMCAS errors. Anyway, it doesn't really matter that much...the apps aren't sent off to schools until mid-August.

How can that be if people get secondaries in July?? 😕

 

[riceman04]

Hey does anyone know why they need your parents'/siblings' info? Did ya'll leave that blank or fill it in? What about stepparents?

because some schools ask for that info regularly. You will experience that in some interviews too!