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Strictly speaking, you are correct, and I doubt there is any debate on whether it meets the written instruction. What is being debated is the spirit of the instruction.
*~*~*~*Official AMCAS Questions Thread 2011-2012*~*~*~*
Started by CougarMD
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Strictly speaking, you are correct, and I doubt there is any debate on whether it meets the written instruction. What is being debated is the spirit of the instruction.
According to the instruction manual, designating a program type in AMCAS only indicates an interest and is not the same as applying. Thus, I would think if you're interested, then go ahead and mark the "combined medical degree/graduate" option.
I would consider each class independently. The classifications are intended to represent the classes themselves and not one's major.
I entered college with a lot of AP credits, and I've also taken heavy course loads, so my university considers me to be a higher class standing than I actually am. Half way through my freshman year, they considered me to be a sophomore, and for my entire junior year last year, they considered me to be a senior because I had over 90 credits. How should I indicate class standings on AMCAS? I'd like to just do first year of college = FR, second year = SO, etc., but that doesn't really line up with my total credit hours. How picky is AMCAS about class designation? I don't want this to cause delays in processing.
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My interpretation of the instructions is that if you're continuously enrolled as a full-time student for four years, your status should change every year, with an average of 27-35 hours per status. However, if you deviate greatly from this, the instructions do state that they may reassign statuses. How great a deviation are we talking here?
In the end, if your statuses do get reassigned, my understanding is that it won't hold up processing noticeably. There's enough wiggle room in the written instructions that the best thing you can do is try to follow the spirit of the instructions and not obsess over it too much.
In the AMCAS application, my old score is still loaded on the application page. Will I be able to submit my application on 6/1 with an expired score? I'm hesitant to submit the application after I receive my new scores back because it will be August...
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Hey guys, thanks for your help in advance! I just had a question about when to submit my app. I took the MCAT in March and didnt do so well on it, got a 7 7 10 for a 24. This was wayyyy lower than my practice average so I'm hoping it was just nerves. I'm retaking in two months, on July 16th. HOWEVER, I was wondering when to submit my app. I was originally going to submit on June 1st, but I don't want schools to ultimately screen me out for my score. It would be 2.5. months until they got my new score. Should I still submit my app really early, or just wait for my new score? I know submitting in August isn't TOO late, but I have everything ready to submit June 1st.
Yes, you will be able to submit your application. Don't forget to indicate your planned testing date.
Submit your app, designating only one school that you are not seriously applying to, so that you can get your course work verified. When your new score comes out, then you can add more schools to your application.
So submitting August 16th wouldn't be that bad? My gpa's aren't that great (sgpa and cpa 3.6 hopefully) so I wanted to submit all of my apps early
If you were submitting for the first time in August, you would still be facing an approximate four-week wait to have your course work verified. On the other hand, if you submitted in June using the strategy outlined in my post, your course work would already be verified by the time your new scores arrived and you would not have that extra wait when you add new schools to your application.
Wow that's really smart in theory. How would you deal with your pre-health advisor? Pretend to apply only to that 1 school or a full list so they can prepare the letters to go out in August?
Thank you! So when updating the schools with Spring grades, would that mean updating each individual school or could I do it through AMCAS? If it means udpating each school individuallly, that could take a long time since I'm considering applying to 30-40 schools. I know that's a lot of schools, but it seems like the norm here at my college to apply to that many schools, so I figure why not.
On my transcript, AP credits are given a grade of T (for "transfer"). However, on page 9 of the AMCAS instructions manual it says that AP credits will be given a grade of G. Which letter should I put?
Also, I have taken a few pass/fail classes, and at my school the grade appears as S for "satisfactory." Once again, page 9 of the AMCAS instruction book says that pass/fail classes should be graded as P or N. Which one should I use?
Also, I have taken a few pass/fail classes, and at my school the grade appears as S for "satisfactory." Once again, page 9 of the AMCAS instruction book says that pass/fail classes should be graded as P or N. Which one should I use?
That would be a discussion to have with your advisor; however, I don't see why you shouldn't be on the same page with your advisor with respect to your plan of action.
Once your AMCAS application is submitted, any updates you might care to make to your applications would take place with the schools directly, generally in the form of one-page letters addressed to the admissions committees.
Page 9 is under the "AAMC Policies and Procedures" heading of the instruction manual and not part of the directions to you, the applicant. The relevant information for you is on page 39, where it says "Enter the grade, symbol, or notation exactly as it appears on the official transcript [emphasis mine] from the institution where you attempted the course...If no grade is on the transcript, no grade entry is required unless the course has been subsequently repeated or removed due to academic bankruptcy or similar institutional policies."
I would just give them a full list. No need to tell them the truth. Luckily my school doesn't have a committee so I don't ahve to worry about it. ALTHOUGH, if i submit in August, I probably won't be done with secondaries until September. Gahhhhh
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You're reading the wrong part of the manual. Try page 39
[ETA: Once again, Mauberly is too fast for me!]
Thanks mauberley and phnerd. It probably won't matter what list I give them actually, because I will intend to get verified June 1st and then can give my advisor a list maybe July 1st and should be verified and ready to go. I did a lot worse on my MCAT than I thought I was going to (almost cancelled it on test day because I wasn't feeling well but threw the dice.. backfired). At any rate, the only time I can re-test is 7/16 and need to drive more than 150 miles to do so. Do spots ever open back up? I'm aware they could charge me to relocate my exam, but I'd rather pay that fee than have to worry about gas money and hotel expense to take a test!
Hey guys....first, just a random shoutout to everyone who has been taking the time to answer questions in this thread. Everyone in Pre-Allo appreciates it.
If any of you regular answerers (or askers) have suggestions of what should be added to the FAQ, please let me know. I will have some time coming up to tweak it a bit.
If any of you regular answerers (or askers) have suggestions of what should be added to the FAQ, please let me know. I will have some time coming up to tweak it a bit.
What category do you put an introductory public speech class under? Thanks!
hi guys. when you get the new mcat score once you already submitted the app, do you update the score manually to each school? i think the amcas website will hve the new score, but i don't know whether the school will have the new school. thanks. found so many good info. tahnks again
You don't need to do anything to update schools with your new MCAT scores.
I hate to make a new thread on this one but old search doesn't have the answer for me:
Listing: Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences 197 - Individual Studies
Department: same as above
The thing is that it's an individual studies course, meaning its a contract course between the professor and myself involving a 15+ page super-paper and weekly discussions between just me and him. I pick the topic and it's going to be something pretty heavily neuroscience (my major)
BCPM or not?
Gracias
Listing: Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences 197 - Individual Studies
Department: same as above
The thing is that it's an individual studies course, meaning its a contract course between the professor and myself involving a 15+ page super-paper and weekly discussions between just me and him. I pick the topic and it's going to be something pretty heavily neuroscience (my major)
BCPM or not?
Gracias
this.
I am probably going to be in the same situation, fast forward 1 year. As I: took a neuroscience class, will take a neuroscience seminar, and will be doing an independent study related to neuroscience for a year with an honors thesis........I hope they all can count (provided I do well of course)
hate to break it to you, but i'm going with "not".
i just looked up my amcas 2011 instruction manual. on page 39 they had a nifty table categorizing different subjects. like mentioned above, there is a "behavioral and social sciences (bess)" category, under which psychology is listed.
IMO, you best bet is to try to finagle an independent studies class listed in the neuroscience department at your institution. for example, any "197" course at my institution would be an independent studies class in whatever department it's listed (ex. biology 197, bugs 197, golf 197). i think that would guarantee it goes towards your bcpm. ...but your professor may run into redtape teaching under a different department.
see what you can do. otherwise, if you must/want to take that course, just take it and hedge your bets with amcas by reporting it as bcpm.
okay. i'm really confused... there was another response to your post but the person must have deleted it. you are not in the same situation, as long as the classes are listed in the neuroscience department. amcas explicitly lists neuroscience under its "biology (bcpm)" category. the op may have difficulty depending on how flexible amcas is in reviewing his transcript and what course name/department his is listed as.
Hi guys,
Question about dual enrollment courses that I did in high school. It was my senior year in high school and didn't do so hot in my college course (due to apathy and college applications). I've done extremely well in undergrad and have a very high science gpa there from Wash U. Do med schools really consider the grades in high school classes or do they mainly look at the undergraduate courses and grades there? I ask because calculated with the high school courses, it brings down my gpa i think quite a bit, which worries me.
thanks
Question about dual enrollment courses that I did in high school. It was my senior year in high school and didn't do so hot in my college course (due to apathy and college applications). I've done extremely well in undergrad and have a very high science gpa there from Wash U. Do med schools really consider the grades in high school classes or do they mainly look at the undergraduate courses and grades there? I ask because calculated with the high school courses, it brings down my gpa i think quite a bit, which worries me.
thanks
What category should I list an introductory public speaking class under?
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I would list it as Other.
Hello guys,
So I took calc 2 at a CC during the summer of my freshmen year and the credits have already transferred. My question is, I do need to get a transcript from the CC even though it lists it on my college transcript? Also when I send the transcript request forms do i have to sign the bottom or the individual giving me the transcript?😕
thanks
So I took calc 2 at a CC during the summer of my freshmen year and the credits have already transferred. My question is, I do need to get a transcript from the CC even though it lists it on my college transcript? Also when I send the transcript request forms do i have to sign the bottom or the individual giving me the transcript?😕
thanks
Yes, you are required to get a transcript from that college even if it's listed on your primary institution's transcript. When sending in the transcript request form, if there is a place for a signature (which there probably is), then yes, you need to sign it. Remember to include the AMCAS transcript request form along with your transcript request form so that your transcript is sent with the AMCAS letter.
There is a place for a signature and yes, it is intended for you (the applicant) to sign it.
1. I would think "Other." I'd think "EDUC" if the classes were requirements for an education degree, but if the classes are geared to making sure you're not flabby, it's not. (The instructions specifically exclude sports courses from EDUC, for example.)
2. Other.
Here's kind of a funky question that was really hard to search for so perhaps it has been answered already, but anyway:
If, during my time as an ER volunteer, I was allowed to do tasks that probably go beyond those of the role of a "volunteer", should I mention this on my application or should I keep my mouth shut? The nurses at the ER I worked at had no idea what a volunteer should or shouldn't be allowed to do (they had never had one before), so they had me taking vitals, medical histories, and doing EKGs, which I don't think they should have done, legally speaking. If I choose to list those, I'm wondering if an adcom will see that and think "wow, this kid's really had some valuable experiences" or "wow, this kid is really irresponsible".
If, during my time as an ER volunteer, I was allowed to do tasks that probably go beyond those of the role of a "volunteer", should I mention this on my application or should I keep my mouth shut? The nurses at the ER I worked at had no idea what a volunteer should or shouldn't be allowed to do (they had never had one before), so they had me taking vitals, medical histories, and doing EKGs, which I don't think they should have done, legally speaking. If I choose to list those, I'm wondering if an adcom will see that and think "wow, this kid's really had some valuable experiences" or "wow, this kid is really irresponsible".
I was a supplemental instruction leader for a general chemistry class, and I got credit under CHEM 499: Supervised Reading. Should I designate this as Chemistry? Or should I put Education since I was teaching? Or Other since it doesn't really fit in another category?
I don't think there's anything legally forbidding you to do any of those things (well, the EKG thing is weird, but I dunno if it's forbidden). You should list them as part of your job. I took medical histories as part of one of my volunteer experiences.
I agree with this. Did they train you in any of this, either formally or informally, or did they just say "here, do this"? The question of whether or not you were permitted to do it is an internal matter of policy for the ER where you volunteered and not a matter for your application.
I'd go with either Chemistry or Other. You weren't being taught anything about education. (You could make the case that you were reinforcing your knowledge of chemistry through teaching, however.)
OK, great, thanks.
So I'm ordering my transcripts right now and I have a question whether or not to do rushed shipping. I will do rushed processing because I don't want them to take another week just to send out the transcripts, but is the rushed shipping advisable? What I'm asking is will it affect my verification process whether my transcripts get to them on May 20 or May 27? It probably should not, correct?... considering they only start verifying transcripts after you submit your application, so as long as the transcripts get there before you submit (for me June 1st), it won't matter.
I really hope this issue hasn't been discussed yet. I searched the thread and could not find anything relevant. Anyways, I am currently studying abroad and the semester ends in July. Obviously, I want to submit my application on June, so the classes I am taking now will still be in progress. Since I am participating in a study abroad program, I need to request a transcript exception, but I'm wondering whether I should base this request on "Current Coursework" or the Foreign Study option. Both are accurate. I'm not sure if this distinction matters, but I just wanted some opinions. Thank you.
I don't think it matters, either, but I would go with the "Foreign college - study abroad" option.
My official transcript uses unnecessary abbreviations for a lot of courses (such as gen bio instead of general biology). Should I write the course title exactly as it appears on the transcript, or should I expand it to indicate the actual name of the course, even though that's not exactly what my transcript says? For some classes (like gen bio) it's easy to tell what the abbreviation stands for, but for others (like Rac & Eth Iss) it might be a little less obvious (racial and ethnic issues).
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I'd say play it safe and keep it exactly as it is. Don't forget to add "and Lab" too
I'm in a similar situation as an ER volunteer with doing vitals, etc. Would giving shots be okay to list?
One more question...is there any place on the app where we can list semi-fluency in a language? I guess I consider myself fluent in a 2nd language, as it was a language I grew up around, but I never really had to speak it much, so I'm not really sure if I should list myself as fluent
One more question...is there any place on the app where we can list semi-fluency in a language? I guess I consider myself fluent in a 2nd language, as it was a language I grew up around, but I never really had to speak it much, so I'm not really sure if I should list myself as fluent
You can't go wrong entering course names verbatim from your transcript. I just wanted to note that I entered in the full course name in AMCAS while my transcript used abbreviations and there didn't seem to be any issues with it.
Unless you were told explicitly not to give shots, why not take ownership of the activity?
There is a field in the Biographic Information section to list languages spoken, if you want to indicate it there.
That section is only for listing languages spoken fluently though. And Im not really sure of the legality of giving shots which is why I am hesitant to list it
1) Ultimately, it's your discretion whether you want to fill it in or not. If you choose not to use that field, your only other option as far as your primary application is concerned would be to include it in your personal statement, but even so, I would not include it there unless it ties in with the theme of your narrative.
2) If you have questions about its legality, your best course of action is to ask your supervisor where you volunteered. None of us here can speculate about the parameters under which you operated at your position.
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