*~*~*~* Official AMCAS Questions Thread 2019-2020 *~*~*~*

[gonnif]

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Under course classification would a medical terminology class be classified as HEAL (Health Sciences) when listing it on AMCAS under course work?

Yes

 

[unluckyadhessiveness]

@gonnif I'm going to ask the same question again as I didn't get a response originally and the people over at AMCAS gave me two conflicting answers.

I took an AP US History course in high school and failed the AP Exam so I did NOT receive credit for this, but it still appears on my transcript as 0 credits and under grade it says "No credit."

1) Does this have to go into my AMCAS application? I'm assuming that since it's on the trasncript it should, but one person at AMCAS told me this is not true and the other said it is true. If I have to put it in my application, I would assume I'd put it in as 0 credits, correct?
2) Since I failed the AP exam, I took the a US History course at my local CC while in high school. Would this be considered a retake? I was told this is not a retake since I was originally not awarded credit.

Thanks for all you do!

 

[ShinySephiroth]

^Piggy backing off of this question for future reference:

Do I need to list a class as a retake if I got a W on it, then took it later (I have a class in which I did this in the same institution, and another at a different institution)?

 

[gonnif]

@gonnif I'm going to ask the same question again as I didn't get a response originally and the people over at AMCAS gave me two conflicting answers.

I took an AP US History course in high school and failed the AP Exam so I did NOT receive credit for this, but it still appears on my transcript as 0 credits and under grade it says "No credit."

1) Does this have to go into my AMCAS application? I'm assuming that since it's on the trasncript it should, but one person at AMCAS told me this is not true and the other said it is true. If I have to put it in my application, I would assume I'd put it in as 0 credits, correct?
2) Since I failed the AP exam, I took the a US History course at my local CC while in high school. Would this be considered a retake? I was told this is not a retake since I was originally not awarded credit.

Thanks for all you do!

1. If it is on your transcript then put it on AMCAS even with zero credits
page 30
Again, indicate your credit hours or units exactly as they appear on your transcript. Do not attempt
to enter conversions based on the Grade Conversion Guide or any other conversion method.
If no hours appear on your official transcript, leave the item blank unless the credits have been
removed as a result of failure, repeat, academic bankruptcy, forgiveness, or similar institutional policy.

2. Your college noted the AP course on transcript but no credit. Since AMCAS says any attempt would be a retake, and this includes AP that awarded credit I would say you dont have to list as repeat. However, I think it is much safer for processing and questions at schools if you do list it a repeat.

page 33
If you take a college-level course for which you already have been granted AP credit by the same
institution, AMCAS considers the course a Repeat. For example,

^Piggy backing off of this question for future reference:

Do I need to list a class as a retake if I got a W on it, then took it later (I have a class in which I did this in the same institution, and another at a different institution)?

No, withdrawals do not need to be listed as retake

page 33
Repeat (R)
This selection applies to each completed attempt for any course attempted more than once,
unless the final grade initially received was Withdrawal or Incomplete.

 

[unluckyadhessiveness]

1. If it is on your transcript then put it on AMCAS even with zero credits
2. Since AMCAS says any attempt would be a retake, and this includes AP so mark BOTH AP and actual class as retake

I just realized on my transcript it lists them as different courses. The AP course was AMH 1001 and the course I took was listed as AMH 2022. This being said, should I still list them both as repeats?

 

[gonnif]

I just realized on my transcript it lists them as different courses. The AP course was AMH 1001 and the course I took was listed as AMH 2022. This being said, should I still list them both as repeats?

I updated my original reply that they shouldnt be repeats. And they are different courses so no repeat

 

[premedpower8484848]

Quick question regarding a class credit discrepancy that I have. In high school I took a transferable community college class which was 3 units. The university I attend now converted those units into 4.5 units. Thus, the community college lists that the class is a 3 unit course while the university that I attend now lists it as a 4.5 unit course on the transcript. When I enter my coursework, how should I enter this course?

 

[ShinySephiroth]

@gonnif - you are amazing. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to helping us wayward pre-meds. The world needs more people like you.

 

[gonnif]

Quick question regarding a class credit discrepancy that I have. In high school I took a transferable community college class which was 3 units. The university I attend now converted those units into 4.5 units. Thus, the community college lists that the class is a 3 unit course while the university that I attend now lists it as a 4.5 unit course on the transcript. When I enter my coursework, how should I enter this course?

You enter it exactly as it says on each transcript in the appropriate place. Only your community collegeThree credits will be counted towards GPA. MCAS will know before .5 was transferred.

 

[gonnif]

@gonnif - you are amazing. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to helping us wayward pre-meds. The world needs more people like you.

What? You mean I’m not getting paid for? I have been misled LOL

 

[Agentcross]

I had a question about the institutional action questions. In 09, I received an academic warning which leads to probation. In 2015, I was accepted to a different college under probation due to the first college GPA. Should I consider these IA's? I have not found a good answer. My instinct is to answer yes just to be safe. Thanks.

 

[drbatsandwich]

My MCAT is May 24th. I would like to confirm that I can submit my primary with one school on it for verification purposes and then once I have my MCAT score add schools accordingly.

 

[gonnif]

My MCAT is May 24th. I would like to confirm that I can submit my primary with one school on it for verification purposes and then once I have my MCAT score add schools accordingly.

Yes you can submit to one THROWAWAY school and add other schools later without impacting verification processing

 

[drbatsandwich]

Yes you can submit to one THROWAWAY school and add other schools later without impacting verification processing

And by "throwaway" you are referring to a school at which there isn't a chance in hell of matriculating?

 

[Zen Arcade]

I just remembered that 2 years I took a CNA certification course at a technical college during a winter session. I honestly don't know if I got any sort of college credit for it, if it was P/F, etc. Is this something I should put on AMCAS? How would I go about figuring out if I got credit for this? The only way I can see right now is ordering a copy of my transcript for myself and sending one to AMCAS as well. Maybe do a verification through the national clearinghouse?

 

[ayemcee]

I requested transcripts from both of my colleges when AMCAS opened on 05/01. One of the transcripts was marked as "received" about an hour later, but my application still says "not received" for the other transcript, despite having requested them at the same time and having gotten confirmation that the transcript was in fact sent to AMCAS that very same day. Is this unusual? Should I request that the institution send them again? (Both colleges are approved to send them electronically)

 

[gonnif]

I requested transcripts from both of my colleges when AMCAS opened on 05/01. One of the transcripts was marked as "received" about an hour later, but my application still says "not received" for the other transcript, despite having requested them at the same time and having gotten confirmation that the transcript was in fact sent to AMCAS that very same day. Is this unusual? Should I request that the institution send them again? (Both colleges are approved to send them electronically)

Why dont you check with the college first to make sure it was sent

 

[gonnif]

And by "throwaway" you are referring to a school at which there isn't a chance in hell of matriculating?

Yup

 

[gonnif]

I just remembered that 2 years I took a CNA certification course at a technical college during a winter session. I honestly don't know if I got any sort of college credit for it, if it was P/F, etc. Is this something I should put on AMCAS? How would I go about figuring out if I got credit for this? The only way I can see right now is ordering a copy of my transcript for myself and sending one to AMCAS as well. Maybe do a verification through the national clearinghouse?

Get the transcript from the college for yourself

 

[Zen Arcade]

Get the transcript from the college for yourself

I just looked into this more, it looks like the class was a professional/workforce training class so it didn't have any grades associated with it other than receiving a CNA certificate at the end. Does this still have to be listed on AMCAS?

 

[gonnif]

I just looked into this more, it looks like the class was a professional/workforce training class so it didn't have any grades associated with it other than receiving a CNA certificate at the end. Does this still have to be listed on AMCAS?

No

 

[ayemcee]

Why dont you check with the college first to make sure it was sent

I received word from them that it was in fact sent that same day.

 

[gonnif]

I received word from them that it was in fact sent that same day.

then check with AMCAS but they can take 2 weeks to mark items recieved

 

[gonnif]

Would you please provide some real life insight as a member of an ADCOM on how and why listing Disadvantage Status is a good thing?

My advisor told me I need to write a bit about my upbringing for the Disadvantaged Status question and I told her I do not want to discuss my upbringing in an interview nor do I want my application to be selected because I am a disadvantaged applicant. As we spoke I got emotional, and although she knows my past, she treads lightly. I told her there are many more beautiful things about my story than the sad, tears producing past I have. I dont wear it as a red badge of courage. It is what it is. But I sense some applicants and schools see it as something to be coveted and frankly I resent. The real deal is anything but glorious

Thanks

The 2020 AMCAS Applicant Guide states:

Disadvantaged Status
This subsection asks you if you wish your designated medical schools to consider you a disadvantaged
applicant. You might consider yourself disadvantaged if you grew up in an area that was meunderserved or had insufcient access to social, economic, and educational opportunities. If you answer Yes, youll have 1,325 characters to explain why you consider yourself a disadvantaged student.

There are two major reasons that I consider disadvantage status an important plus for admissions

1) A major part of being successful thru the intensity of medical education, both in school and residency training, is being successful with resiliency and overcoming challenges. Many students from disadvantage background do not many of the common advantages other students have such as parents who are professional and went to college, money for travel, trips, sports involvement, extra tutoring and test prep for SAT (or MCAT), money to attend for "prestigious" private prep schools and colleges, no need to work while in college, down to simple daily living advantages such as stable housing, stable finances with parents working, decent public schools. Being successful from a disadvantage background, getting into college, doing well, having time and resources for EC while perhaps holding a job, doing well on MCAT without benefit of $2000 class, all show evidence of a successful, highly motivated, committed student with resiliency to be success in training

2) Many patients you will see may come from disadvantage backgrounds. A large majority of medical students have never known hunger, lack of stable housing, lack of medical insurance, etc. These populations, often marginalized and stigmatized, need providers who can truly understand where they are coming from,

There is no one forcing you to talk about this, to write on your application. But if you do not tell an adcom from where you have started and what you had to overcome in order to be a successful candidate, they will never know just how hard you worked, how high you had to climb, and how much that will make you a good medical student and doctor

@Goro @LizzyM @Catalystik @gyngyn @DrFortiusNatando @Med Ed please add you thoughts to this

 

[unluckyadhessiveness]

I took two honors college classes in different terms that have the same course number listed on my transcript twice with the same grade, but they are completely different classes of different subject matters, would this be considered a retake? Would this be a red flag, and should it be explained anywhere?

 

[gonnif]

I took two honors college classes in different terms that have the same course number listed on my transcript twice with the same grade, but they are completely different classes of different subject matters, would this be considered a retake? Would this be a red flag, and should it be explained anywhere?

They arent repeats they dont need to explained

 

[Skarl]

Hi Gonnif,

What are your thoughts on pros/cons of listing expected senior year courses on AMCAS for those not taking a gap year? I have heard that some schools will see this and expect you to report grades from those courses so it is a double edged sword.

 

[Goro]

There are two major reasons that I consider disadvantage status an important plus for admissions

1) A major part of being successful thru the intensity of medical education, both in school and residency training, is being successful with resiliency and overcoming challenges. Many students from disadvantage background do not many of the common advantages other students have such as parents who are professional and went to college, money for travel, trips, sports involvement, extra tutoring and test prep for SAT (or MCAT), money to attend for "prestigious" private prep schools and colleges, no need to work while in college, down to simple daily living advantages such as stable housing, stable finances with parents working, decent public schools. Being successful from a disadvantage background, getting into college, doing well, having time and resources for EC while perhaps holding a job, doing well on MCAT without benefit of $2000 class, all show evidence of a successful, highly motivated, committed student with resiliency to be success in training

2) Many patients you will see may come from disadvantage backgrounds. A large majority of medical students have never known hunger, lack of stable housing, lack of medical insurance, etc. These populations, often marginalized and stigmatized, need providers who can truly understand where they are coming from,

There is no one forcing you to talk about this, to write on your application. But if you do not tell an adcom from where you have started and what you had to overcome in order to be a successful candidate, they will never know just how hard you worked, how high you had to climb, and how much that will make you a good medical student and doctor

@Goro @LizzyM @Catalystik @gyngyn @DrFortiusNatando @Med Ed please add you thoughts to this

What gonnif said.

Frankly, we love come from behind stories. It's in our national DNA.

 

[LizzyM]

Would you please provide some real life insight as a member of an ADCOM on how and why listing Disadvantage Status is a good thing?

Schools are looking for applicants who can relate to patients from disadvantaged backgrounds. There is also evidence that doctors who come from underserved communities are more likely than those who did not grow up in such environments to choose to practice in those environments. People living in those areas need physicians and this is a way of increasing the pool of physicians who will "go back" to those underserved areas.

If you want to get in on your own merits and without any possible boost from this special status, then do that. You may want to talk a bit about your upbringing when it comes to addressing the diversity question. Would you be cool with that?

 

[gonnif]

Hi Gonnif,

What are your thoughts on pros/cons of listing expected senior year courses on AMCAS for those not taking a gap year? I have heard that some schools will see this and expect you to report grades from those courses so it is a double edged sword.

1) you are going to have to report those grades to any school that accepts you anyway
2) many schools will require/expect current grades to be updated during the admission cycle

 

[Med Ed]

Would you please provide some real life insight as a member of an ADCOM on how and why listing Disadvantage Status is a good thing?

My advisor told me I need to write a bit about my upbringing for the Disadvantaged Status question and I told her I do not want to discuss my upbringing in an interview nor do I want my application to be selected because I am a disadvantaged applicant. As we spoke I got emotional, and although she knows my past, she treads lightly. I told her there are many more beautiful things about my story than the sad, tears producing past I have. I dont wear it as a red badge of courage. It is what it is. But I sense some applicants and schools see it as something to be coveted and frankly I resent. The real deal is anything but glorious

Thanks

The 2020 AMCAS Applicant Guide states:

Disadvantaged Status
This subsection asks you if you wish your designated medical schools to consider you a disadvantaged
applicant. You might consider yourself disadvantaged if you grew up in an area that was meunderserved or had insufcient access to social, economic, and educational opportunities. If you answer Yes, youll have 1,325 characters to explain why you consider yourself a disadvantaged student.

In my view the disadvantaged status mainly adds context to an applicant's metrics and experiences. If you're smart, worked hard, had a stable home life, and went to good schools, you should have a solid, well-rounded application.

If you're smart, worked hard, had a completely unstable and/or abusive home life, few role models, attended lousy schools, had few financial resources, and God-only-knows what other obstacles in your way, then that 3.5/506 from State U with fewer shadowing/volunteer hours might be a damned miracle.

Broadly speaking, the admissions process greatly favors the former types of applicants, even with the advent of SES indicators and endless promotion of holistic review. The disadvantaged box is simply one more opportunity to try and level the playing field a bit, one applicant at a time.

 

[gonnif]

There's a course which shows on my transcript as just 'Honors Thesis', but this was part of my research work w/ Dept. of Cell/Molec Biology, even though the transcript doesnt mention this part. Could I count this as a science course?

Yes

 

[rajp98]

Can anyone here answer a very specific question about AMCAS GPA calculation for me? I can PM you the question.

 

[ppq260]

For listing a contact's title, if she was a graduate student for most of the time I worked with her but earned her PhD at the end, what should I list? Also I want to list two publications done in separate labs within one activity because I don't have space to list it as two. What would I do about listing the contacts?

 

[Paul19]

Hello, I have a question about listing coursework from the Joint Service Transcript specifically. It appears that the JST must be sent to AMCAS, however, the applicant guide says not to list anything from the JST under coursework unless it has been accepted for transfer at a university. I'm just making sure I am reading this right, because this is the last thing I want getting my application kicked back. Any one done this before? The JST itself gives recommendations for course hours, but AFAIK I have not had any of that credit ever transferred to a university.

 

[gonnif]

For listing a contact's title, if she was a graduate student for most of the time I worked with her but earned her PhD at the end, what should I list? Also I want to list two publications done in separate labs within one activity because I don't have space to list it as two. What would I do about listing the contacts?

Her title isnt grad student or PhD; her title would be TA or instructor. In any event, you can list then now with current degree and explain in activity as grad student if need be

As for contacts for pubs, I suggest putting both (Dr John Smith/Dr Jan Doe) @Catalystik may have additional thought on this

 

[gonnif]

Hello, I have a question about listing coursework from the Joint Service Transcript specifically. It appears that the JST must be sent to AMCAS, however, the applicant guide says not to list anything from the JST under coursework unless it has been accepted for transfer at a university. I'm just making sure I am reading this right, because this is the last thing I want getting my application kicked back. Any one done this before? The JST itself gives recommendations for course hours, but AFAIK I have not had any of that credit ever transferred to a university.

I believe that is correct. You must send in JST but you only list courses that have been accepted elsewhere
@MemeLord didnt you just go thru this

 

[907914]

I believe that is correct. You must send in JST but you only list courses that have been accepted elsewhere
@MemeLord didnt you just go thru this

Hello, I have a question about listing coursework from the Joint Service Transcript specifically. It appears that the JST must be sent to AMCAS, however, the applicant guide says not to list anything from the JST under coursework unless it has been accepted for transfer at a university. I'm just making sure I am reading this right, because this is the last thing I want getting my application kicked back. Any one done this before? The JST itself gives recommendations for course hours, but AFAIK I have not had any of that credit ever transferred to a university.

Thank you for tagging me @gonnif because the JST process is easier than it seems.

So, my situation was that I had credit dually awarded on both my JST AND a university transcript not as a transfer. However, for the purposes of AMCAS they are treated separately and the JST is its own transcript.

It is confusing in the application guide in that it refers to military experiences not needing to be listed unless accepted by a university - if you look at your JST there will be a separate section that lists military experiences as distinct from military courses. Basically, only the things that have ACE credit (basic training, MOS training, NCO academies, foreign language correspondence etc.) are what you list.

Military experiences are like “68K-10 FAFB, Spokane, WA - December 2012 to December 2018” like they are the actual duty positions you held, not the trainings you have conducted. You only need to list military experiences if your university accepted them (example: like you tested out of a GenEd by using ‘life experiences’ credit).

TL;DR You need to list anything on your JST that has Ace recommendation as it’s own transcript (and there is a video on AAMC Website). Everything else can be left off.

 

[907914]

Hello, I have a question about listing coursework from the Joint Service Transcript specifically. It appears that the JST must be sent to AMCAS, however, the applicant guide says not to list anything from the JST under coursework unless it has been accepted for transfer at a university. I'm just making sure I am reading this right, because this is the last thing I want getting my application kicked back. Any one done this before? The JST itself gives recommendations for course hours, but AFAIK I have not had any of that credit ever transferred to a university.

This is what I am talking about, the format is messed up due to it being from my phone, but you can see it labels ‘Military Courses’ and ‘military experiences.’ You just need to submit the military courses.

 

[907914]

This is what I am talking about, the format is messed up due to it being from my phone, but you can see it labels ‘Military Courses’ and ‘military experiences.’ You just need to submit the military courses.View attachment 261895View attachment 261896

Also, I am just now noticing it is labeling Land Navigation as recreation....whoever writes the JST has obviously never done night landnav in Fort Sill...Almost has a heart attack when my red lens flashed on a 9 inch tarantulas crawling out of the grass...nothing recreational about it...

 

[907914]

Question about an activity classification:
I was a volunteer camp counselor for children with disabilities. I had lots of personal interaction with my camper and would assist them in eating, bathing, wheeling his wheelchair, and participating in camp activities. Would this count as clinical or nonclinical?

They were patients in a non-patient setting....I would say classify it as clinical as it is about as clinical as Hospice or a senior home.

 

[ppq260]

Her title isnt grad student or PhD; her title would be TA or instructor. In any event, you can list then now with current degree and explain in activity as grad student if need be

As for contacts for pubs, I suggest putting both (Dr John Smith/Dr Jan Doe) @Catalystik may have additional thought on this

If the grad student (now PhD) was one of mentors in lab, would it be appropriate to call her a research mentor? Or is there a better title?

 

[choks]

thank you!

 

[907914]

Disadvantaged status is intended for ages 0-18. It doesn’t matter what you are now, you are the very definition of disadvantaged.

 

[choks]

Disadvantaged status is intended for ages 0-18. It doesn’t matter what you are now, you are the very definition of disadvantaged.

Thank you kind sir, much appreciated!! Best of luck this application cycle! Your stats are killer :O Wish I was applying with those numbers.

 

[gonnif]

If the grad student (now PhD) was one of mentors in lab, would it be appropriate to call her a research mentor? Or is there a better title?

Research supervisor

 

[gonnif]

Disadvantaged status is intended for ages 0-18. It doesn’t matter what you are now, you are the very definition of disadvantaged.

I strongly concur

 

[907914]

I am taking the MCAT in a couple weeks. I plan to submit my app to a throwaway on 5/30 to get it verified. I am wondering how long it will take once I have my score in late June (before most schools start to send out secondaries) to update my app with my score. Also, how would this affect my application's place in line? Would it be just based on when I submit on 5/30, or would my MCAT score coming in late push it back? Thank you!

Your MCAT score will be back before July and your application will already be verified. This will not affect your timeline whatsoever unless Its a bad MCAT of course

 

[stayathomemom]

1. My undergrad official transcript lists AP credit as "ADVANCED PLACEMENT" and then indicates total units. How would I classify this (Biology? Mathematics? Other?) and would I also keep it grouped together on AMCAS?
2. I took a CC course in high school my senior year. I assume I should list this as "summer" of my graduating year - graduating year + 1?

Thank you!

I have the same question. My AP credits were awarded as a freshman in 2001, so it's been a long time. I know they, at least internally, counted the credits towards specific classes, but it's only on my transcripts as a block.

Additionally, somehow, the community college that I went to a year or so ago for post-bac work also awarded credits for my AP work, plus they offer them for specific classes above and beyond the credits that my 4-year university offered. Obviously I don't think I should "double dip" but I'm not sure about this exact protocol. Can I pick and choose? One institution offered chemistry credits while the other did not, and the other institution offered me 8 credits of history that the other only offered maybe 3-4 credits (can't remember any more and it's not in the transcript).

One more thing: if I try to add the AP credits from the CC, it won't let me select the correct year (it's in the transcript as awarded in the 2000-2001 school year, but my drop-down menu doesn't go back that far).

 

[907914]

I have the same question. My AP credits were awarded as a freshman in 2001, so it's been a long time. I know they, at least internally, counted the credits towards specific classes, but it's only on my transcripts as a block.

Additionally, somehow, the community college that I went to a year or so ago for post-bac work also awarded credits for my AP work, plus they offer them for specific classes above and beyond the credits that my 4-year university offered. Obviously I don't think I should "double dip" but I'm not sure about this exact protocol. Can I pick and choose? One institution offered chemistry credits while the other did not, and the other institution offered me 8 credits of history that the other only offered maybe 3-4 credits (can't remember any more and it's not in the transcript).

One more thing: if I try to add the AP credits from the CC, it won't let me select the correct year (it's in the transcript as awarded in the 2000-2001 school year, but my drop-down menu doesn't go back that far).

1. My undergrad official transcript lists AP credit as "ADVANCED PLACEMENT" and then indicates total units. How would I classify this (Biology? Mathematics? Other?) and would I also keep it grouped together on AMCAS?
2. I took a CC course in high school my senior year. I assume I should list this as "summer" of my graduating year - graduating year + 1?

Thank you!

To both of you: