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

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DaIlluminaughty said:
Was taking a look at my primary today and saw that AMCAS marked me as not SES Disadvantaged; my parents both attended college, but both work clerical/skilled labor jobs not in their fields of study (should be EO2 - Disadvantaged). Money was definitely tight around the house growing up and I've explained this in secondaries and claimed disadvantaged status in part for these reasons on my primary. I worked through college to support myself for those same reasons.

I suspect the reason I wasn't marked SES Disadvantaged was due to my father's job being considered a professional position by loose categorization on the AMCAS app - it isn't, unfortunately for my family. Is it worth contacting AMCAS to correct this or should I just let it go and continue to explain myself elsewhere?
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I would explain it elsewhere
 
Hi! This was due to an oversight on my part but I accidentally left off one volunteer activity on my application last year. Since I am now a reapplicant, I wanted to add it back to my application but I was wondering if admissions would find this weird since it wasn't on my previous app. Should I add a disclaimer to the end of the activity description stating that I had accidentally left it off before, or would that just draw unnecessary attention to the fact?
 
ballofanxiety said:
Hi! This was due to an oversight on my part but I accidentally left off one volunteer activity on my application last year. Since I am now a reapplicant, I wanted to add it back to my application but I was wondering if admissions would find this weird since it wasn't on my previous app. Should I add a disclaimer to the end of the activity description stating that I had accidentally left it off before, or would that just draw unnecessary attention to the fact?
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Just add it and that's it....... dont add disclaimer, dont do anything e;se
 
Hey all. One of my activities is a presentation I gave at a conference. For the description I currently just have the presentation listed as a citation as it would appear on a CV. Should I add a couple of words about attending the conference more generally (about how talking to international researchers gave me insight and affect my approach to the subject?) I was leaning toward just leaving the citation and letting it speak for itself as I'd read advice somewhere on here about leaving publication/presentation/poster descriptions on the shorter side. Thanks so much!
 
sdbrice said:
Hey all. One of my activities is a presentation I gave at a conference. For the description I currently just have the presentation listed as a citation as it would appear on a CV. Should I add a couple of words about attending the conference more generally (about how talking to international researchers gave me insight and affect my approach to the subject?) I was leaning toward just leaving the citation and letting it speak for itself as I'd read advice somewhere on here about leaving publication/presentation/poster descriptions on the shorter side. Thanks so much!
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just list it....no insight/no learning comments
 
I had a leadership position at a club focused on clinical volunteering. Should I list as leadership or clinical volunteering? It was one of my major leadership positions in undergrad, but a lot of my clinical volunteering had been through that as well, so I don't want it to look like I didn't do much clinical volunteering. So I am leaning towards putting it under clinical volunteering and mentioning I did the leadership in the description.
 
candycane101 said:
I had a leadership position at a club focused on clinical volunteering. Should I list as leadership or clinical volunteering? It was one of my major leadership positions in undergrad, but a lot of my clinical volunteering had been through that as well, so I don't want it to look like I didn't do much clinical volunteering. So I am leaning towards putting it under clinical volunteering and mentioning I did the leadership in the description.
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That's fine to list it as clinical volunteering and mention you had a position of leadership in the description. You can also mark it as your most meaningful experience so you get more space to talk about it.

Or the other option you have is to separate out the leadership from the clinical volunteering if you have space for another activity. Or merge them into another existing activity under one heading. Like make a leadership activity and include the leadership hours of that and any other leadership positions into one activity. And similarly for your clinical volunteering.
 
You guys, this is really stupid. But there's not such thing as holding off on sending an applicant a secondary until LOR"s are in, right? I won't get my MCAT back until Aug, and then my committee will send my letter. I am pre writing them anyway, and I"m pretty sure the letter packet will be in by Labor Day anyway, but it's just randomly worrying me.I would still need a few days to receive the secondary, copy and paste my pre written essays, and then submit.
 
mwsapphire said:
You guys, this is really stupid. But there's not such thing as holding off on sending an applicant a secondary until LOR"s are in, right? I won't get my MCAT back until Aug, and then my committee will send my letter. I am pre writing them anyway, and I"m pretty sure the letter packet will be in by Labor Day anyway, but it's just randomly worrying me.I would still need a few days to receive the secondary, copy and paste my pre written essays, and then submit.
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Unless there is a school where they both screened primaries and require LORs for that screening. I dont know of one that does that.
 
mwsapphire said:
You guys, this is really stupid. But there's not such thing as holding off on sending an applicant a secondary until LOR"s are in, right? I won't get my MCAT back until Aug, and then my committee will send my letter. I am pre writing them anyway, and I"m pretty sure the letter packet will be in by Labor Day anyway, but it's just randomly worrying me.I would still need a few days to receive the secondary, copy and paste my pre written essays, and then submit.
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Washington state university explicitly states you have to get your letters in first. Last year i applied to NOVA MD and on their website they have a clear flow chart that says primary-->secondary--> letters so i didnt assign any letters and was waiting for the secondary. Anyways it was like late November and about to be their secondary deadline and I search deeply through their website pages trying to see why I wouldn't have received a secondary and on one of them it said assign your letters first in order to receive a secondary (directly contradicting their flow chart). It was my fault for waiting so long but yes they exist🙁
 
bxz3 said:
Washington state university explicitly states you have to get your letters in first. Last year i applied to NOVA MD and on their website they have a clear flow chart that says primary-->secondary--> letters so i didnt assign any letters and was waiting for the secondary. Anyways it was like late November and about to be their secondary deadline and I search deeply through their website pages trying to see why I wouldn't have received a secondary and on one of them it said assign your letters first in order to receive a secondary (directly contradicting their flow chart). It was my fault for waiting so long but yes they exist🙁
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Well okay I guess I'll just monitor when my secondary comes in and if something looks fishy I'll see what's up. My committee letter should be in by Sept so if they give me a secondary after that I'll just be complete a bit later at those schools, but still on time for everywhere else. According to the websites of the schools I'm applying to that isn't the case.
 
Hello,

I have a lot of pubs from my research. Do you think it would stand out more if I made this a separate entry under the "Publication" category instead of mentioning them in the description of my research work? Or do you think this doesn't matter since adcoms will read everything anyway?
 
akimhaneul said:
Hello,

I have a lot of pubs from my research. Do you think it would stand out more if I made this a separate entry under the "Publication" category instead of mentioning them in the description of my research work? Or do you think this doesn't matter since adcoms will read everything anyway?
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Separate pubs if they are significant
 
For publications, I have too many so I can't write out the full citations for all of them in one entry called "Publications". Can I just write it like this using PMID only?

"I completed my research work at A and B and coauthored this many number of publications (PMID :xxxx, PMID :xxxx, etc.)"
 
taeyeonlover said:
For publications, I have too many so I can't write out the full citations for all of them in one entry called "Publications". Can I just write it like this using PMID only?

"I completed my research work at A and B and coauthored this many number of publications (PMID :xxxx, PMID :xxxx, etc.)"
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Yes
 
Does volunteering as a musician in a church music ensemble count as "Artistic Endeavor"?
 
taeyeonlover said:
Does volunteering as a musician in a church music ensemble count as "Artistic Endeavor"?
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taeyeonlover said:
Does volunteering as a musician in a church music ensemble count as "Artistic Endeavor"?
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borderline. It would seem more of a community service. Playing in a orchestra/band would be would be more of artistic
 
I'm confused on how to name different volunteering experiences that are unrelated. Like I'm clubbing together soup kitchen, healthcare justice, and LGBT shelter work. There's nothing in common! Any thoughts?
 
ibsrose said:
I'm confused on how to name different volunteering experiences that are unrelated. Like I'm clubbing together soup kitchen, healthcare justice, and LGBT shelter work. There's nothing in common! Any thoughts?
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"volunteering experiences"
"various volunteering experiences"
"other volunteering experiences"
"additional volunteering experiences"
 
gonnif said:
"volunteering experiences"
"various volunteering experiences"
"other volunteering experiences"
"additional volunteering experiences"
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Thank you so much! Also very last question: I'm a non trad that graduated in 2015 and talked about my recent experiences in my PS (since I was advised to focus on "recent" things). For my most meaningful experiences would you say it looks bad if I picked things from 2012, 2013, and 1 overlapping one from 2015? Or would you say that's too late?
 
ibsrose said:
Thank you so much! Also very last question: I'm a non trad that graduated in 2015 and talked about my recent experiences in my PS (since I was advised to focus on "recent" things). For my most meaningful experiences would you say it looks bad if I picked things from 2012, 2013, and 1 overlapping one from 2015? Or would you say that's too late?
Click to expand...
No its fine; people have MME from childhood on application
 
I don't know if this is the right place...
Would this course count as BCPM? I'm contemplating taking this course (It has a PSY course code like some of my neuro courses).

Clinical Psychopharmacology
course description:
This course reviews the psycho.pharmacological strategies used for addressing a variety of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, psychosis, impulsivity, and dementia. It will also address the effects of psychotropic drugs on patients or clients referred to mental health professionals for intellectual, neuropsychologyical and personality testing. Limitations of pharmacotherapy and its combinations with psychotherapy will be discussed.

273791
 
flybynight79 said:
I don't know if this is the right place...
Would this course count as BCPM? I'm contemplating taking this course (It has a PSY course code like some of my neuro courses).

Clinical Psychopharmacology
course description:
This course reviews the psycho.pharmacological strategies used for addressing a variety of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, psychosis, impulsivity, and dementia. It will also address the effects of psychotropic drugs on patients or clients referred to mental health professionals for intellectual, neuropsychologyical and personality testing. Limitations of pharmacotherapy and its combinations with psychotherapy will be discussed.
Click to expand...

No
 
Hi, for filling out mini winter term courses, where there are no credits given, what do you suggest to be done for the grade and credit hours? All it says is "Full" or "Half credit" and you need 3 Fulls to graduate. There are no credits or letter grades. What should I write in the "letter grade" and "hours" section?
 
ibsrose said:
Hi, for filling out mini winter term courses, where there are no credits given, what do you suggest to be done for the grade and credit hours? All it says is "Full" or "Half credit" and you need 3 Fulls to graduate. There are no credits or letter grades. What should I write in the "letter grade" and "hours" section?
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write EXACTLY what it says on transcript. If it is blank, they leave it blank

"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"

"If no grade appears on your transcript and you have not received a grade, a grade entry is not required unless the course has been subsequently repeated or removed because of academic bankruptcy or similar institutional policies "
 
gonnif said:
write EXACTLY what it says on transcript. If it is blank, they leave it blank

"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"

"If no grade appears on your transcript and you have not received a grade, a grade entry is not required unless the course has been subsequently repeated or removed because of academic bankruptcy or similar institutional policies "
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thanks! The number of credit hours unfortunately is required as a field on the application, so I am not able to leave it blank. Do you suggest that I enter 0 hours?
 
ibsrose said:
thanks! The number of credit hours unfortunately is required as a field on the application, so I am not able to leave it blank. Do you suggest that I enter 0 hours?
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That appears to directly contraindicate what AMCAS instructions say of leave it blank, so I suggest you call them as BLANK vs 0 has two different meanings
 
Hi everyone. I've sent secondaries to all of my schools earlier this month, and just this past week 3 of my research papers (2 primaries, 1 secondary authorship) have been accepted for publication. Is this reason to reach out right now to schools accepting updates? Any help would be much appreciated!
 
INTERFOLIO USERS


So I just received an email stating that my LORs weren't matched. I didn't know I had to do this, I had all my LOR requested and submitted very early.


I just got off the phone with AMCAS, and Interfolio has had an error where they were resending some users LORs. This triggered the email from AMCAS. My LORs have been received and matched through the letter ID since June. Just a heads up in case any of you go through the same thing.
 
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How should applicants react to transcripts that should have been received and processed? AAMC has a final transcript pending, but I have confirmation that it was submitted August 6th - not that long ago, however, all other transcripts that were sent in that same night have already been processed. Is it wise just to send another transcript or is there someone you can actually contact to resolve the mystery?
 
Hi, so I need some advice.

I won't be taking my MCAT exam until September 6th which means I won't be receiving my score until October 8th. Now the problem with this is is that I have been told to never apply to any schools until you know your MCAT score. However, the deadline for primary applications for Kaiser is October 1st, so that means if I want to even be considered for a secondary application, I would have to submit it before then. However, this means I would have to submit my application WITHOUT KNOWING my MCAT score. What do you think I should do in this particular situation? My primary application has been verified since June, but I haven't submitted it anywhere because again I don't know my MCAT score. Some sage advice would be appreciated. I figure, however, since Kaiser is definitely somewhere I want to be considered at, that I would have to apply there regardless of how I think I may do. I'm not applying next year, it's either this year MD or not at all for MD. Another option is DO or PA, depending on MCAT score. Thanks.

In addition, Goro, would it have been advantageous to submit my primaries way back in June to schools I was considering? Will submitting it now to schools (even though it has been verified for a while) take that much longer to process by these school(s)? I didn't think there was a point in submitting since I don't know my MCAT score. Based on how things are going I'd say I'll probably hit around a 498-503. Thanks.
 
ChromeFile1 said:
Hi everyone. I've sent secondaries to all of my schools earlier this month, and just this past week 3 of my research papers (2 primaries, 1 secondary authorship) have been accepted for publication. Is this reason to reach out right now to schools accepting updates? Any help would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Yes update them
 
mandyads said:
How should applicants react to transcripts that should have been received and processed? AAMC has a final transcript pending, but I have confirmation that it was submitted August 6th - not that long ago, however, all other transcripts that were sent in that same night have already been processed. Is it wise just to send another transcript or is there someone you can actually contact to resolve the mystery?
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You can all them but as of today

[B]AMCAS[/B]‏ @[B]AMCASinfo[/B] 7h7 hours ago



Today, #AMCAS is marking transcripts delivered on August 13 as “Received", processing applications that reached "Ready for Review" on July 25, and processing Academic Change Requests submitted on August 8.
 
AquaticSunrise13 said:
Hi, so I need some advice.

I won't be taking my MCAT exam until September 6th which means I won't be receiving my score until October 8th. Now the problem with this is is that I have been told to never apply to any schools until you know your MCAT score. However, the deadline for primary applications for Kaiser is October 1st, so that means if I want to even be considered for a secondary application, I would have to submit it before then. However, this means I would have to submit my application WITHOUT KNOWING my MCAT score. What do you think I should do in this particular situation? My primary application has been verified since June, but I haven't submitted it anywhere because again I don't know my MCAT score. Some sage advice would be appreciated. I figure, however, since Kaiser is definitely somewhere I want to be considered at, that I would have to apply there regardless of how I think I may do. I'm not applying next year, it's either this year MD or not at all for MD. Another option is DO or PA, depending on MCAT score. Thanks.

In addition, Goro, would it have been advantageous to submit my primaries way back in June to schools I was considering? Will submitting it now to schools (even though it has been verified for a while) take that much longer to process by these school(s)? I didn't think there was a point in submitting since I don't know my MCAT score. Based on how things are going I'd say I'll probably hit around a 498-503. Thanks.
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1) No you shouldnt apply without knowing your MCAT score, period
2) I advise all applicants that they shouldnt be working on AMCAS until they have taken the MCAT. You put the cart before the horse
3) You have such a low expectation of score, that applying so late would likely make you a reapplicant
4) I would put off applying to any school, focus solely on MCAT, even pushing it back if need be, and apply next year. Trying to apply late and weak is ludicrous
5) I have seen far too many applicant crash and burn in this kind of situation. Personally, I dont believe the AMCAS application should even be open to applicants without an MCAT score
 
gonnif said:
1) No you shouldnt apply without knowing your MCAT score, period
2) I advise all applicants that they shouldnt be working on AMCAS until they have taken the MCAT. You put the cart before the horse
3) You have such a low expectation of score, that applying so late would likely make you a reapplicant
4) I would put off applying to any school, focus solely on MCAT, even pushing it back if need be, and apply next year. Trying to apply late and weak is ludicrous
5) I have seen far too many applicant crash and burn in this kind of situation. Personally, I dont believe the AMCAS application should even be open to applicants without an MCAT score
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3. It's not that my expectations are low, trust me, I've studied more than the vast majority of people for this exam so have had to adjust my expectations to make them in line with reality. I know what I'm capable of and how much I can take, this is what I have learned through this process through time and time again over the years. I'm not going to lie to myself or others about what I'm going to get as I want to be prepared mentally and emotionally for the result. I am not waiting another year as I already took a gap year so another year of waiting = no more applying for med schools for me. What are your thoughts on applying to DO programs assuming that MCAT range? I know their cycle runs longer. Thanks
 
gonnif said:
1) No you shouldnt apply without knowing your MCAT score, period
2) I advise all applicants that they shouldnt be working on AMCAS until they have taken the MCAT. You put the cart before the horse
3) You have such a low expectation of score, that applying so late would likely make you a reapplicant
4) I would put off applying to any school, focus solely on MCAT, even pushing it back if need be, and apply next year. Trying to apply late and weak is ludicrous
5) I have seen far too many applicant crash and burn in this kind of situation. Personally, I dont believe the AMCAS application should even be open to applicants without an MCAT score
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Oh come now. I submitted for verification do a dumper school, did an early July MCAT ( after pushing from June bc I had been preparing for a while and I wasn't ready yet). And I got my 510+ , and am now submitting to my MD school list. It can work out. Sept. is ludicrous ( unless maybe for a retake at a school that said " You just need a higher MCAT and we'll consider you.") for an MCAT date for MD, but for like June/July test takers this strategy can work.

Guys, that's actually related to my question. So, my committee letter should be in by labor day ( at the latest, mid Sept. At the latest. My advisor thinks it'll be done before then but just as the worst case scenario.) Since I have my MCAT, I wanna submit my AMCAS and ACOMAS to the schools I actually wanna apply to. The issue is, there won't be an issue with like...adding my schools, and then later adding my committee letter, right? I have this weird fear that you can only "resubmit" AMCAS/ACOMAS a limited number of times and it may cause issues? That's just paranoia , right?
 
mwsapphire said:
Oh come now. I submitted for verification do a dumper school, did an early July MCAT ( after pushing from June bc I had been preparing for a while and I wasn't ready yet). And I got my 510+ , and am now submitting to my MD school list. It can work out. Sept. is ludicrous ( unless maybe for a retake at a school that said " You just need a higher MCAT and we'll consider you.") for an MCAT date for MD, but for like June/July test takers this strategy can work.

Guys, that's actually related to my question. So, my committee letter should be in by labor day ( at the latest, mid Sept. At the latest. My advisor thinks it'll be done before then but just as the worst case scenario.) Since I have my MCAT, I wanna submit my AMCAS and ACOMAS to the schools I actually wanna apply to. The issue is, there won't be an issue with like...adding my schools, and then later adding my committee letter, right? I have this weird fear that you can only "resubmit" AMCAS/ACOMAS a limited number of times and it may cause issues? That's just paranoia , right?
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Just because you are not paranoid doesnt mean its true.

I would assign the committee letter now as you add your schools. You can resubmit without limit
 
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gonnif said:
Just because you are not paranoid doesnt mean its true.

I would assign the committee letter now as you add your schools. You can resubmit with limit
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What is that limit? There is none mentioned in the AMCAS manual that I saw.
Also....this is a little stupid...but how do I do that? Do I put in the letter request form and say it will be done by mid-Sept at the latest, and then add m y schools, assign the letters to the schools , and then resubmit? I'm a little shaky on adding a letter that I know isn't going to be complete for at least a couple of weeks? ( that's for ACOMAS, for AMCAS I know you don't need to indicate when it will be done).
I feel like I'll just ask my advisor also but in case this is too granular a question for her.
 
mwsapphire said:
What is that limit? There is none mentioned in the AMCAS manual that I saw.
Also....this is a little stupid...but how do I do that? Do I put in the letter request form and say it will be done by mid-Sept at the latest, and then add m y schools, assign the letters to the schools , and then resubmit? I'm a little shaky on adding a letter that I know isn't going to be complete for at least a couple of weeks? ( that's for ACOMAS, for AMCAS I know you don't need to indicate when it will be done).
I feel like I'll just ask my advisor also but in case this is too granular a question for her.
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sorry, it should read without limit
you just generate letter ID and assign letter to school. There is no need to indicate when it will be done
Historically, committee letters were not written until after the start of the Fall term
 
gonnif said:
sorry, it should read without limit
you just generate letter ID and assign letter to school. There is no need to indicate when it will be done
Historically, committee letters were not written until after the start of the Fall term
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Oh good, there's no limit. That assuages my nerves.
Sorry, I was talking about ACOMAS. They have a "deadline" I think I'll just put in a super late date so if it's done before then it's a bonus. I put my advisor's name and email, indicate that's it's a committee letter, and they want a " due date" of some kind entered. I'll ask on the ACOMAS thread.
I'm lucky in that my committee is beginning to write my letter now, tehe.
 
Sorry if this has been answered before... From what I understand, AMCAS does not allow coursework updates. For future coursework (Fall and Spring), I put a few classes but am now taking both of those classes in the Fall. Is it a problem that it is inaccurate? For schools that don't accept updates, do they just never see your fall transcript?
 
Hi guys,
Did anybody take a zoology class? Most schools list Biology/zoology as either or but I'm wondering if having a zoology class under your belt is preferable? I'm taking two more classes this fall so I still have time to add it.
I do have an intro to ecology class under my belt.

Just wondering.
 
mwsapphire said:
Hi guys,
Did anybody take a zoology class? Most schools list Biology/zoology as either or but I'm wondering if having a zoology class under your belt is preferable? I'm taking two more classes this fall so I still have time to add it.
I do have an intro to ecology class under my belt.

Just wondering.
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Preferable to what? No school will care.
 
Wait, guys, can you submit secondaries before assigning letters to a school/ before the letters are received by the school? I always thought you could but the Tufts email wording is weird.
 
Dr. Graycat said:
I took several classes as part of an informal post bac at community colleges. My local community college district has several colleges, and they make it easy to register at any of them from a single website. As such, I attended 6 of the colleges so I could to take the class sections that fit in with my work schedule. ( I have 8 transcripts in total on my primary ). Does this make it look like I've been shopping around for the easiest classes... or is there anything else suspect about this?
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It doesnt matter, you have the number of transcripts you have and you submitted your primary. Nothing can change so speculating on how this can be perceived does nothing but cause worry and stress, move on
 
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