There has been long and contentious discussions with medical schools via AAMC, colleges/universities, NSCH (National Student Clearing House) concerning notation of online and hybrid classes. Some medical schools are insisting on official transcript notation as online or hybrid classes. Many colleges and universities take the view that if they offer a course with their "name" on it, it should be the same whether online or in classroom and, therefore, will not make a notation differing the two. The recent wrinkle in this is AAMC's agreement with NSCH . When AMCAS verifies a transcript, it does so now with automated searching of official college catalogs for the course description the year you took the course via the National Student Clearing House database of these catalogs. Additionally, it is now beginning to add to that search, extracting the course section and scheduling info from the schools via NSCH. In other words, you transcript may not show it was online, but the associated course section schedule may indeed show it and may be soon notated on AMCAS verified transcript. It is then up to each individual medical school's policy on what they will accept.
Add to this is that when you apply, take up an offer of acceptance, sign a matriculation agreement, etc, with AMCAS or medical schools, you are certifying not only the accuracy and truthfulness of all the information that you have give, but the understanding of a school's specific policies, including those governing online coursework. While highly unlikely, if you, at some point after acceptance or matriculation, were found to have misrepresented online coursework, you could have your acceptance withdrawn up until the awarding of your degree, and you would have no legal recourse . In other words, while the probability of the risk occurring is exceeding low, the impact of the risk at many medical schools in extraordinarily high. It is not a risk I suggest students take. You would be much better off in declaring all coursework accurately and, if accepted, request waivers. The worst risk their is likely deferment to get the coursework.
Since most students do not realize this, let me add that the moment you apply to a school (or instruct AMCAS to forward the application), the student handbook for each school applies to you. Most have the "formal" policies that you see in the MSAR or the school website outlining requirements and obligations of applicants. So in addition to MSAR and school's website, you should take a look for the student handbook on these sites. You may be surprised what is required of you. To extend this further, and again because most students realize this, is when medical schools get accredited, their admissions policies must be stated, procedures outlined etc to the LCME. Followups by that organization want to see adherence to the approved policy. Hence a school that states no online classes but grants many waivers to them may get dinged by LCME in review for not adhering to policies approved on accreditation.
Lastly, many medical schools speak to the community college question on their websites, usually recommending students take courses at 4 years schools. My previous posting has links to about a dozen medical school's on this issue
Is "Introductory Organic Chemistry" alright?
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