Panicking ? deadlines...

[InternationalMf]

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Hey everybody!

I submitted my application to AMCAS October 15 and applied among other to UCSF and Albert.

I'm very late I know, but here's more: I forgot to list my AP courses... there's 11 of them.
The deadline for UCSF is October 15 and for the transcript verification it's October 29..
What can I do now? Most probably my application will be returned.. can I do smth about this?

If not, what does it mean that it's returned? Will I still be able to apply to UCSF ? or did I miss the deadline? or is the deadline the 29th?
I am really confused, and AMCAS won't reply before monday/tuesday since it's a weekend.

Does anybody know more about this? Any help?

 

[Catalystik]

From page 6 of the AMCAS Instruction Manual:

To meet an AMCAS deadline, your application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on the
deadline date. Official transcripts for regular applicants must be received within 14 calendar
days of the application deadline.

Due to high volume, application materials received during peak periods (June-September)
may take longer to process. You may miss deadlines and forfeit fees if your application
must be returned to you because of errors that need to be corrected. If AMCAS returns
your application, the date you officially recertify and resubmit your application will be
used to determine if you have met the application deadline(s) for your designated medical
schools.

The most common reasons for a returned application include:
 failure to include original grades and credit hours for repeated courses,
 failure to list 10 or more courses that appear on an official transcript,
 failure to list credits and grades as they appear on your official transcript(s), and
 failure to list coursework in chronological order.

Submitting to AMCAS before a school's deadline constitutes submitting it on time, even if the verified application isn't sent out to the school until weeks later due to a long verification queue. But as you made more than 10 mistakes, it seems highly likely that your application will be returned for you to correct, unfortunately after the October 15 deadline, which has passed. Your corrected submission is not going to be "on time" for this school.

 

[InternationalMf]

From page 6 of the AMCAS Instruction Manual:







Submitting to AMCAS before a school's deadline constitutes submitting it on time, even if the verified application isn't sent out to the school until weeks later due to a long verification queue. But as you made more than 10 mistakes, it seems highly likely that your application will be returned for you to correct, unfortunately after the October 15 deadline, which has passed. Your corrected submission is not going to be "on time" for this school.

Ouch.
Will I have to pay again for the other schools ?

Do you think anything could be done so I can get around this ? I am applying as an international from another system and I didn't know that " those courses in my country " are considered AP...
Is AMCAS helpful, like if I call them will they be understanding ?

Thanks again. I'm sorry I'm disturbing you but I've been working for months on this I don't want all my work to be in vain like this..

 

[Catalystik]

Will I have to pay again for the other schools ?

Do you think anything could be done so I can get around this ? I am applying as an international from another system and I didn't know that " those courses in my country " are considered AP...
Is AMCAS helpful, like if I call them will they be understanding ?

AMCAS wants you to include every course listed on your official college transcripts. If you did not get college credit for them, then they aren't on your official college transcripts and need not be included.

It's not impossible that a sympathetic AMCAS verifier (or one who didn't count carefully) will make 11 corrections and not send the application back to you. But don't count on it, especially if you plan to bring their attention to the issue with a phone call.

I've never heard/read that AMCAS charges again for the second corrected submission.

 

[InternationalMf]

AMCAS wants you to include every course listed on your official college transcripts. If you did not get college credit for them, then they aren't on your official college transcripts and need not be included.

It's not impossible that a sympathetic AMCAS verifier (or one who didn't count carefully) will make 11 corrections and not send the application back to you. But don't count on it, especially if you plan to bring their attention to the issue with a phone call.

I've never heard/read that AMCAS charges again for the second corrected submission.

Thanks for having some patience with me on this.

I get it. So here's what's for sure:

They are on my college transcript. They should be listed as AP courses. I wasn't trying to hide them or anything, and since I come from a different system into a new system, I made a MISTAKE and I didn't list them..

What would you suggest that I do now in order not to skip the October 15 schools' deadlines?

 

[WedgeDawg]

Also going to second that you take this cycle off and apply early next cycle to maximize chances.

 

[avgn]

You cannot do anything now. Don't bother calling AMCAS; they are by the book and will tell you to wait. If your application is returned for corrections, you're toast because you will have missed the deadline. If it's not, someone took pity on you and corrected it for you.

Very likely than not, you are toast for this year. Unless you applied to schools with a primary deadline beyond 10/15. Recoup and try again next year. Take this as a lesson – don't ever wait until the very very last minute, especially when the stakes are this high. Even as an international there is no fathomable reason to delay AMCAS submission until the bitter last day.

 

[heebeejeebies]

I'd almost consider this lucky. Withdraw. Reapply on the first day in 8 months.

 

[InternationalMf]

Everyone thanks for your feedback.

I insist on applying this year. I already finished everything in the primary, and some of the universities I applied to have easy secondaries.
If this fails, THEN I will consider applying next year.

This is not the issue.
The issue is if I will not be able to apply to the schools of October 15 deadline. I am trying to get out of the mess I am in.
I would appreciate if anybody has any suggestion on this specifically, on what's best/smartest to do now regarding this with AMCAS or the schools, and not on whether I should reapply later.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Everyone thanks for your feedback.

I insist on applying this year. I already finished everything in the primary, and some of the universities I applied to have easy secondaries. If this fails, THEN I will consider applying next year. This is not the issue. The issue is if I will not be able to apply to the schools of October 15 deadline. I would appreciate if anybody has any suggestion on this specifically and not on whether I should reapply later.

Out of curiosity, why are you so intent on applying this year? Do you know that later applicants have an enormous disadvantage?

 

[InternationalMf]

Out of curiosity, why are you so intent on applying this year? Do you know that later applicants have an enormous disadvantage?

I am an international.
My acceptance does not hedge on applying early. I don't think this logic applies to Internationals, if Schools are going to accept me, it's going to be an exception anyway.

 

[tetley]

I can personally vouch for this. Even though I knew the chances were low, I did it anyway and it was extremely disheartening.

Honestly, if I could go back in time, I would have just waited it out and planned out my app, short answers, and then combed the secondary threads to prepare my answers months ahead of time. (what I did this cycle) Your chances go WAY up

Out of curiosity, why are you so intent on applying this year? Do you know that later applicants have an enormous disadvantage?

 

[InternationalMf]

I can personally vouch for this. Even though I knew the chances were low, I did it anyway and it was extremely disheartening.

Honestly, if I could go back in time, I would have just waited it out and planned out my app, short answers, and then combed the secondary threads to prepare my answers months ahead of time. (what I did this cycle) Your chances go WAY up

Hmmm.. are you an international ?
Good luck for this year I hope you get what you deserve

 

[moisne]

Ok... yeah, I'm sorry there's really nothing we can say. Med schools don't make exceptions for those who are unprepared. I applied late - but usually 3 days before the deadlines. If you miss deadlines it implies 1. you don't want this that bad. 2. you are irresponsible

 

[InternationalMf]

Ok... yeah, I'm sorry there's really nothing we can say. Med schools don't make exceptions for those who are unprepared. I applied late - but usually 3 days before the deadlines. If you miss deadlines it implies 1. you don't want this that bad. 2. you are irresponsible

Not at all. It could be as simple as thinking that it's not rolling admissions 🙂 I'm not getting into the details of this story.

Anyway, If it works, then perfect!
If it didn't, I learnt a lot, and that's fine and I'll plan for next year accordingly.

Thanks peeps for taking your time to help or post a comment or anything!

 

[moisne]

Not at all. It could be as simple as thinking that it's not rolling admissions

or 3. not taking his time to research about med school and its application cycle --> which implies 1. Doesn't want it that bad and 2. irresponsible.

In the world of medicine and pre-med - there are no excuses.

 

[InternationalMf]

or 3. not taking his time to research about med school and its application cycle --> which implies 1. Doesn't want it that bad and 2. irresponsible.

In the world of medicine and pre-med - there are no excuses.

there's a gap between where you come from and the opportunities offered to you and where I come from. What you said makes sense for your case. Implying 1-2 for you, whatever 3 is in your case, could be that you're close minded and don't see the differences in countries, or believing that implications can be attributed to such complex things as the life of someone else that you have no idea about.

Who am I to judge? You may come from a disadvantaged place too, the US is vast 🙂

Why did you apply late, may I ask?

 

[heebeejeebies]

I'm an international (albeit Canadian), I count my marginal success in this cycle on being complete at schools in early August (which is still somewhat late).

 

[avgn]

I am an international.
My acceptance does not hedge on applying early. I don't think this logic applies to Internationals, if Schools are going to accept me, it's going to be an exception anyway.

This argument is airtight. "I am already at a disadvantage as an international, so all the other disadvantages won't affect me at all!!!! That is already the hardest obstacle. Because the odds are stacked against me from the get-go, the logic around other obstacles won't apply to me."

If you think that playing up your super disadvantaged background is going to net you an acceptance even after being complete in late October, you are not going to like this new foray into the world of American admissions. Yous better have crazy stats to even get most schools to look at you being this late.

You are ****ed for the October 15 deadline schools. Period. 90% chance your AMCAS is returned to you and that's it, you're done for those schools.

 

[avgn]

It's okay guys, let the man make his own decisions, which he has obviously already done. After all, do we really want more competition for next cycle anyway?

 

[heebeejeebies]

This argument is airtight. "I am already at a disadvantage as an international, so all the other disadvantages won't affect me at all since I AM ALREADY AN INTERNATIONAL!!!! That is already the hardest obstacle. Because the odds are stacked against me from the get-go, the logic around other obstacles won't apply to me."

If you think that playing up your super disadvantaged background or lack of opportunities or whatever hook it is you're trying to invoke from your home country is going to net you a good ol' fat acceptance even after being complete in late October, you are not going to like this new foray into the world of American admissions. Yous better have crazy stats to even get most schools to look at you being this late.

BUT OK you got it all figured out, Mr. International knows his chances are great because he understands the system so well. You are ****ed for the October 15 deadline schools. Period. 90% chance your AMCAS is returned to you and that's it, you're done for those schools. Have fun

You know that sentiment around this forum that you come off as brash in your posts? You're doing yourself no favours in that regard.

There's no need to berate this person, kindly but firmly telling them that they are better off withdrawing is more than adequate.

 

[InternationalMf]

This argument is airtight. "I am already at a disadvantage as an international, so all the other disadvantages won't affect me at all since I AM ALREADY AN INTERNATIONAL!!!! That is already the hardest obstacle. Because the odds are stacked against me from the get-go, the logic around other obstacles won't apply to me."

If you think that playing up your super disadvantaged background or lack of opportunities or whatever hook it is you're trying to invoke from your home country is going to net you a good ol' fat acceptance even after being complete in late October, you are not going to like this new foray into the world of American admissions. Yous better have crazy stats to even get most schools to look at you being this late.

BUT OK you got it all figured out, Mr. International knows his chances are great because he understands the system so well. You are ****ed for the October 15 deadline schools. Period. 90% chance your AMCAS is returned to you and that's it, you're done for those schools. Have fun

I don't know how the system works, but don't forget that you don't know how the system works for internationals as much as I don't !!
GOD ! BASIC COMMON SENSE. If I am an ignorant, don't be ONE and come and be all cute crafting a comment to bust my balls when I am here to seek help.

Even if I have a slim chance, why not try myself at it ?

 

[InternationalMf]

You know that sentiment around this forum that you come off as brash in your posts? You're doing yourself no favours in that regard.

There's no need to berate this person, kindly but firmly telling them that they are better off withdrawing is more than adequate.

Let it be, it's her/his/it true-self and I'm having a laugh. Thanks man anyway

 

[blackroses]

I don't know how the system works, but don't forget that you don't know how the system works for internationals as much as I don't !!
GOD ! BASIC COMMON SENSE. If I am an ignorant, don't be ONE and come and be all cute crafting a comment to bust my balls when I am here to seek help.

Even if I have a slim chance, why not try myself at it ?

Because being a re-applicant will hurt your chances next year.

In other words, you have a tiny chance of getting in this year - let's make up numbers and say it's a 0.5% chance. You want to take that chance this year. If you waited to apply until next year, you might have, say, a 15% chance (these are arbitrary numbers, don't take them as anything more than that). However if you apply this year, fall into the 99.5% category and don't get accepted, then reapply next year, your chances next year will be lower - say, 5-10% lower.

Is applying this year when you've handicapped yourself with an extremely late application really worth hurting yourself next year when you could have a much better shot at getting in?

If it is, apply. Clearly the overwhelming advice on this forum is that it is not worth it, and you shouldn't apply.

 

[22031 Alum]

Let it be, it's her/his/it true-self and I'm having a laugh. Thanks man anyway

Your logic is really faulty. You are right in that you already have a disadvantage. What you should have done was work as hard as possible to overcome that. What you did was give yourself more disadvantages for no good reason. Your best option would be to withdraw and wait. If you insist on not doing that, you are probably adding another disadvantage- becoming a reapplicant. As someone who has gone through the process, and who knows many people who went through it as internationals, your approach doesn't make sense to me. It seems as if you are purposely trying to put yourself in as bad a position as possible.

I sincerely hope you can prove me wrong. Experience says you probably won't.

 

[InternationalMf]

Because being a re-applicant will hurt your chances next year.

In other words, you have a tiny chance of getting in this year - let's make up numbers and say it's a 0.5% chance. You want to take that chance this year. If you waited to apply until next year, you might have, say, a 15% chance (these are arbitrary numbers, don't take them as anything more than that). However if you apply this year, fall into the 99.5% category and don't get accepted, then reapply next year, your chances next year will be lower - say, 5-10% lower.

Is applying this year when you've handicapped yourself with an extremely late application really worth hurting yourself next year when you could have a much better shot at getting in?

If it is, apply. Clearly the overwhelming advice on this forum is that it is not worth it, and you shouldn't apply.

AMCAS:
Am I a reapplicant to all schools or only the ones I applied to before?
You are only a reapplicant to schools that previously received an AMCAS application from you. For example, if you applied to School A and School B last year, you would be considered a reapplicant at both of those schools if you apply to them this year. You would not be considered a reapplicant at School C since you did not previously apply to that school.

You will indicate your reapplicant status per school in the Medical Schools section of your application.

 

[InternationalMf]

Your logic is really faulty. You are right in that you already have a disadvantage. What you should have done was work as hard as possible to overcome that. What you did was give yourself more disadvantages for no good reason. Your best option would be to withdraw and wait. If you insist on not doing that, you are probably adding another disadvantage- becoming a reapplicant. As someone who has gone through the process, and who knows many people who went through it as internationals, your approach doesn't make sense to me. It seems as if you are purposely trying to put yourself in as bad a position as possible.

I sincerely hope you can prove me wrong. Experience says you probably won't.

There's a way 😉 You don't know what you don't know.

I proved you wrong, where's my prize

 

[blackroses]

AMCAS:
Am I a reapplicant to all schools or only the ones I applied to before?
You are only a reapplicant to schools that previously received an AMCAS application from you. For example, if you applied to School A and School B last year, you would be considered a reapplicant at both of those schools if you apply to them this year. You would not be considered a reapplicant at School C since you did not previously apply to that school.

You will indicate your reapplicant status per school in the Medical Schools section of your application.

Then go ahead and apply if that's what you want to do.

 

[InternationalMf]

Then go ahead and apply if that's what you want to do.

You get me !
For internationals, the priority is getting into US medical schools; which one is important, but not as much as to withdraw and reapply to it in a year. Many non-internationals would think the same way too.

 

[22031 Alum]

There's a way 😉 You don't know what you don't know.

I proved you wrong, where's my prize

You are implying that there are other circumstances that may make a difference for you. If that's the case then I will readily admit I could be wrong about your chances. (Although if you are as smug in person as you come across here, I will be right for a different reason.)

But I didn't post only for you. I posted for someone who may come along later who is in a similar situation. That person probably isn't a well-connected dignitary or whatever you are that makes you think your colossally poor decision making doesn't matter.

So my point still stands. If you have anything putting you at a disadvantage in this process, your goal should be to work as hard as possible to shine in every other area.

 

[InternationalMf]

Back to my main problem... Do you guys have any advice on what to do now? to contact and notify amcas or not to? what to say ... ? Please NOT about reapplying next year.

This is really important to me. I'd really appreciate your support

 

[InternationalMf]

You are implying that there are other circumstances that may make a difference for you. If that's the case then I will readily admit I could be wrong about your chances. (Although if you are as smug in person as you come across here, I will be right for a different reason.)

But I didn't post only for you. I posted for someone who may come along later who is in a similar situation. That person probably isn't a well-connected dignitary or whatever you are that makes you think your colossally poor decision making doesn't matter.

So my point still stands. If you have anything putting you at a disadvantage in this process, your goal should be to work as hard as possible to shine in every other area.

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA . No brother. There's a way by applying to other medical schools, so it's not the case but you're still wrong.. Nice !!
I am not connected in any way. All hard work

 

[anon172]

There's a way 😉 You don't know what you don't know.

I proved you wrong, where's my prize

Some schools ask on their secondary if you have previously applied to med school, even if not to that specific school.

Also, part of your reasoning for continuing with this application cycle is that the secondaries are really easy. Why not save those for next year--the easy secondaries relieve stress while your making your way through the flood of time-consuming secondaries.

 

[avgn]

Back to my main problem... Do you guys have any advice on what to do now? to contact and notify amcas or not to? what to say ... ? Please NOT about reapplying next year.

This is really important to me. I'd really appreciate your support

This has been answered by many people many times already, myself included.

You are ****ed for the October 15 deadline schools. Period. 90% chance your AMCAS is returned to you and that's it, you're done for those schools. Have fun

 

[moisne]

there's a gap between where you come from and the opportunities offered to you and where I come from. What you said makes sense for your case. Implying 1-2 for you, whatever 3 is in your case, could be that you're close minded and don't see the differences in countries, or believing that implications can be attributed to such complex things as the life of someone else that you have no idea about.

Who am I to judge? You may come from a disadvantaged place too, the US is vast 🙂

Why did you apply late, may I ask?

The internet is also a vast place to get information.

I don't know if I'm considered disadvantaged. My family financial situation look a turn (for the better) when I was in middle school or so. But we used to be pretty poor (4 people per bedroom, working illegally, baby sitting younger siblings starting at 6, that type of thing). But by the time I had applied, we were well in middle class - so I didn't check that box - probably should've.

Anyways, I applied late because I walked out in March "knowing" I had failed my MCAT - totally utterly failed. I didn't feel comfortable in any subject - and had estimated maybe a 25 or something. I didn't bother looking at my score report until August (when I started my new job). I saw a workable score so I applied - to a total of 6 schools. Luckily it worked out.

 

[avgn]

You know that sentiment around this forum that you come off as brash in your posts? You're doing yourself no favours in that regard.

There's no need to berate this person, kindly but firmly telling them that they are better off withdrawing is more than adequate.

I don't particularly care. At least not at all in this case. I was raised on tough love, it got me where I am today. OP isn't having any alternate opinions anyway, so I decided to have some fun. Either way, if your skin isn't thick enough to take a little sarcasm over the Internet, then honestly you really need to grow a thicker shell. Plenty of other people already played the nice guy here and dished out advice gently. I've no interest in repeating what other people have done already to no avail, so it is what it is.

@Goro I'm interested to hear your choice words for this fella 😉

 

[jl lin]

By all means. Contact AMCAS and see what they say. 😉🙄

 

[piii]

I don't particularly care. At least not at all in this case. I was raised on tough love, it got me where I am today. OP isn't having any alternate opinions anyway, so I decided to have some fun. Either way, if your skin isn't thick enough to take a little sarcasm over the Internet, then honestly you really need to grow a thicker shell. Plenty of other people already played the nice guy here and dished out advice gently. I've no interest in repeating what other people have done already to no avail, so it is what it is.

@Goro I'm interested to hear your choice words for this fella 😉

Don't involve @Goro in this mess, I'm sure he has enough of a headache patrolling the rest of the threads

 

[avgn]

By all means. Contact AMCAS and see what they say. 😉🙄

 

[WedgeDawg]

Well this devolved quickly. OP, the best thing that can happen is that your AMCAS bounces so when you apply again on June 1st, you'll have more schools to choose from.

 

[InternationalMf]

@moisne You applied 3 days before the deadline, how'd you know it worked out?
I wish you luck anyway buddy

 

[InternationalMf]

This has been answered by many people many times already, myself included.

Yeah about that, I don't take people like you seriously. What you said is not smart nor helpful, just dumb. And you think it's funny, that's just ridiculous. Not tough love, maybe crack

 

[DokterMom]

Back to my main problem... Do you guys have any advice on what to do now? to contact and notify amcas or not to? what to say ... ? Please NOT about reapplying next year.

This is really important to me. I'd really appreciate your support

Just tell them how special you are and how your circumstances are different from the 45,000+ other applicants they've already processed this year. I'm sure once they understand why the normal rules don't apply to you, they'll go ahead and deviate from their normal rules and do everything they can to help you.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Yeah about that, I don't take people like you seriously. What you said is not smart nor helpful, just dumb. And you think it's funny, that's just ridiculous. Not tough love, maybe crack

If the advice is good, particularly when coming from someone on the internet who you never have to interact with again, why not just take it and run with it, even if it's stated in a less-than-friendly manner?

 

[InternationalMf]

If the advice is good, particularly when coming from someone on the internet who you never have to interact with again, why not just take it and run with it, even if it's stated in a less-than-friendly manner?

He restated the obvious, no advice there, just a waste of time.
Anyway, good luck all with your stuff and see you in a year 😉

 

[el_duderino]

Wait, AP courses? AP courses are just high school classes taught under the College Board's Advanced Placement program. The AAMC does not care about any "AP courses" you've taken, and it doesn't sound like you even actually took AP courses.

Undergrad institutions often give course credit for AP exams if you've gotten a certain score. It doesn't sound like you've taken any AP exams.

So what is this thread even about?

Anyway, yes, anything on a college transcript has to be listed in AMCAS. Where did you attend undergrad?

 

[InternationalMf]

Wait, AP courses? AP courses are just high school classes taught under the College Board's Advanced Placement program. The AAMC does not care about any "AP courses" you've taken, and it doesn't sound like you even actually took AP courses.

Undergrad institutions often give course credit for AP exams if you've gotten a certain score. It doesn't sound like you've taken any AP exams.

So what is this thread even about?

Anyway, yes, anything on a college transcript has to be listed in AMCAS. Where did you attend undergrad?

@jonnythan I took courses in high school and they counted equivalent to freshmen credit. Are you telling me AMCAS doesn't care about this?
They are present on the trancript along with my sophomore and junior credits, the one I sent to amcas. Do they still not care if they are on my transcript ?

This might actually be solved!! Phew!! 😀

 

[el_duderino]

@jonnythan I took courses in high school and they counted equivalent to freshmen credit. Are you telling me AMCAS doesn't care about this?
They are present on the trancript along with my sophomore and junior credits, the one I sent to amcas. Do they still not care if they are on my transcript ?

This might actually be solved!! Phew!! 😀

AMCAS cares about anything that's on a college transcript. So it sounds like you took college courses in high school. It's not accurate, however, to say they were AP courses unless you took the official College Board AP Exam in that subject in order to earn said college credit.

You need to list anything on any college transcripts on your AMCAS application.

What did you get on the MCAT? What country did you go to undergrad in, and what was your GPA there?

 

[InternationalMf]

15s Chem-Bio and 10 Eng-Psych. I'm doing my undergrad at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. GPA 4.0

 

[InternationalMf]

AMCAS cares about anything that's on a college transcript. So it sounds like you took college courses in high school. It's not accurate, however, to say they were AP courses unless you took the official College Board AP Exam in that subject in order to earn said college credit.

You need to list anything on any college transcripts on your AMCAS application.

What did you get on the MCAT? What country did you go to undergrad in, and what was your GPA there?

Thing is, my friend already submitted and got his transcripts verified, he listed these courses as AP, and all was fine...