*-*-*The Official AMCAS Questions Thread 2011*-*-*

[DocBell]

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So, for many medical schools, they require one year of english/writing courses... Does this include courses like political science, linguistics, Greek Classics? or does this only apply to courses from English?

I'm thinking most schools are expecting Freshman and Sophomore Composition but you could probably get away with Greek Classics or Linguistics. Linguistics might be a little sketchier as some schools consider it English but some group it with anthropology in Behavioral Sciences. If it helps I listed Linguistics as an english class lol. If AMCAS doesn't like it they will change it. It is a required English course at my school for the Lit majors.

 

[rafflecopter]

I was a non-medical caregiver for my grandma with alzheimer's about every other weekend for a few years... I was initially just going to mention this in my PS, but should I also add it in Work/Experiences under Other? Also, who would I list as a contact?

I was a caregiver in a similar situation. Mark it as "Other", go into detail in the description, and leave organization/contact info blank.

 

[BigBoosting]

It's open...just submitted...anyone else's say Submitted to AMCAS - waiting on transcripts even though they have all your transcripts as Received?

Edit: NM, guess it takes a minute to update.. Now says Ready for Review 🙂

 

[mccarty7]

My school's pre-medical committee is writing me a letter of recommendation, which I'm pretty sure will be a good one. But should I get additional letters of rec, also?

 

[Neuron14]

So, for many medical schools, they require one year of english/writing courses... Does this include courses like political science, linguistics, Greek Classics? or does this only apply to courses from English?

AMCAS classifies the following as "english" courses:

1) English composition and rhetoric
2) English creative writing
3) English Language & Literature (Greek Classics?)

- Political Science is under the Government/Politics category
- Linguistics is under the Foreign Languages category

 

[rHinO1]

It's open...just submitted...anyone else's say Submitted to AMCAS - waiting on transcripts even though they have all your transcripts as Received?

Edit: NM, guess it takes a minute to update.. Now says Ready for Review 🙂

You just now submitted? You are applying late, next cycle apply earlier and you will have a better chance 😛

 

[BigEast55]

It's open...just submitted...anyone else's say Submitted to AMCAS - waiting on transcripts even though they have all your transcripts as Received?

Edit: NM, guess it takes a minute to update.. Now says Ready for Review 🙂

Yeah the same thing happened to me but it is all good... congrats early submitter friend

 

[BigBoosting]

You just now submitted? You are applying late, next cycle apply earlier and you will have a better chance 😛

😛

Yeah the same thing happened to me but it is all good... congrats early submitter friend

Good luck everyone!

 

[DocBell]

AMCAS classifies the following as "english" courses:

1) English composition and rhetoric
2) English creative writing
3) English Language & Literature (Greek Classics?)

- Political Science is under the Government/Politics category
- Linguistics is under the Foreign Languages category

lol oops. Apparently I need to read the course classifications more closely 🙂

 

[noshie]

I submitted and paid 5 min ago!!! Transcripts received, just waiting on LORs that are being electronically submitted this week... Well, I guess all I have left to do is wait. 🙄

 

[DocBell]

ohhh waiting. the specialty of neurotic pre-meds everywhere. It is a little sad that it will be months before this process is over even with submitting this early.

 

[korsian]

I submitted and paid 5 min ago!!! Transcripts received, just waiting on LORs that are being electronically submitted this week... Well, I guess all I have left to do is wait. 🙄

Submitted and back to studying for MCAT, second round! I feel like a nerd for saying this, but this is incredibly exciting!

 

[noshie]

Submitted and back to studying for MCAT, second round! I feel like a nerd for saying this, but this is incredibly exciting!

Yes, very exciting... 😛 I am so glad that I will never ever ever be taking that test again. Not ever never!

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Just submitted...*crosses fingers for lack of typos/errors*...

For those that submitted, does your app say "submitted-waiting for transcripts" even though AMCAS received them already?

Unfortunately, my LORs are still being written...hopefully they will finish by next week and I can send them off to AMCAS (via my university's service) soon after that!

 

[korsian]

Just submitted...*crosses fingers for lack of typos/errors*...

For those that submitted, does your app say "submitted-waiting for transcripts" even though AMCAS received them already?

Unfortunately, my LORs are still being written...hopefully they will finish by next week and I can send them off to AMCAS (via my university's service) soon after that!

Yeah. About 20 minutes after submission they updated the status to say "hey, we got your transcripts. we're gonna verify now." No worries...

 

[Doodl3s]

quick question...
i called SJU about taking high school extension courses. They said i can just do the request for a transcript online...
do i absolutely have to send SJU the official AMCAS request form? or can i just have them send the transcript to AMCAS themselves?

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Yeah. About 20 minutes after submission they updated the status to say "hey, we got your transcripts. we're gonna verify now." No worries...

Yeah, my says "now ready for review"....did people last year get verified within a few hours/the day?

 

[Neuron14]

quick question...
i called SJU about taking high school extension courses. They said i can just do the request for a transcript online...
do i absolutely have to send SJU the official AMCAS request form? or can i just have them send the transcript to AMCAS themselves?

From AMCAS instruction manual:

AMCAS has difficulty matching official transcripts that are not accompanied by the AMCAS Transcript Request Form. Applicants should use the AMCAS Transcript 2011 AMCAS Instructions Introduction Request Form, available in the Transcript section of the AMCAS application, when requesting that official transcripts be sent to AMCAS in support of their applications.

~ You should call AMCAS - they probably just say this to make their work easier.

 

[pineappletree]

I was wondering how averaged grades showed up on the amcas??

For instance, if I received a C- (1.7) in Organic and retook it to get an A- (3.7)
Would the grade show up as a 4 credit hour (2.7) course?
Or as an 8 credit hour (2.7) course??




Pretty much, will they average it and enter it as one class. Or will they enter it as two???

 

[noshie]

Wow... That was the fastest ever. I just got an email from AMCAS saying that my application was processed and complete for sending to the schools. The GPAs have been calculated and everything! They don't have my letters of rec yet, but the email says it's going to be sent out without them and updated with the schools later. I love AMCAS…

AND my application status says that they already sent it out the med schools!!!!!! I'm speechless...

 

[korsian]

Wow... That was the fastest ever. I just got an email from AMCAS saying that my application was processed and complete for sending to the schools. The GPAs have been calculated and everything! They don’t have my letters of rec yet, but the email says it’s going to be sent out without them and updated with the schools later. I love AMCAS…

AND my application status says that they already sent it out the med schools!!!!!! I'm speechless...

I'm patiently waiting! Hopefully I get verified today too!

 

[JubJub603]

So here's my situation:

I just got found out that I got a B in a community college spanish class. This is REALLY frustrating because I had just asked the professor what he thought I would get in the class, and he told me an A. The college in question for some reason does NOT use the +/- system, so its likely I somehow ended up with a B+ which got rounded down to a B.

My question:

This is the only class I've taken at this college; I only took it to meet a foreign language requirement from my primary university (the language classes were too impacted for me to take one there). Because of this though, there is no indication that I've taken this class anywhere in my primary transcript. Eventually it will have to go on there so I can graduate, but theres no way it will be there before I send my primary transcript to AMCAS (in like 2 days). Would it possibly be a good idea NOT to send the CC transcript to AMCAS and wait until later to update my profile at each school individually? The reason I ask is because the B in spanish ended up dropping my cGPA from 3.83 to 3.78; I fear that some schools might filter me out at the 3.8 cutoff. I'm curious if by doing it this way, I could avoid a 3.8 cutoff filter on my primary, and then just update schools that seem interested when the time comes.

Any thoughts/opinions/"this is stupid"/"this is a good idea" ?

 

[AriGoldForPres]

Quick question: After submitting the primary, as we get secondaries we can tick off the boxes on the primary app and send letters to schools like that, right? I didn't specify what schools got what letters yet.

 

[Neuron14]

So here's my situation:

I just got found out that I got a B in a community college spanish class. This is REALLY frustrating because I had just asked the professor what he thought I would get in the class, and he told me an A. The college in question for some reason does NOT use the +/- system, so its likely I somehow ended up with a B+ which got rounded down to a B.

My question:

This is the only class I've taken at this college; I only took it to meet a foreign language requirement from my primary university (the language classes were too impacted for me to take one there). Because of this though, there is no indication that I've taken this class anywhere in my primary transcript. Eventually it will have to go on there so I can graduate, but theres no way it will be there before I send my primary transcript to AMCAS (in like 2 days). Would it possibly be a good idea NOT to send the CC transcript to AMCAS and wait until later to update my profile at each school individually? The reason I ask is because the B in spanish ended up dropping my cGPA from 3.83 to 3.78; I fear that some schools might filter me out at the 3.8 cutoff. I'm curious if by doing it this way, I could avoid a 3.8 cutoff filter on my primary, and then just update schools that seem interested when the time comes.

Any thoughts/opinions/"this is stupid"/"this is a good idea" ?

Just send the transcript. One B in a non-science class won't look bad, and a 3.78 gpa is still great.

 

[thebillsfan]

So here's my situation:

I just got found out that I got a B in a community college spanish class. This is REALLY frustrating because I had just asked the professor what he thought I would get in the class, and he told me an A. The college in question for some reason does NOT use the +/- system, so its likely I somehow ended up with a B+ which got rounded down to a B.

My question:

This is the only class I've taken at this college; I only took it to meet a foreign language requirement from my primary university (the language classes were too impacted for me to take one there). Because of this though, there is no indication that I've taken this class anywhere in my primary transcript. Eventually it will have to go on there so I can graduate, but theres no way it will be there before I send my primary transcript to AMCAS (in like 2 days). Would it possibly be a good idea NOT to send the CC transcript to AMCAS and wait until later to update my profile at each school individually? The reason I ask is because the B in spanish ended up dropping my cGPA from 3.83 to 3.78; I fear that some schools might filter me out at the 3.8 cutoff. I'm curious if by doing it this way, I could avoid a 3.8 cutoff filter on my primary, and then just update schools that seem interested when the time comes.

Any thoughts/opinions/"this is stupid"/"this is a good idea" ?

haha man...i'm pretty sure no med school's cutoff is 3.8

 

[Evil_Abed]

I searched around this thread, but didn't find anything regarding my question, so I apologize if it has been asked/answered and I just missed it.

In the AMCAS instruction book, it states:

"If no grade is on the transcript, no grade entry is required unless the course has been subsequently repeated or removed due to academic bankruptcy or similar institutional policies. For the initial attempt of a repeated course, or for courses removed due to academic bankruptcy or similar institutional policies, the transcript grade should be the original grade earned before the course was repeated, regardless of whether or not it appears on the official transcript or GPA. Failure to enter original grade received for repeated courses can lead to missed deadlines and forfeited fees."

I had several Ws during my first semester where I withdrew from several classes due to medical problems. The withdrawals came after the semester was over though, so I had an initial grade assigned, but it was changed to a W in light of the circumstances. I repeated two of those courses in subsequent semesters and did fine in them. My question is, would I have to type in my initial grade and check the Withdrawal box for the courses during the first semester? Or would I be fine just reporting them as Ws? My grades for those courses show up as Ws on my transcript, if that helps. Thanks!

 

[bonsaitree1]

I was wondering how averaged grades showed up on the amcas??

For instance, if I received a C- (1.7) in Organic and retook it to get an A- (3.7)
Would the grade show up as a 4 credit hour (2.7) course?
Or as an 8 credit hour (2.7) course??




Pretty much, will they average it and enter it as one class. Or will they enter it as two???

You will enter the course in twice, and it will show up twice. However, since AMCAS will average all your grades, it will essentially be part of the overall average. It would be two 4 credit courses.

 

[puffylover]

the order you put it in

or

sorted automatically by date

 

[bonsaitree1]

the order you put it in

or

sorted automatically by date

It will appear chronologically.

 

[JubJub603]

haha man...i'm pretty sure no med school's cutoff is 3.8

I'm sure there are no 3.8 cutoffs as a bare minimum, but I would wager a guess that many of the top-tier schools have some sort of system by which they sort applicants on the strength of their numbers. So, for example, while both a 3.5 and a 3.9 will technically make the minimum cutoff, a 3.9 would perhaps be looked at to fill a different set of "open" seats than the 3.5 would.

Anywho, just thought I'd present the idea. I appreciate yours and Neuron14's feedback. I'll probably just send in the CC transcript.

 

[thebillsfan]

Question--my first week of college, we had to take an orientation class (to help pick classes etc), which was a required 1 credit pass/fail. I'm wondering if I need to check pass/fail on the Course Work section...I don't know if this checkbox is reserved for students who have the OPTION of taking a class P/F but who CAN take it for a grade (this class had no option, it was pass/fail for everybody).

 

[thebillsfan]

I'm sure there are no 3.8 cutoffs as a bare minimum, but I would wager a guess that many of the top-tier schools have some sort of system by which they sort applicants on the strength of their numbers. So, for example, while both a 3.5 and a 3.9 will technically make the minimum cutoff, a 3.9 would perhaps be looked at to fill a different set of "open" seats than the 3.5 would.

Anywho, just thought I'd present the idea. I appreciate yours and Neuron14's feedback. I'll probably just send in the CC transcript.

you might be right, but even if that was the case, there would be 3.9, 3.8, 3.7 groupings, and you would fall in the 3.8 grouping whether your gpa was a 3.83 or 3.78. make sense?

 

[kech611]

Should I list Alpha Phi Omega as one of my 15 Work/Activities?

Before I get flamed, I would like to state its not a social fraternity. Its a co-ed national community service fraternity.

I'm trying to avoid the negative associations 'frat' normally has, so will refrain from putting it on my app if it'll be looked down upon.

 

[Neuron14]

Should I list Alpha Phi Omega as one of my 15 Work/Activities?

Before I get flamed, I would like to state its not a social fraternity. Its a co-ed national community service fraternity. You can google them.

I'm trying to avoid the negative associations 'frat' normally has, so will refrain from putting it on my app if it'll be looked down upon.

Yes, you should list it. You could list it as "Alpha Phi Omega (Service Fraternity)." Even if it were a social fraternity, medical schools want well-rounded applicants with a variety of interests.

 

[imanooblar]

I'd check pass/fail. I had a few classes that I took for pass/fail and when I called them they told me to check off the pass/fail box.

You can call them too. They're really helpful for any future questions and the wait time is less than 5 minutes everytime I've called them.

 

[Pyrex]

x

 

[silverhorse84]

I had several 1 and 2 unit classes that were required by my undergrad to be P/F and that's how I marked them on AMCAS - worked out fine.

 

[Dianyla]

After submission, does AMCAS wait until all of your transcripts have been received in order to start verifying?

I ask because I have four transcripts already sent in, but my fifth transcript has to wait until spring grades come out in about two weeks. If I hit submit now, would they start working through the four transcripts they've already received? I was thinking that might be a good strategy to speed things up.

 

[SodaScientist]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before... I tried searching but didn't really find what I was looking for.

When you are entering in classes that you have AP credit for do you enter in the AP class (Ex AP Biology) or the class that you got credit for from your institution (Ex Bio 120). I know that you are supposed to put these classes as part of your first semester workload, but I'm not so sure how to document them. Also should you just put in a "T" for a grade to indicate transfer credits?

Thanks Guys!

 

[SarahAnn]

Hi, I didn't realize there was an AMCAS thread. I didn't get much of a response to this when I posted it earlier, so I think this might be a more appropriate place:

I did not turn in secondary applications last year. When I received my MCAT score, I contacted the schools I applied to and informed them I would not be turning in the secondary and would instead be retaking the MCAT. Now that I am turning in my AMCAS again, I am wondering just how much I should rewrite my personal statement? I would like lots of advice regarding this. I really like mine from last year. I planned on adding what I did this past year to the end of it (since it goes in chronological order anyway). It tells the real story of my evolution into a "premed" and my preparation/clinical exposure. This past year compliments that well. But my concern is that admissions compare old apps to new apps (I know this for sure). If the beginning of the personal statement isn't different between the two, they could assume I am "lazy" and didn't rewrite it even though I added an addendum @ the end. But the beginning is the best part; I don't know what to do! Any thoughts/suggestions? How important is this? Thanks in advance

 

[ungu]

Do the medical schools see the AMCAS use column with x's, o's, and /'s? Do they also see the OT grades along with the AMCAS grades, or just the AMCAS grades? Thanks!

 

[JJMountainMan]

I overnighted all my transcripts 2 weeks ago and NONE of them have been received or verified yet according to my AMCAS. How long has everyone been waiting for this to take? Im dying to submit my app ASAP but this is just taking forever.

Also, as a masters student at a med school I will be a TA for either Med neuro, or Medical gross anatomy but I dont know which one. Can one of my work/activites be listed as 'TA' and then I just explain myself and what Ill have to do next year?

Also, Im assuming the 3rd essay of "significant research experience" is optional? I just included my research in 'work/activities' because my explanation fit there but didnt know if I should move it to the 3rd essay section and try to expand on it a little bit.

 

[pyang3]

Would submitting my application at the end of June be considered too late? It's just that I have my MCAT on the 17th of June and really need to concentrate on studying for that. Please let me know. Thanks!

 

[OhioDoc]

Quick question: After submitting the primary, as we get secondaries we can tick off the boxes on the primary app and send letters to schools like that, right? I didn't specify what schools got what letters yet.

Yes, you can assign your LORs to schools on a school by school basis

Question--my first week of college, we had to take an orientation class (to help pick classes etc), which was a required 1 credit pass/fail. I'm wondering if I need to check pass/fail on the Course Work section...I don't know if this checkbox is reserved for students who have the OPTION of taking a class P/F but who CAN take it for a grade (this class had no option, it was pass/fail for everybody).

Mark it as P/F

Should I list Alpha Phi Omega as one of my 15 Work/Activities?

Before I get flamed, I would like to state its not a social fraternity. Its a co-ed national community service fraternity.

I'm trying to avoid the negative associations 'frat' normally has, so will refrain from putting it on my app if it'll be looked down upon.

I listed APO on my AMCAS application - I never had any comments/questions about it in interviews

After submission, does AMCAS wait until all of your transcripts have been received in order to start verifying?

I ask because I have four transcripts already sent in, but my fifth transcript has to wait until spring grades come out in about two weeks. If I hit submit now, would they start working through the four transcripts they've already received? I was thinking that might be a good strategy to speed things up.

I'm not sure, but if your application is ready, submit it.

Do the medical schools see the AMCAS use column with x's, o's, and /'s? Do they also see the OT grades along with the AMCAS grades, or just the AMCAS grades? Thanks!

I think that medical schools see the Xs, Os, etc... so be careful when entering your grades - you don't want to give the impression of being lazy.

 

[Neuron14]

Right. But what I was wondering was if what medical schools count as 1 year of 'writing' courses was less exclusive than what AMCAS considers 'English Composition and Rhetoric'.

IE: taken from the harvard med school requirements site:
5. Expository Writing: one year. Writing skills are important for the study and practice of medicine. This requirement may be met with any non-science courses that involve substantial experience in expository writing. Advanced placement credits cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.
http://hms.harvard.edu/admissions/default.asp?page=requirements

Oh okay. It definitely seems like medical schools, especially Harvard, have a more flexible definition of a writing course.

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

has anyone else that submitted today received a status update showing they were verified?

*I haven't*..and I don't mean to sound neurotic..just curious haha.

 

[ochu]

Is it necessary/recommended to include the future courses you are planning to take for the upcoming fall/spring?
My fall coursework might be changed and i do not want to slow the verification because of a possible change

 

[KPCOFGS]

Also, Im assuming the 3rd essay of "significant research experience" is optional? I just included my research in 'work/activities' because my explanation fit there but didnt know if I should move it to the 3rd essay section and try to expand on it a little bit.

I'm assuming you're applying MD/PhD to at least one school if you're seeing this essay. It is NOT optional -- fill it out, and go in-depth about question/hypothesis and your general approaches to the question. Research is crucial for MD/PhD, you don't want to leave this blank.

 

[rofl]

1. I do not have all my LOR in (just 2 thus far but have 2 more coming soon).
In order to submit a primary application, do all 4 need to be in if I am having the references send the LOR to the career center's letter service?

2.At what point do I need to send a transcript in? My university has not yet updated the spring semester's grades on my transcript...

 

[ungu]

has anyone else that submitted today received a status update showing they were verified?

*I haven't*..and I don't mean to sound neurotic..just curious haha.

I submitted mine at 10:30am EST and was verified at 4:45pm.