Selecting a Major in AMCAS

[BillrothI]

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Hey Everybody,

Quick question about the AMCAS.

If your major has a concentration (eg - biology with a concentration in neuro), are you supposed to just select "Biology" as your major or should you select "Other" and then manually enter the major with the concentration?

Thanks!

-Bill R.

 

[ace12345]

I have literally the same question on the Neuro concentration (The concentration is listed on my official transcript. Will schools see it?)

 

[Dingo Mango]

Isn't there a way to select bio and then type in the actual official degree? I seem to remember selecting "music" but then typing in "orchestral instruments" or something like that. Maybe it's different this year though...

 

[BillrothI]

Isn't there a way to select bio and then type in the actual official degree? I seem to remember selecting "music" but then typing in "orchestral instruments" or something like that. Maybe it's different this year though...

You can either select a degree from a drop down menu or put in "Other" and manually enter a degree. My primary degree does show up on the menu, but if I select that then there is no way to enter a concentration.

-Bill R.

 

[Doctor Strange]

What degree do you get in the end? It's a bio degree. Unless it changes the final degree you get at graduation, the concentration jazz is just fluff.

 

[ace12345]

Yes but this concentration, at least in my case, is listed on the transcript as "Neurobiology Option." Not sure what to do here

 

[Doctor Strange]

Yes but this concentration, at least in my case, is listed on the transcript as "Neurobiology Option." Not sure what to do here

I would still just list it as bio. The bio majors at my school also had concentrations, but they all just put bio; it really doesn't matter.

 

[Spinach Dip]

I think you should ABSOLUTELY put your major in exactly as it reads on your transcript. Don't over-generalize things.

For example: I got a minor in Writing. The closest option on the drop-down menu is "English", which is NOT the same thing.

 

[BillrothI]

Just bumping this, as there seem to be two completely different opinions here.

At my school, each concentration involves substantially different course work. I do feel a little bit 'short changed' if I don't get to include it on my application, but obviously the priority is making sure that everything is accurate and that the verification process goes as smoothly as possible.

Thanks for any input.

-Bill R.

 

[Ismet]

Put whatever shows up on your transcript next to "major." If it is bio+concentration then fill it in under "other." If it is just bio and the concentration is listed elsewhere then just list bio.