Transcript woes

[Doc187]

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Hey SDN,

I'm trying to get my primary application in on June 1st, or whenever is the absolute earliest time to submit.

I graduated summa cum laude with Honors in Biology, but that distinction won't show up on my official transcript until June 14th. Does this matter at all, or can I go ahead and just have my transcript mailed anyway? I know AMCAS verifies GPAs, but what about confirming distinctions like this? If not, I'm in the clear to have my school send my transcript anyways, right?

Thanks.

 

[apumic]

Latin designations are usually just a fxn of GPA. I wouldn't worry about it since your GPA will be listed. AFAIK, they don't verify your Latin honors on your transcript.

 

[Doc187]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I know they do departmental Honors on my school's transcripts because I just asked today, but does this matter for AMCAS or can I just go ahead and claim that I graduated with Honors in Biology and they'll just "trust" me?

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Latin designations are usually just a fxn of GPA. I wouldn't worry about it since your GPA will be listed. AFAIK, they don't verify your Latin honors on your transcript.

Correct. 👍

 

[organdonor]

Don't wait. The honors are not verified just the grades. The grades on your transcript are all a's and therefore your amcas verified gpa will be a 4.0. I would waitto send your transcript to any specific schools perhaps but don't wait to have your transcript sent to amcas for this reason. Congrats by the way! Feels good doesn't it lol. This whole "not taking classes " thing is new to me too.

 

[Evergrey]

I swear, med schools want to make the application process as difficult as possible. There's no reason to have people apply in June -- it's the end of the year for a lot of people, letter writers are cramped with a million other commitments, there's finals to worry about, transcripts aren't released yet at a lot of places.

Do you know if any of your letter writers are going to mention the honors status? If so, that kind of secondary confirmation makes the transcript situation irrelevant.

Edit: Oh yeah, thirded (or whatever # it is at now) above. Latin honors is meaningless, I don't think I am going to include it on my application. All it means is you got a high GPA, and the schools can see that already 😉 The honors is a lot more impressive if you ask me.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I know they do departmental Honors on my school's transcripts because I just asked today, but does this matter for AMCAS or can I just go ahead and claim that I graduated with Honors in Biology and they'll just "trust" me?

If you feel you have to include it somewhere in your application, be truthful; most adcom member won’t place preference on whether an applicant's honors are department awarded or university awarded. Be mindful of the details, but don't sweat them.

-admissions committee interviewer / senior medical student

 

[Doc187]

I just had my transcript mailed off from the registrar's office yesterday, so once AMCAS gets it, will they verify my GPA and all, or is that not done until I actually submit the application in June?

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I just had my transcript mailed off from the registrar's office yesterday, so once AMCAS gets it, will they verify my GPA and all, or is that not done until I actually submit the application in June?

Verification doesn't start until you submit (more importantly for the AAMC, is the payment that comes with submission; how else will they pay the people to do the verifying).

 

[Doc187]

If that's the case, then what exactly is AMCAS talking about when on the login page it says:

How is that different from verifying, exactly?

Thanks.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

If that's the case, then what exactly is AMCAS talking about when on the login page it says:

How is that different from verifying, exactly?

Thanks.

Don't sweat the little things; if you apply on June 1 you'll be ahead of the game.

This alert is simply stating that they are still in the process of associating applicant's transcripts with their respective application. A living person still has to verify that each applicant has entered his or her coursework and grades appropriately. This won't happen until the application has been submitted and paid for by the applicant.

 

[Doc187]

So since my transcript was mailed off yesterday, it will arrive and just be associated with my file without actual verification?

In that case it will just be sitting with my application until June 1st when I submit, at which point it will be used to verify my courses and GPA?

Thanks.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

So since my transcript was mailed off yesterday, it will arrive and just be associated with my file without actual verification?

In that case it will just be sitting with my application until June 1st when I submit, at which point it will be used to verify my courses and GPA?

Thanks.

Correct and correct.

Think of it this way, how are people at AMCAS supposed to know that they can start verifying your transcripts before you submit. What if an applicant has only partially entered their courses when the transcripts arrived? Or what if an emergency comes up and an applicant decides to not submit this year after already starting an application? It would be a mess for AMCAS to start verifying before the applicant actually submits.