What exactly happens during a verification process?

[deleted640852]

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I did a search, but I did not find exactly what I was looking for, so here is my question:

I am a non-traditional student, so I have several universities in which to obtain official transcripts. My plan is to match, word for word, what my transcripts have on them in order to make the verification process smoother.
I have read that it takes 4-6 weeks for verification. I realize that there are many, many applicants to verify and that can explain the 4-6 week time period. But, if I have everything word-for-word, will that make the process on the faster side (4 weeks) or will it still be on the longer side since there are multiple transcripts? Are there other steps to verification other than matching courses, credit hours, grades, etc?

Thank you.

 

[karling]

They just go in order of applications submitted chronologically. So whenever they get to yours is independent of what you put in your application. If they find some discrepancy, they'll return your application with a note telling you what to fix. You don't go back in the queue. You just fix it, resubmit, and they look at it immediately.

As for what they're verifying... I'm not entirely sure. It seems they're just verifying that the course information you typed in matches your transcripts, but I don't know why that would take so long. AMCAS seems to do it in half the time as AACOMAS.

The length of the verification process depends on when you submit your application. I think people who submitted in June were verified within 2 weeks. I submitted in August and it took almost 7 weeks. I guess they were flooded with apps during that time.

 

[ananasmed]

I believe the verification is just to compare your transcripts to what you've inputted. Don't sweat minor stuff - like for instance I believe I inputted something as "S" (for Satisfactory), because that's how it appears on my transcript. AACOMAS changed this to a "P" or whatever letter they like to use, but my application didn't get sent back to me or anything. You are definitely correct to just enter everything exactly as it appears on your transcript - you can't go wrong that way. Unless you make a really big mistake, you'll be fine. If you have pending coursework, be sure NOT to include it on AACOMAS unless it is listed on one of your transcripts. Listing planned coursework that isn't reflected on a transcript will get your app bounced back, I believe. Don't worry about this, even if you have a pre-req that is incomplete (i.e. Biochemistry), most schools will give you some way to tell them about it on your secondary/they'll solicit the information from you in some other way.

Tip: you can have your transcripts sent in ahead of time. AACOMAS opens at the beginning of May so you can start to fill out your coursework, send your transcripts, etc. At the beginning of June, you can *submit* your completed application. So, if you were to send out your transcript requests in early May, then AACOMAS should almost certainly already have them when you submit. Even if you aren't ready to submit at the beginning of June for whatever reason, having your transcripts in will certainly hasten the process. For what it's worth, I sent my four transcripts sometime in May, submitted AACOMAS on the first allowable day, and was verified in either 2 or 3 days, can't remember anymore. People who submitted even a week later had to wait a few weeks to be verified.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

I believe the verification is just to compare your transcripts to what you've inputted. Don't sweat minor stuff - like for instance I believe I inputted something as "S" (for Satisfactory), because that's how it appears on my transcript. AACOMAS changed this to a "P" or whatever letter they like to use, but my application didn't get sent back to me or anything. You are definitely correct to just enter everything exactly as it appears on your transcript - you can't go wrong that way. Unless you make a really big mistake, you'll be fine. If you have pending coursework, be sure NOT to include it on AACOMAS unless it is listed on one of your transcripts. Listing planned coursework that isn't reflected on a transcript will get your app bounced back, I believe. Don't worry about this, even if you have a pre-req that is incomplete (i.e. Biochemistry), most schools will give you some way to tell them about it on your secondary/they'll solicit the information from you in some other way.

Tip: you can have your transcripts sent in ahead of time. AACOMAS opens at the beginning of May so you can start to fill out your coursework, send your transcripts, etc. At the beginning of June, you can *submit* your completed application. So, if you were to send out your transcript requests in early May, then AACOMAS should almost certainly already have them when you submit. Even if you aren't ready to submit at the beginning of June for whatever reason, having your transcripts in will certainly hasten the process. For what it's worth, I sent my four transcripts sometime in May, submitted AACOMAS on the first allowable day, and was verified in either 2 or 3 days, can't remember anymore. People who submitted even a week later had to wait a few weeks to be verified.

Hey ananasmed,

if one were to take 2 classes this next semester (Spring 2015, )our finals fall in the last week of May. Can we still submit transcripts without this semester's grades to get verified quicker? and then when the Spring 2015 grades come out, we can update AACOMAS with another transcript and add those courses? What do you recommend?

 

[ananasmed]

Hey ananasmed,

if one were to take 2 classes this next semester (Spring 2015, )our finals fall in the last week of May. Can we still submit transcripts without this semester's grades to get verified quicker? and then when the Spring 2015 grades come out, we can update AACOMAS with another transcript and add those courses? What do you recommend?

Yes, you'll just list those 2 classes under planned/in progress - it will be obvious how to do this when you're filling it out. You can definitely submit without those grades, and it definitely might make a difference in terms of being verified faster if you're planning to submit super early. The only thing to consider is if those 2 classes will dramatically change your GPAs (if they are retakes), but even so, if your grades come out in early June, your new transcripts will probably be in before any schools actually see your app. Even if you are verified very early, your applications won't be sent out to schools until approximately the third week of June. However, if it would make the difference between being above or below a cut-off GPA (i.e. KCUMB screens for a 3.25 I think), then it might be wise to wait just incase - you obviously don't want to be screened out by a computer pre-secondary for any reason. Also, consider if your school charges to send transcripts or not - some schools do it for free, but some charge a nominal (or not-so-nominal) fee for each one sent, so just be aware if you're planning to send two in rapid succession!

Edit: Also make sure that your in progress classes actually show up on your transcript (obviously without grades). If they don't, absolutely wait to have the grades in before sending - it will be less complicated.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I did a search, but I did not find exactly what I was looking for, so here is my question:

I am a non-traditional student, so I have several universities in which to obtain official transcripts. My plan is to match, word for word, what my transcripts have on them in order to make the verification process smoother.
I have read that it takes 4-6 weeks for verification. I realize that there are many, many applicants to verify and that can explain the 4-6 week time period. But, if I have everything word-for-word, will that make the process on the faster side (4 weeks) or will it still be on the longer side since there are multiple transcripts? Are there other steps to verification other than matching courses, credit hours, grades, etc?

Thank you.

It's 4-6 weeks if everything is turned in correctly. I don't know why you'd think it meant other than that.

 

[Buddy.the.Elf]

Hey ananasmed,

if one were to take 2 classes this next semester (Spring 2015, )our finals fall in the last week of May. Can we still submit transcripts without this semester's grades to get verified quicker? and then when the Spring 2015 grades come out, we can update AACOMAS with another transcript and add those courses? What do you recommend?

I submitted my primary apps on June 3rd this past year. I was still taking a class during spring quarter that did not end until June 10th or so. I had already graduated with my BS many years prior, and this class I was taking was not a pre-req or anything. They verified my app by June 5th or 6th EXCEPT for that one class and said they could not release my app to schools until that spring quarter class grade was on my transcript. I was told that when I get my final transcript with that grade on it, I could send it in and be completely verified without going to the back of the line. I sent my transcript in and was verified within a couple of days (this wasn't until late July; other people who were just submitting at that time had to wait weeks I think). My entire wait time was only about 1 week, but I was unable to be fully verified until spring quarter grades were on the transcript.

If I were you, I would get your entire application together and be ready to submit it once you get those final transcripts in. Or you can do as I did and not read the directions fully (they say somewhere all spring grades must be on the transcripts) and then kind of hold your place in line until you send in your final transcript.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

I guess it wont make much of a difference then. I have my personal statement ready to go. Just need to get two more LORs and need to start pre-writing secondaries in the next week before school begins again. I guess I'll just go with what you said and send it in with my Spring 2015 grades too.