## 2008-2009 Application Season ## Post AACOMAS questions HERE!!!

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Will applications go out to schools if there's no MCAT score (with an update once there is a score) or do you wait until you get the MCAT score before sending out the application? I ask because some have said it's possible to get secondaries before you get your MCAT score back.

Applications will go out w/o MCAT scores, once all transcripts for completed courses have been received. When official MCAT scores come in, the apps are updated and when transcripts for in process courses come in, apps are updated.

 

[dangit]

Hey guys,

Do i need to put in grades that I took at a community college during high school? I never used these grades before for credit in high school or college. I just took them and the reason i didn't use them for credit was because i earned a D in a math class and i didn't want to send the transcript to any schools. So basically, all classes were not used for credit because of that one D. Anyway, I know for AMCAS, they require all classes from a college even if we didn't use it towards a degree. Even if we didn't take classes, we have to still write that we registered in a college. Is it the same with AACOMAS? Thank you!

 

[RySerr21]

Hey guys,

Do i need to put in grades that I took at a community college during high school? I never used these grades before for credit in high school or college. I just took them and the reason i didn't use them for credit was because i earned a D in a math class and i didn't want to send the transcript to any schools. So basically, all classes were not used for credit because of that one D. Anyway, I know for AMCAS, they require all classes from a college even if we didn't use it towards a degree. Even if we didn't take classes, we have to still write that we registered in a college. Is it the same with AACOMAS? Thank you!

i'm pretty sure you have to send a transcript and report any course that you took at a college campus. someone may correct me tho.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

Edit: nevermind , i figured it out.
guess i should write something clever anyway....
nope, i got nothin.
well...actually...i asked this in a separate thread, but do you guys put down high school awards under the awards honors scholarships section?
wouldnt getting a scholarship to go to college happen during high school anyways? So you gotta be able to list high school stuff, right?

 

[aliDO]

Hey guys,

Do i need to put in grades that I took at a community college during high school? I never used these grades before for credit in high school or college. I just took them and the reason i didn't use them for credit was because i earned a D in a math class and i didn't want to send the transcript to any schools. So basically, all classes were not used for credit because of that one D. Anyway, I know for AMCAS, they require all classes from a college even if we didn't use it towards a degree. Even if we didn't take classes, we have to still write that we registered in a college. Is it the same with AACOMAS? Thank you!

Yes, you must include them.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Edit: nevermind , i figured it out.
guess i should write something clever anyway....
nope, i got nothin.
well...actually...i asked this in a separate thread, but do you guys put down high school awards under the awards honors scholarships section?
wouldnt getting a scholarship to go to college happen during high school anyways? So you gotta be able to list high school stuff, right?

If it's important, feel free to list it. I listed a scholarship to college.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

wow...you have an impressive MDapps page!
this is your 3rd time applying? i bet i know a lot of people who would have given up by now...i wish you the best of luck this cycle, i dont see any reason why you wont get in this time around =]

 

[Chocolate Bear]

wow...you have an impressive MDapps page!
this is your 3rd time applying? i bet i know a lot of people who would have given up by now...i wish you the best of luck this cycle, i dont see any reason why you wont get in this time around =]

Thanks for the support! If there was something else that would be as personally fulfilling to me as being a physician, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP! Since there isn't, I couldn't.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Plus when I realized how freakin cool DOs were, I knew I had to give it another shot! 😉

 

[DrMattOglesby]

ha whaddup 'C Bizzle'
yeah, i applied last year...had my secondaries completed on march 1st!
in addition to a sorrowful MCAT performance, I wasn't expecting to get much love from any of the schools. Surprisingly though, i was given an interview at PNWU, its just a shame they didnt agree with me that i knocked the interview out of the park. I am buying a book on interviews and its on its way right now. maybe ill find out where i slipped up...if i did.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

ha whaddup 'C Bizzle'
yeah, i applied last year...had my secondaries completed on march 1st!
in addition to a sorrowful MCAT performance, I wasn't expecting to get much love from any of the schools. Surprisingly though, i was given an interview at PNWU, its just a shame they didnt agree with me that i knocked the interview out of the park. I am buying a book on interviews and its on its way right now. maybe ill find out where i slipped up...if i did.

Well maybe you did knock it out, but it was just too late. Good luck with the book--probably by this time next year you'll realize it was just a matter of timing rather than interview skills. 👍

 

[stiz]

I submitted my AACOMAS ... it says 'submit application and make payment'

But when I submit it doesn't have anywhere to make payment ...
It just says that my application was submitted.

Also, it won't show the list of schools I selected ...

Just the list to choose from....

???

What's up?

Thanks.
😕

 

[MossPoh]

I have no clue what is going on. I had to enter in credit card information and I think sign a line selling my soul.

 

[stiz]

now it has the list of schools i chose ...
and a place to enter credit card info...

but after i enter the credit card info i get an error ...

i tried it in both firefox and IE...

😕

 

[Chocolate Bear]

now it has the list of schools i chose ...
and a place to enter credit card info...

but after i enter the credit card info i get an error ...

i tried it in both firefox and IE...

😕

Call them. 301-968-4190

 

[noshie]

Yeah I think there are still a few kinks to iron out. I had a similar problem after I entered my coursework. It wasnt showing up that I had even done it! I refreshed and refreshed and toggled to other links and still nothing. I mean I sat there and entered like 200 credit hours and I was freaking out because I thought I had to start all over. I logged out and logged back in and it was there. Weird.

 

[thierryhenry]

is anyone at all verified/complete yet by AACOMAS?

thanks

 

[Chocolate Bear]

is anyone at all verified/complete yet by AACOMAS?

thanks

Not I.

 

[runningdoc]

I submitted my AACOMAS ... it says 'submit application and make payment'

But when I submit it doesn't have anywhere to make payment ...
It just says that my application was submitted.

Also, it won't show the list of schools I selected ...

Just the list to choose from....

???

What's up?

Thanks.
😕

My roommate and I are having the same problem. I called AACOMAS first thing this morning and they had no idea what I was talking about. The guy on the phone told me that they were still submitted to my schools.

 

[thierryhenry]

Chocolate, when did you send your transcripts and when did they show up as "verified," or arrived?

I just called AACOMAS and actually got a rep...(weird right?) and he said they are still working on applications submitted prior to May 23rd, so if your transcript has not arrived before then, they are supposedly "still working on them"

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Chocolate, when did you send your transcripts and when did they show up as "verified," or arrived?

I just called AACOMAS and actually got a rep...(weird right?) and he said they are still working on applications submitted prior to May 23rd, so if your transcript has not arrived before then, they are supposedly "still working on them"

I sent them around 5/1 and they were received around 5/7. I submitted 5/13.

 

[anon y mous]

So I have to retake my MCAT. 😱 Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to pull a lower score than even my diagnostic.🙁 After 5 months of constant studying, i totally bombed it. So my application is ready to be submitted but I'm going to indicate a retake. Does this mean it won't be verified or won't be looked at until i get my new score?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

sorry to hear that anon.
it wont delay verification...but hopefully it will delay whether or not school's reject you outright or rather, wait for your new MCAT scores to be posted. I'm also certain they will wait for the new scores to be posted.

 

[anon y mous]

sorry to hear that anon.
it wont delay verification...but hopefully it will delay whether or not school's reject you outright or rather, wait for your new MCAT scores to be posted. I'm also certain they will wait for the new scores to be posted.

What's the lowest score most DO schools will even consider?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

crazy question to ask.
I dont know.
i applied on march 1st of last year to 15 schools with a 22-R and got an interview at PNWU. I was rejected post interview. Every other place said that either my MCAT was too low or that their class had already been filled.
Lesson learned here? Improve the MCAT and apply early!
And 22 is a very low score by DO standards. But you'll hear people talk about how they got in with a 22 to so-n-so place.
It is expensive to apply to medical school. I lost a LOT of money on it earlier this year but I learned a lot about the process. I retook the MCAT and am awaiting results.
Do you think you can improve your MCAT score? Are you prepared to study for it again?
do you have a "MDapps" profile where we can see your stats so we can make more educated suggestions? And be honest on that thing...there are a lot of people on this forum that are very intelligent and i understand that it can be tempting to embellish here and there. But no one here is an adcom, there is no real point.
So--it really depends on what other things you have on your application.
I'm sure anyone will say the same.

*however, Touro will screen out scores less than 23. I spoke to the admissions at AT Still and he said it was VERY rare that they looked at an applicant with less than 23.

 

[anon y mous]

crazy question to ask.
I dont know.
i applied on march 1st of last year to 15 schools with a 22-R and got an interview at PNWU. I was rejected post interview. Every other place said that either my MCAT was too low or that their class had already been filled.
Lesson learned here? Improve the MCAT and apply early!
And 22 is a very low score by DO standards. But you'll hear people talk about how they got in with a 22 to so-n-so place.
It is expensive to apply to medical school. I lost a LOT of money on it earlier this year but I learned a lot about the process. I retook the MCAT and am awaiting results.
Do you think you can improve your MCAT score? Are you prepared to study for it again?
do you have a "MDapps" profile where we can see your stats so we can make more educated suggestions? And be honest on that thing...there are a lot of people on this forum that are very intelligent and i understand that it can be tempting to embellish here and there. But no one here is an adcom, there is no real point.
So--it really depends on what other things you have on your application.
I'm sure anyone will say the same.

*however, Touro will screen out scores less than 23. I spoke to the admissions at AT Still and he said it was VERY rare that they looked at an applicant with less than 23.

Thank you very much for your reply. I will eventually make an honest MDApps, my only hesitation is that someone might recognize me by a certain standout EC. My MCAT is 24 and each of my gpas slightly higher than yours. Otherwise I have the standard stuff. I'm open to suggestions of where to apply. What I thought I had going for me was an early application, now a retake will put me back months.

 

[meganmarie]

what would you all consider "late" in the application process. I am planning on submitting within the next week, once I get my transcripts and personal statment finalized...is this still early?

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Thank you very much for your reply. I will eventually make an honest MDApps, my only hesitation is that someone might recognize me by a certain standout EC. My MCAT is 24 and each of my gpas slightly higher than yours. Otherwise I have the standard stuff. I'm open to suggestions of where to apply. What I thought I had going for me was an early application, now a retake will put me back months.

Leave out the EC, or if it's really important, mask it into an equivalent, but untraceable EC.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

what would you all consider "late" in the application process. I am planning on submitting within the next week, once I get my transcripts and personal statment finalized...is this still early?

You will have submitted probably right around when people will start to get verified. I think that would still be considered quite early. 👍

 

[zapatistasup]

Hey guys, i sent out my transcript to AACOMAS almost two weeks ago, but on my app. it says they haven't received it yet. How does it take for them to register the transcript? Should i resend it? I havent submitted my application yet. Does that influence whether or not my transcripts considered "received"?

 

[anon y mous]

You will have submitted probably right around when people will start to get verified. I think that would still be considered quite early. 👍

I thought the application season just opened on June 1st; how can it not still be early?

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I thought the application season just opened on June 1st; how can it not still be early?

AACOMAS opened on May 1st. It is still early.

 

[a817]

Hey guys, i sent out my transcript to AACOMAS almost two weeks ago, but on my app. it says they haven't received it yet. How does it take for them to register the transcript? Should i resend it? I havent submitted my application yet. Does that influence whether or not my transcripts considered "received"?

It can take a while sometimes, some schools are slow. I know it took my school one week to just to send it 😱. It take aacomas sometimes to update it also. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Give it another week. If your schools sends them for free, hey it dose not hurt to resend it 😛. Not submitting your transcripts has nothing to do with aacomas not updating your file.

 

[MDorbust]

Hey guys, i sent out my transcript to AACOMAS almost two weeks ago, but on my app. it says they haven't received it yet. How does it take for them to register the transcript? Should i resend it? I havent submitted my application yet. Does that influence whether or not my transcripts considered "received"?

I would wait a bit- I submitted mine on the first of June, and at that time it said my transcripts weren't received. The next day I got on to check the status and it stated that they had been received on 4/27

 

[anon y mous]

AACOMAS opened on May 1st. It is still early.

Did this change this year? Maybe I was just so used to AMCAS being June 1st, but i didn't even check until just before June. Oh yea, i was too busy studying for my MCAT until then. 🙁

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Did this change this year? Maybe I was just so used to AMCAS being June 1st, but i didn't even check until just before June. Oh yea, i was too busy studying for my MCAT until then. 🙁

Yeah I think it was around June 1st last year. That's OK, the MCAT was more important than a barely earlier application.

 

[runningdoc]

Hey everyone! I called AACOMAS yesterday and they verified that no applications have been verified or sent to schools yet. They said this would begin next week. 👍

 

[anon y mous]

Yeah I think it was around June 1st last year. That's OK, the MCAT was more important than a barely earlier application.

Yea, too bad the studying didn't pay off and I need to retake, making my application really late. 🙁

 

[thierryhenry]

Hey everyone! I called AACOMAS yesterday and they verified that no applications have been verified or sent to schools yet. They said this would begin next week. 👍

yeah you can tell they are backed up from everything it seems, this is good news though.

 

[tourniquet1963]

Hey everyone! I called AACOMAS yesterday and they verified that no applications have been verified or sent to schools yet. They said this would begin next week. 👍

Verification will begin next week? or they will start sending out the apps to the schools?.. either way i hope to submit by the end of the week.. but they still did not receive one of my transcripts.. AMCAS just got my last trascript today.. hopefully AACOM will get it soon too!!

 

[runningdoc]

I guess I should have thought to clarify. I'm pretty sure the guy on the phone meant both verification and submission to schools will begin next week.

 

[StinkyMasala]

hi everyone!

 

[prionsRbad]

hi everyone!

so i have a quick question, im going to submit my primary in the next 5 or so days but im confused. i have a 26 on my mcat, but i inidcated i will be retaking, does that mean ill be on hold even if i have a good shot at some of these schools? i dont want be on hold unless i have to be, you know what im saying??

the only reason im retaking is to be more competitve at my instate do school (ccom)

i hope someone can clear this up!!
thanks 🙂

Yes, you will most likely be on hold at most schools until your second score comes in. You will probably still get a secondary from the majority of those schools before the 2nd score comes out, though. Some will make you wait. That's how it worked for me last year.

If you want, you can PM me and I'll give you a list of the schools I applied to and which ones made me wait to fill out a secondary.

Good Luck

 

[runner898]

I posted this question in another thread too, but didn't get a response. I hope I don't get in trouble for double posting since I didn't get any answers before.

Does anyone know which schools accept this highest score for each section of the MCAT if you took it more than one time? For example, say I got PS 8, BS 7, VR 7 one time and PS 7, BS 7, VR8. Which schools take the highest PS, BS, and VR to where it would be PS 8, BS 7, VR 8?

 

[PBL DO]

hi everyone!

so i have a quick question, im going to submit my primary in the next 5 or so days but im confused. i have a 26 on my mcat, but i inidcated i will be retaking, does that mean ill be on hold even if i have a good shot at some of these schools? i dont want be on hold unless i have to be, you know what im saying??

the only reason im retaking is to be more competitve at my instate do school (ccom)

i hope someone can clear this up!!
thanks 🙂

Yes, you will most likely be on hold at most schools until your second score comes in. You will probably still get a secondary from the majority of those schools before the 2nd score comes out, though. Some will make you wait. That's how it worked for me last year.

If you want, you can PM me and I'll give you a list of the schools I applied to and which ones made me wait to fill out a secondary.

Good Luck

I disagree prionsRbad, or perhaps am just confused by what you said. I'm not 100% on most schools because I only applied to 3 but I submitted my initial application to ACCOMAS indicating on it that I planned to retake the MCAT for the same reasons as StinkyMasala. Before I even had the chance to retake the MCAT I recieved secondaries and interviews from all 3 schools, including 2 acceptances which led me to not retaking the MCAT at all.

In my opinion you will not be on hold at these schools and you should submit the information as soon as possible. The earlier they get a chance to look at your credentials the better. Hopefully you do better on the retake in which case you submit that new information to strengthen your application but in my case it didn't matter even though I indicated on the primary application I planned on retaking the MCAT.

 

[MossPoh]

So I have to retake my MCAT. 😱 Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to pull a lower score than even my diagnostic.🙁 After 5 months of constant studying, i totally bombed it. So my application is ready to be submitted but I'm going to indicate a retake. Does this mean it won't be verified or won't be looked at until i get my new score?

Hey man. I didn't do as bad as my diagnostic, but I did have an 11 point drop in my score from practice tests, so I feel your pain. Just chug along and know that I'm in the same boat as you. 😉
I am thinking the interview invites are kind of contingent on what one considers their bad score and the rest of your application. I have a 25, but tons of great ECs and about as solid of recommendation letters from DOs as you can get. (They were on adcoms and are influential alum of their institutions) I am hoping the combination with the growing up in a small town and strong upward trend will bend me towards an interview invite or two before my new MCAT is released. Oddly enough, I do very well with interviews despite my pretty severe anxiety during the situation...I'm very excited to just get the ball rolling. I can't wait till next year at this time when I'm sitting on my patio with my guitar and a beer thinking "Man, I was so stressed out around this time last year...." and then go back to strumming/singing La Mar by The Beautiful Girls or something. (Its my new happy song)


I am thinking this weekend will be a good time to begin the "Why osteopathic medicine?" essay that'll be on the secondary of nearly every school. Do they expect you to spout out crap about holistic viewpoints?

 

[prionsRbad]

I disagree prionsRbad, or perhaps am just confused by what you said. I'm not 100% on most schools because I only applied to 3 but I submitted my initial application to ACCOMAS indicating on it that I planned to retake the MCAT for the same reasons as StinkyMasala. Before I even had the chance to retake the MCAT I recieved secondaries and interviews from all 3 schools, including 2 acceptances which led me to not retaking the MCAT at all.

In my opinion you will not be on hold at these schools and you should submit the information as soon as possible. The earlier they get a chance to look at your credentials the better. Hopefully you do better on the retake in which case you submit that new information to strengthen your application but in my case it didn't matter even though I indicated on the primary application I planned on retaking the MCAT.

I'm speaking from experience. I was in the exact same position as the OP last year (had 1 MCAT score on file and indicated 2nd MCAT test date on primary application and submitted in June) and I had 2 schools out of 12 (KCUMB and UNECOM) put my application on complete hold *for a secondary* pending the release of my 2nd MCAT score.

Every school I applied to (this includes the ones that sent me a secondary before my 2nd MCAT score came out) said my file would be on hold, since I indicated a retake on my primary application, until my score came in or I gave them the go ahead to review my file before the retake score came in.

What schools did you apply to? Was your MCAT score higher than the OP's?

 

[PBL DO]

Well, I was in the exact same position as the OP last year (had 1 MCAT score on file and indicated 2nd MCAT test date on primary application and submitted in June) and I had 2 schools out of 12 (KCUMB and UNECOM) put my application on complete hold *for a secondary* pending the release of my 2nd MCAT score.

Did you apply to KCUMB or UNECOM?

No I didn't apply to either. 2 out of 12 putting your application on complete hold to me means its rare, but I suppose it does happen. I guess to answer StinkyMasala's question we have to figure out what school's she is applying to LECOM-E,B and OUCOM will not put your application on hold.

 

[prionsRbad]

No I didn't apply to either. 2 out of 12 putting your application on complete hold to me means its rare, but I suppose it does happen. I guess to answer StinkyMasala's question we have to figure out what school's she is applying to LECOM-E,B and OUCOM will not put your application on hold.

You misunderstood my post. Two schools put me on hold for a secondary, all the schools put my file on hold for review until my 2nd MCAT score came in.

I have already been PM'ing with the OP about which schools put my app on hold for a secondary. I think we've got it straightened out. Thanks for your input, though. 🙂

 

[RySerr21]

is there any sort of delay if you add schools after you have submitted and been verified? whats the turn around time for you adding another school and AACOMAS sending your app out.