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Transcript of Stanford University Undergraduate Advising and Research
The AMCAS Application
Your Path to Success
Stanford UniversityUndergraduate Advising and Research
• What is AMCAS’ role in the medical school admissions process?
• What does the current AMCAS application look like?
• What are the common pitfalls faced by applicants and how can they be avoided?
• How can the application be monitored once it has been submitted?
• What is the Fee Assistance Program?
• Where can I go for more information?
Questions we’ll answer today
• Nonprofit, centralized application service Collects applicant information, transcripts,
and letters of recommendation Verifies academic records Provides standardized grading information to
participating schools
• Most medical schools use AMCAS as the primary application method
• Website: www.aamc.org/amcas
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
The AMCAS WebsiteResources for Applicants
The AMCAS WebsiteCurrent Year’s Application Resources
Can you use your unofficial transcript to fill out the coursework section of the AMCAS Application?
If your school has a forgiveness policy, do you need to list a course you failed or withdrew from if you repeated it and got a better grade?
If you are elected President of your student organization after you submit your application, can you go back and include that achievement?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
1. Identifying Information
2. Schools Attended
3. Biographic Information
4. Coursework
5. Work/Activities
6. Letters of Evaluation
7. Medical Schools
8. Essay(s)
9. Standardized Tests
The AMCAS Application
The AMCAS ApplicationGetting HELP when you have questions
• Clicking the “Help” button will bring up a menu and information that reflects where you are in the application
• If you would like help on a different section, click “Search” and type in what you need
The AMCAS ApplicationThe Transcript Request Form
Your identifying information
Address for your institution’s registrar
AMCAS address for the registrar
Transcript Request Form
•Request copies of your OFFICIAL transcripts for you to use as you fill out the AMCAS Application
•You MUST enter information and corresponding grades for every course in which you have ever enrolled, including:
• AP & College Credit earned in High School
• Study abroad
• Withdrawals, Incompletes, Fails, and Repeats• Medical schools will see it all, regardless of your
undergraduate forgiveness policy. Enter it correctly and completely the first time.
The AMCAS ApplicationEntering your coursework
The AMCAS ApplicationEntering Coursework
These fields will
be verified against a
copy of your
official transcript after you
submit the application
•You must assign each course a Course Classification (ex – Biology, Fine Arts, Philosophy, etc.) based entirely on its primary content
•Course Classifications are used in the calculation of your AMCAS GPA
•The BCPM GPA is comprised of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics courses
•Course Classifications that are not "BCPM" will be calculated in your AO (All Other) GPA
The AMCAS ApplicationCourse Classification and your GPA
Behavioral & Social Sciences (BESS)AnthropologyEconomicsFamily StudiesPsychologySociology
Biology (BIOL) - BCPMAnatomyBiologyBiophysicsBiotechnologyBotanyCell BiologyEcologyEntomologyGeneticsHistologyImmunologyMicrobiologyMolecular BiologyNeurosciencePhysiology
Business (BUSI)AccountingBusinessFinanceHuman Resource StudiesManagementOrganizational StudiesMarketing
Chemistry (CHEM) – BCPMBiochemistryChemistryPhysical ChemistryThermodynamics
Communications (COMM)JournalismMedia Production & StudiesTV, Video, & Audio
The AMCAS ApplicationCourse Classification
Natural/Physical Sciences (NPSC)AgricultureAnimal and Avian SciencesForestryGeographyGeologyHorticultureLandscape ArchitectureMeteorologyNatural ResourcesOceanographyEnvironmental Science & Policy
Other (OTHR)All courses which do not fit appropriately into another category, including:ArchitectureInterdisciplinary coursesLibrary ScienceMilitary ScienceSports (tennis, golf, aerobics, etc.)
Philosophy/Religion (PHIL)EthicsLogicPhilosophyReligionTheology
Physics (PHYS) - BCPMAstronomyPhysics
Special Studies (SSTU)Afro-American StudiesAmerican StudiesGender Studies
Computer Science/Technology (COMP)Computer ScienceComputer EngineeringInformation SystemsTelecommunications
Education (EDUC)Counseling & Personnel ServicesCurriculum & InstructionEducational PolicyEducational AdministrationHealth EducationHuman DevelopmentPhysical Education (except for sports courses such as tennis, golf, aerobics, etc. Use Other for these types of courses.)Special Education
Engineering (ENGI)Aerospace EngineeringBiomedical EngineeringChemical EngineeringCivil EngineeringElectrical EngineeringEngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringMechanical Engineering Nuclear Engineering
English Language & Literature (ENGL)English Composition & RhetoricEnglish Creative WritingEnglish Language & Literature
Fine Arts (ARTS)ArtArt HistoryDanceFine ArtsMusicPhotographyTheatre
Health Sciences (HEAL)Allied HealthChiropracticDentistryHearing & Speech SciencesHospital AdministrationKinesiologyMedical TechnologyMedicineNursingNutrition & Food SciencesOccupational TherapyOptometryOsteopathyPhysical TherapyPhysician AssistantPublic HealthPharmacology & PharmacySports MedicineVeterinary Medicine
History (HIST)History
Foreign Languages/Linguistics/Lit. (FLAN)American Sign LanguageComparative LiteratureLinguisticsForeign Language(s) & Literature
Government/Political Sci/Law (GOVT)Criminology & Criminal Justice GovernmentInternational Relations & StudiesLaw/Legal StudiesPolitical SciencePublic Affairs & Policy Urban Policy & Planning
MATH (MATH) - BCPMApplied MathematicsMathematicsStatistics
The AMCAS ApplicationCourse Classification and your GPA
1. Courses taken at any of the BOSP campuses are considered exactly as if they were taken on campus. They should be listed just as any other course.
2. Courses taken at an overseas campus of a U.S. institution or an American college overseas
• Courses MUST be listed under the institution attended• Official transcripts are required
3. Courses taken independently at a foreign institution, credit transferred to a U.S. or Canadian institution
• Courses should be listed under the foreign institution• Transcript exception must be requested
• Institution accepting the credit must be listed in the “Schools Attended” section of the application• Official transcript is required
Study Abroad
•Begin the application as soon as you can
•Keep your contact information up to date
•Be aware of your deadlines, submit ahead of time
•Enter all coursework exactly as it appears on your transcript and be sure all fields are complete
•Beat your transcript deadlines - send your transcript requests as soon as you begin the application.
Avoid Delays to your Application
•Focus on completeness and accuracy over early submission. If your application contains too many errors, AMCAS will send it back to you.
•Use the “Print Application” button to double-check your data. If you submit with errors and typos, medical schools WILL see them.
•Check the Main Menu of your application to ensure it was successfully submitted
Submitting your ApplicationEarly is good. Error-Free is better!
•Name and Contact Information
•Required and Alternate IDs
•Indication of MCAT test date
•Letters of Evaluation can be added and assigned to medical schools, but NOT deleted
•Medical schools can be added if the deadlines have not passed
•If you do make a post-submission change, you must RE-SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
• This will not cause processing delays
The AMCAS ApplicationThe ONLY changes after submission
•You may create up to 10 letter entries
•Committee letters, letter packets, and individual letters each count as ONE entry
•You can designate specific medical schools to receive specific letters
•The letter request form guarantees that AMCAS will match the letter to your application - print one for each letter entry and give it to your letter-writer
•Letters do not have to be entered before you submit your application
Letters of Evaluation
Letters of Evaluation
Author
CDC
Applicant
AMCAS
Letter Request
Form
AMCAS Letter
Request Form
Medical Schools
or
Non –A
MC
AS participating
The AMCAS ApplicationAdding Letters in the Application
The AMCAS ApplicationAdding Letters in the Application
The fields marked with an
asterisk are required…
… but the other fields are very
helpful to have… just in
case
The AMCAS ApplicationAdding Letters to the Application
Your identifying information
Your letter-writer’s address
AMCAS address for your letter-writer to use
Used by AMCAS to attach letter to your application
Methods your letter-writer can
use to send their recommendation
to AMCAS
Letter Request Form
Many medical schools require that your recommendations are on official letterhead and bear the signature of the author
*
The AMCAS ApplicationAdding Letters in the Application
If you have already submitted your application, you MUST hit submit again in order to save the letter you just added
•For applicants whose families are at or below 300% of the federal poverty level
•No distinction between dependent and independent
•Reduces MCAT fee from $230 to $85Upon registration for the MCAT, FAP recipients are sent free copies of the MSAR and the Official Guide to the MCAT exam
•Provides 14 free medical school designations in the AMCAS application (normally $32 each)
•You must have FAP approval before registering for the MCAT or submitting your AMCAS application
Fee Assistance Program
•AAMC recommends that all U.S. medical schools procure a “CBC” upon each applicant’s initial acceptance
• Enhances the safety of patients
• Bolsters general trust in the medical community
• Confirms the ability of accepted applicants to become licensed physicians
•The AMCAS application requires you to report felonies and misdemeanors
Criminal Background Checks
Sally A
•Read the AMCAS Instructions
•Began her application early
•Used her official transcript to complete the application
•Included that course she bombed and repeated
•Printed her application to proofread it and was able to fix a couple of errors
•Submitted her application on time and met deadlines
A Tale of Two Sallys
Sally Z
•Just realized her first deadline is today!
•Used her unofficial transcript to enter coursework
•Decided to leave off that course she bombed and repeated
• Found lots of typos and other errors after she submitted
•Had her application returned and missed her deadline
•Read the AMCAS Instruction Manual prior to submitting the AMCAS application
•Notify AMCAS of any changes in your contact information
•Know the admissions and residency requirements at each school you are applying to
•Keep track of and meet your deadlines
•Accurately complete the application
•Review your verified coursework immediately after AMCAS processing is complete
The Applicant’s Responsibilities
AMCAS Website: www.aamc.org/amcas
“Help” tab within the AMCAS Application
Medical School Admissions Requirements Guide
Medical school websites and admissions offices
Applicant and Advisor Relations Team
M-F 9:00 am EST to 7:00 pm EST
202.828.0600
Your Information Resources