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

amcas@aamc.org

Your Information Resources