Stanford University Undergraduate Advising and Research

1. The AMCAS ApplicationYour Path to Success Stanford University Undergraduate Advising and Research

2. Questions we’ll answer today • 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?

3. American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) • 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

4. The AMCAS WebsiteResources for Applicants

5. The AMCAS WebsiteCurrent Year’s Application Resources

6. WHAT DO YOU THINK? • 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?

7. The AMCAS Application • Identifying Information • Schools Attended • Biographic Information • Coursework • Work/Activities • Letters of Evaluation • Medical Schools • Essay(s) • Standardized Tests

8. 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

9. The AMCAS ApplicationThe Transcript Request Form Transcript Request Form Your identifying information Address for your institution’s registrar AMCAS address for the registrar

10. The AMCAS ApplicationEntering your coursework • 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.

11. The AMCAS ApplicationEntering Coursework These fields will be verified against a copy of your official transcript after you submit the application

12. The AMCAS ApplicationCourse Classification and your GPA • 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

13. The AMCAS ApplicationCourse Classification • Natural/Physical Sciences (NPSC) • Agriculture • Animal and Avian Sciences • Forestry • Geography • Geology • Horticulture • Landscape Architecture • Meteorology • Natural Resources • Oceanography • Environmental Science & Policy • Other (OTHR) • All courses which do not fit appropriately into another category, including: • Architecture • Interdisciplinary courses • Library Science • Military Science • Sports (tennis, golf, aerobics, etc.) • Philosophy/Religion (PHIL) • Ethics • Logic • Philosophy • Religion • Theology • Physics (PHYS) - BCPM • Astronomy • Physics • Special Studies (SSTU) • Afro-American Studies • American Studies • Gender Studies • Computer Science/Technology (COMP) • Computer Science • Computer Engineering • Information Systems • Telecommunications • Education (EDUC) • Counseling & Personnel Services • Curriculum & Instruction • Educational Policy • Educational Administration • Health Education • Human Development • Physical Education (except for sports courses such as tennis, golf, aerobics, etc.  Use Other for these types of courses.) • Special Education • Engineering (ENGI) • Aerospace Engineering • Biomedical Engineering • Chemical Engineering • Civil Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Engineering • Environmental Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Nuclear Engineering • English Language & Literature (ENGL) • English Composition & Rhetoric • English Creative Writing • English Language & Literature • Fine Arts (ARTS) • Art • Art History • Dance • Fine Arts • Music • Photography • Theatre Health Sciences (HEAL) Allied Health Chiropractic Dentistry Hearing & Speech Sciences Hospital Administration Kinesiology Medical Technology Medicine Nursing Nutrition & Food Sciences Occupational Therapy Optometry Osteopathy Physical Therapy Physician Assistant Public Health Pharmacology & Pharmacy Sports Medicine Veterinary Medicine History (HIST) History Foreign Languages/Linguistics/Lit. (FLAN) American Sign Language Comparative Literature Linguistics Foreign Language(s) & Literature Government/Political Sci/Law (GOVT) Criminology & Criminal Justice Government International Relations & Studies Law/Legal Studies Political Science Public Affairs & Policy Urban Policy & Planning MATH (MATH) - BCPM Applied Mathematics Mathematics Statistics • Behavioral & Social Sciences (BESS) • Anthropology • Economics • Family Studies • Psychology • Sociology • Biology (BIOL) - BCPM • Anatomy • Biology • Biophysics • Biotechnology • Botany • Cell Biology • Ecology • Entomology • Genetics • Histology • Immunology • Microbiology • Molecular Biology • Neuroscience • Physiology • Business (BUSI) • Accounting • Business • Finance • Human Resource Studies • Management • Organizational Studies • Marketing • Chemistry (CHEM) – BCPM • Biochemistry • Chemistry • Physical Chemistry • Thermodynamics • Communications (COMM) • Journalism • Media Production & Studies • TV, Video, & Audio

14. The AMCAS ApplicationCourse Classification and your GPA

15. Study Abroad • 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. • 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 • 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

16. Avoid Delays to your Application • 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.

17. Submitting your Application Early is good. Error-Free is better! • 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

18. The AMCAS ApplicationThe ONLY changes after submission • 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

19. Letters of Evaluation • 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

20. Letters of Evaluation AMCAS Letter Request Form Author Applicant or Medical Schools CDC Letter Request Form Non –AMCAS participating AMCAS

21. The AMCAS ApplicationAdding Letters in the Application

22. 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

23. The AMCAS ApplicationAdding Letters to the Application Letter Request Form Your identifying information Used by AMCAS to attach letter to your application Your letter-writer’s address * Many medical schools require that your recommendations are on official letterhead and bear the signature of the author Methods your letter-writer can use to send their recommendation to AMCAS AMCAS address for your letter-writer to use

24. 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

25. Fee Assistance Program • 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 $85 • Upon 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

26. Criminal Background Checks • 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

27. A Tale of Two Sallys • 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 • 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

28. The Applicant’s Responsibilities • 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

29. Your Information Resources • 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