Leading Your Students to Success: Tips from AMCAS Applicant and Advisor Relations

1. AMCAS 2011Leading Your Students to Success Kristin Franke Applicant and Advisor Relations

2. The AMCAS Letters Service • Albany Medical College • Albert Einstein College of Medicine • Baylor College of Medicine • Boston University School of Medicine • Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine • Columbia University College of P & S • Creighton University School of Medicine • Dartmouth Medical School • David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA • Drexel University College of Medicine • East TN State U., James H. Quillen College of Medicine • Eastern Virginia Medical School • Emory University School of Medicine • FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine • Florida State University • George Washington University Sch of Med & Hlth Science • Georgetown University School of Medicine • Harvard Medical School • Howard University • Indiana University School of Medicine • Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine • Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California • Loma Linda University School of Medicine • Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine • LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans • LSU School of Medicine-Shreveport • Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine • Mayo Medical School • Medical College of Wisconsin • Medical University of South Carolina • Meharry Medical College • Mercer University School of Medicine • Michigan State University • Morehouse School of Medicine • Mount Sinai School of Medicine • New York Medical College • New York University • Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine • Oregon Health and Science University • Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine • Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science • Rush Medical College • Saint Louis University School of Medicine • San Juan Bautista School of Medicine • Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota • Southern Illinois School of Medicine • Stanford University School of Medicine • State University of New York Downstate Medical Center • Stony Brook University-School of Medicine • SUNY at Buffalo Medical School • SUNY Upstate Medical University • Temple University School of Medicine • Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine MD/PhD • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine MD/PhD • The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University • The Commonwealth Medical College • The Medical College of Georgia • The Ohio State University College of Medicine • The University of Arizona College of Medicine • The University of Miami School of Medicine • The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center • The University of Oklahoma • The University of Toledo College of Medicine • The University of Vermont College of Medicine • Tufts University School of Medicine • Tulane University School of Medicine • UCLA PRIME • UCLA/Drew Medical Education Program • UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School • UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School • University of Alabama School of Medicine • University of Arkansas College of Medicine • University of California-Berkeley/SF • University of California San Diego • University of California San Francisco • University of California, Davis School of Medicine • University of California, Irvine-College of Medicine • University of Central Florida College of Medicine • University of Chicago-Pritzker • University of Cincinnati College of Medicine • University of Colorado School of Medicine • University of Connecticut School of Medicine • University of Florida College of Medicine • University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine • University of Illinois at Chicago-College of Medicine • University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine • University of Kansas • University of Kentucky College of Medicine • University of Louisville School of Medicine • University of Maryland School of Medicine • University of Massachusetts Medical School • University of Michigan Medical School • University of Minnesota Medical School • University of Mississippi School of Medicine • University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine • University of Nebraska College of Medicine • University of Nevada School of Medicine • University of North Carolina School of Medicine • University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine • University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine • University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry • University of South Alabama College of Medicine • University of South Carolina School of Medicine • University of South Florida College of Medicine • University of Texas Medical Branch MD/PhD • University of Texas Medical School at Houston MD/PhD • University of TN Health Science Center College of Medicine • University of Utah School of Medicine • University of Virginia School of Medicine • University of Washington School of Medicine • University of Wisconsin • UT Southwestern MD/PhD • Vanderbilt University School of Medicine • Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine • Virginia Tech Carillion School of Medicine • Wake Forest University School of Medicine • Washington University School of Medicine • Wayne State University School of Medicine • Weill Medical College of Cornell University • West Virginia University School of Medicine • Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine • Yale University School of Medicine

3. The AMCAS Letters ServiceSeven Non-participating medical schools • Duke University School of Medicine • Ponce School of Medicine • UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program Biomedical Sciences • Uniformed Services University of the Health Science • Universidad Central Del Caribe • University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine • Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

4. Letters of Evaluation Overview • Give one letter of request form to Ms. Thomas, for your committee evaluation + clinical evaluations. • Applicants may create up to 10 letter entries • Committee letters, letter packets, and individual letters each count as ONE entry • Applicants can designate specific medical schools to receive specific letters • The Letter Request Form guarantees that AMCAS will match letters to the correct applications • We suggest that applicants print one for each letter entry and give it to the letter-writer • Make sure your students are aware of your school’s letters policy

5. Letters of Evaluation Overview Letter Request Form Applicant’s identifying information Used by AMCAS to attach the letter to the application Letter ID and Letter Type The author’s address Methods the author can use to send their letter to AMCAS * Many medical schools require that recommendations are on official letterhead and bear the signature of the author

6. Advisor and Applicant FAQs “Why doesn’t the application work on my computer?” • Anyone trying to access the 2011 application must use one of the following browser versions. • For PC users: • Internet Explorer 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 • Netscape 7 • Firefox 1.0.2, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 • For Mac users: • Mozilla Firefox versions 1.0.2, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5 • Netscape 7 • Internet Explorer 5.1.7 and 5.2 • OldApps.com is a great resource for downloading older versions of these browsers

7. Advisor and Applicant FAQs “How do I enter this course into the application?” • Applicants should request copies of their OFFICIAL transcripts to use as they fill out the AMCAS Application • Applicants MUST enter information and corresponding grades for every course in which they have ever enrolled, including: • AP & College Credit earned in High School • Study abroad • Withdrawals, Incompletes, Fails, and Repeats • AMCAS needs it all, regardless of any undergraduate forgiveness policies.

8. Advisor and Applicant FAQs “What does AMCAS need for my ‘study abroad’ courses?” • 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 • Institution accepting the credit must be listed in the “Schools Attended” section of the application • Transcript exception must be requested for the foreign institution • Courses taken independently at a foreign institution, credit not transferred • Courses MAY be listed under the foreign institution • Transcript exception must be requested

9. Advisor and Applicant FAQs “How do I classify this course?” • Course Classifications (ex – Biology, Fine Arts, Philosophy, etc.) are used in the calculation of your AMCAS GPA • The BCPM GPA is comprised of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics courses • Course that are not classified as "BCPM" will be calculated in the AO (All Other) GPA • When selecting a Course Classification, applicants must choose the category that best describes the primary content of the course • The description of the course on the school’s website is often helpful when deciding

10. Advisor and Applicant FAQs “How do I classify this course?” • 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

11. Advisor and Applicant FAQs “What do the medical schools see?” • The BCPM, AO, and Total GPAs and Credit Hours are divided by each year of education • Supplemental Hours (such as Pass/Fail or AP credits) are listed below and will not factor into the AMCAS GPA

12. Advisor and Applicant FAQs “OMG I already submitted and I need to make a change!!” • Very few changes are permitted once the application has been submitted. They are: • 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 • Applicants may indicate that a letter will not be sent • Medical schools can be added and programs can be changed if the deadlines have not passed • After making a post-submission change, the applicant must re-submit in order to save changes

13. Advisor and Applicant FAQs “What do I need to disclose if I have ‘gotten into trouble’?” • Institutional Action due to unacceptable academic performance or a conduct violation. Even if the action… • …did not interrupt enrollment • …does not appear on or has been deleted from your official transcript/school records • Felonies and Misdemeanors of which you have been convicted or to which you have plead “guilty” or “no contest” • For any post-submission convictions, applicants MUST notify their medical schools with 10 days of the offense • Refer to the AMCAS Instructions for complete details on what needs to be reported.

14. Final Words of WisdomWhat we wish we could tell every single applicant… • Pretty please read the Instruction Manual! • Early is good, but error-free is better. Focus on completeness and accuracy over early submission. • Use the “Print Application” button to double-check your data. Medical schools will see the mistakes! • Frequently check back in with your application to ensure all is going to plan. • Know your deadlines and keep track of them. Contact your advisor/school ahead of time so that you aren’t scrambling to make deadlines