AMCAS FAQ
For further information, detail, or clarification on the questions and answers provided in this FAQ page, please contact an AMCAS representative at (202) 828-0600. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Questions can also be sent to AMCAS@aamc.org.
Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) AMCAS Information
Information about the 2008 entering class is available on the web at http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/amcas2008.htm.
Individual medical school deadlines for AMCAS submission.
- Pass/Fail Courses
- Grading System & GPA
- AP Credit
- Transfer Credit
- Incompletes
- CMI Information
- Study Abroad
- General AMCAS questions
- MCAT
PASS/FAIL
Q - Do I indicate under "Course Type" that my freshman year classes were on Pass/No Record and then put a "P" in the Official Transcript (OT) Grade box or do I just put a "P" in the OT box and skip over the Course Type section?
A - Put "Pass/Fail" in the "Course Type" section, and also put "P" in the OT grade box.
Q - Can I put a letter grade for the classes I took during my freshman year on the application or do I have to put Pass since that is what shows on the official transcript?
A - For Freshman year, you should put Pass on the AMCAS application, as that is what is indicated on your Official MIT Transcript. Sometimes, students release their freshman grades to medical schools during the secondary application, especially for the ones that require students to do so. For this, you would have to individually go through the department at which you took the subject to have your grade released and send to the MIT Careers Office. The Careers Office will send your released freshman grades along with your recommendation letter packet to the schools you indicate.
Johns Hopkins and the Medical College of Wisconsin tend to request freshman year grades.
Q - How do I convert my MIT GPA to a 4.0 scale for the AMCAS application?
A - You should not convert your MIT GPA. AMCAS will make the conversion for you. If you are interested in seeing what the conversion will be visit the following Registrar's site http://registrar.mit.edu/gpacalc.html.
Q - How does AMCAS calculate GPA? Do they include graduate GPA with the Undergraduate GPA?
A - The AMCAS application provides a GPA for freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year and a cumulative GPA for all four of them. The graduate GPA is separate.
Q - Are engineering courses included in the BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, math) GPA that is calculated by AMCAS?
A- Your engineering courses will not be included in the BCPM GPA unless you classify your engineering course as a biology, chemistry, physics, or math course. The MIT Careers Office can not determine whether your engineering course should be listed as a BCPM. If you are considering listing an engineering course as a BCPM speak with the appropriate academic department or registrars for guidance. In the end it is up to your judgment. AMCAS will accept what you list to be included in the BCPM GPA as long as the transcript doesn't conflict with your classification.
Q - Should I include +/- modifiers to my letter grades?
A - Do not include modifiers. Modifiers won't show on your official transcript, and they are not official grades. You should only put the letter grade.
Q - Is the MIT system considered as a "grades only" system. Does the registrar send a letter explaining how freshman year is pass/fail along with the transcript?
A - According to the Registrar's office you can classify the system as "grades only", because the back of the official transcript has a key describing what all the grades mean (and accordingly, what pass/fail means for the freshman classes.) Each year the MIT Careers Office provides a letter from the Registrar's Office to medical schools explaining the MIT grading system.
Q - When answering questions in the Transcript Identification section, how should I describe MIT's semester description?
A - MIT's semester description is 4-1-4. (4 months in the Fall, 1 month during the winter break, and 4 months in the Spring)
Q - How do I classify courses that were initially an incomplete, and later are assigned a letter grade? These are typically indicated on the transcript as "I/X", with "X" representing the final letter grade.
A - This happens most frequently with UROPs. You should list the grade on your AMCAS as I/A (or I/B, I/C, depending on your grade), just as it is listed on your transcript. You also should click the "Incomplete" box for this course. During the AMCAS verification process they will confirm that the letter grade is calculated appropriately into your GPA.
Q - How do I list a one unit UROP?
A - You should list one unit UROPs in the activities/experience section of the application. Technically the one unit you receive does not go toward your graduation unit requirements. The one unit given on your transcript is to verify that you completed the UROP. All other UROPs that you received more than one credit should be listed as a course.
Q - How do I list a course that begins in the one semester but is completed in another semester? Ex. 18.02A is on the fall transcript with a "T" for a grade, and it is listed on the transcript for IAP with an actual grade.
A - List the course, 18.02A in this instance, on the AMCAS application under both Fall and Winter sessions. Select "deferred grade" for the semester that does not have an actual grade.
Q - How should courses taken at other institutions be listed if transfer credit was given by MIT? Do I list the courses twice- once under MIT and once under institution I actually took the course?
A - Do not list the course twice. Indicate the school you attended and list the course you took there. Do not list the transfer credit course under courses taken at MIT. AMCAS will verify the transfer credit by reviewing all of the transcripts you submit. Transcripts should be submitted for all college institutions attended.
Q - How do I note AP credit on the AMCAS application?
A - List only the classes that you have received AP credit for at MIT. For example, if you received AP credit for Biology 7.012, then list Biology 7.012 = AP credit. There is an option on the AMCAS application, which allows you to list a course as having been completed with AP credit.
Q - Which school year and semester do I list AP credit classes under, how many units constitute one class?
A - You should put "Freshman" as the school year as you received AP credit for that year. The number of AP credits is equivalent to the units given for that class. For example, for 7.012 it would be 12. However, for electives it may be different. At the time of admissions, you must have received a letter from their office indicating the number of units MIT gave you. You can also find that information on your transcript.
Q - How do I classify general AP credit units (18 general elective units) I gained during Freshmen year as a result of other AP scores (AP Spanish Literature and Language), but for which no credits specific to one course were earned (as they were for the AP Biology-7.012 and AP Calculus-18.01 exams)?
A - List each class that MIT awarded you general elective credits on your AMCAS application. If you received general elective credits for more than one class you will need to divide the general elective credits on your official transcript accordingly. AMCAS will verify that the total number of general elective credits you listed on your AMCAS application add up to the total general elective credits listed on your official MIT transcript.
Q - How do I list courses placed out of through MIT's tests, rather than the typical college board AP tests?
A - List courses you placed out of through an MIT test, as AP or CLEP on the AMCAS. These are the two best options AMCAS has that best relates to the MIT tests taken to place out of a course. Courses placed out of by an MIT test are represented by "P&" on your official transcript.
Q - How many MCAT scores will AMCAS show on my application?
A - AMCAS will show all MCAT scores released to AMCAS that are up to three years old. The cut off is at three years because there is concern that scores older than that would have limited utility. The number of scores available was increased from only two to all of the released ones in the past three years, which is a maximum of six, in response to the schools' request to see earlier attempts.
Q - Can I submit the AMCAS application without having a MCAT score? 4/24/07
A - Yes, applicants can submit the AMCAS application without having an MCAT score. Applicants will need to indicate on the application when he/she expects to take the MCAT. The AMCAS application will be processed without the MCAT score and schools will be updated once an MCAT score is received. If the applicant indicates that he/she is taking an additional MCAT exam during the application cycle, schools will likely wait until the new MCAT score becomes available on AMCAS to send out secondary applications.
For applicants who plan to take the MCAT for the first time or are retaking the exam during the application process, the following is the exact question as stated on the AMCAS.
"Have you taken, or do you plan to take the MCAT in calendar year 2007 from May to September?"
If the applicant answers "yes" he/she will be brought to the next screen where they will identify the date in which they plan to take the test from a pull down menu with the dates pre-populated.
It is very important to note that the applicant can and should change their answer at ANY time throughout the application year including applications that have already been processed. Typically, medical schools will use this information to decipher when they should start reviewing the application with the MCAT scores.
Q - Should I enter the classes I intend to take next year, or only the classes I have already completed in the coursework section of the application?
A - List courses in which you are currently enrolled and the classes you expect to enroll in prior to entering medical school. Indicate "Current/Future" as the course type. Do not request a transcript exception if the future classes will be at MIT. Only request a transcript exception if the future class will be taken at a different institution that you have not attended in the past.
Q- Do I need to convert MIT units to semester hours or will AMCAS do this for me?
A - List your units exactly as they appear on your transcript. As opposed to the past, students no longer have to make the conversion- AMCAS will do this for you.
Q- Should MIT Physics courses be listed as a lab?
A - Physics courses classified as an X or T course may be classified as labs on your AMCAS. (8.01X, 8.02X, and 8.01T)
Q - What should I do if I am uncertain of how to list a particular course taken at MIT?
A - Review the list of options AMCAS provides. If you are uncertain of which classification to select, contact the Registrar's office and ask them which classification would be most accurate. AMCAS will accept the course classification you select as long as your official transcript doesn't classify the course differently.
Q - Do I fill out the AMCAS form for MD-PhD application or is there a separate form?
A - Use the regular AMCAS application. For each of the medical schools you are applying to for MD/PhD programs, you will need to distinguish that they are indeed combined MD/PhD programs. The AMCAS representative indicated that you should be able to do this for each medical school via a type of drop down menu. In addition, on the AMCAS you will be required to fill out two additional essays for MD-PhD programs.
Q - Where on my application should I disclose a learning disability?
A - Please consult the MIT Disabilities Services office (7-145, 617-253-1674), to discuss your particular disability. The issue of a student's disability can be addressed in his/her statement or the premedical advisor can address it in his/her recommendation.
Q - What activities should I include on the Post-Secondary Experience portion of the application? How much information should I provide?
A - List activities that you were actively involved in only. You do not have to fill each of the 15 slots for activities on the AMCAS. If the title of the activity or organization alone does not explain the activity, provide a very brief statement explaining the activity or organization and include specifics describing your role (position held, etc.). To stay within the character limit (1325 or fewer characters) it is recommended that descriptions be written in paragraph resume style. Please review the resume writing tips provided in the online resume writing workshop or resume tip sheet .
In some instances to allow space for more than 15 activities, awards, or jobs, etc., you may want to combine your activities in one entry. Specific examples include research projects that resulted in publications or organizational leadership for which you were awarded an honor.
Q - How do I note study abroad credit on the AMCAS application?
A - Under the "Colleges Attended" category on the AMCAS application list the institution attended while studying abroad. In addition list the classes you took at that institution and request a transcript exception. AMCAS only wants your Official transcript from schools within the United States. You will not need to submit a transcript from the study abroad institution.
Do not list your study abroad classes under the MIT Course Work. AMCAS will automatically include your study abroad credits when calculating your total number of credits earned
Q - How do I indicate classes taken through the CMI program?
A - Under "Schools Attended," list both Cambridge and MIT. In "Coursework," list the classes you took at CMI under Cambridge and select "transfer credit." Do not list classes twice, list them only under Cambridge. When you contact the Registrar's Office at MIT for your official transcript, also request that they send your supplemental transcript information from CMI to AMCAS.
Last updated on Wednesday, June 25, 08 at 03:25:34 PM EDT.
