Application Process

AMCAS Tips and Details

AMCAS 2010 Instruction Manual

Transcripts Tips and Forms
Transcripts are the most common area where mistakes are made and applications are held up. If you read the instructions carefully you will see that ALL U.S. transcripts must be sent (regardless of whether the credits were transferred to elsewhere –e.g. Tufts, or from elsewhere – e.g. a program abroad) and that there is a special form that you must give to each college registrar so that it can be attached to the transcript before it is mailed to AMCAS. It is best to start this process early. Please click here for some helpful screen shots.

Three common scenarios for study abroad programs:

1. Programs sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian Institution
2. Programs not sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian Institution, but for which credits were transferred to a U.S. or Canadian Institution
3. Programs not sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian Institution, and for which credits were not transferred to a U.S. or Canadian Institution
 

1. If the program was sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian Institution, the applicant should:

• List the U.S. or Canadian Institution sponsoring the study abroad program, and on whose official transcript the coursework will appear
• Applicant should have the sponsoring institution send an official transcript to AMCAS

2. If the program was not sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian Institution, but the credits were transferred to a U.S. or Canadian Institution, the applicant should:

• List the U.S. or Canadian Institution that the credit will be transferred to
• List the foreign school under the "schools attended" section of the application
• Indicate that AMCAS does not require a transcript
• Select an exception reason of "Foreign College - Independent attendance - credits transferred to a U.S. or Canadian institution.
• Indicate that credit was transferred to another institution
• Select from the pre-populated drop down menu the U.S. or Canadian Institution sponsoring the study abroad program
• Enter all required course data under the name of the foreign school, but as it appears on the transcript on which the transferred credits

Applicant should have U.S. or Canadian institution in which the credit was transferred to send an official transcript to AMCAS

• List the foreign school under the "schools attended" section of the application
•  Indicate that AMCAS does not require a transcript
• Select an exception reason of "Foreign College - Independent attendance - no credits transferred to a U.S. or Canadian institution."
• Indicate that credit was not transferred to another institution
• Enter all required course data, except credit hours attempted, as taken at the foreign school

If your study abroad experience is not covered by the above scenarios please feel free contact AMCAS directly at 202 828 0607 during the hours of 9-7 ET weekdays to discuss your situation with a representative.

Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are an important part of this process. They are sent in the second phase of the application process and you will not need them before August 1 - well after you submit your primary centralized application.

Tufts provides you with a committee letter, so you do not need to worry about individual letter requirements (e.g. one science teacher, etc.) We also use Virtual Evals as the mechanism by which we transmit letters from Tufts, electronically, to AMCAS or to individual schools. Lastly most medical schools participate in a Letter of Recommendation Service but 21 do not. None of this changes anything you do with your AMCAS application or with your secondaries.

Please click here for some helpful screen shots and information to help you know what to check off regarding letters and the AMCAS Letter Request form.
 

Coursework
The Coursework section can be tedious. But if you read the instructions carefully and use good judgment and integrity, you will have no trouble completing it. Most pieces of information are copied exactly as they appear on your official transcript.

Courses taken as part of study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian Institution, must be entered as follows:

• Include the foreign institution and the sponsoring U.S. or Canadian institution in your list of colleges attended.
• Request a transcript exception for the foreign institution. Indicate the U.S. or Canadian institution on whose transcript credits will appear.
• List study abroad course work under the foreign college at which it was attempted but as it appears on the sponsoring U.S. Institutions transcript.
  

Please click here for some helpful screen shots.