prevent your AMCAS application from being delayed

5 Ways You Can Help Prevent Your AMCAS® Application from Being Delayed

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Last Updated on June 24, 2022 by Laura Turner

Many applicants applying with AMCAS strive to complete and submit their application as quickly as possible. However, an incomplete or incorrect application can cause delays — which may cause you to miss an important deadline. [Here are important dates to be aware of for the 2018-2019 application cycle.] Never fear: We talked to the staff who verify applications, and they shared some quick tips that can help prevent your 2019 AMCAS application from being delayed.

  1. Order an official transcript from every US, US Territorial, or Canadian postsecondary institution where you completed coursework, even if you did not earn credit. Problems with transcripts are the number one cause of processing delays and missed application deadlines. Even if the credit you earned at an institution appears on a different transcript, you still need to send the original transcript to AMCAS. This also includes coursework completed at a college while you were in high school. After you have submitted your application and AMCAS has received all your official transcripts, your application will be ready to be verified. Please note that AMCAS does not accept transcripts from World Education Services (WES) or other transcript evaluation services.
  2. Use the AMCAS Transcript Request Form to match your transcript(s) to your 2019 AMCAS application. While AMCAS does not require you to use the Transcript Request Form, it does help match your transcript(s) to your application more efficiently. You can find this form in the Schools Attended section of the application.
  3. Fill out your coursework exactly as it appears on your official transcript(s) and in chronological order. The most effective way for you to fill out the Coursework section is to put exactly what is on your official transcript (including course abbreviations, grades, and symbols) in the exact order that it appears on your transcript(s). You may want to order a copy of your official transcript in advance to help you fill out this section. Please do not omit courses. If 10 or more courses, credits, or grades are missing, AMCAS will return your application. Also, if you studied abroad, watch this tutorial for information on how to list the coursework from that program.

Commonly Asked Questions About Special Course Types:

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• Current/Future (CC) — If you are currently taking a course or plan on taking a course that you would like to include on your AMCAS application (perhaps to meet prerequisites), you have the opportunity to do so. Please list these courses in the Coursework section and use the Current/Future Special Course Type. You are not required to list Current/Future coursework and you do not need to provide a transcript for these courses if you include them.

• Repeat (R) — You will need to include each completed attempt and the original grade for any course completed more than once. This is true even if your transcript does not indicate that you have repeated a course. You do not need to select Repeat for courses designed to be repeated like an independent study.

• Advanced Placement (AP) — List AP courses under the term in which the college credit was first granted. You can include the credits with freshman coursework if no term is designated. They should be listed under the institution awarding the most credit.

If you are reapplying, resubmit all of your official transcripts and your letters of evaluation (even if nothing has changed). Your application from the most recent application cycle will roll over if you submitted it, but your supporting documents (transcripts and letters of evaluation) will not. Please make sure that you resubmit these documents to prevent delays.

Make sure you proofread your application before you submit it. There are only a few items you can change or add post-submission. While you can always add MCAT scores, letters of evaluation, and additional medical school designations post-submission, there are limited changes you can make. For a list of information you can change, check out the After Submission section on the AMCAS FAQs page.

For more information on how to complete the AMCAS application, take a look at the 2019 AMCAS Applicant Guide and the AMCAS FAQs page. And remember to follow @AMCASinfo on Twitter for more #AMCASFacts.