AGENDA

1. AMCAS 2010Presented by:Mr. Mike Istwan, Admissions Director, Medical College of WisconsinandMrs. Laurie GollPre-Health Professions Advisor, Marquette University

2. AGENDA • About AMCAS • Understanding the Medical School Admissions Process • The 2010 AMCAS Application • Completing the primary application • Submitting the application • Monitoring your application’s progress • Knowing your responsibilities • Application Life Cycle • Criminal Background Checks – ongoing Pilot • AMCAS Letters Pilot • Personal Statement • MCAT • The AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP)

3. ABOUT AMCAS • A service of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) • Non-profit, centralized application service • Collects applicant information • Collects one set of transcripts • Verifies academic records • Provides standardized grading information to participating schools www.aamc.org/amcas http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/participatingschools.htm

4. UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS Applying is a two-step process 1.Primary Application: AMCAS 2. Secondary Applications: Medical Schools AMCAS does not screen applications or make admissions decisions Admissions and application requirements and decision processes vary from school to school

5. UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS Medical School Primary Application AMCAS processes the primary application. Once this processing is complete, AMCAS sends the primary application to the medical schools selected by the applicant. At this point, the medical school takes over the application. Secondary Application Interview Upon invitation from the medical school: Submit letters of recommendation – for non participating schools Submit additional writing samples Send updated transcripts if necessary Pay additional application fee if required Schedule interview date upon invitation from the medical school Complete online application Send college transcripts – these stay at AMCAS Send Letters of Recommendation for Participating Schools Pay application fee

6. AMCAS 2010 • General Information/Getting Ready • Know the admissions and application requirements at each school • Obtain official copies of your transcripts (must do this in person at the Office of the Registrar, Marquette Hall 208 because you need to bring a transcript matching form) • Finish your personal statement before you apply (Visit the Writing Center, Raynor Library 207) • Make sure you have access to a computer that meets AMCAS system and browser requirements • Application is available on or around May 5, submission begins June 2 – apply early!

7. COMPLETING THE PRIMARY APPLICATION Application Navigation Become familiar with the navigation sections of the application:

8. COMPLETING THE PRIMARY APPLICATION

9. COMPLETING THE PRIMARY APPLICATION

10. COMPLETING THE PRIMARY APPLICATION • Common Pitfalls • Missed application deadlines • Delayed processing/missed transcript deadlines • Late shipping • Incomplete or inaccurate • Missing • Unofficial • Typos and other errors in essay, experiences, etc. • Failure to receive and respond to AMCAS notifications • Recording your retake of the MCAT incorrectly • Enter any and all laboratory coursese sure to enter any and all lab courses, even if you need to enter the course separately.

11. COMPLETING THE PRIMARY APPLICATION • Common Pitfalls • Course work errors • Missing course work • Missing grades / credits • Incorrect academic status • Incorrect course classifications

12. SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION • Early is good. Error-free is better! • Emphasize completeness and accuracy over early submission • Use print option to check your data as final step before submission • Have your payment information ready • Ensure successful submission by checking the Main Menu • Utilize resources to review your personal statement

13. MONITORING YOUR APPLICATION’S PROGRESS Check your AMCAS status – process may take 6 weeks Monitor progress by frequently checking e-mail and Main Menu:

14. Knowing your responsibilities • Applicant Responsibilities In addition to meeting deadlines and accurately completing the AMCAS application, you must: • Know the admissions and application requirements at each school • Promptly notify AMCAS of change in contact info • Review verified course work immediately after AMCAS processing is complete

15. Criminal Background Checks DISCLOSURE/CONSENT TO BE CERTIFIED BY ALL APPLICANTS AAMC Facilitated Criminal Background Checks are currently run for 41 participating medical schools for 2010: (you will be notified via email if applying to a CBC school. A list of schools can be found at www.aamc.org) • Conducted on first Acceptance embargoed to January of the application year except for Early Decision Program • Subset of alternate list starting in May

16. F. AMCAS Letters • Pilot program for 2009 , now most medical schools are participating. • Purpose of service expansion: • Enables medical schools to centralize application • Reduce scanning/printing in admissions offices • Create “single point of entry” for application data & documents • Limit change for students and advisors • Letters sent to AMCAS but application is complete without letters

17. AMCAS Schools NOT Participating (20)

18. AMCAS Letters Letter Basics In AMCAS, the student will: • Identify the letters AMCAS will receive (up to 10 letters) • Letter packet OR Individual letter • Institution Information • Letter Writer / Contact information • Can add additional authors for committee letters / letter packets • Identify the medical schools to which each letter should be sent • Print letter request form and provide it to the Office of Pre-Professional Studies / Laurie Goll • Track receipt of letters by AMCAS

19. AMCAS Letters Packet Letters • Within the AMCAS Application students should be instructed to: • Enter packet only once in the AMCAS application as a letter packet • Enter Laurie Goll, Pre-Health Advisor, as the "Primary Author/Contact“ – does not mean that Laurie writes the letter, she is just the contact • Enter the authors of the other letters in the packet as "Other Authors"  • Optional • For schools not participating in the letters pilot, letters will be sent at the student’s request directly to schools with secondary applications. Students should email peggy.jones@mu.edu in the Office of Pre-Professional Studies with mailing information.

20. Letter Basics • Applicants can add up to 10 letters • 2009 Applicants averaged 2-3 letters per application • Applicants can send “targeted” letters • Alumnus • MD/PhD • AMCAS retains letters for one application cycle only

24. Letter Basics • Designating Letters to Medical Schools • Select Medical School • A pre-populated list of letters entered by the applicant will appear • Choose from the list of letters by either selecting all letters or designating them individually • Letters DO NOT have to be entered before submission of the application. • Once application is submitted with letter information it can NOT be edited/deleted

27. Letters – not sending • Applicants will be able to let AMCAS know if a letter is no longer going to be received so that: • Medical Schools will not wait for the delivery of a letter • Applicants will stop receiving reminders about a letter they don’t plan to have sent • This letter still makes up one of their 10 letter entries

28. AMCAS Fee Increase • $160 Processing Fee includes one medical school • $31 each additional school

29. AAMC Fee Assistance Program www.aamc.org/fap Funded by AAMC - Assists individuals with extreme financial limitations • Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) poverty level guidelines • AAMC Multiplier • 300% for 2008 calendar year • Reduces MCAT fee from $225 to $85 • A FAP approval is also good for one free copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam.  This is a $30 value provided free to FAP recipients who have used the fee assistance to register for the MCAT exam. • Provides 13 free medical school designations for AMCAS

30. H. AAMC FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM www.aamc.org/fap • Assists individuals with extreme financial limitations • Based on federal poverty guidelines • Reduces MCAT fee from $210 to $85 • Provides 13 free medical school designations for AMCAS • Funded by AAMC • Applicants apply online and receive timely decision

31. QUESTIONS? Contact AMCAS @ (202) 828 0950 or advisors@aamc.org HOURS 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM ET

32. Final thoughts… • Credit reports • Prerequisites Additional Resources: www.aamc.org/amcas Email: advisors@aamc.org AMCAS helpline: 202-828-0950