FAQ: GETTING TRANSCRIPTS TO AMCAS
There's a section on the AAMC website that has general transcript-related FAQs:https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/faqs/346216/whenwillmytranscriptsbemarkedasreceivedbyamcas.html
But that doesn't really tell you how to work the Cal system. Worry not, I got you covered. Main things to know:
1. HOW TO MAKE A TRANSCRIPT REQUEST: Transcript requests are made through the registrar. The most efficient way to do this is to go the office IN PERSON (120 Sproul Hall). You'll need your student ID and your AMCAS matching form (this is the form that you download from the transcript section of the AMCAS application). The registrar will give you a transcript request form to fill out. There is a $10 special processing fee for the AMCAS matching form. I don't know why they charge you for mailing ONE additional piece of paper - actually it's because the registrar is evil.
2. WHEN TO MAKE THE REQUEST: If you are NOT waiting on grades to be posted to your transcript, make your request NOW. After you request a transcript, it takes the registrar 3-5 business days to send it out. If you want to expedite this process, you can pay for express shipping which will cost you $27. If you haven't already sent in your transcript and are applying this cycle, I suggest forking over the 27 bucks to get your transcript in ASAP. The verification process for your app can only begin once AMCAS has gotten your transcript so the earlier you get it in, the earlier your app will be verified.
3. SPECIAL NOTE TO THOSE WAITING FOR LAST SEMESTER'S GRADES: If you want last semester's (Spring 2014) grades to be included on your transcript, you need to wait until they are officially posted. If you took the time to work hard for good grades this past semester, I suggest waiting till they are added to your transcript so you can bump up your GPA. Grades are not posted to your official transcript until June 5th. This means that you can't make a transcript request until that day (the evil registrar will not hold requests for future processing). What you'll need to do is go to the registrar IN PERSON on June 5th - take your student ID and AMCAS matching form. Make your request on that day and pay for express shipping to get your transcript sent in ASAP. Warning: There will be a long line at the registrar on June 5th since everyone who was waiting for grades to post will be there to make a transcript request. Get there early and be prepared to wait a while. Yes it sucks, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
4. WHEN TO SUBMIT YOUR APP IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR YOUR TRANSCRIPT: Your app cannot be verified until AMCAS has your transcript. That means if you hit submit the second AMCAS opens for submission but they have not received your transcript, it'll just be sitting there and you can't change most of it. Sooo my advice is to just keep working on your app until you have made your transcript request. After you've made the request at the registrar, submit your app and count down the dreadful days until AMCAS changes your transcript status to "received."
Hope this clears things up a little bit. Let me know if you have more questions!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BerkeleyPreMed/661574170604126/?notif_t=group_activity
-RJoshi