I’m applying to medical school. Do I need to send my transcript to AMCAS?
Yes, you’ll need to request transcripts from all U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities you've attended, including the FAES Graduate School. Each year, FAES sends hundreds of transcripts to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AMCAS) the centralized application service that you must use to apply to nearly all U.S. medical schools.
Where can I request that my transcript be sent to AMCAS? What is the fee?
You can submit a transcript request at https://faes.org/content/transcript-request Click on “Requesting an Official Transcript.” Note this will bring you to the website of Parchment, our third-party vendor for sending official transcripts and you will first need to create an account with Parchment before you can request an official transcript. The fee is $10 plus any mailing fees. We strongly recommend you select the electronic option for sending your transcript to AMCAS. There is no additional mailing fee if you choose to have your transcript sent electronically.
I took a FAES course in audit status. Do I still need to send my transcript even if I didn’t receive academic credit for the course?
Yes, you’ll need to request transcripts from all U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities you've attended, including FAES courses that you enrolled in either credit or audit status.
Why is there no cumulative GPA listed on my FAES transcript?
The FAES Graduate School at the NIH is a non-accredited, non-degree-granting postsecondary institution operating with the approval of the Maryland Higher Education Commission. FAES courses do not currently lead to degrees and there is no cumulative GPA calculation that appears on transcripts. FAES does indicate the academic credits attempted and awarded and the grade for each course a student has completed. AMCAS is familiar with our transcripts and understands that we don’t calculate a cumulative GPA.
Does AMCAS consider FAES courses to be undergraduate or graduate level?
AMCAS makes the determination if a course is at the undergraduate or graduate level. Your FAES transcript does not explicitly state if a specific course is undergraduate or graduate level but we do provide information about our course levels on the transcript. Course level information is also listed in our student handbook online: https://catalog.faes.org/course-levels-and-grading-policy. If you have additional questions about course levels and classifications, we suggest that you contact AMCAS.
Will a FAES course improve my GPA? FAES courses can’t fulfill any pre-requisites for medical school because FAES is not regionally or nationally accredited but our courses are credit-bearing so if you take a course with us and you do well, there is a possibility that it could raise your undergraduate or graduate GPA for the purposed of applying to medical school but this is not guaranteed. If you have additional questions, we suggest that you contact AMCAS.
I completed a FAES workshop. Will this workshop appear on my transcript?
Academic credit is not awarded for workshops therefore they will not appear on your transcript.
How long does it take for a FAES transcript to get sent to AMCAS?
During the busy months of May, June and November, please allow at least 3-5 business days. At other times of the year, allow 1-3 business days.
When should I start the process of requesting transcripts?
We advise that you start requesting transcripts in late April. If you are a current student, you can wait for your final spring semester grades before having your transcript sent or you can send your transcript before you have a final grade. If the transcript is sent before the final grade is available, the transcript will indicate the course is “IP” for In Progress. When your final grade is available, you can request an updated transcript be sent to AMCAS. Final grades for FAES courses are usually posted by mid-May.
Does FAES offer a MCAT test prep course?
Yes, FAES offers GENL319 MCAT Review & Test Prep: Chemistry and Physics and GENL 320 MCAT Review and Test Preparation Biological and Social Sciences. For more information, go to https://faes.org/courses
Where can I get more information about applying to medical school?
The NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) has an informative website for people considering medical school https://www.training.nih.gov/career_services/postbacs_summer_students The medical school advisor where you completed your undergraduate studies may also be a helpful resource.
If you have additional questions for FAES, please email the FAES Registrar, Lesley O’Malley at lesley.omalley@nih.gov or call (301) 496-7976.