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Guidelines for the Consideration of Applications for Transfer
or Advanced Standing
Preamble: These guidelines are established:
to assist medical schools in the handling of applications
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from individuals currently enrolled in a medical school
who are interested in transfer to another medical school,
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from individuals previously, but not currently, enrolled
in a medical school who are interested in enrollment with
advanced standing at a medical school, and/or
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from individuals with specialized education and training
who are interested in enrollment with advanced standing
at a medical school, and
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to ensure communication and cooperation among medical schools
and between medical schools and the AAMC.
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Once a student enters medical school, it is expected that
the individual has chosen a school where he/she will remain
for completion of the entire undergraduate medical curriculum.
However, circumstances may arise that cause an individual
to seek transfer to another medical school. A medical student
has a right to apply for transfer from one medical school
to another medical school. A medical school has a responsibility
to provide a transcript of the individual's academic record
and a letter of evaluation, if requested by the student, to
another medical school.
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Medical schools should not recruit applicants for transfer
from other institutions. The acceptance of transfers should
be limited to students who demonstrate compelling circumstances
as one of the reasons for their request for transfer.
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Each medical school determines whether or not it will accept
transfer students.
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Schools that accept transfer students should develop and
publish criteria for the acceptance of transfer applicants
or applicants for advanced standing.
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Schools that accept transfer students should develop and
publish the timetable for the availability of transfer application
material; deadline dates for the receipt of applications and
for the receipt of transcripts, the school letter of evaluation,
and faculty recommendations; and the date for notification
of acceptance. The application materials should include information
about the approximate number of places available for transfer
students for the next academic year and the criteria for selection.
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Applications for transfer or advanced standing should include
an official transcript and an official letter of evaluation
from the Dean/Associate Dean for Student Affairs or other
appropriate official of the applicant's current school.
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The transcript should document the individual's entire
academic history at the medical school, including notation
of any leaves-of-absence, schedule modifications, and
an explanation of the grading system. If any of these
items are not included on the school's transcript, they
should be included in the letter of evaluation.
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The letter of evaluation should state the eligibility
(or expected eligibility) of the individual for promotion
to the next academic year at the student's current school.
The letter should address the academic and non-academic
qualifications of the individual for the eventual practice
of medicine. Specific comment should be included on any
infractions of the school's code of ethical and behavioral
conduct.
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The application for transfer or advanced standing should
include a question asking the applicant to state whether
he or she has ever been the recipient of any action by
any postsecondary institution for unacceptable academic
performance such as dismissal, disqualification or suspension,
or for conduct violations.
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It is recommended that a school's transfer application deadline
be no later than May 1 preceding the academic year of anticipated
enrollment.
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It is recommended that the school accepting the student telephone
or email the Associate Dean of Student Affairs or other appropriate
official at the student's current school at the time an acceptance
is offered. A copy of the letter of acceptance should be sent
to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the institution
where the applicant is currently enrolled at the time of acceptance.
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The letter of acceptance for a transfer should state clearly
the starting date, the year of the curriculum that the student
will enter, any conditions of acceptance (such as a passing
score on the USMLE), and implications for the transfer student
if all conditions of the transfer are not met.
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Ideally, an individual should not be permitted to enroll
as a transfer student at the receiving school prior to receipt
of an official letter of acceptance by the student and confirmation
by the receiving school that the student has resigned from
the student's current school. If another arrangement is used,
it should be with the full understanding of both schools.
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Medical schools are expected to telephone the AAMC's Section
for Student Services to report acceptances and to follow-up
this notification by completing and filing an Advanced Standing/Transfer
Student Acceptance Report Form. The AAMC will periodically
distribute an Advanced Standing/Transfer Student Master Acceptance
List to admissions officers and to student affairs officers
at member medical schools. This roster will list all individuals
currently holding acceptances.
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Medical schools are expected to notify the AAMC when an
accepted applicant withdraws as a candidate for admission
so that the Advanced Standing/Transfer Student Master Acceptance
List can be maintained accurately.
Developed by the Group on Student Affairs Steering Committee, March
20, 1995
Approved by the AAMC Executive Council, June 22, 1995
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