Frequently Asked Questions

For the most current listing of participating schools, visit the HAMPCAS Directory of Schools

Once a program completes an agreement and submits their program-specific admissions information, typically applications may be accepted within 7-14 days. 

    HAMPCAS accepts new programs throughout the entire application cycle.

    To participate in HAMPCAS, programs may simply sign and return the Intent to Participate Agreement.  If your program would like to learn more, review the Join tab on the homepage and email HAMPCAS to schedule a HAMPCAS overview webinar for your admissions team and stakeholders.

      While the application is standardized in a way that is compatible with most university applications, programs do have the opportunity to ask applicants supplemental questions needed for admission. Programs provide HAMPCAS with school-specific information, including recommendation requirements, test information and essay instructions.  This information is made available to applicants via the School-Specific Information pages. 

        Dedicated HAMPCAS and AUPHA staff are available to answer applicant and program support questions throughout the application process. HAMPCAS Customer Support is available for all applicant inquiries Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm EST via email or phone at 617-612-2882. The WebAdMIT Support Team is available to address program inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm EST via email or phone at 716-636-7777, Option 7.

          HAMPCAS is a complimentary member benefit to all AUPHA graduate member programs. Applicants incur application fees of $115 for their first designation and $40 for each subsequent designation. 

            Yes, applicants can access their applications as often as desired prior to submission. They may view the status of their application in real time from any computer with internet access and a standard browser. 

              WebAdMIT for HAMPCAS is designed to run on the latest versions of Internet Explorer (version 9 with all security patches), Mozilla Firefox (3.5 or higher); Apple Safari (version 4.0 or higher); and Google Chrome (version 8.0 or higher).  The program works best with Apple Safari and Google Chrome.

              When you first log into WebAdMIT for the new cycle, users with the “Configure Software” right will have the ability pull their users, local statuses, custom fields, email templates, email addresses and assignment types forward from the previous cycle. Simply click on the prompt at the top of the screen to transfer your settings and be taken through the process. Please note, for security reasons, all users that are transferred in this manner will be made “inactive” and will need to be activated before they can access the system.

              Each year, the WebAdMIT admissions portal URL changes slightly in order to preserve and archive the previous year's data.  In doing so, programs may go back to previous years, run reports and view old applicants and data.  Any settings a program set up in the previous year will not be carried forward automatically, as HAMPCAS can not assume that a program's admissions process has not changed.  Therefore, HAMPCAS grants programs the ability to pull those settings forward if they wish to.

              Yes, WebAdMIT grants programs the ability to create, track, score and comment on interview questions and responses.  View an instructional video to learn how. 

              Yes, programs may create scoring models or rubrics to rank applicants within WebAdMIT.  In addition, programs may customize each user's rights and roles for system administration and/or assigning reviewers.  View an instructional video to learn how.

              Only users with Configure Software rights are able to modify and create users. To do so, click on the Admissions Users section of the Management bar. Then, click on the New User button.  Once you are on the new user screen, you may enter name, address, and other information into the appropriate fields.  You will then assign roles to the new user.  View a video demonstration to learn more about the user roles. 

              From time to time, users may find that an update made to an applicant’s record on the Applicant Details Page gives the impression that it is not saved. However, the change is saved by the system, there is just a delay in   displaying the data. Typically, this occurs when making changes to the local or prerequisite GPA’s on the Electronic Transcript, calculated GPA's on the GPA Overview Panel, or when updating scores. If this happens, and you would like to verify that the changes saved, simply refresh the applicant’s record by refreshing the web browser. 

              When any email is sent, there are two checks that are typically made to ensure that the email is indeed a valid email. First, the recipient’s email provider screens incoming email to ensure that it is legitimate in order to protect their users from unwanted spam. While different university email providers have varying levels of firewall protection, the industry standard is to accept email  from any sender that is white listed. To become white listed, the sender of the email needs to follow a certain set of rules. WebAdMIT contracts email delivery with a third party email expert to ensure that all standards apply so all email messages are white listed. Secondly, most email programs, such as Outlook or Lotus Notes, have junk mail filters  that typically try to guess which emails a user wants to see, and which they consider spam. These filters do, from time to time trap legitimate emails. For this reason,  HAMPCAS advises applicants to turn off, or at least review their junk mail on a regular basis.

              To ensure you continue to receive emails, you may need to designate WebAdMIT as a trusted source. This is usually accomplished by adding donotreply@webadmit.org and @sendgrid.me our to your address book, contact list, or safe list. 

              The following defines each email status that may appear in WebAdMIT:

              • Draft:  The email has been saved and not sent to be sent manually at a later date by the user.

              • Sent:  The email message has been released from WebAdMIT and is being processed for delivery to the recipient.

              • Deferred:  The email message for one reason or another did not get sent to the sending service and has been queued to be sent again.

              • Delivered:  The email message has been sent and successfully received by the recipient’s email server. Users should note email delivery does not guarantee that the applicant will view the email. An applicant’s email program may have rules or junk mail settings that hide the email, or they may have switched email addresses since applying. Applicants are encouraged in the application instructions, to minimize these chances by ensuring that their junk mail filters are turned off for the duration of their application and to keep their email address updated in the applicant portal.

              • Opened:  The email message has been received and opened by the recipient. Users should note not every email that has been Delivered will eventually change to a status of Open as the applicants email program may prevent the transmission of this level of detail. These emails will remain, instead, as Delivered.

              • Bounced:  The email message has been rejected by the recipients email server. Should a status of Bounced appear the users should first investigate the accuracy of the email address. If incorrect, the applicant will need to make the change in the applicant portal. If the email address is correct, the user should contact the WebAdMIT Customer Service team to investigate other potential reasons.

              • Failed:  The email message was not able to be sent to the sending service and has not been sent to the recipient. User should manually try to send again.

              Instructional videos can be found in the margin of most pages within WebAdMIT. Programs may also visit the HAMPCAS User Group Library for training videos and recordings, or request an individual training session by emailing Stephanie Williams.

              ETS will send new GRE scores to HAMPCAS up to two times per week, as done for other institutions that receive scores electronically.  Scores are reported 10 to 15 days after taking the computer-based GRE revised General Test.
              To have official scores reported directly to HAMPCAS, the program should complete sections A-C of the GRE/ETS Form found on the HAMPCAS User-site in the Documents section. All completed forms should be submitted it to ETS via email at cas@ets.org or fax at (973) 735-0392.
              ETS sends the GRE Scores for HAMPCAS identified institutions directly to Liaison (electronically) who then matches it with the rest of the applicant data for the institution. 

              Yes.  A separate institution code is required for each CAS a program participates in.  Programs may request a separate code for each school or program within their university that participates in a CAS. 

              No.  Reporting scores to the CAS is a free service.

              Yes.   There is a charge involved with reporting to the Institution.  These fees vary slightly depending on the program’s selection in sections E-H.

              Yes, the pricing structure for the applicant is the same as if they were to send their scores directly to the institution.  Applicants may request that scores be sent to as many as four graduate institutions free of charge on the day of their computer-based GRE® revised General Test.  After test day, examinees can order Additional Score Reports for a fee of US$25 per recipient.
              If an institution wants to continue to receive GRE scores directly from ETS and does NOT want scores sent to HAMPCAS, then no action is needed.
              Yes.  In section D of the form, the program is able to designate whether they would like the scores reported to the CAS only, or to both the CAS and institution.  To have scores reported to both, please fill out sections E-H, where you are able to designate the manner in which the scores are reported.  
              Codes are available within 10 days after programs submit the GRE Score Reporting Order form.  submission.  The program contact on the order form will receive a confirmation email once their institution has been set up.

              Test takers with GRE questions should contact GRE® Services at 1-609-771-7670 or gre-info@ets.org.  Information is also available on the GRE website at www.ets.org/gre.

              Applicants may verify that their scores have been sent by checking their myGRE account at www.ets.org/mygre and viewing the score reports that were processed.  Applicants may also monitor the status section on the right hand side of their HAMPCAS application.

              ETS will list all institution and program-specific GRE codes in its online and printed code publications, and in the computer-based test package. In addition, applicants may view these codes within the School-Specific Information pages.

              To access the web application online, your computer must meet the following requirements:
              • Internet access with a 56K modem or faster
              • Mozilla Firefox 3.0 (highly recommended), Apple Safari 3.0, Google Chrome 4.0, MS Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0, or a later release for optimal use of the site
              • JavaScript must be enabled
              • Cookies must be enabled
              • Pop-up windows are used, therefore, pop-up blockers should be disabled
              • 800 × 600 screen resolution (1024 × 768 or larger is preferred)
              • It is recommended that the browser window be maximized to take up the entire screen

              E-submitting an application means you are asking the system go through steps to ensure you have properly filled out your application. Once an application has been e-submited it will go through the submission process.

              Note: Once an application has been e-submitted and paid for changes may not be made.  

              Yes, applicants are able to make changes to their application all the way through the process. Once they pay for their application to be submitted, they will no longer be able to make any changes to the application. If they would like to make changes once they have submitted  but not paid, they should simply go back to the application check list page. 
              Yes, applicants may e-submit and pay for their application before HAMPCAS has received their transcripts. However, HAMPCAS will not process the application (Calculate GPA) until HAMPCAS receives all of the transcripts.
              On the right hand side of the application there is a status section. It is here where the status of an application may be monitored.  

              Schools will calculate GPA's differently, attempting to make GPA calculations standard across the board for all applicants, HAMPCAS has standardized the GPA calculations. This may be different from the way your institution calculated your GPA.

              Applicant GPAs are calculated once the HAMPCAS staff have received transcripts and the application has been submitted and paid for. Calculating a GPA can take several weeks. Applicants should monitor the status of their application throughout the application process. 
              The HAMPCAS grading system standardizes the way grades will be reported to your designated programs. The HAMPCAS Grade is assigned a numeric value to calculate your grade point average.

              The HAMPCAS GPA calculation scale is as follows:

              GPA Calculation Scale

              HAMPCAS Grade

              Value

              A

              4.0

              A-

              3.7

              AB

              3.5

              B+

              3.3

              B

              3.0

              B-

              2.7

              BC

              2.5

              C+

              2.3

              C

              2.0

              C-

              1.7

              CD

              1.5

              D+

              1.3

              D

              1.0

              D-

              0.7

              DE

              .05

              F

              0.0

              Non-graded designations

              None

              All coursework that is listed in a session marked as Undergraduate, Graduate, or Post BS/BA Undergraduate will be included in HAMPCAS GPAs, with the following exceptions:

              • Courses with a credit value of 0.00
              • Courses with grades that do not have a numerical equivalent (e.g. P, HP, S, CR)
              • Courses with a course level of Technical/Vocational
              • Courses with a special classification of Incomplete
              • Courses with a special classification of Advanced Placement
              • Courses with a special classification of CLEP
              • Courses with a special classification of International Baccalaureate

              If an applicant knows they have made an undeliverable error on their application, they may contact HAMPCAS by phone or e-mail to have their application undelivered for correction. The application will still be delayed, but will be put back into line sooner than if they wait for the error to be caught during the verification process.

              The following mistakes will not cause an application to be returned for correction:

              • Misspellings
              • Capitalization
              • Incorrect course subjects
              • Occasional (not more than 4) incorrect grade, credit, or course information entries

              The following mistakes are common examples of reasons why an application would be returned for correction:

              • Failure to report a college or university you received credit from
              • All courses listed under one semester or term instead of dividing them up by term
              • Missing department prefixes
              • Missing course numbers
              • Missing courses (usually non-credit labs, PE courses, withdrawn courses, test credits, or repeated courses)
              • Vague or incorrect course titles (i.e. “English” instead of “English Composition I”)
              • Unconverted course credits in a unit system (see coursework instructions for details on converting credits)
              • Mislabeled terms or terms entered out of chronological order
              • Information consistently does not match that on official transcripts

              If HAMPCAS finds significant mistakes while verifying coursework, an application will be undelivered back to that applicant with an e-mail explaining what is wrong. The applicant must then correct these errors and re-submit the application to HAMPCAS in order for us to continue processing and mailing the application.

              A supplemental application is something that a school is requiring to be completed. Please check the school-specific information within the directory of schools to determine if a supplemental application is required.

              All transcripts must be sent directly from the University to the HAMPCAS Transcript Department. Any transcript sent from a student will be marked as a student copy and will not be official. All transcripts must be sent to:

              HAMPCAS

              Transcript Department
              PO Box 9122
              Watertown, MA 02472

              This is up to each university to decide. A school can choose to offer a supplemental application and/or charge a supplemental fee. Several schools were able to do away with supplemental charges in favor of the ease the HAMPCAS admission portal affords them.
              Application processing fees are dependent on the number of designated programs/degrees selected by the applicant. The first designation is $115.00 with each additional application being $40.00.
              Applicants may call the HAMPCAS Customer Service line at 617-612-2882 or email hampcasinfo@hampcas.org, where representatives are available Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm ET to answer questions. 

              Each school and its programs within HAMPCAS have their own deadlines. View the program-specific information within the directory of schools for deadline information. 

              Review the HAMPCAS Directory of Programs for a current list of participating schools.
              The following steps are highly recommended before applying
              1. Check the school page to determine what types of references they require and line up references and their contact information.
              2. Request official copies of transcripts be sent to you to aid you in filling out the coursework portion of the HAMPCAS application (these may NOT be the same ones later sent to HAMPCAS.
              3. Compose your narrative in a word processor. Please note HAMPCAS has a character limit of 20,000 characters, including spaces, line breaks, etc.  Notepad's character count is more reflective of HAMPCAS than the system employed by Microsoft Word.
              4. Research your school's deadlines under the Directory of Schools link.
              5. Read through all of HAMPCAS policies, instructions, and Frequently Asked Questions.

              To access the web application online, your computer must meet the following requirements:
              • Internet access with a 56K modem or faster
              • Mozilla Firefox 3.0 (highly recommended), Apple Safari 3.0, Google Chrome 4.0, MS Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0, or a later release for optimal use of the site
              • JavaScript must be enabled
              • Cookies must be enabled
              • Pop-up windows are used, therefore, pop-up blockers should be disabled
              • 800 × 600 screen resolution (1024 × 768 or larger is preferred)
              • It is recommended that the browser window be maximized to take up the entire screen