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After going through the process more than once (had to reapply and was accepted), I thought I would throw out a few tips I wish I knew before but learned along the way.
1. Apply EARLY! A lot of schools are on rolling admissions, which means they accept people as they go. In this system it is extremely to your advantage to get your app. in early. The longer you wait, the more apps. they have and selective they may be. Also their class is more full and can't accept a large amount of interviewers as they could at the beginning of interview season. I was actually told my first time around by a school that my numbers, ECs, and interviews were great. The largest factor of my rejection was the timing of my app. (I took the Aug. MCAT) So I applied EDP the next year and got in! I had no idea the timing of your app. could have such a huge effect on the acceptance. If you are taking the Aug. MCAT, think about taking a yr. off and doing research or something you enjoy so you will be at an advantage the following yr and not have to get rejected and reapply spending a lot of money!
2. If you retook the MCAT (which I did), Be smart in where you apply; don't think you are screwed. Yes, some schools take your most recent score or average them, but schools vary in how they view multiple MCATs. Some schools will take your best overall score, some take the best score of each section and combine them, etc... If you are interested do a quick search on "multiple MCATs" and you will find threads where people actually compiled lists of how EVERY school looks at multiple MCATs. In the case of a school taking your best score in each section, you may be at an advantage by retaking it.
3. Just because the school is supposed "lower tier", it doesn't mean you should apply to it as a "safety" school. I can't tell you the amount of money I wasted on applying to "safety" schools and not hearing squat from them post-secondary after they got my $$$. Apply to schools within your reach and ones you are truly interested in, not because you think it should be a cakewalk for you to get in.
Just a few tidbits I learned along the way and feel free to add more to these...
1. Apply EARLY! A lot of schools are on rolling admissions, which means they accept people as they go. In this system it is extremely to your advantage to get your app. in early. The longer you wait, the more apps. they have and selective they may be. Also their class is more full and can't accept a large amount of interviewers as they could at the beginning of interview season. I was actually told my first time around by a school that my numbers, ECs, and interviews were great. The largest factor of my rejection was the timing of my app. (I took the Aug. MCAT) So I applied EDP the next year and got in! I had no idea the timing of your app. could have such a huge effect on the acceptance. If you are taking the Aug. MCAT, think about taking a yr. off and doing research or something you enjoy so you will be at an advantage the following yr and not have to get rejected and reapply spending a lot of money!
2. If you retook the MCAT (which I did), Be smart in where you apply; don't think you are screwed. Yes, some schools take your most recent score or average them, but schools vary in how they view multiple MCATs. Some schools will take your best overall score, some take the best score of each section and combine them, etc... If you are interested do a quick search on "multiple MCATs" and you will find threads where people actually compiled lists of how EVERY school looks at multiple MCATs. In the case of a school taking your best score in each section, you may be at an advantage by retaking it.
3. Just because the school is supposed "lower tier", it doesn't mean you should apply to it as a "safety" school. I can't tell you the amount of money I wasted on applying to "safety" schools and not hearing squat from them post-secondary after they got my $$$. Apply to schools within your reach and ones you are truly interested in, not because you think it should be a cakewalk for you to get in.
Just a few tidbits I learned along the way and feel free to add more to these...
