a re-applicant's predicament

[jmj08]

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hey guys,

first time posting, and i've already gained a ton of information on this site.

i'm re-applying to medical school this year.

i have a 3.8 GPA, great volunteering experience, great shadowing experience, 3 years of research, and 5 awesome LORs (including 1 from ass. dean to my top choice).

...the only issue is my below average MCAT score of a 26.

now here's my predicament:

i'm re-applying to medical school this semester, and the earliest i can take my MCAT now is on August 3rd (i was scheduled to take it on May 12th but had to drop out due to medical issues).

i consistently get into the 30s now (my top choice school and alma mater has a 28 average), and i know i'm capable of doing well on my MCAT. i already have my AMCAS application complete, and i already have tons of secondaries filled out from last year.

while i already plan on applying on June 5th, my question to you guys pertains to my August 3rd MCAT. do you think this is too late to take the MCAT for this application cycle?

any thought is appreciated!

 

[flodhi1]

hey guys,

first time posting, and i've already gained a ton of information on this site.

i'm re-applying to medical school this year.

i have a 3.8 GPA, great volunteering experience, great shadowing experience, 3 years of research, and 5 awesome LORs (including 1 from ass. dean to my top choice).

...the only issue is my below average MCAT score of a 26.

now here's my predicament:

i'm re-applying to medical school this semester, and the earliest i can take my MCAT now is on August 3rd (i was scheduled to take it on May 12th but had to drop out due to medical issues).

i consistently get into the 30s now (my top choice school and alma mater has a 28 average), and i know i'm capable of doing well on my MCAT. i already have my AMCAS application complete, and i already have tons of secondaries filled out from last year.

while i already plan on applying on June 5th, my question to you guys pertains to my August 3rd MCAT. do you think this is too late to take the MCAT for this application cycle?

any thought is appreciated!

It is without a doubt slightly late. Your scores will be released the first week of September, making your application complete then and will probably hit human eyes for interview evaluation close to end of September. A few weeks after that acceptances will be handed out, seats available will be reduced and obviously lowering your chances. It's not the end of the world though as long as you score >32 you should be okay considering your high GPA and assuming you have decent ECs. Is there no test in July in states around you? Even if I had to drive 2-3 hours I would take a July test over August assuming I'm obviously ready to nail the MCAT. Applying early and broadly is essential for reapplicants but in your case it's not the end of the world.

 

[jmj08]

It is without a doubt slightly late. Your scores will be released the first week of September, making your application complete then and will probably hit human eyes for interview evaluation close to end of September. A few weeks after that acceptances will be handed out, seats available will be reduced and obviously lowering your chances. It's not the end of the world though as long as you score >32 you should be okay considering your high GPA and assuming you have decent ECs. Is there no test in July in states around you? Even if I had to drive 2-3 hours I would take a July test over August assuming I'm obviously ready to nail the MCAT. Applying early and broadly is essential for reapplicants but in your case it's not the end of the world.

i'm unfortunately located in the worst MCAT state in the country...Florida. on top of this, i'm located in south florida, so the only way to get to another state is to drive at least 6 hours.

i think i may just up the gun and take it on may 31st. a spot just opened up, and i'm debating on whether or not to pick it up.

pros would be an earlier application. cons will be $70 to switch it and a heightened anxiety considering it's only 2 weeks away.

thoughts?

 

[flodhi1]

i'm unfortunately located in the worst MCAT state in the country...Florida. on top of this, i'm located in south florida, so the only way to get to another state is to drive at least 6 hours.

i think i may just up the gun and take it on may 31st. a spot just opened up, and i'm debating on whether or not to pick it up.

pros would be an earlier application. cons will be $70 to switch it and a heightened anxiety considering it's only 2 weeks away.

thoughts?

Well people say don't rush it but I realized that after a point of preparation no matter how much more I tried I couldn't improve vastly. So if you think you're ready and have reached your cap in preparation then take it. The rest of your application is stellar, honestly all you need is a >30 to be a strong applicant. In my honest opinion and experience someone with a 3.8/30 complete in July will have the same chances if not better as 3.8/32 in September that's just the nature of rolling admission.

 

[flodhi1]

I would say go for the end of May MCAT since you've consistently been scoring in the 30s and just stay calm. Here is an article explaining why you should apply early, I think it's a worthwhile read. I hope you sent in your transcripts and have your LORs ready to go since they can be a hindrance if sent in late.

http://studentdoctor.net/2009/03/the-application-process-why-apply-early/

 

[MedBound1]

If you were scheduled to take the MCAT on May 12th, I assume that means you have been preparing for it for months now? If you're still as ready as you were to take the May 12th MCAT, I would say to go ahead and take the one that opened up at the end of the month. If you take one in August, the content you read 3 months ago will start to go stale and it will be hard to keep your motivation consistently up through the summer if you have been studying for the MCAT since February-March. Many people say that the ideal time to study for the MCAT (and by that I mean hardcore study, everyday, etc. not just initial review) is 3 months, because its hard to hold solid motivation past that and the content you learned at the beginning starts to fall off.

So its really up to how confident you are. But if you're still as prepared as ever, take it in May and give yourself the best shot possible for this coming cycle. Best of luck!

 

[jmj08]

thanks for all the advice!

 

[alexrgross]

The earliness of re-applicants is very important and that is because they expect you have had sufficient time to address the weakness in your application.
Applying as a re-applicant means that you have already had your app viewed, and presumably gotten the feedback required to improve. Clearly you have done this, and discounting all of that by delaying 1st review at schools until September is going to be THE factor that costs interview seats. I have experienced this myself.

You sound prepared and ready, you have taken the MCAT before, and you need to get this done - I say go for the early MCAT.