A WARNING to those who submit w/o MCAT SCORE

[bcgans]

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Hey everyone,

I know a ton of people who are asking "should I submit my primary AACOMAS application without my MCAT score?" The answer, as I was always taught, is "absolutely, then release your score once you get it and AACOMAS will update your schools." I just wanted to let you in on the pitfalls this has caused me:

My primary was released to 16 D.O. schools on 7/1/09
My MCAT was taken on 7/2/09 and scores were released 8/3/09
I immediately released this score to AACOMAS and my schools.
FOUR of the schools as of 8/24/09 said on their online status check: "MCAT not receieved"

I had to personally call these schools. Each said "have you taken the MCAT?" I said "Yes, it was sent out 8/4" So far EVERY school has said "Ok here it is, I'll update your file." - The schools literally were holding my scores until I called them to find out why they hadn't been added to my file.

I am just now complete at a few schools which I should have been complete at in the middle of August.

This thread is simply to share my story, and to let those of you know who submitted your application and THEN took your MCAT, if you are waiting on being complete, it would not hurt to call the school and make sure they have received your scores.

This is not the case with all schools, as most of them verified within a week they had my scores. Just a warning since 1/4 of all my schools had my scores in hand and required a phone call from me as a catalyst to being complete.

Sorry to rant on, but in a game where timing is everything, it is very frustrating knowing almost a month went by where I believed I was complete when I wasnt. Good luck anyone, and reply back or PM me about specifics or more information.

 

[just one]

I get your frustration but I know people that have waited 5-7 weeks for AACOMAS to verify app once submitted. So by your timeline, if you would have waited to submit until MCAT scores were received, you would be complete at zero schools right now.

 

[bcgans]

I absolutely agree with you. However, if I never checked to see if I was complete, my MCAT score would be sitting at the schools for months. I guess it is my job to check up on that sort of stuff.

I was simply upset at the whole process today and needed somewhere to rant. I have three interviews, I really should be happy

This whole beast of an application process just gets to me sometimes. Thanks for letting me let off some steam.

If anyone else just wants to rant, lets make this the thread to do so...

 

[forrealz]

related subject:

I just received my secondaries and they are asking me whether I am retaking my MCAT. I do plan on retaking it in Jan because I did not do so well in August. I am worried that if I tell them about my retake, they might end up putting me on hold till Feb. I hate this whole time game with application and MCAT!!

 

[Bacchus]

I absolutely agree with you. However, if I never checked to see if I was complete, my MCAT score would be sitting at the schools for months. I guess it is my job to check up on that sort of stuff.

I was simply upset at the whole process today and needed somewhere to rant. I have three interviews, I really should be happy

This whole beast of an application process just gets to me sometimes. Thanks for letting me let off some steam.

If anyone else just wants to rant, lets make this the thread to do so...

PCOM, LECOM, and VCOM updated my files automatically.

 

[engineeredout]

PCOM never got my MCAT, 17 other schools did.

Always good to check.

 

[ODorDO]

related subject:

I just received my secondaries and they are asking me whether I am retaking my MCAT. I do plan on retaking it in Jan because I did not do so well in August. I am worried that if I tell them about my retake, they might end up putting me on hold till Feb. I hate this whole time game with application and MCAT!!

so you are holding on to your old mcat score till feb without releasing it? are you planning to turn in any of your secondaries? I think I might end up in the similar situation as you... took my mcat last friday and i feel like it wasnt my best👎

to bc: thx for letting us know this! good luck on ur interview

 

[forrealz]

god no! I have released my old scores already, got many secondaries today. I am going to go ahead and send them out ASAP. It's just that the secondaries are asking me whether I plan on retaking MCAT in future. Now, I don't know how they would treat my application if I say yes. I really don't want to be put on hold till Feb.

 

[PeterDO2B]

Hey everyone,

I know a ton of people who are asking "should I submit my primary AACOMAS application without my MCAT score?" The answer, as I was always taught, is "absolutely, then release your score once you get it and AACOMAS will update your schools." I just wanted to let you in on the pitfalls this has caused me:

My primary was released to 16 D.O. schools on 7/1/09
My MCAT was taken on 7/2/09 and scores were released 8/3/09
I immediately released this score to AACOMAS and my schools.
FOUR of the schools as of 8/24/09 said on their online status check: "MCAT not receieved"

I had to personally call these schools. Each said "have you taken the MCAT?" I said "Yes, it was sent out 8/4" So far EVERY school has said "Ok here it is, I'll update your file." - The schools literally were holding my scores until I called them to find out why they hadn't been added to my file.

I am just now complete at a few schools which I should have been complete at in the middle of August.

This thread is simply to share my story, and to let those of you know who submitted your application and THEN took your MCAT, if you are waiting on being complete, it would not hurt to call the school and make sure they have received your scores.

This is not the case with all schools, as most of them verified within a week they had my scores. Just a warning since 1/4 of all my schools had my scores in hand and required a phone call from me as a catalyst to being complete.

Sorry to rant on, but in a game where timing is everything, it is very frustrating knowing almost a month went by where I believed I was complete when I wasnt. Good luck anyone, and reply back or PM me about specifics or more information.

That is why most Premed counselors tell you to take the MCAT at least ONE year from the the year you submit your application. If you took it in July of this year and are applying this year, you are late.

 

[DocHomer]

That is why most Premed counselors tell you to take the MCAT at least ONE year from the the year you submit your application. If you took it in July of this year and are applying this year, you are late.

I took the MCAT on July 2nd as well. I have had 5 interviews lined up since late august and one more invite yesterday. July is not too late, but you have to make sure you stay on top of the schools.

 

[rkaz]

Hey everyone,

I know a ton of people who are asking "should I submit my primary AACOMAS application without my MCAT score?" The answer, as I was always taught, is "absolutely, then release your score once you get it and AACOMAS will update your schools." I just wanted to let you in on the pitfalls this has caused me:

My primary was released to 16 D.O. schools on 7/1/09
My MCAT was taken on 7/2/09 and scores were released 8/3/09
I immediately released this score to AACOMAS and my schools.
FOUR of the schools as of 8/24/09 said on their online status check: "MCAT not receieved"

I had to personally call these schools. Each said "have you taken the MCAT?" I said "Yes, it was sent out 8/4" So far EVERY school has said "Ok here it is, I'll update your file." - The schools literally were holding my scores until I called them to find out why they hadn't been added to my file.

I am just now complete at a few schools which I should have been complete at in the middle of August.

This thread is simply to share my story, and to let those of you know who submitted your application and THEN took your MCAT, if you are waiting on being complete, it would not hurt to call the school and make sure they have received your scores.

This is not the case with all schools, as most of them verified within a week they had my scores. Just a warning since 1/4 of all my schools had my scores in hand and required a phone call from me as a catalyst to being complete.

Sorry to rant on, but in a game where timing is everything, it is very frustrating knowing almost a month went by where I believed I was complete when I wasnt. Good luck anyone, and reply back or PM me about specifics or more information.

I had the exact same situation last year. If you submit your primary application to AACOMAS before you take your MCAT, you MUST be vigilant to see that the MCAT scores are released to AACOMAS. Although the MCAT system released my scores to AMCAS, they never sent them to AACOMAS like I assumed they automatically would.... and I found out a few weeks after my scores were available that I had to go back and fill out the online form to get the scores released to AACOMAS. You should also verify with each schools afterwards that they received the MCAT, as many of the schools I applied to apparently were sent the MCAT scores after I had them released but never bothered to update them to my file. This delayed my file being complete by 1-2+ months at some schools.