Advice needed.

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Salad1n

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Took 8/5 MCAT, it was a heavy calculation tests and I don't think I got the score I needed (~30) for my state MD. However, I always had the intention to apply at DO schools. I was thinking of taking the 9/11 MCAT. Should I send in primary before my 8/5 MCAT and hope for a decent score or take 9/11 MCAT and wait on sending app? Or what do you guys recommend since I want to apply to both MD and DO.

cGPA: 3.8
sGPS: 3.7
Extracurricular's (Volunteer-140hrs, shadowing, 30+ (current), short research experience (current), leadership, plus others)
 
Even if you score a ~25, with your cGPA you'd be in great shape for DO schools, so certainly you could go ahead and submit that application (assuming you don't think you completely bombed the test) if you are very anxious to get any acceptance this season.

What to do about the MD application depends on your willingness to bet the ~$160 dollar AMCAS fee that you didn't score so low that your chances are hopeless. The longer you wait to submit to AMCAS, the longer it takes to get verified (About 1+ month at this point, but eventually as long as 6 weeks), and the later schools will receive your application. Late applications have much less chance of success.

In your shoes, I would submit to AMCAS, listing only one school (probably UNebraska) so verification could proceed. When the score comes out, if it's good, you can add more schools, which will receive the entire application in one business day. If it's too low, you can go back into the AMCAS program and mark a later MCAT retake date, recertify, and then UNebraska would hold your application until the second score comes back. The problem will be that by October, your chances of an interview offer woiuld be really, really low. So you might consider instead planning to retake in January instead and reapplying next June for the best odds of success.

Of course, if you applied to DO schools this summer, you're highly likely to get an acceptance, so a January retake wouldn't be necessary, since you will have gotten into a med school. So you also have to decide how much of a hurry you're in to get any acceptance. If you're not in a hurry, and want the best chance of acceptance to your state school for the sake of the lower tuition, then don't apply to DO schools at this time. Instead, apply to them next June when you (hopefully) have a higher MCAT score and a better chance at UNebraska if you didn't get in this season with the MCAT you just took.

Is that too confusing?
 
Thank you Catalystik for giving such a thorough and helpful reply.

I think I will submit my AMCAS before I get my score. If it's low, can I cancel it while it is still being verified? Would there be any point to that?

If it's 25+, then a 9/11 MCAT wouldn't be necessary for DO?
I kind of want to get into any med school this application cycle because I don't really know what I'll do for a year off (other than study for MCAT).

Thanks for your help Catalystik, I was really confused and kind of devastated thinking my chances this year was done. But it's clearer now. Thanks. 🙂
 
I think I will submit my AMCAS before I get my score. If it's low, can I cancel it while it is still being verified? Would there be any point to that?

If it's 25+, then a 9/11 MCAT wouldn't be necessary for DO?
If you cancel before verification, you won't get the $160 back, but you would not be considered a reapplicant if you chose to apply next year.

Average matriculant stats for DO schools are 3.48/26.09. With your high cGPA, you'd probably get in with a lower MCAT score, but with a 25+ you will appeal increasingly to the more selective DO med schools, the higher you score above that.

Keep in mind that some folks get into your state school with lower MCAT scores than the median, so even with a 25, I'd suggest you still apply there if you have balanced subscores. It can't hurt to try. The stronger your ECs are, the less likely they will be able to turn you away, even with a lower MCAT score.
 
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