Am I too late in cycle?

[whoopsimlate]

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I am a reapplicant, and basically didn't want to study for the MCAT while I was still in school my senior year. I started studying as soon as I graduated and took it August 28th....late, I know but I wanted to be very sure that I would post a higher score. I got a 34 this time around, up from 30 last year. I shadowed, worked full-time teaching kids this summer, volunteered at a clinic a few hours a week and am now working full-time at a clinic. My score didn't come out until October 2. However, I was complete at a handful of schools even before my score came out in September. I submitted my last secondary the day my scores were released to the rest of the schools I was applying to. Question is...am I doomed? I have started reading around the internet and am getting the message that there is little hope for me scoring interviews anywhere this late in the cycle.

 

[whoopsimlate]

Addendum: just realized today (with mini-panic attack ensuing) that I should have waited this year out and applied early next year. But the thought of being in limbo for another year kills me, and there's nothing I can do about it now. I applied to a Caribbean school as a fall back. Question is...am I doomed? Should I go ahead and apply to the rest of the Caribbean schools while I'm at it? I do NOT want to be a third-time reapplicant to MD schools, or a reapplicant to DO schools.

 

[DrMidlife]

34 is a great score. That's getting the job done.

How well you do this late in the cycle totally depends on the strengths/weaknesses of your app and where you applied. As you see SDN tales of how screwed people are by applying late, note that they almost never ever have a strong application. There's almost always more to the story than applying late.

With a 34 there's no way you should be considering Carib, and quite frankly, it's a rookie mistake to be in a hurry to start med school. It's not a lost year if waiting gets you into a better school that sets you up for better opportunities.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Goro]

For MD, yes, for DO, no

I am a reapplicant, and basically didn't want to study for the MCAT while I was still in school my senior year. I started studying as soon as I graduated and took it August 28th....late, I know but I wanted to be very sure that I would post a higher score. I got a 34 this time around, up from 30 last year. I shadowed, worked full-time teaching kids this summer, volunteered at a clinic a few hours a week and am now working full-time at a clinic. My score didn't come out until October 2. However, I was complete at a handful of schools even before my score came out in September. I submitted my last secondary the day my scores were released to the rest of the schools I was applying to. Question is...am I doomed? I have started reading around the internet and am getting the message that there is little hope for me scoring interviews anywhere this late in the cycle.

 

[cabinbuilder]

I am a reapplicant, and basically didn't want to study for the MCAT while I was still in school my senior year. I started studying as soon as I graduated and took it August 28th....late, I know but I wanted to be very sure that I would post a higher score. I got a 34 this time around, up from 30 last year. I shadowed, worked full-time teaching kids this summer, volunteered at a clinic a few hours a week and am now working full-time at a clinic. My score didn't come out until October 2. However, I was complete at a handful of schools even before my score came out in September. I submitted my last secondary the day my scores were released to the rest of the schools I was applying to. Question is...am I doomed? I have started reading around the internet and am getting the message that there is little hope for me scoring interviews anywhere this late in the cycle.

If all your paperwork is complete then just see what happens. If you get rejected then no harm, if you get accepted, throw a party. You never know until you put your hat in the ring. DO schools interview all the way into March. It's still early since you are already complete.

 

[Etyan]

I took the MCAT the same day as you (Aug 28), and received my score Oct. 1st. Got an interview invite a few days later.

Finished my initial bolus of secondaries Oct. 24, and have had a few more secondaries trickle in (school screening ftw 😱).

As long as we get II's under our belts before January rolls around, we should be in a fair position. SDN is home to some incredible applicants - don't let their stellar stats and OMG II#8b4Sept30 posts deter you. Rather than making doomsday prophecies, learn from what you see to make yourself a better candidate!

I am a reapplicant, and basically didn't want to study for the MCAT while I was still in school my senior year. I started studying as soon as I graduated and took it August 28th....late, I know but I wanted to be very sure that I would post a higher score. I got a 34 this time around, up from 30 last year. I shadowed, worked full-time teaching kids this summer, volunteered at a clinic a few hours a week and am now working full-time at a clinic. My score didn't come out until October 2. However, I was complete at a handful of schools even before my score came out in September. I submitted my last secondary the day my scores were released to the rest of the schools I was applying to. Question is...am I doomed? I have started reading around the internet and am getting the message that there is little hope for me scoring interviews anywhere this late in the cycle.

 

[whoopsimlate]

I took the MCAT the same day as you (Aug 28), and received my score Oct. 1st. Got an interview invite a few days later.

Finished my initial bolus of secondaries Oct. 24, and have had a few more secondaries trickle in (school screening ftw 😱).

As long as we get II's under our belts before January rolls around, we should be in a fair position. SDN is home to some incredible applicants - don't let their stellar stats and OMG II#8b4Sept30 posts deter you. Rather than making doomsday prophecies, learn from what you see to make yourself a better candidate!

thank you, i'm starting to realize that i should probably stay off sdn. if i'm late, i'm late. c'est la vie i can only hope for an interview invite in the next month or so. thank you everyone for your input.