Amcas is taking time away from mcat studying......what to do?

Based on what you've written, I'd recommend you forget about AMCAS and just focus on studying the next few weeks. The reason I write this is b/c you've written that your school won't send out your recommendation(s) until October (at the earliest), and to my knowledge, no school will interview you w/out those letters. AAMC seems to be on the ball this year in terms of verifying apps in a timely manner. So, if you submit right after taking the Aug. MCAT, you'll probably get processed/transmitted in September and start receiving secondaries sometime shortly thereafter. If you submit your secondaries as you receive them, you'll be set for evaluation once your schools have received the committee recs. If you haven't already done so, send your transcripts to AAMC and call to verify that they've been received. When you get tired of studying physics, the chems, and bio spend a few minutes on your statement. Right now, the MCAT should be your priority. If you fare poorly on it b/c you didn't spend enough time studying, it won't matter how early you submitted AMCAS. Best of luck to you.

 

Thing is right. Generally, you want to submit your app ASAP even if you are taking the august mcat so that schools can get a file started on you. However, you seem to having a time crunch, and you don't want to send in a PS riduled with errors just because you were stressed about the MCAT. Relax, study for the MCAT and do well on it. (Stress will adversely effect your performance on the MCAT too). Then, the day after taking your MCAT, work on your AMCAS for the next couple of days (probably keep working on your PS for at least a week), send it off and everything should be ok.

 

basha,

Your dilemma is kind of like eating a vitamin pill every day, but not getting enough calories.

Know your priorities. Doing better on the MCAT far outweighs submitting in July vs. August.

 

BTW, do you work in addition to studying for MCAT? If you do, I would understand why you do not have time. How much time a day, how many days a week do you study for the test?

 

Your MCAT is more important right now. Do well and it will offset any disadvantage of applying late.

BTW, don't believe the crap the premed advisors tell you. Turning in AMCAS around Aug. is not a sin. It might delay the interview process a little bit but if you're a strong candidate it should have no effect on the overall outcome. Bottom line: if a school wants you it wants you.

Now AMCAS in Sept.-Oct. is pushing it.

 

spiderman asks a very impt question.
are you also working or volunteering or doing something else besides studying?

it's hard to imagine you not having time to revise your essay.
i really think you should be revising now.
if you set aside ONE hour, or even 40 minutes, a day, you could revise your essay.

revisions take time and ideas change.
instead of doing revisions all in one day, it is much better to spread them out so your subconscious can work on it.
at least imho.

 

SDN is taking time away from my studying

i've decided to wait to complete secondaries until after the mcat. anyone think this is a bad idea? i'm trying to think the essays through in my head beforehand so that i'll be able to crank them out quickly after the mcat.