Application Dilemma: Apply now or wait?

[sbz9z]

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So i need some advice...

I decided late into my third year as an undergraduate to apply to medical school so I didnt have time to study and take the MCATs in April, May, and June like most of the people i know applying this year. I actually just took the MCAT yesterday.

So here is my dilemma: I have already submitted my primary application and have about 12 secondaries that i need to fill out. I was pretty confident going into the MCAT (my average practice test score was a 35) but at the actual test the verbal reasoning section went horribly. I got very flustered as I was reading and didnt even have time to read the last passage. So now I dont know if i should start submitting my secondaries without knowing what I got or if i should wait and then take the MCAT again in September. I know im already at a disadvantage by applying so late, but i dont want to blow a few thousand dollars by applying now if i got a 7 on verbal. What is the minimum score i need to get to still be competitive this late in the game? If i need to, should i retake them late in September or should i wait and retake them in January and then just re-apply next year? I appreciate any advice.

 

[johndoe3344]

You should never submit secondaries without knowing what you got on your MCAT. Why? Because if you don't know what you got, the schools won't know either. In other words, your application isn't even processed until your MCAT score comes back.

If you think you got a "good" score (whatever you think such a score may be), then what I would do is make sure everything else is ready -- i.e. prewrite all the essays, make sure your LORs/committee letter is uploaded to AMCAS, etc. And then as soon as you get your MCAT score in, you'll be complete. Being complete in mid-september is on the late side, but it's not ridiculously late.

EDIT: This is assuming you'll not submit the secondaries if you get a 20 on your MCATs, because many schools have a limit on the number of times that you apply. And well, if you apply to a school and not get in, you'll have to rewrite your secondaries. If you have them prewritten but don't apply, you'll only have to rewrite your PS and such.

If you really think you bombed verbal (say, below an 8) then I would probably just take the year off, do some interesting things, and ace the MCAT in January.

 

[ToBeAnMD]

So i need some advice...

I decided late into my third year as an undergraduate to apply to medical school so I didnt have time to study and take the MCATs in April, May, and June like most of the people i know applying this year. I actually just took the MCAT yesterday.

So here is my dilemma: I have already submitted my primary application and have about 12 secondaries that i need to fill out. I was pretty confident going into the MCAT (my average practice test score was a 35) but at the actual test the verbal reasoning section went horribly. I got very flustered as I was reading and didnt even have time to read the last passage. So now I dont know if i should start submitting my secondaries without knowing what I got or if i should wait and then take the MCAT again in September. I know im already at a disadvantage by applying so late, but i dont want to blow a few thousand dollars by applying now if i got a 7 on verbal. What is the minimum score i need to get to still be competitive this late in the game? If i need to, should i retake them late in September or should i wait and retake them in January and then just re-apply next year? I appreciate any advice.

This is a good question for LizzyM, maybe you can message her it?

IMO the minimum score to be competitive in verbal is an 8. Since you scored a 35 average on your practice tests I'm sure you did really well! I thought I scored poorly after my MCAT but I ended up doing pretty well! You could always wait until you get your MCAT score before submitting your secondaries (just have them typed up) if your really concerned about it.