Application timeline question

[gabbMD]

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I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times before.....but.....

can someone clarify the application timeline? As in, break it down for me step by step? I've looked on the site and elsewhere but can't seem to get a clear picture.

Most ppl I know seem to take a yr between MCAT and the first day of school (interviews, etc, etc) but, is it possible to take the MCAT in the spring and be admitted for matriculation by Sept.?? is this unheard of?

Also, if the one yr period is unavoidable, are there classes i can take during this year instead of taking them prior to MCAT?

Thanks!

 

[Siromas]

can someone clarify the application timeline? As in, break it down for me step by step? I've looked on the site and elsewhere but can't seem to get a clear picture.

Rough Outline:
MAY - AMCAS opens for you to fill out and submit transcripts/LoRs
JUNE - AMCAS opens for you to submit for verification. Once your application is verified, then you can submit to schools.
JUNE onwards - fill out secondaries and attend interviews
Mid-OCTOBER - First day schools are allowed to send out acceptances (unless you're EDP)

July/August (of the following year) - start med school

Most ppl I know seem to take a yr between MCAT and the first day of school (interviews, etc, etc) but, is it possible to take the MCAT in the spring and be admitted for matriculation by Sept.?? is this unheard of?

Unless you're part of some special program, taking the MCAT (for the first time) in the Spring and matriculating in the Fall (of that same year) is unheard of.

Also, if the one yr period is unavoidable, are there classes i can take during this year instead of taking them prior to MCAT?
Thanks!

Yes, plenty of people are still in school while simultaneously applying to med school.

 

[VillageSweetie]

You need to take your MCAT before schools will even consider your application for an interview invitation. Ideally this would be before May of the summer that you are submitting your applications (a full year before planning to matriculate).

May - AACOMAS (D.O.) application Opens (and you can submit in May)
June - AMCAS (M.D.) application opens for you to submit (but you can begin working on it in May, so that you may submit first thing in June).

The timing of when a school sends a secondary depends completely on the school and their process for secondaries. Some schools will automatically send them to every applicant, some schools screen applications based on stats before sending out a secondary, and some schools hand-screen applications before sending out secondaries.

And as far as how fast to turn around a secondary - the sooner the better. Aim for with-in two weeks, as most schools are rolling admissions. However, some schools will give you a faster deadline (one school that I applied to had a 5 day deadline for their secondary).

After submitting a secondary, it is a complete waiting game for interview invitations. The earlier you submit your completed primary and secondary, the earlier you will likely receive IIs. I submitted my application a month or two later than most and received my first two IIs in September. I have been receiving invites every month since. However, I believe that a couple of the schools will have already filled there class by the time my interview date comes around (just for a couple of the schools I received IIs from) and I will likely be interviewing for a waitlist spot (that happens).

After interviews, it's a waiting game again as to when an acceptance will come. Some schools are fast (same week), but many M.D. schools will not let you know until March.

If I could do anything differently, I would have taken my MCAT earlier and submitted my applications earlier.

 

[gabbMD]

Thanks for your response!

Rough Outline:
MAY - AMCAS opens for you to fill out and submit transcripts/LoRs
JUNE - AMCAS opens for you to submit for verification. Once your application is verified, then you can submit to schools.
JUNE onwards - fill out secondaries and attend interviews
Mid-OCTOBER - First day schools are allowed to send out acceptances (unless you're EDP)

What is EDP?


July/August (of the following year) - start med school



Unless you're part of some special program, taking the MCAT (for the first time) in the Spring and matriculating in the Fall (of that same year) is unheard of.



Yes, plenty of people are still in school while simultaneously applying to med school.

What classes would be better for me to take during this year? I am working full time right now and taking two classes per term. my schedule is as follows:

Fall 2017:
Bio 1
pre-chem

Winter 18:

Bio 2
Chem 1

Spring 18

Bio 3
Chem 2

Summer 18

Chem 3
Physics 1

Fall 18

Orgo Chem 1
Physics 2

Winter 19

Orgo Chem 2
Physics 3

Spring 19

Orgo chem 3
Genetics
(It's during this portion where i would take the MCAT)

Summer 19
Bio chem
psych class 1

Fall 19
Psych class 2
soc class 1

winter 20
stats

 

[coppernickel]

Thanks for your response!




What classes would be better for me to take during this year? I am working full time right now and taking two classes per term. my schedule is as follows:

Fall 2017:
Bio 1
pre-chem

Winter 18:

Bio 2
Chem 1

Spring 18

Bio 3
Chem 2

Summer 18

Chem 3
Physics 1

Fall 18

Orgo Chem 1
Physics 2

Winter 19

Orgo Chem 2
Physics 3

Spring 19

Orgo chem 3
Genetics
(It's during this portion where i would take the MCAT)

Summer 19
Bio chem
psych class 1

Fall 19
Psych class 2
soc class 1

winter 20
stats

Hi there!

I remember definitely not understanding this process fully and only getting fragments here and there so the best advice I can give you is to read and come up with a strategy before you enter your application cycle. And basically that means you should (imho!) include in your plan a rough idea of who your recommenders will be (can you get a committee letter? If so, your school's premed committee will have deadlines before May), fit that shadowing in, schedule in clinical experiences you can be passionate about, and realize the mcat is essentially a time sink. Looks like you want to start Med school fall 2020, right?

Regarding the mcat: Some people spend 3 months studying, some spend a year, some people make it their full time job, some people study while juggling kids etc. I personally spent 5 months, took two easy bio mcat-relevant classes, and an official mcat prep class. I still worked about 16 hours a week, which meant I cut out all social activity because I knew that was the way to stay focused. I took my mcat study guides to the gym, I took them on the train, I listened to lectures while I drove. Idk, maybe that's not normal but I'm a reapplicant and the first time I took the mcat I got a 507. That second time it was a 519. I recommend putting your "all" in because it's a temporary sacrifice with a huge pay off. Last thing, your proposed class schedule doesn't serve your mcat prep well. You will be kicking yourself if you take the mcat before biochem and the psych/sosc stuff. Reassess your class plan.

Good job though with coming up with this plan 2 years ahead of time! Hope this is helpful! You are going to make it with this attitude.

 

[willow84]

I would absolutely not take the MCAT before taking psychology, sociology, and biochem. Biochem is a large portion of the exam and there is a dedicated psych/soc section.