apply early vs. late

[darkraven]

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i posted my stats in the 'what's my chances' but after understanding more about US apps i now think i've hit a roadblock and need real advice. I'm a canadian and have a 3.95 (i think) and 32N (from last august). I'm gonna have 1st author pub in genetics and i've presented at 1 conference. I'll probably have 100some hours shadowing 2 docs (opthal and gen surg) and for ECs: bunch of music stuff and token volunteering

I know i can probably push my mcat higher (probably 35/36) and am rewriting in spet 7th (yes i know, late but only seat i could find). Now i know they'll hold my apps till oct basically so 1st of all, do i even have a chance if i'm only getting this in by october (what about toptier with nonrolling admission), and i was wondering if there was an option to just send them in early, ignoring my rewrite since i could just use my rewrite score for CAD apps. (could i maybe not tell AMCAS about my rewrite or something ...) And if i could do this, would i have better chances anyways considering my not so great MCAT?

 

[darkraven]

???

to sum up, what are my chances and can i not tell amcas about my rewrite and apply with a 32? and if i can, is this a better route?

 

[trevagandalf]

Your scores are good! You can get into a fairly good medical school without re-writing your MCAT. Most people with a 32 will actually get a lower MCAT score the second time they retake it! Since you already registered, I would suggest you submit your AMCAS application and check the box that you are NOT retaking the MCATs... and then just send in your scores after you get them. But any case, you can always call the AMCAS to clarify

 

[darkraven]

so can i supposedly send in apps without checking the box, then rewrite and if i push my mcats to 35/36 (i think is very possible) and add nonrolling schools to my list with the new mcat? or should i also apply to toptier with my 32 (since i've heard even with nonrolling admissions, i am put at a disadvantage if i apply in oct)?

 

[darkraven]

bump

 

[voirlesetoiles]

so can i supposedly send in apps without checking the box, then rewrite and if i push my mcats to 35/36 (i think is very possible) and add nonrolling schools to my list with the new mcat? or should i also apply to toptier with my 32 (since i've heard even with nonrolling admissions, i am put at a disadvantage if i apply in oct)?

The only nonrolling school I know of is Harvard, there might be others... I don't know. You might want to check just how many nonrolling schools there are to see if your retake is worth it.

If you think you can make a 35/36 and are very set on a top-tier school... one option is to take the MCAT in Sept and to apply in the next cycle. Getting scores back in Oct puts you at a huge disadvantage, in my opinion, for this cycle. You could probably get into a top tier with a 3.95 (wow) and 32 if your ECs are good... lots of research, leadership positions.

My two cents... just submit the darn thing... because with your high GPA and above-average MCAT score - you stand a good chance of getting in, which is enhanced by early submission.

with everything.

 

[BigRedPremed]

I don't think this is smart if you're banking on only nonrolling top tier schools. Your stats are more than enough to get into a decent school (w/ outside shot at any top tier schools). I don't understand why you are retaking a 32.

 

[darkraven]

i'm retaking to help in canada. here we have to make cut-offs. a couple schools are 10/10/10Q (i have 11/9/12 N) which means i have to pull up my WS and VR. others include my WS which sucks and brings me down. I would actually prefer to stay in canada but i'ld rather be in medschool than apply another round. canada doesn't have rolling admissions so sept mcat date is fine. I would like a shot at toptier ... i'm just wondering how i can orchestrate this so i can get the best possible chance at the most amount of uni's

btw, for those that are known to take canadians, i think a fair chunk of top tier schools are nonrolling altho i'm still waiting for MSAR in the mail to find out all of them ...

 

[darkraven]

k, what i basically want to know is if i can selectively apply to some schools (early) with my 32 and apply to other top-tier nonrolling (later) with a 35/36

can someone please help me

 

[Haemulon]

k, what i basically want to know is if i can selectively apply to some schools (early) with my 32 and apply to other top-tier nonrolling (later) with a 35/36

can someone please help me

My understaning is that you go ahead and apply to all of your schools with the 32. By checking the box that you are re-taking (which you are), schools may just hold off review of your application until they receive the new scores in October. While this is no longer considered applying early, with your high stats I don't think that October review should not be a problem for you.

I do understand where you are coming from though (a 32 is already a great score). And it would be nice to start anticipating interview offers earlier. I hope that you are confident in being able to bring your score up though (or at least keep it the same). Otherwise, I would probably just stick with the 32. Probably the best idea would be to call the particular schools that you are interested and see if they can give you any advice.

 

[AnthonyNY]

k, what i basically want to know is if i can selectively apply to some schools (early) with my 32 and apply to other top-tier nonrolling (later) with a 35/36

can someone please help me

first of all, you may not have gotten that many responses to your original post because you used the very canadian "rewrite" when you were talking about "retaking" the MCAT. we say retake/retaking down here, for the most part : )

given your high GPA, i would think you could apply now to all the schools you wish to, including the very selective ones, and simply check off the box saying that you will be retaking the MCAT. i say this because when the schools see that your stats are already very good, and that you plan to retake the MCAT, i'd think many schools would probably issue you a secondary, put your app in the favorably reviewed pile and either wait to see your scores or invite you to interview - for those that are waiting to invite, you wont be losing or gaining anything, youll just be in a stay of execution until the "governor calls" with your MCAT score.

the timing of this is a factor, as you do want to submit as early as possible. to wait until october to add those "top-tiers" to your amcas may be unwise, which is why i've said you may just want to put them on there now. i suppose, if you really wanted to, you could even send in a letter to those schools stating that you have applied early but are retaking the MCAT and are confident that your scores will improve. just a thought..

with a 32N and a near 4.0, you are already competitive - if your ECs, research and LORs back you up, of course. if you are very confident that your MCAT will improve, rewrite. if not... i wouldnt do it. I'd probably just submit now with those stats.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Is that 3.95 an AMCAS GPA, or one of the those wacky Canadian wGPA's?

 

[darkraven]

lol, re: 'rewrite' - didn't think there would be such specificity with how i phrase things

my gpa is cumulative at around 3.95 - not exactly sure how they convert my grades, i have mainly A's/A+'s with a couple A-'s

thanks anthony, i think i'll probably do that then ...