Apply to one school to have my application verified? OR wait for MCAT score...

[vanasme]

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Hi all,

I took the MCAT 6/17 and felt less than pleased with my performance (I immediately signed up to re-take it). My practice scores were all over the place - the lowest was a 20 (embarrassing, I know) and my highest was a 33. It was wasn't a gradual progression either, my scores were schizophrenic. Needless to say, I'm very uncertain about my actual score and have waited to submit my AMCAS application until I know what my score is.

I know I can submit AMCAS to one school before I know my score so that my application can be verified, but I'm hesitant because if I completely bombed the MCAT, I don't want to have to withdraw my application and be a re-applicant next year.

If I decide to submit it this weekend to speed up the verification process (versus waiting until the 20th) would I be shooting myself in the foot if my MCAT score is awful? If I have to re-apply, would I only be a re-applicant to the one school I applied to, OR would I be tossed in the re-applicant pool for all of my applications? I've heard that it's slightly more difficult to be accepted as a re-applicant because you have to make quite a few revisions to your application so that ADCOMS see improvement. Consequently, I'm trying hard not to be a re-applicant. I think that the only thing that would hold back my application is my MCAT score. My GPA isn't phenomenal, but it's near the average matriculant so I'm not too worried. I also have pretty good extra-curriculars. I'd rather wait a year to apply than apply this year and potentially be a re-applicant next year.

I guess what I really need is a definition of "re-applicant." If I submit my application to one school, potentially a school I never intend on going to, and then withdraw, am I only a re-applicant to that one school? OR am I considered a re-applicant to ALL of the schools I apply to next year?

So, what's the verdict? Do I apply, even though I don't know my MCAT score and might have to withdraw my application this year if my MCAT is awful OR do I wait until I know my MCAT score to apply to avoid be a re-applicant.

Thanks in advance for any help!

P.S. If this needs to be moved to the re-applicant forum, feel free to move it.

P.P.S. I've been approved for FAP, so money isn't an issue this year in regards to determining whether or not to submit my application - I can apply to up to 14 schools for free.

 

[Mbeas]

I also took the 6/17 MCAT and I submitted like a week ago. My practice averages were consistent, but I didn't feel very good about the test (which apparently is semi-normal). So, it could end up being a complete mistake, but I'm obviously hoping for the best.

 

[vanasme]

Anyone else?! This is kind of time sensitive and I'd love any input I can get this weekend!

 

[Moosecakes]

I also took the 6/17 MCAT and I submitted like a week ago. My practice averages were consistent, but I didn't feel very good about the test (which apparently is semi-normal). So, it could end up being a complete mistake, but I'm obviously hoping for the best.

Make that VERY normal.
I have yet to hear of or see a single person post-MCAT, pre getting their scores back, who felt like they did spectacular.
On the other hand, ive seen tons and tons of people who were on the verge of voiding and end up with 30's and into the low 40's!

 

[loua0731]

I think as long as you submit your AMCAS, you will be considered a re-applicant if you apply next year.

When are your scores supposed to come back?

 

[dbeast]

First of all, you probably did fine on your MCAT.

Second, if you submit your AMCAS to any school, even if it's just one, you will be considered a "reapplicant" next year. However, there's also a question when you choose schools asking have you ever applied to *this* school before? Which you'd be able to answer no for all but the one you apply to... So I guess that's kind of a grey area. Regardless, if you're registered for another MCAT, then go ahead and submit your AMCAS to speed it up and then kick some butt on the next MCAT.

 

[vanasme]

I think as long as you submit your AMCAS, you will be considered a re-applicant if you apply next year.

When are your scores supposed to come back?

I'll know my score on the 20th of this month... so submitting now would only give me a 10 day "advantage." I'm just nervous that I need to "get in line" to have my application verified ASAP. All of my transcripts have been sent and received, so it's just up to me to hit the submit button. My school's committee won't write me a letter until they know my MCAT score, but it shouldn't take them more than two weeks to write the letter and I'm guessing it's going to take longer than that to be verified.

First of all, you probably did fine on your MCAT.

Second, if you submit your AMCAS to any school, even if it's just one, you will be considered a "reapplicant" next year. However, there's also a question when you choose schools asking have you ever applied to *this* school before? Which you'd be able to answer no for all but the one you apply to... So I guess that's kind of a grey area. Regardless, if you're registered for another MCAT, then go ahead and submit your AMCAS to speed it up and then kick some butt on the next MCAT.

I'm not registered to re-take the MCAT until the end of September (Long story short, it was the only time I could take it due to my work schedule). If I re-took it in the end of September, I think I'd be too late to apply this season, right? If I didn't do as well on my MCAT as I had hoped, I would wait until next year to apply (I think) to ensure that I'd be an early applicant.