Applying Early Is Wayyy Overrated When You Rush the MCAT

[Rob C]

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[Kevin Baker]

Cool story bro. I only wish I had the heart to give terrible advice to applicants based on an anecdotal story. SDN needs a downvote button.

 

[JaggerPlate]

This is actually bad advice all around. I'm glad to hear it worked out for you, but like you said, many DO classes are already filling up QUICKLY by November/December, and just beginning to turn in your primary applications then simply puts you at a disadvantage in a pure numbers game. Most DO schools have an initial deposit due by December 15th, and this means that not only are classes filling by then, but many people have legitimately committed to the spots and your chances of obtaining one are decreased.

My guess is that you had good stats and hit a second wave of 'final' interviews during Jan/Feb (usually after some sort of Holiday break when they are filling up the final seats and preparing for the second deposit phase in Feb).

In general, it's just common sense to apply early. If you have something keeping you from applying - retaking the MCAT, waiting on a grade, etc, then sure ... it's fine to wait, but I'd still have everything ready and submit as soon as possible. Otherwise, it makes no sense to wait until you're competing for a smaller number of spots, an ever increasing waitlist, ADCOMS who have already interviewed hundreds of people before you, etc.

 

[Torr]

Cool story bro. I only wish I had the heart to give terrible advice to applicants based on an anecdotal story. SDN needs a downvote button.

👍

 

[aspiringOSTEO]

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[painmd87]

It's all about the odds. You have better odds of securing a seat by applying early when more seats are available. Those of us who advocate applying early are not suggesting that anyone rush the MCAT; that's asinine.

FWIW, I applied June 2, was verified June 4 (in 2 days, not the 6 weeks you experienced) and was offered an interview immediately after my secondary was received at LECOM. I was admitted and had the pick of my programs. Those interviewing now are at a disadvantage in that they may not get the pathway of their choice.

People will always get in when applying late; a good friend of mine submitted AACOMAS January 15 and did secondaries in February. She got multiple invites and acceptances. CAN it happen? Yes. Is it the BEST plan of action? Not for everyone.

Regardless, congrats on your Nova acceptance. You obviously did something right. The reason so many advise to apply early is because it offers you the greatest odds of success, unless of course you apply early and rush and blow your MCAT.

 

[Rob C]

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[dntke1518]

I would also agree with Jagger on this one... I applied late because I took the MCAT in August, and I am feeling the burn. After a couple late interviews, I am currently looking at re-applying for next year. Any flaw in your application WILL be noticed when there is a pool of accepted students before you. While AACOMAS may be able to verify your transcripts while you are waiting for your scores, your safest best is to be ready for the MCAT... Period. Get ready for it as early as you can and be ready to apply as early as you can.

 

[DbDan]

Thanks you and I completely agree with your conclusion about odds. I am only making my recommendation to those who are considering taking the MCAT without being fully prepared because they feel the pressure to get their application in early.

So where do you draw the line? Is someone who spent 3 months studying supposed to wait until they are comfortable 3 months further down the line? What if they are getting 25s, is a 27 3-6 months later better? Sure it worked out for you but here, let me tell you another anecodtal story.

I apply last year with almost identical stats and no change in MCAT score. I get 2 interviews. No acceptances. Both Interviews came almost right after secondary completion.

This year, I apply in mid June. Secondaries returned within 2 days of receiving them. 6 Interviews, an acceptance from a school i wanted to go to so I withdrew from most of the remaining. I'd say applying early makes a difference 🙄

Bottom line is this. Don't rush the MCAT but if the difference is going to be 1 or 2 points and your stats are borderline to begin with take the damn test, apply in June and you are going to have a much better shot than waiting.

 

[fiznat]

I delayed an early July MCAT for an early September MCAT because I felt I needed more study time. My MCAT score benefited and I think it helped my applications, but I really felt like my lateness put a lot of unnecessary pressure on me throughout the process. Things turned out OK for me, but really wished I applied earlier.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

I am worried now. My MCAT test date is on 06/16, so I won't be able to submit my primaries until late July.

Would that put me in the "late" category?

 

[fiznat]

would that put me in the "late" category?

I don't think so. My general impression is that applications aren't "late" as long as they happen in the summer time. Just minimize downtime by making sure everything else is ready by the time your MCAT score comes in, and consider the fact that if you have to retake it is going to set you back quite a bit.

 

[Bravetown]

Damn, if only I would have used a population of n=1 my research might have been published. F**K

Hey anybody know the df on a population of n=1 I'm a nerd

 

[SLC]

I am worried now. My MCAT test date is on 06/16, so I won't be able to submit my primaries until late July.

Would that put me in the "late" category?

I'm going to say no. There are schools who haven't even begun looking at interview invites in July. You should be just fine.

Anecdotally, I've got a similar story to Rob C. I was thinking to take the MCAT in May, apply in June etc; but an awesome EC opportunity came up and I wanted to do it. I posted about it here, and was advised (by some of the long term, highly respected members) to forgo the EC's and get the MCAT done and apply early. Elsewhere i was advised to do the EC activity (even though my EC's were stellar) I went with my gut, and away from the general wisdom of SDN to apply as early as possible.

Anyway I did the EC (2 month medical outreach mission on a US Navy hospital ship) it was awesome, and I have absolutely no regrets. I took a huge bag of MCAT study materials with me, but didn't get time to study more than an hour or two per week. I returned in September, took the MCAT two weeks later (with basically no preparation), submitted my AACOMAS in Oct when my scores came in (got a 30), and submitted my secondary's in Dec-Jan. I interviewed in Feb at my top choice, and was accepted. In my case, applying late was the right choice (or so it seems) because the summer EC trip was the focal point of my interview, pretty much all that was talked about actually.

But who's to say that it would be the same for anyone else? The general wisdom is to apply early, statistically speaking your chances are always better when the seats you're competing for are many compared to few. That's a fact regardless of "stats" or EC's.

I will admit, that until mid Feb when I started to see action on my apps, I had pretty much accepted and come to grips with the idea that I wasn't going to interview this cycle, much less be accepted. I attriuted it to lower than average GPA, and a late application.

I've since received a number of other interview invites, though I won't be attending any of them since I'm in at my #1 choice now. I'd be interviewing for waitlist spots anyway, and I can't imagine that the waitlist is a friendly place for people with legitimate underdog stats.

I guess that's a long winded way of saying that if you are going to apply late, you better have a really good reason, preferably one which will make your app much stronger than it would be if you applied early. And even then, the numbers are against you.

 

[Rob C]

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[cbrons]

Cool story bro. I only wish I had the heart to give terrible advice to applicants based on an anecdotal story. SDN needs a downvote button.

Lol... This is really awful advice. Premeds ignore this post. Obviously get enough study time to do well on the MCAT but dont think the delay wont negatively impact your chances.

 

[TornadoChaser]

I'm just wondering, if I take the MCAT immediately after completing my pre-reqs (will be finishing Physics II & O-Chem II, Bio II done a semester prior), do I really need to spend a lot of time studying? Maybe just do some practice tests, and spend a little time on VR? Depending on what I decide, those could be the only two classes I'll have next spring, so I could still have some time available to study if need be.

 

[SLC]

I'm just wondering, if I take the MCAT immediately after completing my pre-reqs (will be finishing Physics II & O-Chem II, Bio II done a semester prior), do I really need to spend a lot of time studying? Maybe just do some practice tests, and spend a little time on VR? Depending on what I decide, those could be the only two classes I'll have next spring, so I could still have some time available to study if need be.

Depends on how comfortable you are with the material. Also, how you are performing in AAMC practice tests. If you're comfortable, and are scoring well then maybe you can take it ASAP. I'd hate to say what you should or shouldn't do, only you know that answer. But this is how I did it (finished Pre-reqs studied a week or two, took the test and did well).

It can be done, but it's certainly risky.

 

[NurWollen]

I'm just wondering, if I take the MCAT immediately after completing my pre-reqs (will be finishing Physics II & O-Chem II, Bio II done a semester prior), do I really need to spend a lot of time studying? Maybe just do some practice tests, and spend a little time on VR? Depending on what I decide, those could be the only two classes I'll have next spring, so I could still have some time available to study if need be.

A friend of mine did this, but had about three weeks in between the end of the semester and taking it, during which he studied full time. He then smoked the MCAT. Of course, he also had never gotten any grade other than an A... not even an A-.

 

[shushumiga]

A friend of mine did this, but had about three weeks in between the end of the semester and taking it, during which he studied full time. He then smoked the MCAT. Of course, he also had never gotten any grade other than an A... not even an A-.

If your friend never gotten any grade other than an A...why he/she even bothered studying full time for the MCAT😕 There was no need to do it IMO.

 

[MedIsInMyBlood]

Good question. In your case applying early and being a second year applicant may have made the difference. I would say if you have the option of applying with a 24-25 in June or applying with a 28-30 in October, I would say the latter. Although, it sounds like plenty of people would disagree with me.

I would definitely agree with that.

 

[MightyMoose]

I would definitely agree with that.

I agree with that point as well. What the OP fails to mention in his/her original post is that the application season is very stats dependent. If you have good/great stats you can apply later, but if you don't then you better apply ASAP.

The key to applying early is not to rush your MCAT, I would thing most people will tell you this is a bad idea regardless of your timeline. If you already have your MCAT score, apply early (I mean why wouldn't you?). You should never rush your MCAT to apply early, unless you are confident your scores are within your optimal range (differs by the person).

Applying early helps EVERYONE, but is not necessary for everyone. If you happen to have great stats and you get your MCAT back in Sept/Oct then sure, throw your application out there and you will likely get plenty of interviews, however, if you are borderline, or on the low end of stats, you should absolutely be applying early.

The take home point is that even if you are a competitive applicant, you are still likely to have a better, more productive, season if you apply early. There is no way anyone can argue against this.

 

[TornadoChaser]

A friend of mine did this, but had about three weeks in between the end of the semester and taking it, during which he studied full time. He then smoked the MCAT. Of course, he also had never gotten any grade other than an A... not even an A-.

I'm pretty confident that none of my pre-req classes will be anything less than an A. Okay, this makes me feel pretty good about the MCAT! I have always been a good test taker, too. Thanks!

 

[Rob C]

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[fiznat]

The MCAT is different from the pre-reqs.

Second this. Scoring well on the MCAT is about learning how to play the MCAT game. Knowing the science is part of it, but not as big a part as people seem to think before they start taking practice tests. I would say the MCAT tested me on about 10% of the actual science material that I learned in class.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

The below information is summary that I received previously from the associate director of application services for AACOMAS

It is a common misperception that you cannot submit an application without your MCAT completed. In the MCAT section of the AACOMAS application, the applicant has the option to choose whether they have "taken" or "planned" to take a MCAT. You can self-report the scores or you will note month and year you plan to take the MCAT. The application will be processed by AACOMAS and sent off to the COMs for their review.

As soon as you receive and transmit your MCAT score via the THx system, it will automatically update the AACOMAS application and sent electronically to the COMs you applied to.

The worst thing an applicant can do is not submit their AACOMAS application because they are "waiting on something" This will hold up processing.

If I submit my application prior to taking the MCAT, will AACOMAS verify my grades right away?

If that's the case, then by submitting my application early, I would be shaving a large amount of time that needed for verification while I am awaiting for my MCAT results.

 

[Rob C]

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[Postictal Raiden]

Absolutely. Do not wait to submit your application, even though you haven't taken or received your MCAT grades.

Yes, that is exactly right. Once you get your score, you can electronically transmit it to AACOMAS and it updates the next day.

Thank you very much.

 

[TornadoChaser]

The MCAT is different from the pre-reqs. The science sections are not purely informational. You have to be able to think critically about passage that you read and you have to be able to do it fast. The time pressure is one of the most difficult thing about the MCAT. If you can do this with science already great. However, you still need to turn a good VR score. For me, VR was the hardest section. In the beginning, I could only finish 5 out of the 7 passages in the 1 hour time limit. You cannot be successful on VR if you cannot finish all 7 passages in an hour. It took me several months of practice to be able to do this.

Take a practice test to see where you are. There is a free one that you can take on the site where you register for the MCAT.

Yeah, I will definitely do a lot of practice tests, whether I need to study material or not. I don't anticipate having much trouble with the VR section, but we'll see when I do those practice tests.

Oh yeah, and at least in my biology class right now most of the test questions our professor creates require you to think critically, not just memorize definitions. My aim is to learn the material, not just get an A.

 

[KaplanSam]

Yeah, I will definitely do a lot of practice tests, whether I need to study material or not. I don't anticipate having much trouble with the VR section, but we'll see when I do those practice tests.

Oh yeah, and at least in my biology class right now most of the test questions our professor creates require you to think critically, not just memorize definitions. My aim is to learn the material, not just get an A.

We always tell our students that the exam tests you on Content, Critical Thinking, Confidence, and familiarity with a Computer-Based Test. You have to have a fund of knowledge in the sciences, apply your knowledge to strangely-presented material (passages), and do it all on the computer while being timed (confidence). If you can do all that, you're almost always rewarding with a high score. If you have an area in one or more areas, then you'll find yourself below your target score.

I definitely agree with the posters who recommended practice tests, that a vital part of the test prep! 😀