applying this cycle

[LostStudent1]

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Quick question, I want to apply to med school for this upcoming cycle. I took my mcat once, low score, so I am retaking it again in early July. In terms of the application process, is this bad seeing how I will get my scores back in August? What are my options right now? Would it be OK if I submit my primaries first with my low score and resend in my updated MCAT score in August? I don't know what my best option should be, because I've been getting mixed answers from people. Help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[red doctober]

My suggestion if you're going to apply this year is to only send your primary to one school before you get your 2nd MCAT score back. That way you can choose schools based on your second score and you don't run the risk of schools screening your primary app before the second score is in. Once you get your score back you can send your primary to other schools without the lengthy processing time.

 

[prado]

^ agreed.

Unless you really want to take a year off to do something out of the ordinary, I'd apply this year. Receiving your mcat score in early August, while not ideal, is still ample time to get some interviews assuming your score is decent, your app has been verified, and your secondaries are on standby!

Good luck with your medical school goals in 2013 👍

 

[mirimonster]

If I remember correctly, there is a hold for new MCAT option on the primary. That allows you to submit and get verified, but they don't transfer your info until your new score is in so you don't get auto-screened by your old score. I agree with the above post about applying to only 1 school to let the verification process start and then adding the other schools once your new score is in. Make sure you Pre-write all your secondaries so you can turn them around super quick once your MCAT score is in. If you do that, you won't end up too far behind, and you may even catch up to some of those people who submitted day 1. You can find the prompts in the school-specific threads. The ones from last cycle are already up, and most don't change much from year to year.

 

[Ehwic]

If I remember correctly, there is a hold for new MCAT option on the primary. That allows you to submit and get verified, but they don't transfer your info until your new score is in so you don't get auto-screened by your old score. I agree with the above post about applying to only 1 school to let the verification process start and then adding the other schools once your new score is in. Make sure you Pre-write all your secondaries so you can turn them around super quick once your MCAT score is in. If you do that, you won't end up too far behind, and you may even catch up to some of those people who submitted day 1. You can find the prompts in the school-specific threads. The ones from last cycle are already up, and most don't change much from year to year.

Wait I thought secondaries were all different for each schools?

 

[prado]

Wait I thought secondaries were all different for each schools?

They are different for each school (well, actually copy + paste will become your new best friend) but they rarely change year to year. So if you look at the secondary of the school from last year, chances are it will either be the same or very similar to the new one this year.

 

[BABSstudent]

They are different for each school (well, actually copy + paste will become your new best friend) but they rarely change year to year. So if you look at the secondary of the school from last year, chances are it will either be the same or very similar to the new one this year.

Yep, plus the new essays will be posted in the school specific threads when the app season opens and you can pre write them then.