Applying without MCAT Score

[TompaBae]

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I just want to make sure I have the details correct here, so I was wondering if someone could confirm this timeline.
Let's say I take the MCAT late May.
I send a primary in the middle of June to my state school.
This would result in being verified mid July (approximately).
If I then decide to apply to more schools with my MCAT score, how fast would my primary get approved and secondary sent at these new schools? If I have my secondaries pre-written, could I potentially send everything in by the end of July?

 

[JimKimSlim]

Yes, They’ll receive your primary immediately after the verification. For secondaries you need to wait for the schools to send you the link.

 

[KnightDoc]

I just want to make sure I have the details correct here, so I was wondering if someone could confirm this timeline.
Let's say I take the MCAT late May.
I send a primary in the middle of June to my state school.
This would result in being verified mid July (approximately).
If I then decide to apply to more schools with my MCAT score, how fast would my primary get approved and secondary sent at these new schools? If I have my secondaries pre-written, could I potentially send everything in by the end of July?

The timing on your primary being verified (not approved ) is related solely to how many transcripts you are submitting and what the queue looks like when you submit. The verification involves making sure every class and grade you enter on the primary exactly maps to an official transcript submitted by each post-secondary school you ever took a class at. Nothing else is verified by AMCAS.

If you don't submit pretty much immediately as soon as the application opens for submission, the verification queue builds pretty fast to around 4-6 weeks. With the cluster-blank this year, I think it stretched out to maybe 2 months at its height, but that was an aberration. Verification can go a little faster if you only have one transcript, and it looks like it increases a little for each additional one. In short, your guesstimate is good +/- 2 weeks, depending on precisely when you submit and what this year's applications look like.

Once you are verified, there are no further primary delays. Additional schools you add are transmitted the next business day. Even if you pre-write secondaries, you cannot submit them until the school sends them to you. Some will do so immediately once they receive your primary, but others will take time in order to manage their work flow, and still others will pre-screen you, and not send to you until that is complete, or maybe not at all.

Finally, you don't want to send the primary to your state school, because if your MCAT ends up sucking, you don't want that application hanging out there (unless, of course, you are not going to apply to your state school for some reason, which is never recommended!). If you are going to submit a primary without a MCAT score, you want to send it to a school you have ZERO interest in, which is why it is referred to as a "throwaway school." It's an application you will literally be throwing away and not be completing by submitting a secondary. It's only purpose is to get you in the verification queue without a MCAT score, in order to minimize or eliminate verification delays once you have your score.

 

[TompaBae]

Some will do so immediately once they receive your primary, but others will take time in order to manage their work flow, and still others will pre-screen you, and not send to you until that is complete, or maybe not at all.

With regards to this, some schools won't send the secondary at all even though I send a primary with MCAT score?

 

[KnightDoc]

With regards to this, some schools won't send the secondary at all even though I send a primary with MCAT score?

Believe it or not, yes. And, believe it or not, they are doing you a favor.

Some schools that don't pre-screen will take your money and know almost immediately that you are going no further in their process. Schools that screen you out pre-secondary are at least saving you the money (secondaries cost significantly more than primaries at most schools) and letting you know where you stand right away.

Just read these forums. There are a LOT of people whose applications were marked complete in July and August who have not heard a peep from some schools since then. Some people will NEVER hear anything from some schools, after writing essays and paying fees in good faith. Others will hear nothing at all until they receive a rejection at the very end of the cycle. If it turns out I have no chance to receive an interview, I'd much rather know up front, before I spend money on secondaries. Unfortunately, most schools will happily take your money and ghost you, but there a few that pre-screen. Those that do tell you on their websites, and on MSAR.

 

[TompaBae]

Believe it or not, yes. And, believe it or not, they are doing you a favor.

Some schools that don't pre-screen will take your money and know almost immediately that you are going no further in their process. Schools that screen you out pre-secondary are at least saving you the money (secondaries cost significantly more than primaries at most schools) and letting you know where you stand right away.

Just read these forums. There are a LOT of people whose applications were marked complete in July and August who have not heard a peep from some schools since then. Some people will NEVER hear anything from some schools, after writing essays and paying fees in good faith. Others will hear nothing at all until they receive a rejection at the very end of the cycle. If it turns out I have no chance to receive an interview, I'd much rather know up front, before I spend money on secondaries. Unfortunately, most schools will happily take your money and ghost you, but there a few that pre-screen. Those that do tell you on their websites, and on MSAR.

Gotcha. Thanks for helping me out!