August MCAT issues: Apply late in the cycle? Or put it off until next year?

[JulianaW]

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I was originally planning to take the MCAT in August and send in the scores in ASAP to complete my application. However, I have been talking to the pre-med advisor at my school and he tells me I should wait until next year to apply so that I won't be so late in the cycle with my apps.

What do you guys think? One one hand, this makes sense, but on the other, I am already going to be out of school for a whole year before med school as is; if I wait till next year, I will be out 2 years before I get in. My advisor literally laughed when I asked him about this, so again, he obviously doesn't think it's an issue.

Also, is reapplying really that bad? I mean, yes it would suck but according to the pre-health people at my school, schools that you've already applied to often won't even look at your app if you've already applied.

On the flip side, waiting for another year would be good experience-wise. I have a great job at the hospital lined up and I would have tons of volunteer/ clinical hours by the time I applied next year.

 

[JulianaW]

Anyone?? Please. I need some advice here.

 

[chibrown01]

Study now and Take the July mcat. Your application won't be too late if you make sure you have your transcripts and letters in by the end of June. July test scores come out in august. If u look on sen you will find secondary essays. Start these essays while you are waiting for scores. So once you get secondary apps, you can submit them in a day or 2.

 

[foofish]

Personally, I would wait. Rule of thumb is that you want your application to be complete and verified by August at the latest, so taking the MCAT in August would have you verified sometime around Octoberish (I think?). Interviews are handed out on a rolling basis (even at "nonrolling" schools), which is why you need to apply early...by October a fair number of interview spots are already gone and the competition is fiercer for those remaining spots. If I were in your position, I would take the extra year...that gives you time to study and rock the MCAT and improve your app with research/clinical experience/etc. Since it's been a few years since you've done any of the premed courses, I wouldn't rush into taking the MCAT before you're truly ready.

In terms of why reapplying can be bad, there certainly is a stigma at some (but not all) schools...but if anything, it's a very expensive, soul-sucking experience that you only want to have to do once if possible. Yes, plenty of people get in as reapplicants, but it's definitely tougher. The rejection rate for all-comers is something like 56% now, so you really want to apply with the best application possible.

About being concerned about starting "late" at age 25, the reason your advisor laughed was probably because the average age of med school matriculants is 24-25, making you perfectly normal. (Per the AAMC applicant/matriculant data online.) It's becoming the norm to take time off before medical school (thus the average age of 25 for starting med school), which is probably why he's also not very concerned about a two-year gap. As long as you're doing something to improve your application and continue to explore medicine (which it sounds like you are), you should be fine. 😉

 

[drizzt3117]

I'd wait a year...