August MCAT takers ... when submit AMCAS application?

[Dr. N]

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Hi SDNsts,
I am sure many people are in the same situation as I am: I am planning to take MCAT in August and have no idea when should I submit my application to AMCAS. I already finished it, but still trying to figure out if I should wait untill October to submit, or just go ahead and do it now.
If I submit it now and don't do great on MCAT then --- I wasted my money. If I don't submit it now and do great on MCAT --- I wasted my time (I know that application processing takes time). So what did you do, if you were in same situation as I?

 

[Jason110]

Hi SDNsts,
I am sure many people are in the same situation as I am: I am planning to take MCAT in August and have no idea when should I submit my application to AMCAS. I already finished it, but still trying to figure out if I should wait untill October to submit, or just go ahead and do it now.
If I submit it now and don't do great on MCAT then --- I wasted my money. If I don't submit it now and do great on MCAT --- I wasted my time (I know that application processing takes time). So what did you do, if you were in same situation as I?

I'd say it's your call, but if you were intent on getting in this year you must apply as soon as possible. If you want to be in medical school come next fall, you need to submit your AMCAS preferably this summer. I'm sure there are some schools where you apply to regardless of your MCAT score, so start by applying there. Fill out those secondaries before your MCAT and be sure to reiterate that you are taking the August MCAT.

Jason

 

[Twitch]

Go ahead and submit it now since you've already finished the app. This is going to make sure there are no last minute suprises and everything is in order with your app.

On the issue of waiting - the schools are going to see your MCAT score from August even if you wait till next cycle. The yardstick most people here use is AAMC 7 - if you're within in the ball park score range that is acceptable - go for it.

Good Luck
-Y_Marker

 

[Alexander99]

Hi SDNsts,
I am sure many people are in the same situation as I am: I am planning to take MCAT in August and have no idea when should I submit my application to AMCAS. I already finished it, but still trying to figure out if I should wait untill October to submit, or just go ahead and do it now.
If I submit it now and don't do great on MCAT then --- I wasted my money. If I don't submit it now and do great on MCAT --- I wasted my time (I know that application processing takes time). So what did you do, if you were in same situation as I?

Why don't you submit it now and apply only to a few or even 1 school. If you end up doing badly, then you won't have wasted as much money. If you end up doing great, just add a whole bunch of schools (since your application will be complete, it'll only take a week before the new schools get your application.)

 

[Dr. N]

I'd say it's your call, but if you were intent on getting in this year you must apply as soon as possible. If you want to be in medical school come next fall, you need to submit your AMCAS preferably this summer. I'm sure there are some schools where you apply to regardless of your MCAT score, so start by applying there. Fill out those secondaries before your MCAT and be sure to reiterate that you are taking the August MCAT.

Jason

But I was told by premed advisor that my application will not be send to schools until my MCAT score released (October 15), so how would I fill out the secondaries?

 

[Jason110]

But I was told by premed advisor that my application will not be send to schools until my MCAT score released (October 15), so how would I fill out the secondaries?

I don't think that's true. I think schools will get the AMCAS even without the MCAT score. Anybody have any experience with this?

Jason

 

[Alexander99]

But I was told by premed advisor that my application will not be send to schools until my MCAT score released (October 15), so how would I fill out the secondaries?

Lots of places give you secondaries without MCAT scores (automatic secondaries). The UCs would be the main exceptions.

 

[Dr. N]

Why don't you submit it now and apply only to a few or even 1 school. If you end up doing badly, then you won't have wasted as much money. If you end up doing great, just add a whole bunch of schools (since your application will be complete, it'll only take a week before the new schools get your application.)

so you saying that I can add new schools any time to my application?

 

[Jason110]

so you saying that I can add new schools any time to my application?

Yup. You can always add, but never delete.

PS: Watch out for those pesky AMCAS deadlines, however.

Jason

 

[Jessiemmc]

I am taking the August MCAT also. I already submitted AMCAS and have received 3 secondaries so far. Some schools don't screen so you'll start getting them as soon as AMCAS is verified.

 

[Scubadoc]

me too...i haven't taken the mcat yet, will take it in august. i have already received and submitted a few secondaries. i figure this way all they will be waiting on is my mcat score in october and everything else will be complete.

 

[discusdan]

I am in the same boat. Did not do as well as I had expected in April and am taking the August MCAT. I have received 6 secondaries and have already submitted one of them. I have had numerous medical school students and my Pre- Med advisor recommend applying early even if you are taking the August MCAT. You are taking a risk spending the money early and not knowing what your scores will be but this far into the game I figure that if you dont want to wait another year it is worth it to submit now.

 

[Dr. N]

Well, thanks everybody, all your comments are very helpful.!!!!!

I am in the same boat. Did not do as well as I had expected in April and am taking the August MCAT. I have received 6 secondaries and have already submitted one of them. I have had numerous medical school students and my Pre- Med advisor recommend applying early even if you are taking the August MCAT. You are taking a risk spending the money early and not knowing what your scores will be but this far into the game I figure that if you dont want to wait another year it is worth it to submit now.

 

[brynn7]

so i am worried about having applied to schools that have an oct 15th deadline. will my application be considered incomplete until they get my august mcat scores, even though i have scores from april. if august mcat scores don't come out until oct 16th or something will they toss my application even though its already verified right now.

 

[abeybaby]

I submitted mine even though I am retaking the MCAT in August, but I thought that I should warn you that it has been very time consuming writing the secondaries, studying for the mcat, and oh I am taking genetics over the summer too! I dont know if I am spending my time wisely but what can I do? I am not sure of the exact turn around between submitting your application and receiving secondaries but maybe somehow you could time it so that your application gets in very soon but yet you wont be receiving too many secondaries until after you have taken the MCAT. Good Luck!

 

[Dr. N]

Yup. You can always add, but never delete.

PS: Watch out for those pesky AMCAS deadlines, however.

Jason

Does it mean that I will have to submit my whole application again with new schools added? or I just add schools and pay $30 for each added?

 

[LiNk]

I am not sure of the exact turn around between submitting your application and receiving secondaries but maybe somehow you could time it so that your application gets in very soon but yet you wont be receiving too many secondaries until after you have taken the MCAT. Good Luck!

What's the deal with deadlines for secondaries? I am taking the august mcat also... could I wait until after the mcat to fill out the secondaries? The pre-med com. at my school won't write me a letter until they receive my scores (october). If I get secondaries before then, I wouldn't have my LORS until october, so the secondaries would have to wait right?
HELP! 😱

 

[MsEvolution]

I'm taking in August and I've sent in my application (hit the send button on July 2nd). I agree it's probably going to hurt me that I didn't take the MCAT in April... but I'm already 34... I figure I don't have the luxury of time to wait for the next application cycle.

I'm going to do my absolute best on the MCAT. If I bomb it, I'll take it again in April and do this all one more time.

But, in the meantime, I can't afford NOT to apply...

 

[gaf]

Does it mean that I will have to submit my whole application again with new schools added? or I just add schools and pay $30 for each added?

You "re-submit" it. You don't have to re-enter data and they don't "re-verify."

 

[Dr. N]

You "re-submit" it. You don't have to re-enter data and they don't "re-verify."

well here what they say in 2005 instructions:
Designating Additional Schools
To designate additional schools once you have submitted your application to AMCAS, you must re-enter your AMCAS application, select the additional schools you wish to designate, and re-certify and re-submit your application to AMCAS. You must re-certify and re-submit your application with the additionally designated schools by the stated deadlines of the schools you wish to add. Deadlines differ for different Program types.


so they say re-enter --- does it mean you physically have to reenter whole application again?