Can I turn in my app w/out MCATs and still be reviewed?

[instigata]

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Hi all. I am taking the MCATs this summer and as the title says, can I turn in my application (with transcripts) to AMCAS before I take my MCATs and still be reviewed by medical schools? I am asking this because I want to study for the MCATs all summer, finish them in August, then work on my PS from August to September (when school starts), which results in me turning in my application a little later. Or should I just turn it in early because it will increase my chances of getting in? THANKS!

 

[Carmenita79]

Schools don't look at your application until it is complete (w/ MCAT), but you can still get your secondaries done before the MCAT scores come back if you turn it in early.

 

[instigata]

Schools don't look at your application until it is complete (w/ MCAT), but you can still get your secondaries done before the MCAT scores come back if you turn it in early.

Carmenita, thanks for your response. But I don't understand, don't most schools require the MCAT before they send out secondaries?

 

[Amy B]

Some schools will set aside yoru application and wait for your MCAT scores. But this is better than waiting till you get the scores and then applying. The schools will have everything they need and you will get a much quicker decision usually.

Some schools do not wait for the scores to send you a secondary. There are alot of schools that dont screen and will send secondaries to all applicants. Still others will look at your partial application, like what they see so far, and send you a secondary. It really depends on the schoools. But you shoudl always apply early and NOT wait until you take the MCAT.
Good luck

 

[Taurus]

They'll automatically send you a secondary because...surprise, surprise, they want your money!

 

[instigata]

Haha anything for the dinero huh?

 

[lsumedgirl]

Hi all. I am taking the MCATs this summer and as the title says, can I turn in my application (with transcripts) to AMCAS before I take my MCATs and still be reviewed by medical schools? I am asking this because I want to study for the MCATs all summer, finish them in August, then work on my PS from August to September (when school starts), which results in me turning in my application a little later. Or should I just turn it in early because it will increase my chances of getting in? THANKS!

What you may want to do is talk to someone in the admissions offices in the schools that you're applying to. Make them aware of your situation and see what their advice is. It may be different for different schools.

For examples, my MCAT score expires this year, so I have to take in again it August for my application. But I've been working closely with several people at my top-choice school (where I also happen to work at the hospital), and I was advised to go ahead and turn in my application asap, then meet with the dean of admissions (who I feel like I've met with 100 times!). I was told to explain that I'm just waiting on a new, valid MCAT, and they would go ahead and let me turn in my secondary app.

Good luck to you!