Medical Can you clarify what the January MCAT deadline means?

[MusicDOc124]

Hello,

Why do medical schools rule out an MCAT result just because of the month that it was taken? I understand scores can expire, but that takes much longer. Besides the fact that many students take the MCAT a summer in advance of their application. For example, here MU-COM specifically rules out the January MCAT, but say nothing about MCAT's before/after the month of January. This slightly affects my MCAT preparations and plans on scheduling.

"Applicants must submit scores from the MCAT. MU-COM does not accept the January 2020 MCAT for the 2020 application cycle. A complete application includes: AACOMAS application, supplemental application and fee, MCAT score, letters of recommendation and certification. MCAT scores are accepted for up to three years prior to the date of matriculation. The minimum MCAT score accepted is a 491." - MU-COM

Admission to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program | Marian University

Marian University is a distinguished Midwestern college, located in Indianapolis, IN that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of fields.

www.marian.edu

I think you are misinterpreting. It's not that they won't accept a January MCAT, it's that it's essentially a deadline. If you take the Jan MCAT, it's fine if you use it that year for an app cycle (read 2020-2021 cycle), but a Jan 2020 MCAT is simply past their deadline for the 2019-2020 cycle. This is clearly stated in the link you listed.

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[MusicDOc124]

So this is for students that submit an application but hold off on submitting their MCAT results? Thank you for the clarification. I was believing that the January 2020 MCAT would not work for the application cycle for the 2020-2021 school year, as you suggested.

It's saying that for that school, if you want to start medical school there in 2020, to apply you must have taken the MCAT prior to 2020. If you take the MCAT in 2020, for that school, they will not consider you for 2020 matriculation, but you can use said January 2020 MCAT to APPLY in 2020 (2020-2021 cycle) for matriculation in 2021.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yes, I agree with @MusicDOc124 that you are completely misinterpreting the intention of this MCAT stipulation. First of all, understand that this is a rolling admissions process with those with completed applications earliest getting best consideration. I would suspect that even at DO schools, about half of the applications are received within the first few weeks of the opening of the cycle, and remember offers begin to be extended in the fall. Waiting until January to retest already puts your file at a disadvantage since most admissions processes will have enough desirable candidates to send interview invitations to fill up the remaining spots they may have to account for.

Does taking your MCAT in January adversely affect your intention to apply in a couple of months? Absolutely. Does the stipulation to applicants that the latest test they will consider must be taken before December of the calendar year of your application change this? No it does not. So you can choose to buckle down and get your best possible score, then choose your schools wisely for an application the following year, or you can try to rush everything and get a less than desirable score (possibly) and throw bad money out trying to just get accepted somewhere.

Part of the success of applying to medical schools involves long-term, strategic thinking about your application and its chances for consideration. Many applicants have been screened out due to an inability to demonstrate this executive functioning skill which is valuable for your future success.