I will probably be the only relaxed person writing comments for 2009 as I've already gone through the process and ended up deferring for a year (my husband was diagnosed with Non-hodgkins Lymphoma in January - quite a shocking experience). But I figured if I have any experience, or, uh, knowledge to dispense and somehow help anyone out there, I am here to serve...cause I'm over this hurdle!!
With regard to the MCAT: it sucks, life is hard for everyone and there is no one perfect way to study for it. I took it in May, and then again in August. For those of you taking it for the first time in August, please be warned that that is really late in the process - and not to be a Debbie Downer, but what are you going to do if you don't do well? I didn't plan to be sick for my MCAT, but I literally ran out during the writing section and retched!! It was all I could do to sit there and finish the exam! But that said, it certainly is not the end of the world if you won't have your results until September - just make sure everything else on your application is ready to go.
If you haven't already done so, get your LORs NOW!!! Get your transcript requests sent in. These things bog down the process, and you want time on your side!
As far as review, I took the Kaplan classroom course. The class portion sucked, but the on-line stuff is incredible. If you can stay dedicated and work on several quizzes of on-line stuff everyday, I think that is a great way to go. I increased my MCAT by 5 points (puking and all!) by using ONLY the ExamKrackers products. I loaded the Audio Osmosis cds in the old iPod, listened to it while running, driving, whatever... read the books and most importantly, practice questions, practice questions, practice questions. Their 1001 question books are really useful and will provide more questions than you'll ever have time to answer.
Someone asked about submitting their app with a low MCAT that they are planning to retake. I would go ahead and submit, but keep in mind that it takes the schools 3-4 weeks AFTER your scores are released, to get their systems updated with your new score. You can always call or email, respectfully mind you, to see if they've received your new scores. With an 18, you will be put on hold automatically. You may even receive one, or a few, flat out rejections. Don't let that deter you as you can ask them to reopen your file once the new scores are available. I had this happen with Touro-NY and it was not a big deal.
Once you receive your secondaries, GET ON IT!!! Get everything done ASAP. Don't sit around and wait. Don't get caught up in the current semester's classes, you have to set aside time to get your apps done. You will be so happy you did, especially when it is March 2009 and you are reading other people's posts on, "should I apply late?" "I haven't heard back yet..." "is anyone else interviewing late?" You'll be sitting back and enjoying the show at that point. I interviewed and was accepted to 7 DO schools, everything was said and done by December - and I wasn't as on top of the apps as I could have been. There are many who receive acceptances in September and are a done deal by october!!
I suppose I could go on and on... I am happy to respond to questions, if any should come along. Most importantly, there are very few of us that are cocky enough to think our crap is so together that we'll have an automatic acceptance. Most of your peers are questioning their decisions, whether they're good enough, how the MCAT will turn out, whether they'll get an interview....just as much as you are thinking those things. It sounds trite and cheesy, but chin up, believe in yourself and take a deep breath. I promise that this part of the hurdle will be over much sooner than you think (and yes, I do say PART, because if you thought getting in way difficult....).
Best of luck to everyone applying this year! I will see some of you at DMU in August 2009!
You guys make me laugh! In other news, finally done with classes and turning my attention to the MCAT. Hm, I should probably go over Chemistry today or something ... 7 days left for me - the count-down begins. What about everyone else? Who else is taking the MCAT this last part of May?
Some might say I took the easy way out but I was crushed when I got my MCAT scores back after studying so long for it and the school in the Carib didn't require the MCAT. I'm retaking it in August so I have about 2 more months to do practice tests and study, one of the mistakes I think I made the first time around was not doing any practice test and just studying the topics in the Kaplan book. Of course I have a different study regiment this time around so hopefully I'll do much better . I've started the AACOMAS application and I am looking for ways on how I can get in touch with a DO to shadow so I'm getting some things together and hopefully I'll get an acceptance somewhere. 
