Debating on MCAT date

[SmallTownUSA]

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I am currently debating on if I am going to take my MCAT at the end of May or the end of June. This semester I am taking 17 credits (yes I know not smart with the MCAT at the end) and I am studying as much as possible but I just don't feel I will do as well in May as I will in June. So, I am not 100% sure on this but I have gotten the impression that you can submit your application without your score if you plan to take it later and your application would still start to be processed. So my question is how much is it going to hurt me to take the June vs. May MCAT? Thank you in advance.

 

[sinombre]

Well, how well are you doing on the AAMC practice tests? I would take it in May if you're doing well enough... taking it at the end of June means you won't get your scores until almost the end of July/early August. Applying as early as possible is pretty important in this process, unless you're a hyper-competitive applicant. And even then it still helps.

 

[DokterMom]

You can absolutely apply without your scores to get the ball rolling. Figure out what kind of score you expect based on your practice tests and decide where you would apply if you did below your average, about your average, and somewhat above your average.

Apply to all of your 'average' schools and anywhere you would apply to no matter what (state) -- Then add more at the top or bottom once you find out your scores.

 

[dgsilvervid]

I agree, if you are doing well enough take the MCAT as early as you can, applying early and having everything complete when the application season begins helps a ton from my experience.

 

[SmallTownUSA]

Thanks, I am going to do a practice test this weekend hopefully and maybe wait a few weeks to decide but it has been a year since I have taken physics and it is really sucking trying to remember it. Also I know my best friend who I have known since kindergarten is going to be taking the June date which would make me feel more comfortable going with someone I know. But I think I will give it a week or two and decide then. Thanks again for your input!

 

[sinombre]

Thanks, I am going to do a practice test this weekend hopefully and maybe wait a few weeks to decide but it has been a year since I have taken physics and it is really sucking trying to remember it. Also I know my best friend who I have known since kindergarten is going to be taking the June date which would make me feel more comfortable going with someone I know. But I think I will give it a week or two and decide then. Thanks again for your input!

If you really do take it that late, try to have everything else done as soon as you can.

e.g. submit your primary before you take it and pre-write most of your secondaries. Don't underestimate the importance of applying early in an extremely competitive and rolling process.

 

[SmallTownUSA]

If you really do take it that late, try to have everything else done as soon as you can.

e.g. submit your primary before you take it and pre-write most of your secondaries. Don't underestimate the importance of applying early in an extremely competitive and rolling process.

Thanks, I for sure will have already submitted my primary before then if I take the later MCAT, I am in a Pre-Med class where all we do is prep our applications. I really do not want to take the later one but I know I would do better with more time to study.

 

[yjj8817]

Do people still get into their top choices with June MCAT?

 

[image187]

may. you don't want to be late. if it sucks, you can always retake in june. you should do fine though, you have plenty time to study for it

 

[Elevencents]

If you don't feel ready, take it in June. It's not the end of the world to apply a month later. I've heard from several adcoms directly that the importance of applying as soon as the application opens is overstated. And they specifically referenced SDN.

 

[SmallTownUSA]

Thank you all for your advise. I still feel like I am in between a rock and a hard place: take May and probably not do amazing or Take in June and have my application waiting for my MCAT. My Pre-Med adviser said he didn't think it would hurt me too much at all but I am always skeptical. I just want to be able to do as well as possible.

 

[aiwe]

Honestly I think the "you must apply June 6th (or whatever the first day is this year)" is a bit overrated.

The problem with submitting your primary later is that as June progresses, the processing time takes longer and longer. Ie, submit June 6th, you'll have your primary processed by mid-June. Submit July 6th, and you won't have it done until August 6th if you're lucky. By then, schools have released secondaries, and other people have started turning those in. You will end up submitting August/September secondaries, and that puts you at a bit of a disadvantage.

But that won't happen to you, because you can submit your primary for processing before your MCAT scores are out. If you submit your primary for processing in June, it should be done early, and you will just be waiting on that MCAT score to be complete at various schools. It should release in July, and especially if you pre-write some secondaries, you should be just fine. You'll be complete by July/August at the latest. You won't be waiting to be processed until that time.

That said, if you decide to wait til June, make sure you use that time to ace the MCAT. I'm serious. I have plenty of friends who delayed to "study more" and regretted it. They either slacked off, or studied too much and burnt out at the end. Make that time count, if you choose that option.

 

[FactorX]

I am currently debating on if I am going to take my MCAT at the end of May or the end of June. This semester I am taking 17 credits (yes I know not smart with the MCAT at the end) and I am studying as much as possible but I just don't feel I will do as well in May as I will in June. So, I am not 100% sure on this but I have gotten the impression that you can submit your application without your score if you plan to take it later and your application would still start to be processed. So my question is how much is it going to hurt me to take the June vs. May MCAT? Thank you in advance.

From what I've seen this cycle, taking on either of those two dates doesn't make a difference, but 2-3 points of MCAT does make a big difference. Take it when you're ready most.