Did I ruin my chances?

[Spring888]

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I am applying to med school this cycle (to start 2012) but I am worried about my application being "late." I took the MCAT in March but I was not satisfied with my score and am retaking the test on July 6th. I am afraid that if I submit my application when I get my score, presumably August 6th, I'll be hurting my chances. I know there are other related posts but I couldn't find a clear answer as to what the best thing to do is in this situation. Does it make sense to apply without my score and add it later? 😕


Also, I did want to take the MCAT in June but I didn't think that it was worth it if I wasn't going to be prepared. I figured Id be better of applying later in the game if it meant that I had a more solid score...I hope I made the right decision.

 

[Whatyousay]

In before move to "What Are My Chances?"

It's impossible to comment on how the wait will affect your application without knowing a bit more about how you've done on the first MCAT, what your GPA is, and how your ECs look.

Applying late with a 4.0/30+ is different from applying late with a 3.0/27. In the former case, the stats are good enough to probably get an acceptance somewhere even at the latest date. In the latter case, the late application might end up getting the applicant rejected everywhere. Of course, it's still possible to get applying late with mediocre stats, but better to not take the risk.

 

[Tapepsi]

I think you made the right decision. You can still get your app verified and send out secondaries so that the only thing schools will be waiting on is your MCAT.

I didn't take my MCAT until August and I still had 2 acceptances (I may have gotten another but withdrew from waitlist before I found out).

 

[Spring888]

My first MCAT score was certainly not good enough (low 20s), but I am scoring much higher on my practice tests now so I am aiming for at least a 30. GPA is about 3.5. Im a non-traditional applicant. After college I spent a year doing lab research and a year doing clinical research, both at WashU Medical School in St. Louis. I was also published during that time. I shadowed and interned with a neurologist in NYC, among a number of other ECs.

 

[Spring888]

I think you made the right decision. You can still get your app verified and send out secondaries so that the only thing schools will be waiting on is your MCAT.

I didn't take my MCAT until August and I still had 2 acceptances (I may have gotten another but withdrew from waitlist before I found out).

How do I go about getting verified without my MCAT score?

 

[Whatyousay]

My first MCAT score was certainly not good enough (low 20s), but I am scoring much higher on my practice tests now so I am aiming for at least a 30. GPA is about 3.5. Im a non-traditional applicant. After college I spent a year doing lab research and a year doing clinical research, both at WashU Medical School in St. Louis. I was also published during that time. I shadowed and interned with a neurologist in NYC, among a number of other ECs.

Bumping an MCAT score from the low 20s to at least a 30 is worth the wait. A score in the low 20s is not competitive anywhere, but a 30 will at least cause adcoms to look over your application.

 

[TheRealAngeleno]

Hey Spring I'll be in the same situation as you. I'm taking my MCAT on July 6 and will submit my application before taking the test. If you want to play it safe, just add only one school and once you get your scores you can then add more.

 

[Tapepsi]

How do I go about getting verified without my MCAT score?

Just send it on the first day that you're allowed to (assuming it's complete). Just indicate on your app that you plan on taking another MCAT and list the specific date. I know it sounds bizarre, but you don't even need an MCAT score to get your app verified (assuming you are going to take it though).

 

[Astarael]

Just send it on the first day that you're allowed to (assuming it's complete). Just indicate on your app that you plan on taking another MCAT and list the specific date. I know it sounds bizarre, but you don't even need an MCAT score to get your app verified (assuming you are going to take it though).

This 👍

You can also submit to AMCAS with only one school listed and add other schools once you get your MCAT score (this will allow you to know which schools you'll be competitive at). If you add schools after you are verified, they get your application immediately (you don't have to wait to be verified twice).

 

[ceng2doc]

I think you made the right decision. You can still get your app verified and send out secondaries so that the only thing schools will be waiting on is your MCAT.

I didn't take my MCAT until August and I still had 2 acceptances (I may have gotten another but withdrew from waitlist before I found out).

I'm in the same boat, and will be taking the MCAT in August-6. I wish I could have taken it earlier, but as a non-trad applicant and having been working full-time to support my family, I had no other chance as an option.

Some "veteran" SDN members who have been giving advice to many others for years now here in SDN responded me that I'll be too late for this cycle (starting in June 2011) even with my high GPAs and strong ECs, and recommended to apply in next year in order to get that advantage of applying "early." They said that I'd be put into the "on-hold" list which is not good to be if I'll be applying in June without a score.

Which one do you think is a better decision to make:

1. apply all schools, which I'm planning to, in June and hold the secondary applications until scores have been released in September-7, or
2. apply just one school in June in order to get verified, and then add the others later when scores have been released in September-7. or
3. give up, wait for next year (although, I've everything already received by AMCAS to apply in this year, except for my MCAT scores that will be released in September-7.)

 

[courtnes]

How do I go about getting verified without my MCAT score?

Verification is just for your transcripts - they are matching the data you input versus your official transcript. Your application can proceed without your MCAT score, though schools will not look at it until they have a score for you.

Also, keep in mind that if you have a committee, your letters might not arrive until after that too. I know my program sent one round out 6/30 and another on 8/30.

Just do whatever you can as early as you can and you'll be fine. Some of this process is just out of your control, but getting your MCAT scores on 8/6 will not kill your app. Many places are just starting to look at applications then (an observation for last cycle on SDN - only a few schools are offering interviews in July or August already.)

 

[Rocher]

I didn't submit last year until September 6th and I still got interviews and an acceptance. I only applied to my state schools, however.