Difficulty of this cycle vs next

[Phile98]

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Since there's just so many delays with MCAT and getting in hours, will this cycle starting in June/July be relatively easier? Furthermore, since more people will probably wait to apply next cycle, will it be relatively harder?

 

[Microbe_Hunter]

also curious about this

 

[KnightDoc]

Since there's just so many delays with MCAT and getting in hours, will this cycle starting in June/July be relatively easier? Furthermore, since more people will probably wait to apply next cycle, will it be relatively harder?

I'm no expert, just another pre-med with an opinion, but I DID predict that AAMC would make accommodations to replace cancelled test dates and that schools would work with us to avoid rendering 15,000+ candidates unable to apply this year (to near universal criticism at the time from multiple adcoms who helpfully pointed out that med school admissions are a seller's market, and the schools would be just fine without everyone who would be knocked out by cancelled MCATs), so maybe I'm not totally clueless! 🙂

I don't think the cycle will be meaningfully more or less difficult than normal. The rescheduled, shortened MCAT, and schools' announcing that they will review applications without MCAT scores (with scores to follow) will allow everyone who wants to apply this year to apply. Schools have also started to indicate that they will push the cycle back a little, and AMCAS announced they will delay the first transmission of applications to the schools by two weeks, to reduce pressure on us to get applications in early, and probably also to give delayed MCAT score reporting a chance to catch up to the applications.

The relatively few candidates who are pushing back a year due to lost EC hours this spring and summer will be stronger candidates next year, and would have been relatively weak this year if those last minute hours would otherwise have been so significant for them. For everyone who delays for a year, it is possible someone else will accelerate a year thinking this year will be easier. I think it will be a wash. JMHO.

 

[Seihai]

No one knows how this cycle/next cycle will be impacted. Many people applying this cycle may not have even taken the MCAT yet, and those that are taking the MCAT may decide to apply next cycle instead. Every response to this would fundamentally be pure speculation unless it were coming from an actual adcom who knows how their school will react (which is unlikely considering no applications have even gone out).

 

[Goro]

Since there's just so many delays with MCAT and getting in hours, will this cycle starting in June/July be relatively easier? Furthermore, since more people will probably wait to apply next cycle, will it be relatively harder?

Don't count on it being easier.

 

[Phile98]

Don't count on it being easier.

I'm applying next cycle. Can I count on it being harder?

 

[KnightDoc]

I'm applying next cycle. Can I count on it being harder?

Why would it be, assuming you are ready to go?

 

[Goro]

I'm applying next cycle. Can I count on it being harder?

Yes, because more people apply when the economy tanks.

 

[Nugester]

*Looks into crystal ball*

Answer unknown.

 

[Phile98]

Why would it be, assuming you are ready to go?

Hmm, I guess I don't see myself as the cream of the crop lol.

 

[KnightDoc]

Yes, because more people apply when the economy tanks.

I keep hearing this, and I'm sure it's true during prolonged downturns, or maybe for something like law school where you really don't need anything except good grades and an LSAT, but how on earth does someone who wasn't planning on applying to med school two months ago pull a competitive application together now in response to the economy tanking?????????? Given everything we need, pre-reqs, ECs, MCAT, etc., isn't it a several year long process for someone reacting to the economy?

 

[KnightDoc]

Hmm, I guess I don't see myself as the cream of the crop lol.

None of us do, but somehow 40% of us find ourselves successfully applying each year!! 🙂

 

[Microbe_Hunter]

So apparently AMCAS had 50% more people sign up for an application this year than at the same time last year. Seems like a huge increase

 

[ma2]

Not to be a Debby downer, but this “knowledge” doesn’t benefit anyone. I understand the anxiety of next cycle being harder, and the hopefulness of this one being easier, but at the end of the day don’t gamble.

I’m applying this cycle and I hope to God it’s a lot easier than usual, as every applicant every cycle hopes lol. The best thing to do is put your best foot forward, do your best, and assume this cycle is just as hard or harder than usual. You can look at it like Pascal’s wager: if you put in a lot of work and this cycle is truly the same, then you’re competitive as normal. If you put in a lot of work and it’s easier, then you’ve pushed your chances up.

 

[ma2]

So apparently AMCAS had 50% more people sign up for an application this year than at the same time last year. Seems like a huge increase

ooooof. I don’t understand how though... unless it’s people hoping it’s easier/pushing their luck? How can you pull together an application that magically is competitive enough for medical school?

Or if it’s just a general upward trend in applicant numbers, where 50% more were going to apply anyway.

 

[sputniksweetheart]

ooooof. I don’t understand how though... unless it’s people hoping it’s easier/pushing their luck? How can you pull together an application that magically is competitive enough for medical school?

Or if it’s just a general upward trend in applicant numbers, where 50% more were going to apply anyway.

I think I read that it was a 50% increase in the first 3 days that the application opened—I don't know if it's necessarily reflective of a 50% increase in total applicants overall this cycle, or if it's just because more people were able to start it early. I agree though, it is confusing. I assumed that there will be less applicants this cycle, not more.