Do you have to tell schools you're retaking it? Can they see if you're signed up for the MCAT?

[CloverBale]

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I got a 506 on my MCAT and I'm a California resident. If on June 1st, I submit my application and not tell them I'm retaking the MCAT, can I then retake my MCAT on June 16th ( I get my score back July 16th) and then re-submit? If I tell them I'm retaking the MCAT, will schools not look at my applications/send me secondaries? That's what I heard. So I figured I might as well submit my application with my MCAT and then re-update them with my new score.

Also, would getting my score in July be considered too late?

 

[ed*26]

If you want your new MCAT to be included with your application, you can submit your application in June and indicate that you plan on taking the MCAT on [future date]. Your application will not be released until the MCAT score is received but I'm pretty sure the rest of it is still processed, so it is worth it to submit early since that process can take several weeks later in the season. July is a perfectly fine time for schools to be receiving your application; the first round of applications aren't even sent out until several weeks into June.

The obvious caveat is that once your application is submitted, it's submitted -- so if your 2nd MCAT score isn't what you wanted, too bad, it's sent out before you can do any damage control. I think one strategy people use is to only submit to one school to begin with, since it will still get your application processed and you can always add schools later (you should get more information on that strategy). I don't think you can add another MCAT score after it's been submitted or submit two applications in one cycle; the strategy you're describing will only result in your application being sent out with only the 506.

 

[efle]

If I were you I'd wait to see my score on July 16th, and if you're happy with it, then submit. You'll hit complete early or mid August, which is plenty early, and don't have to risk becoming a reapplicant if the second score comes back lower than expected

 

[jesie]

Sorry to disagree @efle but there seems to be no benefit for waiting until July to submit. @ed*26 described what appears to be the best method (no need to look more up, that's all there is to it). If you wait till July to submit, you'll be verified in mid-late August at best. Just submit in June with one random school selected. You'll be verified early and if you like the score you add the other schools and will get very quick submission. If you wait until July, you'll save like 100$ of amcas fees if you don't like your score, but you'll have your app in a month earlier if you do like it. Totally worth the risk

 

[efle]

there seems to be no benefit for waiting until July to submit.

The benefit is you can avoid submitting altogether if you don't like your second score. If OP gets back a 502 on the second testing, she is now locked in to being a reapplicant.

 

[efle]

Also, verification time isn't nearly as bad as it used to be! You don't have to wait 30+ business days during summer any more like it was for 2014 and earlier. Now it's down to about a dozen business days even at the peak. Submitting ~July 16 will likely mean complete in the first week of August.

 

[efle]

Or you can submit to a single reach or throwaway school on June 1st, get verified. Then when your score comes back, you can add schools and your now verified app will be transmitted in a day. It makes no sense to submit an app without knowing all your MCAT scores except to a single school for verification

If the second score comes back low, doesn't this risk making OP a reapplicant because of the one school they applied to ?

 

[gyngyn]

Some schools will process a submitted application when is complete whether you have indicated a re-take or not.

 

[efle]

Hence why a reach or a throwaway school

Is "reapplicant" not a bad thing to be, generally? I thought it marred your app for all places in the future, not just a specific place you'd applied to before?

 

[mitochondria_power_plant]

If you don't submit any secondaries, would you still be considered a reapplicant? Because, technically, you never completed the application process. Just wondering....


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[efle]

But only that school knows your a reapplicant so it doesnt have a general effect. What happens is most people apply broadly and then reapply broadly to a large overlap of school during the cycle, thus you have the "tactical" idea to make your new application as a general reapp to all. In this case, we have a single school for verification. I am not fond of this technique as applicants should solely worry about the MCAT before spending time on a primary. That is splitting effort on two items both of which need to be solid.

Interesting I thought it was either shown on the app or there were a good number of places that asked "have you applied to medical school before" on the secondaries. If a fresh list of schools would never have any idea you'd tried for med school before, I'm surprised reapplicant status gets described as negatively as it does on SDN.

 

[lpp06]

Is "reapplicant" not a bad thing to be, generally? I thought it marred your app for all places in the future, not just a specific place you'd applied to before?

Only limited schools ask if you are a reapplicant in general rather than to their specific school, for the most part you're only asked if you are a reapplicant to that program (first on AMCAS and sometimes on secondaries)

 

[gyngyn]

Interesting I thought it was either shown on the app or there were a good number of places that asked "have you applied to medical school before" on the secondaries. If a fresh list of schools would never have any idea you'd tried for med school before, I'm surprised reapplicant status gets described as negatively as it does on SDN.

Being a re-applicant will be viewed as an independent risk factor at many schools, yet some schools get their better applicants this way. The primary application only shows if there is a reapplication at a particular school. There are a significant number that ask about previous applications.
The best odds of acceptance overall are on the first application.

 

[Sea_Wolf]

Being a re-applicant will be viewed as an independent risk factor at many schools, yet some schools get their better applicants this way.

why do you view first time applicants more favorably? could you elaborate on why they are a risk factor?

 

[gyngyn]

why do you view first time applicants more favorably? could you elaborate on why they are a risk factor?

Re-applicants can reasonably be considered pre-screened.
With a limited number of interview slots, first time applicants are higher yield.

This is a less prevalent practice in states and regions with relatively few applicants.

 

[Sea_Wolf]

Re-applicants can reasonably be considered pre-screened.

Would such a practice be used on a student after they complete an SMP?

 

[gyngyn]

Would such a practice be used on a student after they complete an SMP?

It depends on the student, the SMP and the medical school.
Some places hardly consider SMP's, others are obligated by contract to consider them.

 

[DameJulie]

Re-applicants can reasonably be considered pre-screened.
With a limited number of interview slots, first time applicants are higher yield.

This is a less prevalent practice in states and regions with relatively few applicants.

Can you elaborate on how to minimize the "risk factor" for re-applicants for those of us who didn't receive admission offer this school? I understand that substantially increasing the competitiveness of your application is a must (e.g. higher MCAT, better PS)
Just want to make sure applying 2nd time doesn't mean we will get some sort of "discrimination."

 

[Goro]

No, no and no.

I got a 506 on my MCAT and I'm a California resident. If on June 1st, I submit my application and not tell them I'm retaking the MCAT, can I then retake my MCAT on June 16th ( I get my score back July 16th) and then re-submit? If I tell them I'm retaking the MCAT, will schools not look at my applications/send me secondaries? That's what I heard. So I figured I might as well submit my application with my MCAT and then re-update them with my new score.

Also, would getting my score in July be considered too late?

 

[gyngyn]

Can you elaborate on how to minimize the "risk factor" for re-applicants for those of us who didn't receive admission offer this school? I understand that substantially increasing the competitiveness of your application is a must (e.g. higher MCAT, better PS)
Just want to make sure applying 2nd time doesn't mean we will get some sort of "discrimination."

All you can feasibly do is improve the weaknesses of the application and apply to schools that are likely to consider you.

 

[CloverBale]

Or you can submit to a single reach or throwaway school on June 1st, get verified. Then when your score comes back, you can add schools and your now verified app will be transmitted in a day. It makes no sense to submit an app without knowing all your MCAT scores except to a single school for verification

Is there a reason why I would only apply to one school in the beginning vs several other schools? Would it make a difference?

 

[gyngyn]

Is there a reason why I would only apply to one school in the beginning vs several other schools? Would it make a difference?

You will not be stigmatized by becoming a re-applicant at more than one school if your score turns out poorly.

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

When AMCAS gives the first, big batch of verified students to schools at the end of Jun/beginning of July, do schools still have the order in which the applications were submitted?