Give it to me real straight (August MCAT)

[Dr.Andrews]

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If I have everything in (inlcuding my LOR's) at all schools I've applied to by Septmeber, so that the only thing they are waiting on is my electronic MCAT scores, would I still be in the same boat as people who took the April MCAT?

How much is the August MCAT going to disadvantage me? My application everywhere will be complete mid October?

 

[kevster2001]

No, not the same boat. Assuming the APril MCATers have submitted around now, you will be at a big disadvantage. My premed advisors always tell August MCATers to wait until the next year

 

[EBI831]

whatever. you are still fine. med schools expect some people to take the august mcat. and the main thing that holds people up is secondary completions and the fact that a lot aren't due til december or january. so seeing as august mcat scores come in october if you somehow managed to get all secondaries already done and in and got amcas approved and your letter of recs in i don't see how you would be behind ppl who took it in april and sit on their butts to submit secondaries in nov(which i guess is sorta early given the december or later deadlines). keep in mind every premed doesn't use SDN so a great many probably haven't even done AMCAS or secondaries yet. my premed advisor tells people to go ahead and apply. so keep the hope alive, you can do it.

 

[floridakppr]

Some schools will be accepting applications from students that take the January MCAT (USF for example. Others?) Knowing that you will not be the latest applicant should calm your nerves somewhat. Focus on MCAT prep and worry about the admissions process when you should: after your scores are released. You've done everything you can to get your application in line in the mean time. Here's to hoping you're fine.

 

[ND2005]

No, not the same boat. Assuming the APril MCATers have submitted around now, you will be at a big disadvantage. My premed advisors always tell August MCATers to wait until the next year

That's overly cautious advice.

Get your materials in and you'll be fine. It's a disadvantage but not an insurmountable one. People on SDN make it sound worse than it is.

 

[Haemulon]

That's overly cautious advice.

Get your materials in and you'll be fine. It's a disadvantage but not an insurmountable one. People on SDN make it sound worse than it is.

Yeh, SDN'rs are a cut above the average applicant demographic, so these boards have a way of making the average applicant feel like they don't have a chance. I take heart that by running with the SDN pack, one can feel pretty confident in being ahead of the game and having an advantage over otherwise similar applicants.

 

[jackieMD2007]

Hey there. You have asked quite the controversial question. I have been advised, both by a friend who was on an adcom and by some of my books I have on medschool admissions that it is better to apply early. Why? Because the schools have rolling admissions. It is "easier" (heh) to get an interview when they have 400 interview slots, versus when they are interviewing for the waitlist. If I had to re-take in August I was going to apply in '08. But I'm sticking with my 29R/3.6 and giving it the old college try. There are not many schools that are accepting the January MCAT this cycle anyway, because their secondary deadlines are in December. Of course I am sure there are like 4 or 5, but they are the exception, not the rule. Check the MSAR. All of the secondaries I have looked at so far say that they are NOT accepting Jan 07 scores.

 

[owenmichael]

If I have everything in (inlcuding my LOR's) at all schools I've applied to by Septmeber, so that the only thing they are waiting on is my electronic MCAT scores, would I still be in the same boat as people who took the April MCAT?

I'm going to assert that it is a huge disadvantage unless you do really well. Really well meaning 32+. I feel like most people on SDN that apply after the August MCAT do REALLY well on it and thus, don't feel the negative consequences of applying late. I guess its up to what you expect to get. I know alot of kids that have retaken and gotten 29, 30's and had great overall applications, only to be applying again this year because turning in MCAT scores that late REALLY hurt them at rolling admissions schools (even their own state schools).

 

[owenmichael]

That's overly cautious advice.

Get your materials in and you'll be fine. It's a disadvantage but not an insurmountable one. People on SDN make it sound worse than it is.

I disagree with this. I think that having a 40 on your MCAT and a 3.7 from a prestigious undergrad makes you a ridiculously good candidate that was going to get in somewhere good at the very least despite taking the August MCAT.
On your MDapplicants link, you got rejected post-secondary from Loyola, which is a mystery to me since you got into Vandy, Wash U etc...
I would guess that this was probably because since it is a rolling school, your application was complete by the time their class was full (which was in early December)

Most people don't have anywhere close to those numbers, so it affects them alot more at schools that are rolling.

 

[Law2Doc]

That's overly cautious advice.

Get your materials in and you'll be fine. It's a disadvantage but not an insurmountable one. People on SDN make it sound worse than it is.

Agree -- the disadvantages of the August MCAT exist, by virtue of the process at most schools being a rolling one, but such disadvantages are greatly exaggerated on this board. Strong applicants who took August still get in. A very substantial portion of every med school class will be August MCATers. It is really just the borderline applicants that really get helped by applying very early in the process.

 

[R.P. McMurphy]

Of course it's better to be early, most schools are rolling admissions.

But if you have a solid application, you will be fine. My gf got into a school that got her secondary postmarked the day before it was due (A certain death for most SDN people )

 

[ShyRem]

My experience: I applied the first time with everything in early except my August MCAT scores. Not a single interview. Nothing. Lots of rejections.

The second time I applied early early early and had all my interview offers given to me by September 15.

So. Are there folks that get in with an August MCAT score? Sure. I wasn't one of them. My experience? You'll be at a HUGE disadvantage. Med school application is one area where it's enough of a crapshoot without skewing the odds against you.

 

[BozoSparky]

I took the August mcat...and felt that it really affected my chances at the UCs. As far as most other schools went, it just took longer to get an interview...ugh...do whatever you can to minimize the wait.

 

[jsnuka]

Let me ask the question another way, for those of you who took the August MCAT, did you wait to submit your applications until the scores came back or did you have a score from a previous test administration to use and only took the August test to up your score/make your application appear more competitive?

Of course, if you wait until October to submit your AMCAS, then yes you are at a HUGE disadvantage. However if everything else is in and done i.e. AMCAS application, secondaries, LORs and a previous MCAT score, I do not think the August MCAT will hurt you much, if at all.

If you are depending on that August MCAT to give you a 30+ and you don't hit that, then yes, you could be hurt.

A key to the whole pocess is where youy decide to submit applications. Some schools are a good fit for both you and them and others are just a case of us dreaming and allowing our egos to get the best of us. If you play it smart, things will work out for you regardless.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

 

[ND2005]

Let me ask the question another way, for those of you who took the August MCAT, did you wait to submit your applications until the scores came back or did you have a score from a previous test administration to use and only took the August test to up your score/make your application appear more competitive?

Of course, if you wait until October to submit your AMCAS, then yes you are at a HUGE disadvantage. However if everything else is in and done i.e. AMCAS application, secondaries, LORs and a previous MCAT score, I do not think the August MCAT will hurt you much, if at all.

If you are depending on that August MCAT to give you a 30+ and you don't hit that, then yes, you could be hurt.

A key to the whole pocess is where youy decide to submit applications. Some schools are a good fit for both you and them and others are just a case of us dreaming and allowing our egos to get the best of us. If you play it smart, things will work out for you regardless.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

You're forgetting the third scenario. Not having a previous MCAT score, but having all your other materials (AMCAS, LORS, some secondaries that don't screen) in by the time the scores are released in October. This is what the OP is talking about, and what everyone who takes the Aug MCAT SHOULD do.

(note: this is not what I did, and I think it contributed to my getting waitlisted at some schools. Do as I say, not as I do. Or rather learn from my mistake)

Also, if you wait until the MCAT scores are released to actually turn in your AMCAS, you will be WAY WAY WAY WAY behind. That might be a truly insurmountable disadvantage.

 

[owenmichael]

You're forgetting the third scenario. Not having a previous MCAT score, but having all your other materials (AMCAS, LORS, some secondaries that don't screen) in by the time the scores are released in October. This is what the OP is talking about, and what everyone who takes the Aug MCAT SHOULD do.

(note: this is not what I did, and I think it contributed to my getting waitlisted at some schools. Do as I say, not as I do. Or rather learn from my mistake)

Also, if you wait until the MCAT scores are released to actually turn in your AMCAS, you will be WAY WAY WAY WAY behind. That might be a truly insurmountable disadvantage.

Agreed.. waiting to turn your AMCAS after you get August scores is a HUGE disadvantage. Completing your applications well before you get your August scores helps, but your still at a disadvantage.

 

[greytmedic]

I am waiting to take the August MCAT for the first time. I am taking it in August becasue I wanted to wait until I had Orgo II and Phys II done. I already have my AMCAS submitted and I'm just waiting for the transcripts to get verified. My question is about schools that do screen. Even though they won't be sending a secondary until the scores come out, if I think I have a pretty good chance of at least getting a seconday, can I send LOR's in before I recieve a secondary?

 

[jsnuka]

You're forgetting the third scenario. Not having a previous MCAT score, but having all your other materials (AMCAS, LORS, some secondaries that don't screen) in by the time the scores are released in October. This is what the OP is talking about, and what everyone who takes the Aug MCAT SHOULD do.

(note: this is not what I did, and I think it contributed to my getting waitlisted at some schools. Do as I say, not as I do. Or rather learn from my mistake)

Also, if you wait until the MCAT scores are released to actually turn in your AMCAS, you will be WAY WAY WAY WAY behind. That might be a truly insurmountable disadvantage.

Yes, I agree with you. If you do not have a previous MCAT i.e. the August MCAT is your first time taking it, then you are in a pretty extreme situation.

I was operating under the thought that s/he had a previous score and was looking to improve it a few points or so.

 

[REL]

No, not the same boat. Assuming the APril MCATers have submitted around now, you will be at a big disadvantage. My premed advisors always tell August MCATers to wait until the next year

I dont really like this advice, especially if you have an average or better application. If have a good application without the MCAT and have a reasonable chance of doing well on the August MCAT I advise applicants to complete all of their application so that schools are simply awaiting the score. Having the information in-hand at the school will allow them to make decisions early enuf to get you an interview just prior to the Christmas break. Even with rolling admissions most schools will have openings probably thru the end of January. Of course this all changes next year when the MCAT is offered from the end of January though September 2007 with a 4-week score turnaround. (Let me add the caveat that my advice regarding this year's August MCAT mainly pertains the the admissions environment in Florida, my advice could very well could be BAD advice for other systems).

 

[hermit]

The simple fact of the matter is that by applying in August, you are competing for fewer available slots. No rationale offered in this thread for applying late will change that.

 

[REL]

It was noted earlier that the MSAR should have information as to whether a program will honor the January 2007 MCAT this year for entry into the August 2007 class. I dont believe that information will be in the MSAR since it was printed several months ago and most programs had not even considered the subject. The best source is the individual school web sites which will address the subject soon.

USF will consider the January 2007 MCAT for the application to the August 2007 class with the following stipulations:
- The applicant has previously taken the MCAT within the last 3 years
- The applicant has not yet been interviewed at USF
- The applicant has met both the AMCAS and USF Secondary deadlines
The January score will only be used for those who have not yet been interviewed and will not be used to make adjustments in the files of those we have already interviewed (and waitlisted or rejected). The January score will simply be used to help determine the possibility of a late March interview invitation. Probably meaning interviewing for a high spot on the wait list. Generally in Florida if you are in the top 75 on the wait list you will get an offer of admissions into at least one of the programs.

 

[REL]

Ok what about this scenario (for a reapplicant):
-I submit my AMCAS by the end of July.
-Submit Secondaries and Recs by Mid-End of Sept
-And the schools get my MCAT (retake) in Oct

I have gotten interviews this past cycle, but my offers came in Oct, Nov, and then the following Spring.

Would I be at a disadvantage in this scenario? THANKS

You evidently have a competitive file from last year since you got some interviews. Presumably you have contacted the schools where you interviewed to have them help you understand the weakness of you application and you have worked on those areas. If so your application is stronger already and you should get reinterviewed by those schools. The only exception to this is if they believed you MCAT was a hindrance -- they would probably await your new score before making a decision. Other schools may await that August MCAT score now too since they know it is coming. Either way, if you have a strong application you will get an interview from several programs. The "when" is probably along the same timeframe as last year. My thoughts based on my frame-of-reference.