Help with timeline for applying

[Sloppy Toppy]

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I have a few common questions about applying for this approaching cycle. Sorry if this is so routine.

1) I'm deciding between taking the May 20th, June 2nd, or June 18th MCAT. The extra time after school ends is probably going to be beneficial for studying. How would I submit my AMCAS and still be considered early. Which date is recommended? If I were to take the June dates how should I approach applying? Also how long does it usually take to verify your primary app and get secondaries rolling in? Also how long does it take to get secondaries after adding a school?

2) I possibly may have the chance to submit a paper for publication but the issue is the paper probably gets submitted end of June, July, or early August. It's obviously a fluid situation depending on how the results turn out. I'll at that point have submitted my primary app. Is there any way to notify schools of this publication and would they even care. I've been working at this lab for a while on and off and it would be nice to show that a publication came out of it.

Thanks

 

[Imperius]

1. Take the MCAT when you are most ready. It's that simple. If you can't devote time to be ready beforehand, don't waste your time/money. June 18th MCAT isn't deadly late by any means. You will submit your application like normal, but just without the MCAT. Once your score comes in, your AMCAS will be updated with the data, and it will be sent from AMCAS to the schools. The schools will send secondary apps. It takes anywhere from a week to months to receive secondaries.

2. Yes, but not on your primary application. After you receive your secondary applications, you can (and should) submit application updates to schools, and inform them of your publication. Some secondaries will even ask if you have any publications.

 

[gyngyn]

Send in the primary as soon as you can with only one "throwaway" school. When you have your score, add the schools appropriate to your application. They will update within a business day.

 

[Sloppy Toppy]

Send in the primary as soon as you can with only one "throwaway" school. When you have your score, add the schools appropriate to your application. They will update within a business day.

Makes sense thank you. Would taking it on June 18th be too late or would having the score by mid July be okay? I will submit the app the day it opens. Also how long does it take for schools to send secondaries after I add the schools? And finally if I were to be able to publish a paper by August which means after I submit I submit my secondaries is there any way to notify schools of my publication? And would they even care at that point?

Thanks

 

[Swish16]

Taking it in June would be late but not fatal since you would only get your score and your app completed in totality by July. Secondaries get released July 1st so you would be behind the competition in that category. However, a late MCAT score > a low MCAT score so plan & prepare accordingly.

 

[Sloppy Toppy]

Taking it in June would be late but not fatal since you would only get your score and your app completed in totality by July. Secondaries get released July 1st so you would be behind the competition in that category. However, a late MCAT score > a low MCAT score so plan & prepare accordingly.

That makes sense. Thanks. How long does it usually take people to send off secondaries? I ask this because I could just do the secondaries as I wait for my MCAT score (I know they are posted on SDN) and just submit them when I get my MCAT score back (Mid July)

I see you were accepted so when did you get fully complete at schools and how long does it take to be fully complete once you submit your secondaries?

I'm going to assume the earliest one can be complete is the first week of July?

 

[gyngyn]

Makes sense thank you. Would taking it on June 18th be too late or would having the score by mid July be okay? I will submit the app the day it opens. Also how long does it take for schools to send secondaries after I add the schools? And finally if I were to be able to publish a paper by August which means after I submit I submit my secondaries is there any way to notify schools of my publication? And would they even care at that point?

Thanks

Pre-write the secondaries and you will be fine.
If they accept updates you can let them know about your publication, or let them know at the interview.

 

[takeurmeds02]

I submitted my app the first minute it opened before my June 19th mcat test date results came back in July. Been accepted to three schools. June date won't hurt you so long as your app is strong. Also had my secondaries prewritten while I was waiting on my mcat to result. Earliest secondary submission was like third weekish in July. Latest, late August.

 

[caffeine is my drug]

Took my MCAT at the end of June and still had time to retake in September. Got in allopathic no problem.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[wavvvvvves123]

i took my mcat on july 17th of the cycle i applied to. i moved it back from my original may 20-something date lol. i crushed it and i've gotten into my top choice schools this cycle so trust me, a june 18th mcat will hardly impact your cycle negatively if thats when youre most ready