How do I handle this situation?

[tavokeri9]

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[Syns]

The first option sounds the most reasonable however please keep this in mind: The admissions dean is no idiot. She values her time and I'm not sure she would be spending it meeting with you if she wasn't interested (even without knowing your MCAT score). She may have already factored in your missing exam score and believes that you will score within an acceptable range. I would reach out to her in an E-mail highlighting your desire to not waste her time but also reassuring her of your great interest in her program. If you can matriculate this cycle, you should.

 

[tavokeri9]

The first option sounds the most reasonable however please keep this in mind: The admissions dean is no idiot. He values his time and I'm not sure he would be spending it meeting with you if he wasn't interested (even without knowing your MCAT score). He may have already factored in your missing exam score and believes that you will score within an acceptable range. I would reach out to him in an E-mail highlighting your desire to not waste his time but also reassuring him of your great interest in his program. If you can matriculate this cycle, you should.

Thanks for your input. Unfortunately, I can't email or talk to the dean directly. I have to call the secretary first to book an appointment and she handles all of this. I don't think the dean even knows who I am or that I won't have an MCAT score. There was no paperwork/confirmation given to me…the secretary simply booked an appt. and told me to be there at the date/time.

Any changes to your advice based on the above?

 

[Syns]

Not much, call the secretary: he/she isn't an idiot either. Their job is to save the Dean time and energy. Reach out and talk to them, they will be helpful (recommend phone call -- if you say something stupid it isn't as damning as writing something insensitive in an E-mail. Also, your remarks can't be forwarded.)

 

[gyngyn]

Cancel your appointment.
He gave you the meeting to discuss EDP, not your general plans.
Let him know that you had to postpone your MCAT, so there is little for him to review as you are not a candidate for EDP this cycle.
Apologize for the inconvenience.
Emailing the admin is fine. Sooner, the better.

 

[tavokeri9]

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[gyngyn]

Thanks for the advice gyngyn! Just to clarify, the meeting was originally not for EDP…that was just something I decided to discuss with the dean later. I never really mentioned the EDP part, but was going to bring it up during the meeting. If it helps, the school is VCU where it states on their website that students can book an appt. to meet with the dean to discuss their application. I'm guessing this could include talking about general plans and how to proceed? (like taking a gap year or not, how to improve my app, seeing whether my EC's fit their mission etc.) Should I still cancel the appt. completely or try for an earlier one?

Does he know that you don't have an MCAT to discuss?
Ask the admin if there is any value in keeping the appointment without it.

 

[tavokeri9]

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[gyngyn]

Well, I originally booked the appt. after my June scores would come out, but now since I've postponed it, I won't have an MCAT to discuss. That's why I am worried about the appt.

Would it be foolish on my part to request an earlier appt. with the dean simply to discuss whether she thinks I should apply this cycle (based on the rest of my app)? I figured this might be alright since VCU states that students can talk about their application.

This type of question does not need the dean's input.

 

[vellez]

I think that calling the admissions dean's secretary for advice might not be a bad idea. Though, it sounds like the admissions dean has a fairly open policy for meeting with students. In my experience, admissions deans have always been super friendly and helpful and really seem to enjoy meeting with students (even with all their other time commitments).

 

[gyngyn]

I think that calling the admissions dean's secretary for advice might not be a bad idea. Though, it sounds like the admissions dean has a fairly open policy for meeting with students. In my experience, admissions deans have always been super friendly and helpful and really seem to enjoy meeting with students (even with all their other time commitments).

They are in a position where being friendly is part of the job.
This doesn't necessarily mean they are your friend.
Get advice from people who have your best interest at heart.
The dean has the school's best interest first and foremost.

 

[vellez]

They are in a position where being friendly is part of the job.
This doesn't necessarily mean they are your friend.
Get advice from people who have your best interest at heart.
The dean has the school's best interest first and foremost.

I mentioned that because I didn't think the OP should be intimidated by the title of "admissions dean", since usually they are pretty friendly. As far as an unbiased and honest source of advice about a particular applicant? Well, I'd say you were spot on about that!

 

[tavokeri9]

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[gyngyn]

I'm still a bit confused. So even if is my question is specific to my app for that school (like "should I still apply to your school w/a July MCAT" and "based on your school's heavy focus on clinical volunteering, do you feel I have enough?"), I shouldn't ask it?

Then, what do they mean when they say that students can talk to the dean about their application?

This dean is getting as least as much information from this meeting as you are.
Unless you plan to present yourself in the strongest possible light (well organized and articulate), you have little to gain from this meeting. Without an MCAT score, you do not appear prepared and organized.