How Late is Too Late?

[FollowTheMoney]

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I wanted to devote a solid 2.5 months to studying for the MCAT so that I can just obliterate the test in July. However, I'm worried that because of rolling admissions and how neurotic/annoying most pre-meds are they are going to have everything submitted June 1 the minute it opens. I really want to apply this year and remain competitive in the application process, but am I just putting myself at a significant disadvantage? Should I cram and aim for June 17 instead? Should I just make sure to get a 35+ on the July test? Does it even matter that much? If I'm screwed just let me know now...

 

[BlueElmo]

I wanted to devote a solid 2.5 months to studying for the MCAT so that I can just obliterate the test in July. However, I'm worried that because of rolling admissions and how neurotic/annoying most pre-meds are they are going to have everything submitted June 1 the minute it opens. I really want to apply this year and remain competitive in the application process, but am I just putting myself at a significant disadvantage? Should I cram and aim for June 17 instead? Should I just make sure to get a 35+ on the July test? Does it even matter that much? If I'm screwed just let me know now...

Well, one advice I can give you, is never take the MCAT unless you feel READY. Even if it means taking in July, although of course, that's on the late side.

 

[GoBeers]

my friend is a stellar applicant and he finished all his secondaries by december. he received interviews from 6 school that were top 30.

earlier the better, but if u got a great application, don't worry too much.

 

[FollowTheMoney]

What would you classify me as....

MCAT: TBA
3.72 GPA
3.52 Science GPA

Good EC
1st Generation Hispanic (Spain)
Research Experience
Good LOR (Physicians and Profs)
500 Hours Clinical Experience
My dad is a physician (Med school: SUNY Downstate, internship/residency: Jackson @ UMiami, Fellowship G.I.: Mount Sinai @ UCLA)
Personable guy (would like the interview)

 

[oaklandguy]

Honestly you sound like a solid applicant, although pretty low on the sGPA, but your overall GPA is competitive. Your ECs sound great, but that is assuming your research experience is good etc.

The MCAT can make or break you. If you are doing well on the practice MCATs and feel confident then I would say to take the June date knowing that you can retake in July or August (although that should be a last option). If you don't feel fully prepared then just take the test in July and do well. Sending in your application in August isn't as late as people on here make it out to be, it's just borderline late plus you can send it in before you have your MCAT scores.

 

[FollowTheMoney]

What does it mean if I have everything done and ready to go but I am just lacking an MCAT score? Like I can submit my application the first day it opens but it'll say "MCAT pending" for a while. Does that mean i did not really apply early because it only matters when they get the score?

 

[oaklandguy]

What does it mean if I have everything done and ready to go but I am just lacking an MCAT score? Like I can submit my application the first day it opens but it'll say "MCAT pending" for a while. Does that mean i did not really apply early because it only matters when they get the score?

Well every school does it differently so I can't tell you exactly how every school works, but I know that one school in my local area does not even start viewing applications in June or July. The ones that apply early end up at "the top of the pile" and so if they have an application that may not be stunning, but is solid, they will get an interview but they only interview so many people and that same applicant may not have gotten an interview if they were towards the bottom of the pile. Also some schools may pre-screen you out just due to your sGPA, not saying that it's low but some top level schools may do that sort of thing.

A lot of people on SDN send their applications in June, and it's great to apply early, but understand that SDN is a small minority of pre-meds and that the majority don't end up turning in apps in June. I know of people who applied late and had sub-thirty MCATs that got interviews.

 

[FollowTheMoney]

Am I the kind of guy that would "need" to apply early to have a shot? I live in Florida so I have 6 in-state medical schools (UF, FSU, UCF, USF, UM, FIU). I'm currently an undergrad at UF which is the best and most competitive school in the state and is a top 50 school in the country (considered a public ivy of the south).

 

[oaklandguy]

Am I the kind of guy that would "need" to apply early to have a shot? I live in Florida so I have 6 in-state medical schools (UF, FSU, UCF, USF, UM, FIU). I'm currently an undergrad at UF which is the best and most competitive school in the state and is a top 50 school in the country (considered a public ivy of the south).

Honestly, it all depends on your MCAT. I suggest purchasing the MSAR when it comes out (I think it may have came out actually for this cycle) and just compare your stats and apply to schools with stats similar to and below yours as well as some schools that may be a reach. You seem to have all the grounds covered with your EC's and you would be able to get some interviews with an MCAT of 30+.

I think you may be stressing about it a little too much. Your best bet is to be successful on the MCAT, so study hard and keep progressing while studying so that when you do take it you will get a good score. Your MCAT score is much more pertinent to your application than when you send it in as long as you send it in before September.

 

[oaklandguy]

The "what are my chances" section of the forum will light up with people posting stats and what schools they want to apply to and people can give you good information about how your stats compare to school averages on there when the time comes to send out the application. Remember to take everything everyone says on here with a grain of salt.

 

[cpants]

FYI, I don't think parents from Spain qualifies you as "Hispanic". That term usually applies to people from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. Spanish people are just considered Caucasian I think.

 

[pokerkid]

I did not get my completed secondaries and LORs finished until late november/early december. I got 4 interviews and two acceptance (still waiting on one post interview, and got wait listed at the other). I was told that applying so late would severely decrease my chances but turned out ok. I took the MCAT in august. Granted I did decent on the mcat (34), but I would not have considered my application to be "outstanding". Had slightly above avg GPA and really did not have the best EC's.

 

[MegaSpectacular]

FYI, I don't think parents from Spain qualifies you as "Hispanic". That term usually applies to people from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. Spanish people are just considered Caucasian I think.

? really. People from spain are Caucasian? wow, didn't know that.

 

[MegaSpectacular]

SDN is a somewhat highly selection small % of the premed population.

I always hear "if you don't apply June 1st you are late" horror stories, but reality is if you complete in August you should be fine. Taking July completes in August if you play your cards right (verify early, find secondaries online early, be only waiting on MCAT).

 

[dw2158]

? really. People from spain are Caucasian? wow, didn't know that.

yes, definitely.

 

[cpants]

? really. People from spain are Caucasian? wow, didn't know that.

Describing yourself as Hispanic when you are from Spain is like describing yourself as Haitian when you are from France. Spanish people are white Western Europeans for the most part.