I feel like such a slacker

[MrsWard]

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I'll be finishing up my biochem and physics courses this Quarter. I'll start my application process next week. So, I'll be taking organic 2 and chem2 next quarter and immediately taking the Mcat after these classes in Sept. I am reviewing other subjects that the MCAT covers while taking my final courses. I know, it's going to be late but I don't want to wait a year. I have a lot of shadowing, volunteer work, and research work finished. My GPA as of now in my undergrad is a 3.83 but overall probably a 3.6. I'm hoping to graduate with a 3.9 and my overall a 3.7. My letters of recommendation will be ready to go as well. Only thing I am waiting on is my MCAT.

Will this absolutely destroy me? I saw that the school starts interviewing in Sept-May.

 

[AlteredScale]

Interviews start October for some schools. This will put you in a rut because you will be behind as your application may not be considered complete until your mcat score is turned in.

It won't absolutely destroy you but youre risking what could be a very successful cycle (by applying early).

 

[MrsWard]

I'm going to speak with my advisor tomorrow and see what he recommends. I believe he is friends with some doctors at the the med school. Hopefully I can get some guidance on this. I took 6 months off to have a baby and it has messed everything up. I'm hoping I'll just be delayed and I will not have the opportunity for an early acceptance ,but still a good chance.

 

[ananasmed]

You're not a slacker.

In fact, you might be the opposite... you might be putting too much on your plate right now. I know it's not what you want to hear, but the common wisdom on SDN is "apply once with your best possible application." For you, this might not be now with several pre-reqs outstanding, and possibly rushing your MCAT studying while taking two difficult courses (both of which include material that is tested on the MCAT!) Don't underestimate how much time and dedication the MCAT prep will demand! I applied early this past cycle, and by the end of September I had not only interviewed, but was holding four acceptances. Just think about that. While taking your MCAT in September might still get you an acceptance at some point in the cycle, it might also completely screw you out of an acceptance (or your top choices) if you don't score as well as you like and are then stuck applying with a weak, late app.

I mean all of this in the most encouraging way possible. No one wants to take another year off, but another year could help you to further strengthen your application and be a truly rockstar applicant, especially with your awesome grades. Best of luck!

 

[Irish Luck]

an mcat in september means you wont have your application available for review until at least the end of September or early October (once the scores come in, obviously depending on the date you select in september). This is putting you at a real disadvantage. Are you taking orgo 2 and chem 2 over the summer? when do those courses end? is it possible to put off orgo 2 until after the mcat and just take chem 2? That would give you some more time to study and you might be able to take the mcat a bit earlier.

 

[MrsWard]

I don't underestimate the MCAT. I have been studying and prepping my notes for months now and I dedicate 3 hours a day to just the MCAT. I tutor organic 1 right now to keep fresh. I also feel by taking organic 2 and chem2 I will hit my weak spots and refresh on older material. I can't take off during the summer because of money, I need to graduate by December.With my prerequisites fresh on my mind I hope to do well on the MCAT. I think I'll take my chances just to see what happens. I might as well try instead of waiting and thinking 'What if." If I take it Sept, 12, it will be released in early Oct. By the time my transcripts are sent in as well, It may be a month later.

 

[RunninGirl3]

If you do apply this cycle, make sure you submit your AACOMAS application early, even though you don't have the MCAT. I submitted in August last year and it took about 50 days to verify. I think it was a faster turn around time for the people who submitted AACOMAS in June/July. Good luck!

 

[MedNation907]

First off I vote waiting a year and making it worthwhile by starting/continuing research and/or finding a paid clinical position.. but assuming that's not what you want to do (lol) this is what I suggest:

October isn't terribly late but generally I think the later in the cycle you apply -- the better your stats ought to be. If you are scoring >70 percentile on practice exams then take the risk, anything under I would see as too much of a gamble. I think the stigma against re-applicants is inflated around these forums but you don't want to be stuck in that position of financial and mental stress. If you are comfortable scoring around 70 percentile, with your GPA (and assuming good EC's, LORs and the such) you will likely have a successful cycle.

I was in a very similar situation and decided to take a gap year -- mainly because I knew I couldn't swing two application cycles financially! So I worked as a medical scribe, took some extra courses at my UG (I luckily had free tuition) and I really feel like I gained some perspective on the field of medicine -- shadowing seriously doesn't compare -- I don't feel like I would have done so well during interviews hadn't I had this time off.

So basically, if you at all feel iffy about applying -- make your gap year(s) worth it!

Good luck to you!

 

[ananasmed]

I don't underestimate the MCAT. I have been studying and prepping my notes for months now and I dedicate 3 hours a day to just the MCAT. I tutor organic 1 right now to keep fresh. I also feel by taking organic 2 and chem2 I will hit my weak spots and refresh on older material. I can't take off during the summer because of money, I need to graduate by December.With my prerequisites fresh on my mind I hope to do well on the MCAT. I think I'll take my chances just to see what happens. I might as well try instead of waiting and thinking 'What if." If I take it Sept, 12, it will be released in early Oct. By the time my transcripts are sent in as well, It may be a month later.

Sounds like you already know what you want to do! Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting you take the summer off, just that it might be a lot to take the two classes and study for the MCAT and work on your apps (potentially) all at once. Of course, only you know your own limits and what will work best for you. Again, good luck 🙂