I Need Help With My MCAT and Application Timeline

[lukelukeluke]

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I planned to take the MCAT in May, but I haven't been able to study nearly as much as I should, so i'm pushing it back to 6/15. I'm out of school and working full time now. I got some content review done and scored a 507 on NS1. Here's my plan:
Now to 5/31: study for the MCAT, write personal statement and ask for rec letters
6/1: Submit application with one throw away school (without an MCAT score)
6/15: Take the MCAT
6/16: Start prewriting secondaries
7/12: MCAT score release, add more schools
If I stick to this plan, everything will be completed by end of July. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[TSHJB302]

I planned to take the MCAT in May, but I haven't been able to study nearly as much as I should, so i'm pushing it back to 6/15. I'm out of school and working full time now. I got some content review done and scored a 507 on NS1. Here's my plan:
Now to 5/31: study for the MCAT, write personal statement and ask for rec letters
6/1: Submit application with one throw away school (without an MCAT score)
6/15: Take the MCAT
6/16: Start prewriting secondaries
7/12: MCAT score release, add more schools
If I stick to this plan, everything will be completed by end of July. What are your thoughts on this?

That’s the exact same thing I’m doing, I’ve heard it’s the way to go. The worst thing you could do is take the MCAT before you’re ready because you’re rushing to get your application in.

 

[masterchiefk57]

I planned to take the MCAT in May, but I haven't been able to study nearly as much as I should, so i'm pushing it back to 6/15. I'm out of school and working full time now. I got some content review done and scored a 507 on NS1. Here's my plan:
Now to 5/31: study for the MCAT, write personal statement and ask for rec letters
6/1: Submit application with one throw away school (without an MCAT score)
6/15: Take the MCAT
6/16: Start prewriting secondaries
7/12: MCAT score release, add more schools
If I stick to this plan, everything will be completed by end of July. What are your thoughts on this?

Here are my thoughts....

While you recognize you aren't prepared and pushed your date back, you may still inadvertently end up rushing yourself. Whether you are prepared or not, you have already settled yourself into a race with the application cycle rather than prioritizing when you'll be the most competitive. I think this is the wrong approach.

It's just that what if you don't do as well on the MCAT for a number a reasons. You're already set on applying, so that's going to be a tough decision to let go. Many of us are in such a rush that we rather spend all the time and resources to take our shot regardless of the chances, knowing the odds are against us already. (I had a friend recently do this, unsuccessfully.)

Furthermore, what if you need more time after 5/31 to maximize your performance on the MCAT? In this scenario, you are already forgoing your competitiveness to apply this cycle.

Lastly, and hopefully the most obvious, how will you pre-write secondaries without a school list? And how will you make a school list without an MCAT score?

With all that said, I think your plan is for sure doable! Just keep these things in mind and don't fall into the trap of being hellbent on applying this cycle. From your practice exams, it doesn't seem like you are far behind, and your time table will allow you to be early. The only thing I would add, since you don't know your score yet, is to make time to pre-write for schools that have a wide range of mcat scores, just so you have room to adapt to your exam performance.

 

[lukelukeluke]

Thanks for your advice! Yes, I know it's risky to apply without knowing my MCAT score. I plan to take a few more FLs by 5/31 and if those don't go well then I might have to reconsider applying this cycle. The AAMC practice exams should give me an idea about how well I'll do on the real thing, and I'll choose schools to pre-write secondaries for based on that, as well as schools with a wide range of MCAT scores like you suggested.

 

[lukelukeluke]

That’s the exact same thing I’m doing, I’ve heard it’s the way to go. The worst thing you could do is take the MCAT before you’re ready because you’re rushing to get your application in.

Great to hear someone else is also doing the same thing. When are you planning on submitting your application?

 

[TSHJB302]

Great to hear someone else is also doing the same thing. When are you planning on submitting your application?

Well the goal is to submit on June 1st to one school, so hopefully I can stick to that. That way, when I get my score back on 7/12 and apply everywhere else, the verification process won’t slow me down and I’ll hopefully score high enough to make it past any screens (I got a 506 the last time I took it). I totally understand how nerve wracking applying without knowing your official score is. I’m doing my best to make sure I’m prepared so that I’m able to expand my school list in July instead of shorten it. Good luck to you!! We can do it!!