Who said I'm 22? I'm actually older.
Ive been a few years out of college already and took a few years off between taking my mcat & applying.
It seems here that applying early is a huge deal and that if your application isnt in early there's no point of applying? That's the impression I'm getting, even though i know plenty that got in and were complete September.
Yes i always kept busy I had research, jobs and volunteering in between.
Sorry OP, but I agree with Back 5's assessment at this point. The first part of your sentence is so heavily emphasized to premeds that it is highly likely you gave off a vibe of ignorance as to the process in your interviews, which would fit the criteria you are looking for in an explanation:
1. You didn't pick up on it in interviews
2. They did, and it matters a great deal to them
As for the second part of your claim, it merely confirms that you still don't really "get" the process. While I can sympathize with your position (I'm a 27-year-old M2), it doesn't exonerate you from understanding the reality of the process, much as it didn't excuse me. The reality is, you are a reapplicant with an as-yet-uncertain handicap that kept you from an acceptance out of 6 interviews, and if you apply this year with an improved MCAT (which is actually assuming a lot all on its own) you will only be addressing 1 of the 3 most likely explanations (MCAT, timing of submission, interview performance) for your failure. THAT is why people are so cynical about your prospects this cycle - not only are you going to be later than last time, but you still seem in the dark about really essential elements of the process, and could easily shoot yourself in the foot again in a fresh batch of interviews.
Also, schools emphasize recent changes in reapplicant applications - have you done anything BIG that would strike them as a game-changer? Furthermore, many schools start assigning a hefty disadvantage to three-time applicants - some even block them altogether. You can't just keep applying over and over til you strike gold - you really ought to make each attempt a 100% effort, because you
do run out of second chances.
The proper thing to have done this year was to begin preparing to reapply in May at the latest. I know the MCAT sucks donkey balls, but you should be well aware that it is not an undertaking to be crammed into your schedule with little warning. You should have been submitting your primary with a retake completed (not necessarily scored yet) by the 4th of July at the latest, which would allow you to complete secondaries by the end of July, which would give you a fighting chance at all interview slots (which start in August). Even this timeline is softer than the one most people here would give you, but it's a bare minimum to address the timeliness aspects.
As for the MCAT itself. You claim to have done practice tests and studied over the year, so at least you have that going for you - hopefully you are on track for a significant improvement. Know, however, that people tend to score a little higher on practices than on the real thing, so if your practices are coming up only around 30 or 31, this does not bode well for improvement. =( You really need to get your practices closer to 33 consistently to feel confident of at least a 30 on the MCAT, which is the minimum you should aim for to justify the retake.
So, all that being said - if you aren't scoring into the mid 30s on your practice tests, your plan is very poor indeed. You will likely wind up applying with little new to show for it, and have an excellent chance of not catching anything this cycle either. Worst of all, you will now be a 3x applicant at any schools you applied to both cycles, which is a red flag all its own. If you ARE scoring that high, this cycle is still off to a worse start than it should have been, but at least you have some prospect of improvement, considering the fact you say you had other new things this year too.
So I guess if you really, REALLY can't tolerate the thought of waiting another year, and you're willing to accept the risk of blowing a 2nd formal application attempt, go ahead and submit AMCAS ASAP to a school you have no interest in, then add other desired schools immediately if you get back a score in the 30s. Prewrite secondaries for schools you're interested in (we put up essay prompts on this site), and turn secondaries around within 24 hours of receiving them. Finally, look for ANY opportunities to practice interviews with people familiar with med school interviewing in particular, like your premed office. Maybe an adviser or fellow student can pick up on something you're doing that is hurting you.
Hopefully things work out for you, this cycle or next. But regardless of what happens, I really hope you genuinely understand how you misplayed your hand.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
