Is July MCAT Late for 2011 Application Year?

[sandys]

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[I erroneously posted this in the MCAT forums, though it might be more appropriate here -- many apologies for the duplicates!]

I signed up to take the May 21st MCAT (this Friday), but I am feeling very nervous about this (terrified, actually) and really don't think I can do well. I'm thinking of canceling and taking the MCAT on July 8 instead.

With the score coming out August 10, would this be extremely late for applying this year? I'm applying to both the AMCAS and TMDSAS schools.

I realize that it's more advisable to apply early, but would not having an MCAT score until August diminish my chances of getting interviews/into a medical school? I really need a high MCAT score, as my GPA is very low (3.6 cGPA, 3.3 sGPA).

Or should I just suck it up and take the MCAT this Friday, despite not feeling ready?

Thank you for any and all advice!

 

[Kimaris]

You need the highest MCAT score you can get with your GPA. Applying in August will certainly put you at a disadvantage ( Applications open up June the first). However, It could be a good idea to an extra month to prepare yourself if you think you can significantly improve on your MCAT score... What have you gotten on your practice tests?

 

[sandys]

What have you gotten on your practice tests?

I've been getting 29-30 on the Kaplan practice tests and will take a full AAMC exam tonight (I've been taking parts of them) to see if there is a big discrepancy between the two. I'm really aiming for a ~35 on the MCAT with my GPA.

 

[Kimaris]

I've been getting 29-30 on the Kaplan practice tests and will take a full AAMC exam tonight (I've been taking parts of them) to see if there is a big discrepancy between the two. I'm really aiming for a ~35 on the MCAT with my GPA.

I checked my MSAR and you don't stand a good chance of getting in a lot of places with your grades. I'm not going to tell you what to do, however, getting the highest MCAT score you can will open more doors.

 

[allie1361]

A July MCAT will not necessarily destroy your chances at getting interviews and getting accepted. I took a July MCAT last year, got my scores a month later, and submitted everything after that. I got 4 interviews, 1 acceptance and 3 waitlists. As long as the rest of your app is good, WHEN you submit your app isn't as important. If you need the extra time, take it.

BTW, I was taking those practice tests and consistently scored a 24 or 25. I walked away from the real thing with a 31. Just remember that the environment you're in GREATLY affects your performance on a test like that. Taking it at home, or even in the library, with the possibility of noise and distractions makes it harder to do the test. So don't think you're doomed if your practice tests keep saying 29 or 30...

 

[Corpsman Up]

A 3.6/3.3 isnt that bad of a gpa. looking at my MSAR, your science gpa is in the lower 10% of most schools, so youre right to assume that you probably need a pretty stellar MCAT. But remember, there are a lot of other parts to the application, and hopefully your ec's, research, etc are pretty beefed up.

Personally, if I were you (and theres a pretty good chance I will be in the same spot), I would take it now and apply to DO schools as well

 

[phantomx87]

I, too, took a late July (7/30) MCAT last year. I had a previous score which was still somewhat competitive (it was expired for some schools, hence the retake). As a fellow low-GPA-er, I can tell you that you need to submit as early as humanly possible. Make sure your application is completely ready to go on the first day that the AMCAS lets you submit.

Make sure that you don't goof off between now and the day of the MCAT. You will need to eat, sleep, breathe study material, but it's certainly doable.

Good luck!

 

[LetsGo352]

.

 

[sandys]

Thank you, everybody! 🙂

After reading your advice, I'm thinking of taking the MCAT exam this Friday and immediately signing up for the July test date when I am done. In June, if my released score is terrible, I can re-take the exam in July without worrying about not being able to reserve a seat. Would this be better? Or does re-taking it look bad?

I am thinking of submitting my applications (both to the Texas schools where I'm a resident and the AMCAS schools) at the beginning/end of June and sending my May MCAT score the moment it is released -- while indicating that there's an updated MCAT score forthcoming. Would the schools that require secondary applications send me the secondary apps if they deem my scores "acceptable" -- or will they not even look at my file if I'm re-taking?

edited; I guess my question is similar to LetsGo352's. 🙂

Is your goal to get into medical school or to to get into medical quickly?

My strong advice/rule is to "Take the MCAT when ready!"

Cancel this friday, take a breath, and work on making a stronger applicant for next cycle.

Thank you. I definitely considered applying for the next cycle -- however, I just thought, if I have any chance of getting into a school this cycle, that I should at least try.

 

[phantomx87]

After reading your advice, I'm thinking of taking the MCAT exam this Friday and immediately signing up for the July test date when I am done.

To echo gonnif, you should really think long and hard about whether you feel ready to take the MCAT this month. If you don't feel prepared, do not sit for the exam! Even if you nail the MCAT on the second try, it will still not completely cover up a bad score. Make sure you feel ready before you take the exam. I rescheduled mine twice last summer (ill-advised, but I know when I'm ready) because I didn't feel ready, and it really paid off.

Would the schools that require secondary applications send me the secondary apps if they deem my scores "acceptable" -- or will they not even look at my file if I'm re-taking?

Even though my original scores were competitive (and still valid) for several schools last application cycle, I was placed on pre-review hold immediately pending the arrival of my new MCAT scores. I was able to send in my secondaries (and they still took my money), but I was told flat out by the admissions office that my file would not be reviewed until my new scores were released.

 

[phantomx87]

If you have a strong chance of being rejected, you SHOULDN'T TRY. Reapplicants will have previous applications pulled, it does mean extra scrutiny next time you apply. Now that could be a good thing for those who have a poor original MCAT and show vast improvement. But I believe in being the strongest applicant the first time. So taking MCAT when your are certainly not mentally confident is just a a bad idea for applying and for you personally. Suppose you go in there and just give up the exam or you get such a horrible score that you question your desire to be a doctor.

cancel it, prep for it, (hell become a kaplan instructor for a year) do another 120 hours of service, and you'll be a much stronger candidate

👍

 

[sandys]

Thank you so much for all your advice!

After this thread, I'm seriously considering waiting for the next cycle to apply while bringing up my GPA (especially sGPA) and getting a good MCAT score. 🙂

If I manage to bring my cGPA up to 3.75 and sGPA to 3.5 -- and have a decent MCAT of at least 33 or so, do you think I will have a shot next application cycle? And if it matters, I'm a Texas resident and am primarily interested in the Texas schools.

 

[OhioDoc]

[I erroneously posted this in the MCAT forums, though it might be more appropriate here -- many apologies for the duplicates!]

I signed up to take the May 21st MCAT (this Friday), but I am feeling very nervous about this (terrified, actually) and really don't think I can do well. I'm thinking of canceling and taking the MCAT on July 8 instead.

With the score coming out August 10, would this be extremely late for applying this year? I'm applying to both the AMCAS and TMDSAS schools.

I realize that it's more advisable to apply early, but would not having an MCAT score until August diminish my chances of getting interviews/into a medical school? I really need a high MCAT score, as my GPA is very low (3.6 cGPA, 3.3 sGPA).

Or should I just suck it up and take the MCAT this Friday, despite not feeling ready?

Thank you for any and all advice!

August 10th is most definitely not extremely late - that's really when the flood gates of the application season are starting to open though. If you were to delay your MCAT, it would be wise of you to submit your primary application BEFORE you receive the scores (list just one school if you're not confident in the scores), that way the application can get verified while you're waiting for the scores.

With your stats being a little bit on the low side, you're definitely going to need to rock the test, so I'd suggest delaying it if you "don't feel ready". I think it would be wise to take one of the AAMC practice exams under the most real conditions possible so that you can get an idea of where you would score if you were to take the test on your scheduled date. The tests are available at:

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/preparing/orderingpracticetests.htm

 

[jm192]

I took it August 5th of last year. Got my first interview in mid-December, and 2 more in January. It all worked out.

You may end up interviewing a little later, but you'll likely be ok unless you're applying to some uber competitive school.

 

[justinbaily]

A July MCAT will not necessarily destroy your chances at getting interviews and getting accepted. I took a July MCAT last year, got my scores a month later, and submitted everything after that. I got 4 interviews, 1 acceptance and 3 waitlists. As long as the rest of your app is good, WHEN you submit your app isn't as important. If you need the extra time, take it.

BTW, I was taking those practice tests and consistently scored a 24 or 25. I walked away from the real thing with a 31. Just remember that the environment you're in GREATLY affects your performance on a test like that. Taking it at home, or even in the library, with the possibility of noise and distractions makes it harder to do the test. So don't think you're doomed if your practice tests keep saying 29 or 30...

Whoa, bad advice.

 

[sustentacular]

Even though my original scores were competitive (and still valid) for several schools last application cycle, I was placed on pre-review hold immediately pending the arrival of my new MCAT scores. I was able to send in my secondaries (and they still took my money), but I was told flat out by the admissions office that my file would not be reviewed until my new scores were released.

This is different for every school. There are some schools that will look at your file and may even invite you for an interview prior to score release/reporting.

If I manage to bring my cGPA up to 3.75 and sGPA to 3.5 -- and have a decent MCAT of at least 33 or so, do you think I will have a shot next application cycle? And if it matters, I'm a Texas resident and am primarily interested in the Texas schools.

You will definitely have a better shot at acceptance at Texas schools. Just make sure your first application is the best you can put forward, the application cycle can be very expensive, certainly not something you want to have to do twice.