Is May 31 Considered Late to Take the MCAT?

[noelmedicine1]

I am thinking of taking the MCAT May 31 for the next cycle. Since the scores are released July 1st, I’m not sure if that’ll be considered late. I am kind of concerned about my chances with getting my MCAT scores July 1st

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[Hollow Knight]

It goes against the typical advice of taking in March or April (to leave time for a retake), but I think it's fine honestly. If you bomb it, I'd take a year off to study anyway.

You're really only wanting to take the MCAT once anyway. and this gives you more time to study and get your app in.

If you're super worried about having your score by June 28th you can always move it up a week or something but I don't think it'll matter much. When people say "apply early" they mean early, not the day the app opens or anything.

 

[flextape]

I am thinking of taking the MCAT May 31 for the next cycle. Since the scores are released July 1st, I’m not sure if that’ll be considered late. I am kind of concerned about my chances with getting my MCAT scores July 1st since I have got a 3.0 GPA in undergrad and a postgrad 3.5 sGPA so far. Thanks.

The other comment is good advice, but also do make sure you're using the throwaway method when applying

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Back in the Stone Age (Paper Exam) days, we only had two test dates: one in April and the other in August. May 31 isn't late, but as others have pointed out, make sure you have the right ducks in a row with your application strategy.

 

[Goro]

No, it's not too late.

 

[noelmedicine1]

The other comment is good advice, but also do make sure you're using the throwaway method when applying

Can you explain what the throwaway method is? Thanks.

 

[AJS59]

Can you explain what the throwaway method is? Thanks.

I personally haven't done it myself but the basic concept looks like this: when you submit AMCAS as you would submit it in the late May-early June timeframe, you pick and pay for 1 school that you think you likely would not get into (classic examples would include Harvard for most students, UWashington Seattle if you're out of their 5 state region, etc.) or simply would not ever want to go to. This gets your primary app in the queue for verification. After you get an MCAT score back then you can go in and add your school list, as once your app is verified your app is sent instantly to any new schools you select.

Basically the point of this is to make sure you start getting secondaries without having to wait a month+ between MCAT score and primary app verification

 

[flextape]

I personally haven't done it myself but the basic concept looks like this: when you submit AMCAS as you would submit it in the late May-early June timeframe, you pick and pay for 1 school that you think you likely would not get into (classic examples would include Harvard for most students, UWashington Seattle if you're out of their 5 state region, etc.) or simply would not ever want to go to. This gets your primary app in the queue for verification. After you get an MCAT score back then you can go in and add your school list, as once your app is verified your app is sent instantly to any new schools you select.

Basically the point of this is to make sure you start getting secondaries without having to wait a month+ between MCAT score and primary app verification

To add to this, it also prevents you from wasting money applying to your entire school list in the event your MCAT doesn’t go as planned, and makes sure that you aren’t a reapplicant at your preferred schools if you decide to apply the next cycle

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Can you explain what the throwaway method is? Thanks.

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