is taking the mcat for the first time in august too late?

[malikman]

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i am a junior in undergrad and i have a pretty good GPA and ECs and was wondering if i pushing my mcat back till august 14th or 21st would seriously harm my chances? i will be taking it for the first time and i dont feel ready because i just took a practice test which wasn't too hot. i've been studying since may and i am currently registered to take it july 31st. i really wanna go to CCOM and am applyign to both allo and ostopathic schools. Please let me know if chnaging my date will really hurt me! i'm sending in my aacomas and amcas in the next 10 days or so. so please someone get back to me!!

 

[engineeredout]

Earlier is always better, but if you feel like a few more weeks will be beneficial you're much better off delaying until you're ready. Don't be completely discouraged over a single practice test however.

I took the MCAT last august; things still worked out. Waiting won't kill you

 

[Apterous]

Getting in your Apps early is definitely important, but it is much more important that you feel confident for you MCAT and you do your best.

 

[Semicolon]

Keep in mind that you can still submit and verify your app before you get your MCAT score.

 

[The Poet Sings]

Keep in mind that you can still submit and verify your app before you get your MCAT score.

about that: let's say you're retaking (i think i asked you about this on another thread lol). submit with original score only to those you meet the minimum for, and indicate retake, then add others when new (higher!) scores come in? or submit with original score to every school, even if their minimum isn't met, and indicate the retake and they'll look at you when those come in?

since i figured it's different for each school, i was going to contact them all, but i know that schools are sometimes slow in answering emails (i'd prefer to have something in writing) so i figured it would be a good idea to get a general idea (if such a thing exists) on what i should do.

geez that was a long sentence! i apologize for that.

 

[Semicolon]

about that: let's say you're retaking (i think i asked you about this on another thread lol). submit with original score only to those you meet the minimum for, and indicate retake, then add others when new (higher!) scores come in? or submit with original score to every school, even if their minimum isn't met, and indicate the retake and they'll look at you when those come in?

since i figured it's different for each school, i was going to contact them all, but i know that schools are sometimes slow in answering emails (i'd prefer to have something in writing) so i figured it would be a good idea to get a general idea (if such a thing exists) on what i should do.

geez that was a long sentence! i apologize for that.

Of those two scenarios, the second is the one that will happen. You can't selectively release your score to any schools; you release it to AACOMAS, and they show it to all schools. Regardless, as long as you indicate that you are retaking, they are likely to put your application on hold until they receive your new score, at which point they may fully consider you. It is very hard to predict the admissions process and what an admissions committee member may choose to do or not, but either way you must release your current score to AACOMAS even if it doesn't currently meet a school's minimum.

 

[NightOwlPM]

Too late for any acceptance? Probably not. Late enough to restrict your choices? Yes.

It seems you have no choice but to take it when you are planning. Make sure you get it right the first time. Also remember you don't have to have an MCAT score to submit AACOMAS.

 

[malikman]

does anyone with prior experience think that applying to CCOM with say my apps turned by early july and if i did take my mcat would i be able to get an interview possibly by September? or would i be competing for a waitlist spot? i'm really on the fence about this. i nkoe msucom is very picky about when eveything is due so like waht DO schools are picky?? anyone know?? possibly if someone who applied to CCOM could answer my Q i'd really appreciate it.

 

[malikman]

btw when i say ake mcat i mean, august 21st mcat!

 

[NightOwlPM]

Try asking in CCOM thread of the School-Specific Discussion forum. Probably get more help there.

 

[The Poet Sings]

Of those two scenarios, the second is the one that will happen. You can't selectively release your score to any schools; you release it to AACOMAS, and they show it to all schools. Regardless, as long as you indicate that you are retaking, they are likely to put your application on hold until they receive your new score, at which point they may fully consider you. It is very hard to predict the admissions process and what an admissions committee member may choose to do or not, but either way you must release your current score to AACOMAS even if it doesn't currently meet a school's minimum.

the way you phrased your answer makes me think i wasn't clear enough in my question (no surprise there!). i wasn't saying that i'd only release certain scores, but rather that i'd wait until new scores were in before applying to schools i didn't meet minimums for. i really hope you're right about the way they'd look at my app. i'd hate to be rejected straight out because of my mcat and then never looked at again 🙁.

 

[Semicolon]

the way you phrased your answer makes me think i wasn't clear enough in my question (no surprise there!). i wasn't saying that i'd only release certain scores, but rather that i'd wait until new scores were in before applying to schools i didn't meet minimums for. i really hope you're right about the way they'd look at my app. i'd hate to be rejected straight out because of my mcat and then never looked at again 🙁.

Sorry; I must have misunderstood! 😛

I firmly believe that they wouldn't simply reject you when they see that you're retaking the score. A lot of schools love to see strong upward trends, so my guess is that they would wait to see if that's the case with you.