January 2012 MCATs + applying

[roxy88]

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I want to apply to DO schools for the fall 2012 semester.
However, I will only be able to write the MCATs in January 2012. Some schools will accept the January 2012 MCATs. What is confusing me is the following: Arizona COM of Midwestern University accepts January MCATs, but their AACOMAS deadline is January 1st. How will the primary application (which contains the MCAT scores) be sent on time or treated?

Furthermore, it takes approx a month for the scores to get processed and AACOMAS advise applicants to apply one month before the deadline, how is it possible that some schools with January, February, or March deadlines accept January MCATs when it may not be processed on time?

 

[pcook1]

You can complete and submit your AACOMAS application without MCAT scores. Once you've taken the test and have your scores you can release them to AACOMAS who will forward them to your schools. Even though you won't know your scores until end of Jan/early Feb, you should still fill out the AACOMAS application asap, because it does take a while to verify (6+ weeks) and some schools will send you their secondary app without having your MCAT's, so you can get a jump start on those.

 

[Jeeps]

Awesome Question, You took it right out of my overly sized head.

pcook1 thanks for answering. I better I finish up ASAP! I still need to send in the LOR and Transcripts.

I took the MCATS though, and did terrible on them, Can I submit the app w/o the MCATS and submit the Jan 2012 and the mcat grades after I do the redo?

 

[whitefang21]

I am in the same boat taking the cats in january and applying this year as well. Does aacom require LORs? what schools are you guys applying to?

 

[inaccensa]

Doing the same thing. My biggest problem is getting a LOR from a DO doctor. Been calling up offices and getting no responses. I live in NYC and it seems like there are plethora of hospitals, clinics and private practices, but none seem to want to help🙁

 

[dntke1518]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but January is getting to the most difficult part of the interview season... but the schools won't even get your scores then, it will be later. Just keep this in mind as you could very well be interviewing for a nearly if not full already class (I interviewed last cycle at the end of February and the class was already full). I just think it would behoove you to wait until the next application cycle.

Oh and AACOMAS does not require LORs... those can be sent in via Interfolio, Virtual Evals, or snail mail when secondaries are sent to you.

 

[IDFsoldierboy]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but January is getting to the most difficult part of the interview season... but the schools won't even get your scores then, it will be later. Just keep this in mind as you could very well be interviewing for a nearly if not full already class (I interviewed last cycle at the end of February and the class was already full). I just think it would behoove you to wait until the next application cycle.

Oh and AACOMAS does not require LORs... those can be sent in via Interfolio, Virtual Evals, or snail mail when secondaries are sent to you.

it is true that when interviewing in feb and march ur mainly interviewing for the waitlist but it doesnt mean u wont get in...my friend interviewed at AZCOM late in the cycle and got in...its definitely not unheard of but ur chances significantly decrease than if you had ur app in by sept/october...if you look around the forums u can see several schools have alrdy started accepting people and some schools are already booking december interviews...if you have the money to spare I say do it...if you cant really spare the money then id wait for the next cycle.

 

[drgioiadds]

I did this last year and got 2 interviews and was wait listed. My score was mediocre, and I think a better score would have landed me an acceptance last year. Happy how it all turned out now though.

 

[Everglide]

By the time you are 100% complete, you will be interviewing for the waitlist.... assuming you get an interview invite. Keep realistic expectations and a one year back-up plan of reapplying immediately at the start of the 2012-2013 cycle.

Also AACOMAS = your primary application, there's still a secondary after that.

 

[SNDO]

Hey gang, I just wanted to say something as someone who has actually done what the OP is thinking of doing. I took the January 2011 MCAT and applied for schools in the 2010-2011 cycle.

I completed the whole application process in fall of 2010, but it was only really "complete" after I got my MCAT scores back, which was around March 1, 2011. By that time, a lot of schools are at least half-way through with their interview sessions, and I didn't get as many interview invites as I would have gotten if I had taken the MCAT at an earlier date, say, in the fall of 2010. Also, I was "accepted-pending" at one school (different than a waitlist). Anyway, that meant the class was already full by the time I interviewed.

If you're lucky, you'll get a few interview invites and actually get accepted into a school. I consider myself lucky in that respect. Anyway, while taking a late MCAT and getting into a school in the same year is doable, I wouldn't really advise it unless you like risks and stress (lol). If I had to redo the process, I would have planned to take the MCAT earlier to maximize potential interview invites. That's just my opinion.

In the end though, it's up to you! Hope that helps! And good luck on whatever you choose to do! 🙂