July 8 - too late for MCAT retake?

[CultureDoc]

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I'm pretty positive I'll be reapplying this year and am thinking about retaking the MCAT. This would be my third time. (First (5/07): 10V, 8P, 10B = 28M; Second (8/07): 13V, 8p, 9B = 30Q)

I absolutely know I could do better in the sciences if I put the time into it (I studied pathetically little for both of my attempts), and I'm thinking that a higher MCAT would help the adcoms take my app more seriously (also have a low BCPM: 3.42, almost all post-bacc). Problem is, I work full time, and my May/early June weekend schedule is crazy-busy already (biochem final, two out-of town family graduations, undergrad class reunion weekend, etc.), so even the June 13th date seems too early.

So, I'm looking at July 8 but wondering if that will be too late . . . I was looking back through this year's non-trad progress thread (I'm 27 and a former art historian 🙂), and it looks like people started getting interviews in early August . . . which is about the time my retake score would be released if I went with July 8. Having an early app is VERY important to me this coming cycle, as I applied super late this year (dumb, I know). Hence, since I already have what some would say is an ok score that may get me some interviews, is it ok to wait until July 8 for the retake? Or does that basically put me in the "kind-of-late" applicant pile? . . . where I do NOT want to be.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated! 😀

 

[Mobius1985]

If you take it July 8, you'll get the results about August 8. This could work if you've already submitted to AMCAS and had your GPA certified so the scores will be released to your schools immediately. It won't work well if you wait to see what your scores are before submitting to AMCAS, as certification will take 4-5 weeks by that point in the cycle, meaning September or later arrival of your applications to med schools (i.e. late). You can hedge your bet by only applying to one school initially and adding all the others (paying as you go) when you see the new MCAT score. The added schools will get your application almost immediately.

You already know an earlier retake would be better, and if you need the time to study for the MCAT, fine, there's no point in retaking the test at all if you aren't going to gain at least two points. If the reason for delaying is purely a social occasion, I think you should consider giving it up, as the other attendees would understand your reasons. You'd have to take the biochem final, but is it given on a Saturday? Even this the professor might be willing to accomodate if you discuss it with her.

 

[CultureDoc]

Thanks for the response. I'm DEFINITELY submitting AMCAS as soon as it's open for submittal. That's not in question, as I know how important that is. My question is, will retaking on July 8 instead of June 13 (and hence getting the scores back Aug 8, instead of July 13) put my app too far back? I'm assuming most schools won't consider my app complete until I get the new scores . . . is this the case? Is that a problem?

My other thought was, what if I don't mark on my AMCAS that I'm retaking? Could I then just update the schools on my own? Or is that a bad move? Could I get screened out before August 8th with my 13/8/9? Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Anyone decided to retake at the last minute and not mark it on AMCAS?

 

[gman33]

July is fine as long as you do the rest of your app before. No sense in taking it earlier if you don't study. I'd also think about skipping all the outside stuff in favor of studying. I'd much rather get into med school than go to a reunion or a family party.

 

[greg1184]

I took the MCAT in July 24 last year and got accepted to medical school on the very first day of acceptances (October 15). For many schools, interviews don't even begin till September. If you complete the rest of your application by around the time you get your MCAT back (August) then you should be fine. AMCAS should be turned in on June, schools should be sending you secondaries in July. Get all of that submitted and all you have left is the MCAT.

 

[CultureDoc]

July is fine as long as you do the rest of your app before. No sense in taking it earlier if you don't study. I'd also think about skipping all the outside stuff in favor of studying. I'd much rather get into med school than go to a reunion or a family party.

Thanks for the response. Part of the reason I'm asking if July is too late is that I'm wondering what May commitments I can make. I could probably get out of going to the out-of-town family graduations (brother-and sister-in-law), but I REALLY want to go to the reunion. My college friends are my best friends but we're scattered all over the country/world, and it's my one chance to see them all together in several years. Plus, I've heard that these reunions are nothing short of amazing. If push came to shove, I'd choose med school, but if I can have my cake and eat it too, that seems ideal. 😀

Thanks for the advice. I really do appreciate it.

 

[CultureDoc]

I took the MCAT in July 24 last year and got accepted to medical school on the very first day of acceptances (October 15). For many schools, interviews don't even begin till September. If you complete the rest of your application by around the time you get your MCAT back (August) then you should be fine. AMCAS should be turned in on June, schools should be sending you secondaries in July. Get all of that submitted and all you have left is the MCAT.

Great - thanks for posting! It's good to hear from someone who's done it (and made a significant improvement on your score - congrats!) Of course, your GPA is quite a bit better than mine . . . but this may be all the more reason for me to take some extra time to study and really kill the MCAT.

Thanks guys! 👍

 

[CrepesofWrath]

What about submitting your primary application as it is (with your previous scores), but also sending a letter informing the adcom that you will be submitting updated MCAT scores? At worst, it means that your review will be delayed until your scores are submitted (which you were planning on doing anyway). At least, with an updated PS and LORs, you'll still be in the running for interviews.

Does anyone else have any thoughts?


I also agree with the above posts. Take the time to really study well for the MCAT. It is one of the easiest things to fix if you put in the time. It looks awful if you do worse than last time, and you'll only be kicking yourself for skimping. Remember that every MCAT attempt is submitted...

 

[greg1184]

What about submitting your primary application as it is (with your previous scores), but also sending a letter informing the adcom that you will be submitting updated MCAT scores? At worst, it means that your review will be delayed until your scores are submitted (which you were planning on doing anyway). At least, with an updated PS and LORs, you'll still be in the running for interviews.

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

I don't think that is necessary because on AMCAS there is a specific entry where you can select dates of future MCATs you are going to take. It just seems redundant to submit a letter for that. Save the update letters for after you submit your AMCAS and you want to add extracurriculars, LORs, etc.

 

[quitecontrary]

I'm deciding on a July retake too, but some things concern me.

I will be submitting my AMCAS the first week of June and have a recent set of MCAT scores under my name (many people have been saying to apply early even if you are taking the MCAT after June 1st). I imagine that I will get verified pretty soon after that, and then comes secondaries from schools which gives them to all applicants.

I can imagine how time consuming it will be to complete secondaries (I am applying early and broadly) and I'm seriously thinking about enrolling in an ExamKrackers classroom course to help prepare me for the retake. How manageable will it be to study while completing secondaries? (This is assuming I haven't been screened out due to my old set of scores)

Any thoughts? And any thoughts about what happens if you don't check the box saying you are taking the MCAT again? (Does this just mean you might get screened out based on your old scores?)

Thanks to everyone in advance for their insight.

 

[Mobius1985]

How manageable will it be to study while completing secondaries? (This is assuming I haven't been screened out due to my old set of scores)

It will be hard to study while completing a flood of secondaries. Consider accessing last year's questions for each of your schools (links available on the sticky FAQ at the top of the pre-allo threads: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=419935) and getting a head start. Some essays are fairly similiar and can be used for more than one application if you are careful to change school-specific details.

And any thoughts about what happens if you don't check the box saying you are taking the MCAT again? (Does this just mean you might get screened out based on your old scores?)

Some schools consider your application immediately even if they know you plan to retake the MCAT, and others won't look at it until the new score is available. If you don't check the box, you may be eliminated from any further consideration, because of cutoffs based on the old score, even when the new score is distributed.

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

It will be hard to study while completing a flood of secondaries. Consider accessing last year's questions for each of your schools (links available on the sticky FAQ at the top of the pre-allo threads: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=419935) and getting a head start. Some essays are fairly similiar and can be used for more than one application if you are careful to change school-specific details.


Some schools consider your application immediately even if they know you plan to retake the MCAT, and others won't look at it until the new score is available. If you don't check the box, you may be eliminated from any further consideration, because of cutoffs based on the old score, even when the new score is distributed.

This last point is key..I'd applied last year and sent an "update" explaining 1 section MCAT score which was an outlier on my app, and listing 100+ hrs clinical experience gained after completing the primary. Most schools did not consider the update; they took a "first glance" based on info in the Amcas primary and made a decision from there.

The main point being that although one would think schools would wait for an updated MCAT score that the applicant indicates is coming, my impression is that schools need to plow through apps quickly; it seems possible that they'd make a decision based on the old MCAT score. I'd feel much more comfortable sending in the secondary around the same time as when the re-taken MCAT is available, rather than several weeks earlier, just to prevent this possibility.

 

[greg1184]

This last point is key..I'd applied last year and sent an "update" explaining 1 section MCAT score which was an outlier on my app, and listing 100+ hrs clinical experience gained after completing the primary. Most schools did not consider the update; they took a "first glance" based on info in the Amcas primary and made a decision from there.

The main point being that although one would think schools would wait for an updated MCAT score that the applicant indicates is coming, my impression is that schools need to plow through apps quickly; it seems possible that they'd make a decision based on the old MCAT score. I'd feel much more comfortable sending in the secondary around the same time as when the re-taken MCAT is available, rather than several weeks earlier, just to prevent this possibility.

In the 15 schools I applied to, I did not run into any of that. Every school waited for my 2nd MCAT to complete my application.

 

[Ktbro323]

I think you should be more than fine. I'm on the waitlist for this cycle still and am planning on re-taking the MCATS August 7th. I met with UC's Dean of Admissions and he told me that taking it August 7th would still allow me to do early decision this year. I'm in a similar situation with you in the working department/graduating this June. I felt rushed to do well in July. I think its a better idea to wait if you think that extra month will help as well. I don't think its as a big of a deal to take it later when they already have a 2 MCAT scores of yours.

 

[whoknows2008]

I don't think that is necessary because on AMCAS there is a specific entry where you can select dates of future MCATs you are going to take. It just seems redundant to submit a letter for that. Save the update letters for after you submit your AMCAS and you want to add extracurriculars, LORs, etc.

Did you submit your application after you got your scores back? Or in the inbetween time while you were waiting for your scores?

 

[greg1184]

Did you submit your application after you got your scores back? Or in the inbetween time while you were waiting for your scores?

I submitted my application in june well before I took the MCAT in july. I simply noted on my AMCAS that I was retaking it on that date. All schools waited for my score to come in to complete my application. Other schools that screen for secondaries waited for my MCAT to give me a secondary.

DO NOT wait for your score to submit your AMCAS. You are giving yourself a serious handicap if you do so.