KEY QUESTION THATS DOUBLE PENETRATING MY MIND: Rolling Admisions and MCAT Date!

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Transformers

Transformers

Full Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Messages
723
Reaction score
22
Members don't see this ad.
Hey Guys,

I will be taking the MCAT in May and backup date is AUGUST....i know i know...real late, but I should have all my primaries after my 1st MCAT date so by July 1st basically because I should have my 1st MCAT score + reccs + app info all submitted...my PROBLEM is...WHAT IF I DONT DO WELL on the first time around??? How important is it for Rolling Admissions med schools that I get my MCAT score in on time as the interview and application season passes?

To be honest with you and really sincere with you, this is really the last barrier for me and if I do pretty well on the MCAT, oh boy, I think I'd def had an excellent shot at the top 20s (according to my advisors evaluation...this goes along with my 3.98 GPA and a ton of other **** at a top 20 uni)

My KEY question is basically is this hypothetical:

Say I got a 33 on the MCAT the first time around on my May 22nd date...I obviously wanna take the MCAT again in AUG, because this score is not competitive enough for the top 20s. So, would I submit my primaries to my safety schools and then wait basically sometime in September to submit my primaries to the my REACH schools? How do you handle this situation?

Thanks guys...i really appreciate it!
 
1st, really on the post title? lol

2nd, For rolling admissions, you'd be surprised at some of the top 20 interviews you'd get with "only" a 33 (Since the rest of your app is awesome). You will just preclude yourself from Wash U with that MCAT score.

In terms of your retake's effect on rolling admissions, the schols will see your may score until you retake your other score, and may make an interview decisions based on that score anyways. You'll mark that you'll be taking another MCAT, but it'll be late in the cycle-- and boy, applying in a timely manner is the most important thing.
 
Why would you retake a 33? Use some common sense.

And yes, retaking in August will significantly hurt you. Now you're not complete at schools until September.
 
thegetupkid said:
1st, really on the post title? lol

2nd, For rolling admissions, you'd be surprised at some of the top 20 interviews you'd get with "only" a 33 (Since the rest of your app is awesome). You will just preclude yourself from Wash U with that MCAT score.

In terms of your retake's effect on rolling admissions, the schols will see your may score until you retake your other score, and may make an interview decisions based on that score anyways. You'll mark that you'll be taking another MCAT, but it'll be late in the cycle-- and boy, applying in a timely manner is the most important thing.
Click to expand...

seriously 😆

I wouldn't worry about it. Just apply early.
 
wait so u guys say that beign FULLY evaluated by reach schools in september sucks?

well good thing is that a LOT of the top 20s are not rolling so it may work to my advantage

what are your thoughts
 
Transformers said:
wait so u guys say that beign FULLY evaluated by reach schools in september sucks?

well good thing is that a LOT of the top 20s are not rolling so it may work to my advantage

what are your thoughts
Click to expand...
It won't work to your advantage. Admissions may be rolling, but interviews are not.

Say School X has 600 interviews to offer during the season. Applicant A completes his secondary the day it is available, and submits it the same day. There are 600 possible slots for him to interview. If he's a great candidate, he will get one of those most likely.

Applicant B (you) isn't complete at School X until the end of September because he wanted to retake his 33 MCAT. Since Applicant A applied, 3500 more secondaries have been submitted. Applicant B is now #3501 in line to be reviewed. Obviously many have been reviewed, but Applicant B still must wait. Applicant B has his file reviewed by the committee at the end of October. Now, instead of 600 open slots, only 250 remain. The committee is much more selective now.

Yeah, that's a drawn out example. But it will never be advantageous to apply late.
 
OP, do you realize that if you do get an MCAT score of 33, and then retake, there is a distinct possibility that your next MCAT score will be lower? It happens all the time. I think you are too obsessed with getting into a "top 20 school." What if you were accepted to the school that was ranked 25, or 29 or 30. It will have zero impact on your future if you do well in whatever school you attend. If I received an MCAT score of 33, and had a high gpa like you, I would not retake the MCAT. You should get some acceptances if you interview well. Focus on your fit with schools and stop focusing on the top 20.
 
I LOL'd at the thread title. :laugh::laugh:👍😱
 
Transformers said:
Hey Guys,

I will be taking the MCAT in May and backup date is AUGUST....i know i know...real late, but I should have all my primaries after my 1st MCAT date so by July 1st basically because I should have my 1st MCAT score + reccs + app info all submitted...my PROBLEM is...WHAT IF I DONT DO WELL on the first time around??? How important is it for Rolling Admissions med schools that I get my MCAT score in on time as the interview and application season passes?

To be honest with you and really sincere with you, this is really the last barrier for me and if I do pretty well on the MCAT, oh boy, I think I'd def had an excellent shot at the top 20s (according to my advisors evaluation...this goes along with my 3.98 GPA and a ton of other **** at a top 20 uni)

My KEY question is basically is this hypothetical:

Say I got a 33 on the MCAT the first time around on my May 22nd date...I obviously wanna take the MCAT again in AUG, because this score is not competitive enough for the top 20s. So, would I submit my primaries to my safety schools and then wait basically sometime in September to submit my primaries to the my REACH schools? How do you handle this situation?

Thanks guys...i really appreciate it!
Click to expand...

Your practice tests are the AAMC 3-8. Take them and practice until you can score a 38 or 39. Then, if you choke, you'll still get a 35. I think this is a better way to "approach" the test than having a second MCAT as a backup date. There is nothing wrong with taking a year off to study if you can't get the practice scores you NEED yet... (although even if you get a 28 you can probably get in somewhere this cycle, lol)
 
Don't bother retaking if you get above 90 percentile. I think that's 33 and above. Beyond that, any gains you get will be outshadowed by the possibility of doing worse the second time around (if this happens, add this to the fact that your application will be complete later, then you've done more damage to your application than you ever could have)
 
To OP: I just want to commend you on your use of the term "double penetrating." An opportunity to use it presented itself, and you seized it. Excellent!
 
RoadRunner17 said:
Don't bother retaking if you get above 90 percentile. I think that's 33 and above. Beyond that, any gains you get will be outshadowed by the possibility of doing worse the second time around (if this happens, add this to the fact that your application will be complete later, then you've done more damage to your application than you ever could have)
Click to expand...
Agreed. I scored a 33 and it was a few points below my AAMC average of 36. As silly as it sounds, it was a tad bit disheartening and the idea of retaking did briefly cross my mind. But, in reality there is the possibility of getting that score again (or even lower) just by bum-luck and I'm not too sure ADCOM's would look upon that too highly. Out-competing 90% of your peers is still a great accomplishment, so at that point I'd focus on other aspects of your application that will increase your competitiveness like getting great experiences in the medical field and volunteering tons of hours.

JM.02
 
You're doing it wrong.

Submit your complete application as early as possible to all schools. Do not specify that you will retake the MCAT. If you do end up retaking it, call the admissions offices with your new score when you get it. You run the risk of an early rejection from your reach schools but I'd take that risk in order to be complete early. EARLY IS KEY!
 
lol, -1 for the title of the thread

and chill. your gpa would be in top half of a top 20's class, and your mcat would be in the bottom half. you will likely still get an interview at some top 20s if everything else is as great as you say. don't feel the need to retake.. but if you practice for it and score consistently higher on the practice tests, then it is your call. i say as long as it's a balanced 33 (11x3, or 11PS, 10VR, 12BS) you should be fine.
 
ih8biochem said:
You're doing it wrong.

Submit your complete application as early as possible to all schools. Do not specify that you will retake the MCAT. If you do end up retaking it, call the admissions offices with your new score when you get it. You run the risk of an early rejection from your reach schools but I'd take that risk in order to be complete early. EARLY IS KEY!
Click to expand...
can one really do this? i got a 31 and will be retaking (cause of my mediocre gpa) in July. can i get away with that?

i mean, what if i get rejected automatically and then come back with a higher mcat?
 
Um how would a question DP your brain? maybe through the ears...or maybe one up the nose and one in the ear.
 
Does the same question blow your mind too?
 
Man I've always loved this thread. Excellent bump.
 
what an awesome thread title. thank you whoever bumped this. hahahaha
 
double bump, if you catch my drift. 😉
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Reapplicant MCAT Question
Replies
1
Views
404
Goro
Goro
N
Accidentally doubled my activity hours in this cycle vs. last
Replies
4
Views
379
nontrad1001
N
H
Question about my competitiveness
Replies
2
Views
561
honeylee
H
E
  • Question Question
Early interviews for non-rolling admissions?
Replies
1
Views
1K
LizzyM
LizzyM
E
SDN Article: Mind the Gap: How First-Generation and International Students Navigate Prehealth Pathways
Replies
0
Views
290
Emil Chuck, PhD
E
Top