Last feasable date to take the MCAT

[reallyconfused1]

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Hey guys,
I'm new here, but it seems like the people here could give me good advice.
I will be graduating at the end of my third year of college (Im only in my second year and have over 120 credits, and when i graduate I will have taken 118 credits in my university... yeah heavy semesters)
I am fairly certain my application will be fine stats/recs/PS wise, but because I am only a sophomore, I will only be taking my MCAT late this summer.
I know everyone says to apply as soon as you can in june, but taking the MCAT before that is simply not feasible. My choices are to take it in either july or august.
So the question is, does taking an MCAT in july put me at a very great disadvantage, considering that I will be taking it the summer of my sophomore year, which for anyone else would be early?

Thanks

also in case you were wondering, at the time of application my sGPA will be a 3.7 as will my cGPA. I have a rather impressive set of ECs too, and hopefully my recs will be good.

 

[Geekchick921]

I'm assuming that you are planning on applying this coming cycle, correct? It may hold you back. However, if you're planning on taking a year off and applying to matriculate in 2012, you'll be just fine.

 

[NickNaylor]

I'm not expert, but I think it would put you at a disadvantage. You're already applying with one missing year of experiences that a majority of applicants will have; unless you were really on the ball, you'll more than likely have less of these things than everyone else. Applying that late is a disadvantage for normal applicants, much less someone trying to get in early.

You can go ahead and apply, but it'd probably be better to just wait a year, continue to build up your ECs, and rock the MCAT.

 

[DrSmooth]

Every MCAT date later than June 17 hurts your application progressively worse. You should take it as early as you are able to do well. Have your application, transcripts, and letters submitted in June. Apply to say 29 well-chosen schools. Have your secondaries done ahead of time and return them the same day. See what happens. What else can you do, right?

 

[tiedyeddog]

Every MCAT date later than June 17 hurts your application progressively worse. You should take it as early as you are able to do well. Have your application, transcripts, and letters submitted in June. Apply to say 29 well-chosen schools. Have your secondaries done ahead of time and return them the same day. See what happens. What else can you do, right?

I agree with this totally. Taking it in july or later really starts hurting you.

 

[Sammich117]

If you could somehow take it in June that would be better, but if you do end up taking it in July - DO NOT WAIT until then to submit your AMCAS. Get that in to get verified first.

 

[austinap]

From experience: don't take it late. My first application cycle (~4 years ago) I took the paper MCAT in August, didn't get scores until late October, and was able to eek out a single acceptance very late in the cycle after applying to ~30 schools.

This cycle, retook the MCAT in mid June (the old one expired), and was able to pull off 2 acceptances from 6 apps. It really matters.

If it helps you, think about it this way: every month after June you wait to take your MCAT is the equivalent of taking 4 points off your total score. A score that would make you super competitive early in the cycle will make you 'above average' a month later, and simply 'acceptable' in two months. Don't do this to yourself.