Late Submissions: How is this gonna work???

[musicalMD]

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Ok so I am a little concerned about my application this year. Because I decided to do this whole pre-med thing late, I am a bit behind in classes. I want to apply this June though since I will be a senior next year. Here is what will be late:

I am taking both my organic chemistries over the summer, so the grades for that will not be available until August. Because of the orgo, I want to wait and take my MCAT in August, so that score won't be available until later (assuming September or October). Lastly, I need to take Bio I next fall and that score will not be available until it's way too late.

My stats otherwise are descent. I have a 3.83 gpa. I am a music major so I guess I would be considered "well rounded" and I have volunteered at 2 hospitals and at my church (I will have racked close to 200 hours by the time I apply.). How will my late scores affect me getting a secondary application? Will med schools automatically dismiss me because I am missing these things?

 

[turayza]

Your primary application will not be sent to schools until your MCAT score is reported to AMCAS, so you would be receiving secondaries at the earliest at the end of September. (30-35 days after exam date + however long schools take to process; some are right away).
Basically the damage is from applying late in the cycle. (lots of other threads on that) There should be no other major downsides.

 

[tewpac]

How will my late scores affect me getting a secondary application?

If you take the MCAT in August (let's say best case in early August) you'll be getting your scores back in early September. Once your scores are in, your primary application will be sent to schools and you'll start receiving secondaries. So with an early August MCAT you're looking at being complete (primary in--secondaries in) at most schools around mid-late September and October. If you're applying to many schools you should definitely pre-write secondaries with all the time you'll have so you can get them as soon as you receive them.

Will med schools automatically dismiss me because I am missing these things?

As long as you have your pre-requisite courses finished before you enter medical school it should not matter.

In my opinion, and others can chime in on this, taking the MCAT in August is too late. Even if you get a great score it could still restrict your chances at many schools and, like turayza said, there are many threads with more information about applying late in the cycle.

 

[PreMedMaverick]

In my opinion, and others can chime in on this, taking the MCAT in August is too late. Even if you get a great score it could still restrict your chances at many schools and, like turayza said, there are many threads with more information about applying late in the cycle.

I took the MCAT in September for this cycle and I am doing fine (3 interviews, 1 acceptance). The situation is less than ideal, but it can certainly be overcome.

 

[listener23]

I took the MCAT in September for this cycle and I am doing fine (3 interviews, 1 acceptance). The situation is less than ideal, but it can certainly be overcome.

Stats if you dont mind? And are u a urm?

 

[PreMedMaverick]

Stats if you dont mind? And are u a urm?

Non-URM 3.9/35

 

[kilpty]

Not to be a debbie-downer... I took the path similar to what you are proposing last year, similar GPA, 30MCAT, great ECs, applied broadly, wasn't complete until Oct.15 ish. Total fail. 1 interview at my state school. Reapplied next year focusing on EARLY, didn't change much to my app but my new grades, and one or two more ECs with updated essays/letters. But overall same app- now 4 interviews, 1 waitlist, 1 acceptance. I contribute this highly to getting the app in early. If you think you'll get a really high MCAT that could help a lot. But a gap year isn't bad, and now I honestly count it as a blessing, (the next 6 months I get to travel and have fun before school starts!) And it is so much less stressful applying during a gap year vs. school year.

 

[Lya]

As a reapplicant, all I can tell you is to be prepared to reapply at the end of your senior year.

If your MCAT is 35+, I am certain that being complete in Sept/Oct might still work out well at the end. However, if not, being complete in Sept/Oct will be considered late. You need to be prepared to retake the MCAT and reapply next year early.

 

[musicalMD]

Thank you for all your answers. Here's another thought. How much would my score be affected if I took the MCAT before completing orgo 2? Then I could take it around mid July which may be better timing. Thoughts on this?

 

[DokterMom]

Your MCAT score will live on f o r e v e r --
For that reason, please don't take it until you are super ready -- which includes having the requisite coursework behind you.

Your planned strategy has you taking a late MCAT, under-prepared course-wise, and applying late as a best case. Your odds of getting in are substantially lower than they would be waiting a year, and your MCAT score (almost certainly lower than it could be than if you had taken Bio) will stay on your record.

If you decide to wait a year, you can take Orgo and Bio as planned, take an early spring MCAT with better preparation, and apply earlier. So early app, better MCAT, and one more year of ECs. Much better chances all around.

 

[musicalMD]

Your MCAT score will live on f o r e v e r --
For that reason, please don't take it until you are super ready -- which includes having the requisite coursework behind you.

Your planned strategy has you taking a late MCAT, under-prepared course-wise, and applying late as a best case. Your odds of getting in are substantially lower than they would be waiting a year, and your MCAT score (almost certainly lower than it could be than if you had taken Bio) will stay on your record.

If you decide to wait a year, you can take Orgo and Bio as planned, take an early spring MCAT with better preparation, and apply earlier. So early app, better MCAT, and one more year of ECs. Much better chances all around.

Thank you very much for your advice. I want to assure you that I don't intend to go into the MCAT cold and guess on these questions. I am very self motivated and have no problem learning information on my own. I taught myself a great deal of the Bio I material once I realized I would not have time to take it before my MCAT. With the organic chemistry, my intention was to start studying the stuff now to prepare myself for the early test. Of course, I want to run this by my advisor but (in my opinion) it isn't necessary to complete the course before the test of I can learn all the topics typically covered on the test.

As much as I would love to take a year off, it is just not possible for me. If I don't get into med school, I will be relying on my education major to get a job. My school has a 100% job placement rate, but if I take a year off I am not guaranteed a job. I hope I don't sound like one of those crazy people who make really dumb career choices. I just know that I basically have one shot at this and I want to put my all into it.