Latest MCAT for cycle

[gogetter898]

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What is the latest advisable mcat for this cycle? I keep seeing have everything complete by mid September, but I want to know specifically about the MCAt test date

not sure if by a certain point in August they’re sending out interviews?

 

[f--venture]

Hello! The latest date is September 28th (score release of Oct 13th). Given everything going on, the sooner the better but you have time! AAMC has everything posted HERE.

 

[gogetter898]

Hello! The latest date is September 28th (score release of Oct 13th). Given everything going on, the sooner the better but you have time! AAMC has everything posted HERE.

I meant latest in terms of it wouldn’t put me at a disadvantage in the cycle with rolling admissions

 

[supermedicine89]

@gonnif has said that for this cycle October 1st complete is on time so that would mean a September 12th MCAT (score release September 29th) should be fine to be on time. I believe @gonnif has said that even end of October is “ok” for this cycle for solid applicants which would mean that even a September 28th MCAT (score release October 13) would be “ok”. @gonnif is this assessment correct?

@Goro @LizzyM @gyngyn what do you think?

 

[gyngyn]

Agree.

 

[Goro]

@gonnif has said that for this cycle October 1st complete is on time so that would mean a September 12th MCAT (score release September 29th) should be fine to be on time. I believe @gonnif has said that even end of October is “ok” for this cycle for solid applicants which would mean that even a September 28th MCAT (score release October 13) would be “ok”. @gonnif is this assessment correct?

@Goro @LizzyM @gyngyn what do you think?

Due to the COVID crisis, I agree with my wise colleague.

 

[KnightDoc]

@gonnif has said that for this cycle October 1st complete is on time so that would mean a September 12th MCAT (score release September 29th) should be fine to be on time. I believe @gonnif has said that even end of October is “ok” for this cycle for solid applicants which would mean that even a September 28th MCAT (score release October 13) would be “ok”. @gonnif is this assessment correct?

@Goro @LizzyM @gyngyn what do you think?

Agree.

Due to the COVID crisis, I agree with my wise colleague.

"Okay" as in not at a disadvantage to anyone who was complete at any prior date, or "okay" as in not fatal to an application? This is really what OP has been asking, multiple times in multiple different threads over the past few days.

Do you guys really think that this year, due to the unique situation, that everyone stressing about getting applications in early is foolish because, all else being equal, applicants complete at the end of October will be in exactly the same position as applicants complete next week, or the end of August, or the middle of September, or the end of September? That's pretty interesting, especially since a few adcoms, including @gyngyn, have already stated that things are not really delayed as compared to prior years from the schools' perspective, even though first transmission was delayed by two weeks and AMCAS is working through a pretty significant transcript verification backlog.

Assuming IIs start going out in the next few weeks, will people complete in October really not be at any disadvantage at all, even if they will be in good company, and won't be as "late" as in prior years?

 

[gyngyn]

"Okay" as in not at a disadvantage to anyone who was complete at any prior date, or "okay" as in not fatal to an application? This is really what OP has been asking, multiple times in multiple different threads over the past few days.

Do you guys really think that this year, due to the unique situation, that everyone stressing about getting applications in early is foolish because, all else being equal, applicants complete at the end of October will be in exactly the same position as applicants complete next week, or the end of August, or the middle of September, or the end of September? That's pretty interesting, especially since a few adcoms, including @gyngyn, have already stated that things are not really delayed as compared to prior years from the schools' perspective, even though first transmission was delayed by two weeks and AMCAS is working through a pretty significant transcript verification backlog.

Assuming IIs start going out in the next few weeks, will people complete in October really not be at any disadvantage at all, even if they will be in good company, and won't be as "late" as in prior years?

Well, we already have over a thousand completed, verified applications.
I know that we, as well as other CA schools are going to make accommodations for those affected by delays to do what we can to make theirs a level playing field.

 

[KnightDoc]

Well, we already have over a thousand completed, verified applications.
I know that we, as well as other CA schools are going to make accommodations for those affected by delays to do what we can to make theirs a level playing field.

Yes, so, to accurately answer OP's question, while yours, and most other schools, will make some accommodations to people impacted by delays, it is not accurate to say people complete in October will not be at a disadvantage. For example, you are not going to wait until October to issue IIs, are you, even though I'm sure you'll still have some available then as an accommodation (if you wouldn't otherwise have them)?

Assuming that's the case, it would be fair to say that, due to the situation this year, an application not complete until October will still be viable, but might very well be at a disadvantage to someone complete in July, August or September, correct? If for no other reason than many interview spots will have been spoken for by the beginning, or end, of October.

And, if it matters, OP's issue isn't even being delayed due to COVID. He wants to delay because he doesn't like his MCAT score and wants a retake in August or September, with applications to follow after the receives his later score (so schools don't review with only the first score) without being at a disadvantage. I think anyone encouraging this is giving him false confidence, because, as in prior years, a majority of applications will be complete by around Labor Day, even though it is likely that more applications will come in after that point as compared to prior years, and they will certainly receive greater consideration than they might have in the past. Am I mistaken?

 

[gyngyn]

Yes, so, to accurately answer OP's question, while yours, and most other schools, will make some accommodations to people impacted by delays, it is not accurate to say people complete in October will not be at a disadvantage. For example, you are not going to wait until October to issue IIs, are you, even though I'm sure you'll still have some available then as an accommodation (if you wouldn't otherwise have them)?

Assuming that's the case, it would be fair to say that, due to the situation this year, an application not complete until October will still be viable, but might very well be at a disadvantage to someone complete in July, August or September, correct? If for no other reason than many interview spots will have been spoken for by the beginning, or end, of October.

And, if it matters, OP's issue isn't even being delayed due to COVID. He wants to delay because he doesn't like his MCAT score and wants a retake in August or September, with applications to follow after the receives his later score (so schools don't review with only the first score) without being at a disadvantage. I think anyone encouraging this is giving him false confidence, because, as in prior years, a majority of applications will be complete by around Labor Day, even though it is likely that more applications will come in after that point as compared to prior years, and they will certainly receive greater consideration than they might have in the past. Am I mistaken?

I doubt that someone complete in October will be at a significant disadvantage this year as long as they were a viable candidate to begin with.
I cannot necessarily say the same for someone who applied with a weak MCAT score (for the school in question) who now wants to re-take it in the same cycle.

 

[LizzyM]

I don't see how this will work unless you apply and submit secondaries and have letters submitted on your behalf before you have MCAT scores.

 

[deleted1044797]

Well, we already have over a thousand completed, verified applications.
I know that we, as well as other CA schools are going to make accommodations for those affected by delays to do what we can to make theirs a level playing field.

Gyngyn, can you comment on whether this number (1k+ completed apps) is higher than usual for this point in the cycle? If not, I completely understand.

 

[gyngyn]

Gyngyn, can you comment on whether this number (1k+ completed apps) is higher than usual for this point in the cycle? If not, I completely understand.

It is slightly higher than last year at this time.

 

[supermedicine89]

I don't see how this will work unless you apply and submit secondaries and have letters submitted on your behalf before you have MCAT scores.

Say someone were to take the MCAT on September 28th which has a score release date of October 13th. They could completely pre-write secondaries from September 28th to October 13th, and then once they receive their scores on October 13th, they can add all of their schools on October 13th, and submit their secondaries the day they get them. So even if it takes a week to get and submit the secondaries, they’d be complete by October 20th. @LizzyM do you think this would be ok for this cycle? I know it’s not “early/on time” but do you think you’d be at a significant disadvantage or is it “ok” for this cycle?

 

[Maimonides1]

While we all agree on the 2020-2021 cycle is running in unprecedented circumstances and will definitely run long, but here are few observations you can’t ignore:

- Its hard to believe that most schools will be extremely accommodating in light of most of them still proceeding with a rolling admission procedures / policy.

- Larger than average applications initiations early in this cycle.., time will tell if it stay high when all finalized applications tallied after all schools deadlines.

- I expect slight increase in enrollments within the budgetary and regulatory restraints for each school to ameliorate all the foreseen pressures of healthcare delivery system in US after Covid19 and the trend of moving more of the education process to online venues.

- AAMC process delays were met with personnel challenges at the schools with technical delays and portal problems where they are trying to get an early start ahead of this messy cycle!

- Virtual interviews this cycle with less costs to applicants and less of logistics to schools, will naturally contribute to increase in interviews numbers due to the lack of in person assessment and to protect yields.

- I expect this cycle with a lot longer list of waitlists and deeper and more movement within the traffic rules late in the cycle.

- Stronger applicants tend to apply early! And they already registering their names in the first interview slots..!!

- Huge backlog of re-applicants 25% or greater.., Strong gap takers.., sorry no break for MCAT retakes in the same cycle!

If it make any sense, its better to say: while you might not be at disadvantage if you are running late in this cycle.., you will always be at somewhat of an advantage if you apply early!

 

[gyngyn]

- Its hard to believe that most schools will be extremely accommodating in light of most of them still proceeding with a rolling admission procedures policy.

Rolling admissions are no different than the admissions practice that delays the delivery of the decision until March (or later).

 

[gogetter898]

I am planning on taking the MCAT August 15 w a score release of September 1 with the intention of still having all my materials in by mid-September. I would add schools on sept 1 so they would not just see my lower score from a year ago (I did not apply last cycle).

I asked for the latest acceptable date not with the intention of scheduling it but knowing what kind of buffer zone my test date afforded as I know people rush to get scores in very early. Long before August lol

I wanted to know if this would mean that I would be considered average for when applicants are getting completed as I was debating between July 31, August 8, and August 15 dates

 

[KnightDoc]

I am planning on taking the MCAT August 15 w a score release of September 1 with the intention of still having all my materials in by mid-September. I would add schools on sept 1 so they would not just see my lower score from a year ago (I did not apply last cycle).

I asked for the latest acceptable date not with the intention of scheduling it but knowing what kind of buffer zone my test date afforded as I know people rush to get scores in very early. Long before August lol

I wanted to know if this would mean that I would be considered average for when applicants are getting completed as I was debating between July 31, August 8, and August 15 dates

The two week difference between 8/18 and 9/1 will not move the needle on your outcome. Take the extra time if you need it.

 

[Maimonides1]

I am planning on taking the MCAT August 15 w a score release of September 1 with the intention of still having all my materials in by mid-September. I would add schools on sept 1 so they would not just see my lower score from a year ago (I did not apply last cycle).

I asked for the latest acceptable date not with the intention of scheduling it but knowing what kind of buffer zone my test date afforded as I know people rush to get scores in very early. Long before August lol

I wanted to know if this would mean that I would be considered average for when applicants are getting completed as I was debating between July 31, August 8, and August 15 dates

It all depends on so many other variables in you application.., if you are ready to get your best MCAT score I will say the sooner the better!

 

[Goro]

I am planning on taking the MCAT August 15 w a score release of September 1 with the intention of still having all my materials in by mid-September. I would add schools on sept 1 so they would not just see my lower score from a year ago (I did not apply last cycle).

I asked for the latest acceptable date not with the intention of scheduling it but knowing what kind of buffer zone my test date afforded as I know people rush to get scores in very early. Long before August lol

I wanted to know if this would mean that I would be considered average for when applicants are getting completed as I was debating between July 31, August 8, and August 15 dates

Take the exam only when you are 100% ready for it, even if it means skipping this cycle.