Latest time to start working on AMCAS and to submit if deadline is Oct. 15

[omegaz]

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The school I am applying to is non-rolling with the deadline on Oct. 15. This is the only school I'm applying to this cycle because I'm taking the MCAT at the end of August. Is it too late to start working on the AMCAS in September if the deadline is Oct. 15?

 

[Alucard6]

AMCAS does not really take too long. In regards to filling out the information and such you can do it all within a week. Then you need another week to make sure all your activities and such are worked out properly and sound professional.

I suggest taking at least 2 weeks to work out your personal statement. Start a rough draft and over a long course just keep editing it and hopefully share it with a friend or family member in hopes to get some feedback. You want them to be as harsh as possible so you can make your statement really stand out.

So starting in Sept. will not be bad at all, it is completely manageable. Until then, make sure you have your transcript and letter of recommendations (LORs) set and ready to go. This makes it so when you start working in Sept. you will not have to worry about them.

 

[plumazul]

The school I am applying to is non-rolling with the deadline on Oct. 15. This is the only school I'm applying to this cycle because I'm taking the MCAT at the end of August. Is it too late to start working on the AMCAS in September if the deadline is Oct. 15?

If you really want to apply this year, why are you waiting? Submit the primary ASAP and your app will be verified and ready to go as soon as your MCAT score is reported.
Also, I'm curious, why only one school?

 

[omegaz]

If you really want to apply this year, why are you waiting? Submit the primary ASAP and your app will be verified and ready to go as soon as your MCAT score is reported.
Also, I'm curious, why only one school?

I am taking the MCAT late in August, so I can only apply to schools without rolling admission. It turns out my in-state med school doesn't have rolling admission. I was planning to take 2 gap years by applying next cycle, but I guess why not try to take only 1?

 

[omegaz]

AMCAS does not really take too long. In regards to filling out the information and such you can do it all within a week. Then you need another week to make sure all your activities and such are worked out properly and sound professional.

I suggest taking at least 2 weeks to work out your personal statement. Start a rough draft and over a long course just keep editing it and hopefully share it with a friend or family member in hopes to get some feedback. You want them to be as harsh as possible so you can make your statement really stand out.

So starting in Sept. will not be bad at all, it is completely manageable. Until then, make sure you have your transcript and letter of recommendations (LORs) set and ready to go. This makes it so when you start working in Sept. you will not have to worry about them.

So 1.5 months is totally enough time to fill out the AMCAS and get it verified?

 

[medception]

Edit.

 

[Alucard6]

So 1.5 months is totally enough time to fill out the AMCAS and get it verified?

I did not think about the verification process. 1.5 months is more than enough time to fill out AMCAS, you can do it in 3 weeks. I am not sure how long it will take to verify, but I assume at that point there will be few applications so it will be quick.

 

[omegaz]

Um, what? I'm taking the MCAT on August 7th and applying this year. Will I be complete in early September? Yep. Is it ideal for rolling schools? Nope. But, I'm gonna make the best of it.

I was gonna do that too, but I chickened out. I figured I'm not that strong of an applicant to apply late, so I'll need whatever advantage I can get. Good luck man!

 

[ciestar]

I was gonna do that too, but I chickened out. I figured I'm not that strong of an applicant to apply late, so I'll need whatever advantage I can get. Good luck man!

I, too, decided against applying this cycle (tentative aug 7th mcat). I've received feedback on here that I'm a relatively strong applicant pending my mcat so I decided i would give myself the best overall chance of getting into school by waiting until next year (as much as I don't really want to wait..)

 

[Keladry]

I did not think about the verification process. 1.5 months is more than enough time to fill out AMCAS, you can do it in 3 weeks. I am not sure how long it will take to verify, but I assume at that point there will be few applications so it will be quick.

If it's anything at all like last year, it won't get faster later! I recognize that last year was unusual, but even so, I wouldn't assume that submitting later means a faster turnaround.

 

[omegaz]

I, too, decided against applying this cycle (tentative aug 7th mcat). I've received feedback on here that I'm a relatively strong applicant pending my mcat so I decided i would give myself the best overall chance of getting into school by waiting until next year (as much as I don't really want to wait..)

Nobody wants to wait, but in the end it's probably worth it. Being a year older, I'll have more extracurricular activities and will be more mature. Actually most of my premed friends are doing 2 gap years along with me. Interestingly enough, I have never heard any non-trad complain about taking gap years and having to wait to attend med school. Once you're prepared, you can definitely get in!

 

[Lamel]

You should probably fill out the AMCAS now and put in the future MCAT date. If you fill out in September and it takes too long to verify, you are out of luck. If you fill it out now and get it verified much sooner, then it will be sent as soon as your MCAT comes in. Remember you need LORs, and need time to fill out secondaries too.

 

[ciestar]

Nobody wants to wait, but in the end it's probably worth it. Being a year older, I'll have more extracurricular activities and will be more mature. Actually most of my premed friends are doing 2 gap years along with me. Interestingly enough, I have never heard any non-trad complain about taking gap years and having to wait to attend med school. Once you're prepared, you can definitely get in!

I graduated in 2013, so 3 gap years for me if I get the opportunity to matriculate in 2016.

However, in the past year alone, I've accumulated almost 100 hours with a dog rescue, I'm volunteering with an organization that helps disadvantaged children in the area and I'm a team leader, also accumulated a ton of hours at my job (it's life experience!), as well as more shadowing.

The only thing I likely won't be adding to all of this is research, but I'm hoping someone will take a chance on me anyway (praying for a good mcat..)

 

[Person0715]

The school I am applying to is non-rolling with the deadline on Oct. 15. This is the only school I'm applying to this cycle because I'm taking the MCAT at the end of August. Is it too late to start working on the AMCAS in September if the deadline is Oct. 15?

Decisions may be made on a non-rolling basis, but the longer you wait to be complete, the less interview spots there are available.

 

[omegaz]

Decisions may be made on a non-rolling basis, but the longer you wait to be complete, the less interview spots there are available.

I know this is the general consensus, but the school I'm applying to interviews in January.

 

[LizzyM]

Decisions may be made on a non-rolling basis, but the longer you wait to be complete, the less interview spots there are available.

This.
Non-rolling does not meet that the adcom waits until Oct 15th to start issuing interview invitations and even if they did, it would be weeks before they got to your application. Is this one of those in-state schools that interviews 90% of the in-state applicants?

There are so many levels of bad choice here I don't know where to start.

 

[omegaz]

This.
Non-rolling does not meet that the adcom waits until Oct 15th to start issuing interview invitations and even if they did, it would be weeks before they got to your application. Is this one of those in-state schools that interviews 90% of the in-state applicants?

There are so many levels of bad choice here I don't know where to start.

Yes, it is. They interview pretty much all the in-state applicants (which is why I'm applying). I called them and they said it's non-rolling and it doesn't hurt to apply late, but the deadline is Oct. 15th. They always interview in January. So do you suggest I apply late or wait until next cycle?

 

[familyaerospace]

I'd say start working on it now even if your stuff is not going to be ready to be transmitted until the MCAT is scored.

It takes time to get those transcripts in and get through verification and all that fun stuff.

If you are going to apply this year, this is what I suggest. If you don't have your personal statement done, do it now. Have someone at pre-allo look it over. While you are waiting for the critique, order your transcripts and start filling out AMCAS. When the critique comes back, drop what you are doing, take a day to fix the issues, send it back out to another reader, then do more of AMCAS. Rinse, repeat until everything is completed. You could probably get the whole thing done in a week or two and get it submitted by early July. You might end up late by SDN standards, but it's not incredibly late. Basically then all you are waiting for is that MCAT score and as soon as it loads, off your application goes to the school.

 

[Heday]

Here are some of my thoughts considering I was in your shoes...

(Took mcat August 9, submitted mid-August, verified Oct 8. Deadline for primary Oct. 15.)
-Only get one chance to make first impression and if it doesn't work out, they'll expect more from you the following cycle.
-Less interview slots meant I had to be more unique or superstar to garner interview invite.
-I wasted money on application fees.
-Applying to a single school, which you won't even know you're competitive for until after you submit and get mcat back is setting yourself up for failure.
-even if you don't submit secondary this year, you are considered reapplicant and they will ask how you improved your app since last cycle (extra work next year)

10/10 would definitely have waited a year to apply. Excited for this cycle cuz I'm on top of everything. I would suggest getting started on AMCAS during your free time for next year though. Also if you're not ready for MCAT, then postpone. Trust me.

 

[sunflower18]

The school I am applying to is non-rolling with the deadline on Oct. 15. This is the only school I'm applying to this cycle because I'm taking the MCAT at the end of August. Is it too late to start working on the AMCAS in September if the deadline is Oct. 15?

hold up. why on earth are you only applying to a single school? please rethink this.

 

[omegaz]

Here are some of my thoughts considering I was in your shoes...

(Took mcat August 9, submitted mid-August, verified Oct 8. Deadline for primary Oct. 15.)
-Only get one chance to make first impression and if it doesn't work out, they'll expect more from you the following cycle.
-Less interview slots meant I had to be more unique or superstar to garner interview invite.
-I wasted money on application fees.
-Applying to a single school, which you won't even know you're competitive for until after you submit and get mcat back is setting yourself up for failure.
-even if you don't submit secondary this year, you are considered reapplicant and they will ask how you improved your app since last cycle (extra work next year)

10/10 would definitely have waited a year to apply. Excited for this cycle cuz I'm on top of everything. I would suggest getting started on AMCAS during your free time for next year though. Also if you're not ready for MCAT, then postpone. Trust me.

This one school that I'm applying to is an in-state school (not ranked) that interviews more than 90% of in-state applicant. Out of these people, 55% are accepted. The median GPA and MCAT are all low. So I'm confident. The application fee is only $35, which is a great deal for a shot at getting into medical school. I'm already taking a gap year, I don't want to take a 2nd gap year, so it's worth a try. Even if I don't get in, I'll just re-take the MCAT (if necessary) and/or improve my ECs. Being a re-applicant shouldn't hurt too much right?

 

[omegaz]

hold up. why on earth are you only applying to a single school? please rethink this.

Because I'm taking my MCAT late in August and this school is the only non-rolling school that I have a chance to get in. It accepts ~50% of its in-state applicants so it's worth a try.

 

[Heday]

North Dakota, huh? Well if you're not gonna heed the advice, you should try to submit before August. Get your transcripts sent. Have LORs on the way. Pre-write secondary. September is way too late to work on it. Hell, take like three days now and get it done.

Edit: Also don't get too cocky, yeah it's 50% acceptance for instate, but nothing's guaranteed. I'd rather take my chances with 50% and a pristine app than 50% with something rushed together.

 

[omegaz]

North Dakota, huh? Well if you're not gonna heed the advice, you should try to submit before August. Get your transcripts sent. Have LORs on the way. Pre-write secondary. September is way too late to work on it. Hell, take like three days now and get it done.

Edit: Also don't get too cocky, yeah it's 50% acceptance for instate, but nothing's guaranteed. I'd rather take my chances with 50% and a pristine app than 50% with something rushed together.

Even if 50% with something rushed together means beginning medical school a year early? Would extra volunteer, community service and shadowing make my application that much more pristine? Anyway, thank you for your suggestions. I'm still debating whether or not to do this. I just hate applying to this school without my MCAT because there's always a chance that I bomb it. But then again, I need to believe in myself. Also, not so much is at stake since I'm only applying to one school.

 

[Heday]

Even if 50% with something rushed together means beginning medical school a year early? Would extra volunteer, community service and shadowing make my application that much more pristine? Anyway, thank you for your suggestions. I'm still debating whether or not to do this. I just hate applying to this school without my MCAT because there's always a chance that I bomb it. But then again, I need to believe in myself. Also, not so much is at stake since I'm only applying to one school.

Well if you're having to make a decision between spending your time studying or completing your AMCAS something won't be as good as it could be. Also the added stress doesn't help. That 50% acceptance might disproportionately lean towards applicants that submitted early.. However, good luck OP; it's a personal decision and while it's good to get second opinions, you should do what you think is best for you.

 

[ciestar]

Even if 50% with something rushed together means beginning medical school a year early? Would extra volunteer, community service and shadowing make my application that much more pristine? Anyway, thank you for your suggestions. I'm still debating whether or not to do this. I just hate applying to this school without my MCAT because there's always a chance that I bomb it. But then again, I need to believe in myself. Also, not so much is at stake since I'm only applying to one school.

Add a throwaway school then, so if you bomb your mcat you're submitting an app to a school you wouldn't otherwise consider and then you wouldn't me a reapplicant at your state school. It gets your app verified so if your mcat score is acceptable, add the other school and see what happens.