Latest time to take the MCAT/Write secondaries without holding up my app?

[plzhelpmeh]

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I'm applying to med school this year but I only just started studying for the MCAT due to being extremely busy with schoolwork, thesis research, and a part-time job 🙁. When's the latest I can take the MCAT without holding up my application? I'm currently signed up for the June 17th MCAT and wanted to make sure that's ok.

In terms of the application materials, I'm working on the general application stuff now and will submit it on the first day the application opens. However, I'm confused about how soon the secondaries get sent out and if I should write them ahead of time so that I don't wait too long to return them? I'm worried because I probably won't have time to work on secondaries before the MCAT but I'm not sure if I won't have time to write them all after June 17th or if everyone usually starts working on them around then.

Sorry if these questions are easy to Google I just wanted to get people's opinions on my own situation.

Thanks!

 

[DrHart]

Plan for a year off. Study now for a September MCAT, give yourself the summer 3-5 solid months of MCAT focus. Try to maintain good grades and good ECs throughout senior year and apply after you graduate.

Why try to manage two incredibly complex and time consuming things (MCAT & Med School Apps) and risk falling short at both when you can really pour all your time and energy into each (one at a time) if you allow yourself an extra year.

 

[asw95]

I'm in the same boat as you homie, I finished my personal statement up in the beginning of the semester and have just been making slight tweaks to it as I see fit so the only time I'll really spend on the primary app will be on activities and just generally filling it out. My plan has been to submit my primary app to the schools I'm gonna apply to regardless (state schools, and one or two others) the first day I can, and then not touch secondaries until after I take the MCAT. Ideally by the time the MCAT score is released, I'll have those secondaries written and assuming I don't bomb it, submit the secondaries and send my primary app to whichever schools my score makes me competitive for. I agree the "smart" move would be to give ourselves another year though.

 

[lpp06]

I'm applying to med school this year but I only just started studying for the MCAT due to being extremely busy with schoolwork, thesis research, and a part-time job 🙁. When's the latest I can take the MCAT without holding up my application? I'm currently signed up for the June 17th MCAT and wanted to make sure that's ok.

In terms of the application materials, I'm working on the general application stuff now and will submit it on the first day the application opens. However, I'm confused about how soon the secondaries get sent out and if I should write them ahead of time so that I don't wait too long to return them? I'm worried because I probably won't have time to work on secondaries before the MCAT but I'm not sure if I won't have time to write them all after June 17th or if everyone usually starts working on them around then.

Sorry if these questions are easy to Google I just wanted to get people's opinions on my own situation.

Thanks!

The latest you can take the MCAT this year and receive a score before AMCAS transmits apps to schools is May 19th. This is the last test date with a score release prior to June 30th.

After June 30th schools will begin receiving primaries, distributing secondaries and receiving completed applications. Since you need your latest MCAT to be considered complete, your application will be technically "held up". Does this mean you're application is late - no, but you will be behind other apps.

 

[r_z_med]

You will not receive any secondary applications until you take the MCAT. Many schools use GPA and MCAT as the main factors in deciding which students they will send secondary applications to. Gonnif is right on this one, between content review and a sufficient amount of practice passages and exams (you should definitely take at least a few practice full lengths before your real exam), you need at least 4-5 months to study for the MCAT. Plus if you don't get the score you want, do you really want to waste an application cycle (and a ton of money) on a bunch of schools that won't accept you anyway -- then you'll automatically be a re-applicant next year. I would take the year off and spend your time studying for a fall MCAT date and put together a solid AMCAS/AACOMAS. Good luck! 🙂

 

[efle]

Complete mid-August would be fine, so that MCAT date is fine. I don't know why people think you'd struggle with having enough hours in the day, 13-14 weeks away should mean plenty of time to write up your PS + activity descriptions + study up for the MCAT