May MCAT - Early application?

[IrishTwins]

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I've been researching this through the search function for a while, and I seem to find some conflicting thoughts on this subject.

April 29 vs. May 20 vs. May 26 MCAT

Any difference in the competitiveness of the timing? Some seem to think you must take the MCAT before May 1 to be considered an early applicant. Others are saying anytime in May is okay. And then, there is the opinion that taking the MCAT late May will hurt you, but just "not that much."

Any input? I am scheduled for 4/29/11, but I have decided to follow SN2ed's schedule, and I need to push it to at least 5/20 to do that. 5/26 would give me a little more fluff time (since I will graduate 5/7, and I have a family, I'm thinking I might need a few more days of padding than the average traditional student.)

Thanks. 😉

 

[SN2ed]

A late May MCAT date won't affect you much, if at all. You'd be getting your MCAT score in around late June. It will put you in a slight disadvantage at some schools, but not enough to make a major difference. Furthermore, if that's the best time for you to take the MCAT, then that's more important. Securing a good MCAT score should take top priority because without that, it wouldn't matter how early you'd apply.

You may also submit your primary app without your MCAT score. Though I don't advise that because it's betting that you'll score well. I think it's best to get a good MCAT score, THEN worry about applying.

 

[IrishTwins]

A late May MCAT date won't affect you much, if at all. .... Securing a good MCAT score should take top priority because without that, it wouldn't matter how early you'd apply.

Thanks, SN2ed! Since I posted this, I did go ahead and move my test date to 5/26. I have been worried about it, but reading your insight really put my mind at ease. And, I agree with your philosophy. I need to get those strong scores, and then I'll be competitive regardless of when I apply (as long as it's not late.)

 

[SN2ed]

Oh I forgot something. Since you're graduating this year, get started on your letters of rec NOW! Get that done well before you graduate and sent in to interfolio (or whatever letter sending service you pick). Check with your pre-med adviser to see what your school does with LORs.

 

[Silverfalcon]

A late May MCAT date won't affect you much, if at all. You'd be getting your MCAT score in around late June. It will put you in a slight disadvantage at some schools, but not enough to make a major difference.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can you provide exactly which schools are like that? My understanding is that what you said is not even remotely true. Most schools won't see the application until July, so as long as you are verified by the time you get your score back, I don't think it would make a difference.

 

[SN2ed]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can you provide exactly which schools are like that? My understanding is that what you said is not even remotely true. Most schools won't see the application until July, so as long as you are verified by the time you get your score back, I don't think it would make a difference.

That's why I said some schools. There are a few that actually do take an earlier look at your application. However, I don't have an MSAR anymore, so I can't see which schools do that. This may have also changed since I last looked because I haven't read through an MSAR in a couple years. As you said, most schools won't see a person's app until later. I also mentioned that it would only put someone at a slight disadvantage, but not enough to make a major difference.

 

[premedicine555]

t will put you in a slight disadvantage at some schools, but not enough to make a major difference.

If I send my app June 20th (I'm on a spring quarter system, and I know my spring classes will boost my GPA) will it be too late? I was always under the impression that if u send it before July you're good!

 

[agill786]

If I send my app June 20th (I'm on a spring quarter system, and I know my spring classes will boost my GPA) will it be too late? I was always under the impression that if u send it before July you're good!

You'll be fine. If your MCAT is good and you know that you will substantially improve your GPA you'll be fine.

 

[MT2MD]

A late May MCAT date won't affect you much, if at all. You'd be getting your MCAT score in around late June. It will put you in a slight disadvantage at some schools, but not enough to make a major difference. Furthermore, if that's the best time for you to take the MCAT, then that's more important. Securing a good MCAT score should take top priority because without that, it wouldn't matter how early you'd apply.

You may also submit your primary app without your MCAT score. Though I don't advise that because it's betting that you'll score well. I think it's best to get a good MCAT score, THEN worry about applying.

I have been told that if you are waiting for your MCAT score to come back. You should just submit the primary app listing one medical school. That way, it will be verified earlier and you can just add more schools when your score do come back. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[movax]

I have been told that if you are waiting for your MCAT score to come back. You should just submit the primary app listing one medical school. That way, it will be verified earlier and you can just add more schools when your score do come back. Can anyone confirm this?

Yes, this is true. If there's a school(s) you'd apply to anyways, put them down from the start. After you get your MCAT scores, add more schools. Once your app is verified, IIRC, it's like one business day worth of processing and your app can be sent to other schools, with your shiny new MCAT score in tow.

The biggest time sink is verification; once that's done, bottleneck is all on you and how fast you can fill out secondaries.

 

[IrishTwins]

Yes, this is true. If there's a school(s) you'd apply to anyways, put them down from the start. After you get your MCAT scores, add more schools. Once your app is verified, IIRC, it's like one business day worth of processing and your app can be sent to other schools, with your shiny new MCAT score in tow.

The biggest time sink is verification; once that's done, bottleneck is all on you and how fast you can fill out secondaries.

So to make sure that I understand ...

I take MCAT May 26 -->
Primary opens on June 1 (I submit to 1 school) -->
I get verified within a few days b/c I submitted so early -->
I get my scores back around June 26 -->
If I like my scores, I add all my other schools to my already verified app -->
My already-verified app is sent to newly added schools within a day or two. -->
All primaries are submitted and good to go around June 28.

Is this right?

 

[Silverfalcon]

So to make sure that I understand ...

I take MCAT May 26 -->
Primary opens on June 1 (I submit to 1 school) -->
I get verified within a few days b/c I submitted so early -->
I get my scores back around June 26 -->
If I like my scores, I add all my other schools to my already verified app -->
My already-verified app is sent to newly added schools within a day or two. -->
All primaries are submitted and good to go around June 28.

Is this right?

Except here's one thing you should remember: if you do this and receive a score that you do not like, you will still be considered as a "re-applicant" in future years because you were verified.

Can someone confirm though if you can send in transcripts early without being considered as a re-applicant? In other words, if you just send transcripts to AMCAS for verification but holds your application till you get your MCAT score back and decide not to apply on that cycle, will you still be considered as a re-applicant since your transcript was verified?

 

[jellybean13]

Except here's one thing you should remember: if you do this and receive a score that you do not like, you will still be considered as a "re-applicant" in future years because you were verified.

Can someone confirm though if you can send in transcripts early without being considered as a re-applicant? In other words, if you just send transcripts to AMCAS for verification but holds your application till you get your MCAT score back and decide not to apply on that cycle, will you still be considered as a re-applicant since your transcript was verified?

Is there a disadvantage to being a re-applicant? I am considering withdrawing all of my applications for this year (in August) if my boyfriend gets into a graduate program somewhere where I couldn't attend medical school (no school in the area etc.).

 

[IrishTwins]

Is there a disadvantage to being a re-applicant? I am considering withdrawing all of my applications for this year (in August) if my boyfriend gets into a graduate program somewhere where I couldn't attend medical school (no school in the area etc.).

I have always read on SDN that there is a significant disadvantage to being a reapplicant.

 

[jellybean13]

I have always read on SDN that there is a significant disadvantage to being a reapplicant.

Even if you withdraw all of your applications? That doesn't seem to make much sense...

 

[370102]

A late May MCAT date won't affect you much, if at all. You'd be getting your MCAT score in around late June. It will put you in a slight disadvantage at some schools, but not enough to make a major difference. Furthermore, if that's the best time for you to take the MCAT, then that's more important. Securing a good MCAT score should take top priority because without that, it wouldn't matter how early you'd apply.

You may also submit your primary app without your MCAT score. Though I don't advise that because it's betting that you'll score well. I think it's best to get a good MCAT score, THEN worry about applying.

SN2ed I have been trying to ask you a question about your 3 month study plan, but you never got back to me????????????????

 

[IrishTwins]

Even if you withdraw all of your applications? That doesn't seem to make much sense...

I agree. I thought, prior to reading otherwise on SDN, that being a reapplicant could improve your chances of acceptance (i.e. shows commitment, tenacity, etc.)

 

[IrishTwins]

SN2ed I have been trying to ask you a question about your 3 month study plan, but you never got back to me????????????????

I think he must be busy. (He's in medical school, right?) I haven't been able to get a response either on the schedule's sticky.

One thing I am curious about is the conflict that SN2ed's comment in this thread has with the opposite advice that is stated on one of the first posts of his sticky about this. In the sticky, it says to submit the primary and get verified as soon as possible and worry about submitting scores later. 😕

 

[NickNaylor]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can you provide exactly which schools are like that? My understanding is that what you said is not even remotely true. Most schools won't see the application until July, so as long as you are verified by the time you get your score back, I don't think it would make a difference.

Michigan, for one. They are highly aggressive with rolling admissions.

 

[SN2ed]

I think he must be busy. (He's in medical school, right?) I haven't been able to get a response either on the schedule's sticky.

One thing I am curious about is the conflict that SN2ed's comment in this thread has with the opposite advice that is stated on one of the first posts of his sticky about this. In the sticky, it says to submit the primary and get verified as soon as possible and worry about submitting scores later. 😕

Huh. Not sure when I said it's best to submit one's primary without their scores. I usually write that it's best to secure your MCAT first. Then submit your primary as early as you can. Typically, that would involve a year between when you take the MCAT and when you submit your primary.

If you're referring to my tips on submitting in the FAQ, I don't think I talk about the MCAT in that. I'll clarify it so people now that you need your MCAT score before applying.

Also, yeah I'm really busy. Thanks for understanding.

 

[raltima07]

So to make sure that I understand ...

I take MCAT May 26 -->
Primary opens on June 1 (I submit to 1 school) -->
I get verified within a few days b/c I submitted so early -->
I get my scores back around June 26 -->
If I like my scores, I add all my other schools to my already verified app -->
My already-verified app is sent to newly added schools within a day or two. -->
All primaries are submitted and good to go around June 28.

Is this right?

That is right, so long as everything goes well