MCAT date dilemma: Push back or take it?

[brado]

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So right now I'm scheduled to take the MCAT on May 27th. I just finished human physiology and physical chemistry last semester, my last pre-med classes. I was planning on studying for the MCAT while taking classes, but that just didn't work. I want to apply right after I take the MCAT for the class of 2015. Right now I'm not sure if I'll be ready in under a month. I'm on the last chapter of the Examkrackers Bio book. I've read the Verbal book and have been doing some verbal passages here and there. I scored an 18 on the TPR 1st diagnostic and a 25 on the 2nd one with only about 2 weeks of studying (9 Bio, 8 Physical, 8 Verbal). After that I just stopped going to TPR classes. I know I need to work on physics (where we were allowed notecards for equations, so that's basically what I need to work on) and verbal quite a bit. My GPA is a 3.68 from UMich-Ann Arbor. Excluding freshman year where I wasn't pre-med, it's above a 3.75. I should have 5 great letters of rec, great leadership, research, clinical experience, etc.

The only June test date is full basically everywhere in the US. The July 8th test date is open, but is that way too late? Schools won't get my MCAT scores until mid August and I feel like that puts me at a huge disadvantage. I guess how much of a trade off is there between a higher MCAT score and applying later? Is getting a 29 and applying early better than getting a 33 and finishing your app in August? I know there is no formula, I'm just trying to get some opinions.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

So right now I'm scheduled to take the MCAT on May 27th. I just finished human physiology and physical chemistry last semester, my last pre-med classes. I was planning on studying for the MCAT while taking classes, but that just didn't work. I want to apply right after I take the MCAT for the class of 2015. Right now I'm not sure if I'll be ready in under a month. I'm on the last chapter of the Examkrackers Bio book. I've read the Verbal book and have been doing some verbal passages here and there. I scored an 18 on the TPR 1st diagnostic and a 25 on the 2nd one with only about 2 weeks of studying (9 Bio, 8 Physical, 8 Verbal). After that I just stopped going to TPR classes. I know I need to work on physics (where we were allowed notecards for equations, so that's basically what I need to work on) and verbal quite a bit. My GPA is a 3.68 from UMich-Ann Arbor. Excluding freshman year where I wasn't pre-med, it's above a 3.75. I should have 5 great letters of rec, great leadership, research, clinical experience, etc.

The only June test date is full basically everywhere in the US. The July 8th test date is open, but is that way too late? Schools won't get my MCAT scores until mid August and I feel like that puts me at a huge disadvantage. I guess how much of a trade off is there between a higher MCAT score and applying later? Is getting a 29 and applying early better than getting a 33 and finishing your app in August? I know there is no formula, I'm just trying to get some opinions.

I won't answer your question directly, but I will say this: Don't take the MCAT unless you feel you are ready. It's better to take it late and hold off on applying for a year than it is to bomb it, retake, and still have to apply a year later.

 

[imorbust]

I won't answer your question directly, but I will say this: Don't take the MCAT unless you feel you are ready. It's better to take it late and hold off on applying for a year than it is to bomb it, retake, and still have to apply a year later.

I second and third and fourth this reply. Don't take the MCAT until you are consistently scoring high on practice exams. Really. It's honestly better to wait than to waste your time and money applying with a subpar score. Personally, I wouldn't have applied with a 29, but that's your call.

That said, if you are getting scores in the mid-30s and do take the test in July, I think you should be ok. Back when I was applying, you were considered to be in a good position if your file was complete by the end of August. So plausibly, if the rest of your application is in and verified when they get your MCAT score, you should be ok. I can't imagine that has dramatically changed much in the last few years....but I'm sure someone will promptly correct me if it has. 😉

 

[IAmMyOwnTwin]

I delayed my MCAT from mid-June to mid-July last year and am so glad I did. I needed the extra time to study, and I don't think the delay hurt me at all. I ended up with plenty of interviews and acceptances.

So based on my experience, I think you should push it back. Just make sure you're good and ready when test time comes. The main danger of pushing it back is if you need to retake it. You still could retake it in August or September if you had to, but then you really would be late to the party.

 

[Auriga]

I pushed mine back 3 times because I had to REALLY nail it due to my craptacular GPA. It was absolutely worth it taking it in July. Get to where you've obtained a score that you are reasonably happy with on two AAMC exams in a row.

My only advice in pushing it back is to make sure your AMCAS app is DONE by the time your MCAT scores are back. I had to use that "wait month" for intensive class work, but AMCAS took me forever and I was stupid to leave it until August. Then SECONDARIES come along, so be prepared by looking at the previous year's prompts and working on those while waiting for AMCAS to verify your transcript.

This month and June: focus 100% on MCAT (and whatever things you NEED to do like work heh). Do bits of PS and ECs and check on your LOR in your "spare time" if you need a break. It will remind you why you're doing this and why the MCAT is important haha
Good luck!