MCAT in May, would application be rushed?

[On_The_Way_Up]

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Hello everyone. Next year I was planning on taking the MCAT in May. Then one month before applications open up I plan to write my personal statement, activities, etc. Would one month be enough time to do this considering I plan on applying to 15-20 schools? Would this be rushing the application? This is what I had heard from one user in here. A late MCAT might mean a rushed application and might be good to wait and apply the next cycle.

Also in that spring semester I will be taking biochemistry. Is it ok to take biochemistry the same semester as the MCAT? I know a lot of biochemistry is on the MCAT. Would it be better to have already taken the class knowing all the material already? Or is it ok to learn biochemistry as I study the MCAT during the semester?

 

[3member]

it all depends on how well you do on your mcat

 

[angeloflogic]

Like 3member says, as long as you're happy with your MCAT score, you should have plenty of time to finish your app and submit it.

 

[stickgirl390]

This is the 3rd or 4th thread I've seen suggesting that May is a late MCAT. I took my MCAT May 14, and was complete at 13 schools INCLUDING secondaries by mid July. Also, I've never taken biochem. Two interviews so far this cycle (still waiting on decisions from both).

Honestly, you could get your MCAT scores back in June, retake in July if you didn't like your score, and STILL be complete by the first two weeks in September.

Also, there is no reason to wait on writing your personal statement. I think I started mine in September before the app cycle opened in June.

 

[jesie]

You don't need to have your MCAT for the verification process to start. Even with early app submission, there is a very good chance you would have your score before your app is even verified by amcas so there shouldn't be any issue with this date.

Make sure you are pre-writing the most common secondaries (or at least thinking about them). As a sort of "insurance," one strategy I've seen with a later MCAT is to only list one school on your original application that you would have absolutely no interest in. If you like your score, add the rest of the schools you want to apply to. This way, if your score is sub par and you want to try again in a later cycle, you won't be considered a re-applicant at any of the schools you are actually interested in.


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[Lucca]

With the Spring semester biochemistry comment, it looks like you will have basically finished biochemistry by the time you take your May MCAT. I don't think May is a late MCAT, as was pointed out, since you can be complete by mid July and hopefully verified before the end of it. You will probably have most of biochemistry fresh in your mind as you get ready to take the mcat so I wouldn't worry about that timeline.

Most important thing: don't take it until you are ready. Meaning: don't take it until the scored AAMC exams are returning within a couple of points of your target score. If you feel ready by May, go ahead and take it

 

[aalamruad]

May is totally fine, I took mine mid/late June last year and although I did have to rush a bit to finish all my essays in a reasonable amount of time, everything worked out.

 

[Nucleophile1]

I took the MCAT in July and and received my first acceptance a couple of weeks ago.

 

[JoeCaputo]

Plenty of time

 

[raiderette]

I took MCAT in May and had time to write/revise PS, pre-write secondaries to 20 schools and get all my LOR organized. As long as you feel confident with the test date, May was ideal.