MCAT problem

[hoops90]

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Hello everyone,

I think I may have a problem regarding when I should take my MCAT. I am only going to apply through the AACOMAS. If you can, please view the attached document (grad plan). I will have completed all of my pre-med classes after Spring 2013, but I plan to take the MCAT in Summer 2013. However, I want to submit my AACOMAS on June 1, 2013 (I am guessing that this will be close to the first day to submit the AACOMAS). However, my classes in Spring 2013 will be finished by late May, but I want to submit my MCAT scores with my AACOMAS. It seems like this may be highly improbable. I should note that I switched to pre-med late. I have to do a fifth year. However, I want to submit my AACOMAS and MCAT scores as early as possible.

1. Do I have to take my MCAT later? If so, when should I take it?
2. How many times should you take the MCAT?
3. How much time should be given towards studying for the MCAT before taking the test?
4. If I submit my AACOMAS June 1, 2013 without my MCAT score, and the score come in later, am I at a disadvantage in terms of acquiring an interview for schools that I have applied to (in comparison to applicants who submit their AACOMAS with their MCAT score(s))

 

[Iliketoytles]

Hello everyone,

I think I may have a problem regarding when I should take my MCAT. I am only going to apply through the AACOMAS. If you can, please view the attached document (grad plan). I will have completed all of my pre-med classes after Spring 2013, but I plan to take the MCAT in Summer 2013. However, I want to submit my AACOMAS on June 1, 2013 (I am guessing that this will be close to the first day to submit the AACOMAS). However, my classes in Spring 2013 will be finished by late May, but I want to submit my MCAT scores with my AACOMAS. It seems like this may be highly improbable. I should note that I switched to pre-med late. I have to do a fifth year. However, I want to submit my AACOMAS and MCAT scores as early as possible. Do I have to take my MCAT later? What should I do?

Relax buddy. I'm pretty sure you don't need to have all your pre-reqs done before applying... they only need to be completed before matriculating. So don't worry about the whole pre-req thing, since according to what you said and your spreadsheet, you will be completing them by graduation.

The application process is all about proper timing... making sure your LORs, transcripts, application, MCAT scores, secondaries, etc. are all ready and completed in a sensible and timely manner. There should be very little, if any, time where you sit having nothing to do. The only time there is a waiting period is when you're waiting for your primary AACOMAS to be verified, but you should spend that time pre-writing your secondaries! The whole application experience is what I like to call a "BAM BAM BAM process" (if that makes sense).

Anyway, back to topic. If you take your MCAT in Spring 2013, you'll have your scores in by the summer, correct? Try taking it January 2013. If you don't do well, you can retake in April or May. Even if you retake in May, you'll still have your scores in by June. I'm pretty sure you can submit your AACOMAS on June 1st even if your MCAT scores are not in... just submit them electronically whenever you receive them. So by the time your application is verified, so will your MCAT scores and they'll be sent to schools on time.

So in summary, just take the MCAT in Spring 2013.

 

[DrWily]

BAM BAM BAM

This is what I would do in your situation:

Work on Personal Statement if you don't have one. This one should take you a while and you will want a lot of different people to proofread and give feedback.

Study 3-4 months for the MCAT while taking your classes if you can do this. It takes a lot of discipline. Start studying Jan-Feb for a test in May (Look up SN2D's 90 day MCAT plan).

Take MCAT in May and rock it out like the rockstar pre-med you are (you do what you want).

You can actually start working on your AACOMAS application in May I believe. Work on this. Get all of the information input (Courses taken takes a while, ugh). Request your transcripts from school and send them to AACOMAS and make sure they are in before June 1st. Do this after you finish your last semester and the grades are in.

June 1st. Press submit and send them dolla dolla bills yo. Breathe for 20 seconds, then look up Secondary Essays on here and get to work. Get MCAT back in June, did well? Submit to AACOMAS. Got a 20? Reschedule for June/July MCAT if you can and retake. Still submit your application June 1st because the longest waiting period is waiting to get verified and all that requires is your application submitted and your transcripts in.

Julyish - Get secondary applications. Pay more dolla dolla bills yo. Submit all your secondary essays that you pre-wrote (you did pre-write them right?). Double check that the questions are the same that you previously looked up or you might just shoot yourself in the foot.

August-Septemberish - Get a baller suit and have grandma pay for all your flights and hotel expenses cuz this sh~t is expensive. Interview like the rockstar pre-med that you are (and you do what you want, remember).

September and Beyond - Roll around in acceptance letters like Scrooge McDuck (aka IAmKing on SDN) does with his gold coin vault.

After that, come on SDN and whine about how you have nothing to do now.

 

[GIpremed]

BAM BAM BAM

This is what I would do in your situation:

Work on Personal Statement if you don't have one. This one should take you a while and you will want a lot of different people to proofread and give feedback.

Study 3-4 months for the MCAT while taking your classes if you can do this. It takes a lot of discipline. Start studying Jan-Feb for a test in May (Look up SN2D's 90 day MCAT plan).

Take MCAT in May and rock it out like the rockstar pre-med you are (you do what you want).

You can actually start working on your AACOMAS application in May I believe. Work on this. Get all of the information input (Courses taken takes a while, ugh). Request your transcripts from school and send them to AACOMAS and make sure they are in before June 1st. Do this after you finish your last semester and the grades are in.

June 1st. Press submit and send them dolla dolla bills yo. Breathe for 20 seconds, then look up Secondary Essays on here and get to work. Get MCAT back in June, did well? Submit to AACOMAS. Got a 20? Reschedule for June/July MCAT if you can and retake. Still submit your application June 1st because the longest waiting period is waiting to get verified and all that requires is your application submitted and your transcripts in.

Julyish - Get secondary applications. Pay more dolla dolla bills yo. Submit all your secondary essays that you pre-wrote (you did pre-write them right?). Double check that the questions are the same that you previously looked up or you might just shoot yourself in the foot.

August-Septemberish - Get a baller suit and have grandma pay for all your flights and hotel expenses cuz this sh~t is expensive. Interview like the rockstar pre-med that you are (and you do what you want, remember).

September and Beyond - Roll around in acceptance letters like Scrooge McDuck (aka IAmKing on SDN) does with his gold coin vault.

After that, come on SDN and whine about how you have nothing to do now.

And that my friends, is precisely how you (and I) will live the dream.

 

[hoops90]

. If you take your MCAT in Spring 2013, you'll have your scores in by the summer, correct? Try taking it January 2013.

I would take it Jan. 2013, but I will be taking Organic Chem 2 and Physics 2 in Feb. 2013. How can I take the MCAT without having started Organic 2 and Physics 2?

 

[hoops90]

Julyish - Get secondary applications. Pay more dolla dolla bills yo. Submit all your secondary essays that you pre-wrote (you did pre-write them right?).

How are you able to pre-write your secondaries? Do all DO schools post the questions for their secondaries on their websites? If not, then how would you do it?

 

[hoops90]

I spoke with my pre-health advisor today. She said that I should study for the MCAT 4-5 months before I take it. She told me to take the MCAT in early June 2013. If I didn't do well, she told me to take the MCAT in early August 2013. She said that each DO school has individual deadlines, and that it's okay if I submit my AACOMAS on June 1st without my MCAT scores. However, I do have some questions:

1. Isn't it a rolling admissions process for all DO schools? The earlier you turn everything in, the better chance you have of getting an interview?

2. Is it absolutely vital that you turn everything in (completed AACOMAS, transcripts, MCAT scores) on June 1st? If I submit my AACOMAS and transcripts on June 1 without any MCAT scores, am I going to be at a disadvantage against other applicants?

 

[DrWily]

How are you able to pre-write your secondaries? Do all DO schools post the questions for their secondaries on their websites? If not, then how would you do it?

The questions rarely change from year to year. Look at the individual school forums on SDN (usually on the first couple of pages) and someone will have posted that years secondary questions, which you can then start to write. Obviously you can't turn it in until you get the actual secondary application (and make sure that year is still the same question)

I spoke with my pre-health advisor today. She said that I should study for the MCAT 4-5 months before I take it. She told me to take the MCAT in early June 2013. If I didn't do well, she told me to take the MCAT in early August 2013. She said that each DO school has individual deadlines, and that it's okay if I submit my AACOMAS on June 1st without my MCAT scores. However, I do have some questions:

1. Isn't it a rolling admissions process for all DO schools? The earlier you turn everything in, the better chance you have of getting an interview?

2. Is it absolutely vital that you turn everything in (completed AACOMAS, transcripts, MCAT scores) on June 1st? If I submit my AACOMAS and transcripts on June 1 without any MCAT scores, am I going to be at a disadvantage against other applicants?

1) Yes Rolling Admissions. Yes better to get everything in at the start. Will open a lot of doors and make you more competitive if you have less than ideal stats.

2) Not absolutely vital, but the earlier the better. I didn't get my app submitted until June 28th, and didn't get verified until July 25th. I lost a month (apps don't get sent to schools until June 21st-ish) but it didn't hurt me that badly. You can still submit on June 1st to get the process rolling without an MCAT. Just get that MCAT in asap to remain competitive.


You can take as long or as little time as you need for the MCAT. Some people just get it and can study for a month and get 30+ (ksjmundar) and some people study 3-4 months (like me). Whatever you do, take it when you are ready

 

[hoops90]

You can still submit on June 1st to get the process rolling without an MCAT. Just get that MCAT in asap to remain competitive.[/B]

Let's say I take the MCAT on June 6, 2013. My scores will be released about a month later. So let's say that my scores are released July 6, 2013. Then, I submit them to AACOMAS, and the scores should be on there July 8, 2013. It only takes one or two days right? So, my entire primary application will be complete by July 8, 2013. Then, I have to wait for my primary app to be verified. Let's say it get's verified August 8, 2013. So, medical schools will see my app around August 8, 2013. Is that pretty late in the rolling admission process? According to 2012 AACOMAS application instructions, the earliest primary app deadline for a DO school is Sept. 30.

I should also mention that this is my only option. I can't take the MCAT before June 2013 because I will only have completed all of my pre-med requirements after May 2013. Do you think I can still take the MCAT and do well without having finished all of my pre-med classes?

 

[DrWily]

Let's say I take the MCAT on June 6, 2013. My scores will be released about a month later. So let's say that my scores are released July 6, 2013. Then, I submit them to AACOMAS, and the scores should be on there July 8, 2013. It only takes one or two days right? So, my entire primary application will be complete by July 8, 2013. Then, I have to wait for my primary app to be verified. Let's say it get's verified August 8, 2013. So, medical schools will see my app around August 8, 2013. Is that pretty late in the rolling admission process? According to 2012 AACOMAS application instructions, the earliest primary app deadline for a DO school is Sept. 30.

I should also mention that this is my only option. I can't take the MCAT before June 2013 because I will only have completed all of my pre-med requirements after May 2013. Do you think I can still take the MCAT and do well without having finished all of my pre-med classes?

You can submit your application and start to get verified without an MCAT. So you can submit June 1st, be verified by June 15th (faster if you're early), then wait for MCAT July 6th. Submit that to the schools by July 10thish, and then you'll be primary complete by then.

You can take the MCAT without having all the pre-med classes done. Some of the review books are very thorough in teaching you the material (or reteaching) and it's possible to do well without some classes. It all depends on you.

 

[hoops90]

Do DO schools require MCAT scores to be part of your AACOMAS before the primary app deadline? Do they still send out secondaries even if your MCAT scores haven't come in?

 

[emtthink]

Some schools do and some don't. I got my MCAT score 2 days after my primary was verified and I got some secondaries