MCAT Question

[ejpcuse]

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Ok so I am planning on reapplying to DO schools. I applied really late and I think that was my biggest downfall. (currently on the waitlist for one DO school) I am planning on retaking the MCATs again in August, but I wanted to get the application process rolling. My MCAT score isn't that good, but I think there is a chance I could get some interviews with my current scores. Is it possible to submit my application without saying that I am planning to retake the MCATs so that I can start getting interviews early?

Any advice on the subject would be very helpful! Thanks in advance.

 

[mj1878]

Ok so I am planning on reapplying to DO schools. I applied really late and I think that was my biggest downfall. (currently on the waitlist for one DO school) I am planning on retaking the MCATs again in August, but I wanted to get the application process rolling. My MCAT score isn't that good, but I think there is a chance I could get some interviews with my current scores. Is it possible to submit my application without saying that I am planning to retake the MCATs so that I can start getting interviews early?

Any advice on the subject would be very helpful! Thanks in advance.

If you thought that your application outcome wasn't that great because of a late application, then why haven't you already submitted this year's application? Since you didn't post any numbers for us to look at, we'll just have to guess and say that they're probably about average for DO schools. If you're on the waitlist, then they're at least good enough to get interviews. Apply TOMORROW, get those LORs rolling again, and make sure you're ready to send out secondaries the day after they arrive at your door. Even if you did submit now, AACOMAS wouldn't send them out to schools until mid-July. Do it as soon as possible. I just don't understand why, if clearly lateness was the negative factor last year you didn't learn something and kick it in the a$$ this year and submit your app. on June 1st. If you wait around long enough and bum around SDN, you'll be lucky enough to be asking these same questions NEXT June.

I know I sound harsh, but for goodness sake show some initiative!

As to your MCAT question, I think it's a good idea to not tell schools you're retaking, because your app will inevitably end up in the very large pile that never gets looked at. When you have an updated score, call the schools and let them know individually, unless the score is worse than your first.

 

[Twitch]

...I know I sound harsh, but for goodness sake show some initiative!...

Dude that was rough.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Ok so I am planning on reapplying to DO schools. I applied really late and I think that was my biggest downfall. (currently on the waitlist for one DO school) I am planning on retaking the MCATs again in August, but I wanted to get the application process rolling. My MCAT score isn't that good, but I think there is a chance I could get some interviews with my current scores. Is it possible to submit my application without saying that I am planning to retake the MCATs so that I can start getting interviews early?

Any advice on the subject would be very helpful! Thanks in advance.

A pending MCAT retake won't delay the interview process if your current MCAT is adequate.

 

[toothless rufus]

A pending MCAT retake won't delay the interview process if your current MCAT is adequate.

Ah,, thank God! That statement about app not getting looked at almost made me crap a blanket!

 

[suds945]

Um, I know for a fact that my taking the August 2005 MCAT delayed my application from being looked at by medical schools. I was told this explicitly by multiple adcoms.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Um, I know for a fact that my taking the August 2005 MCAT delayed my application from being looked at by medical schools. I was told this explicitly by multiple adcoms.

You must have either not taken the April MCAT or had too low of a score. Obviously if your score were high enough, they would not care about a future MCAT score.

 

[USArmyDoc]

A pending MCAT retake won't delay the interview process if your current MCAT is adequate.

I don't think this is correct across the board. DMU would not even look at my application till I got my second MCAT scores. They put you on hold. Once my scores came out, I received an invite the next week.

When I spoke to DMU, they said they do it to everyone who takes the August MCAT. So my scores were fine.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I don't think this is correct across the board. DMU would not even look at my application till I got my second MCAT scores. They put you on hold. Once my scores came out, I received an invite the next week.

When I spoke to DMU, they said they do it to everyone who takes the August MCAT. So my scores were fine.

I was wondering why DMU was the only school out of the 19 I applied to that put me on hold and then invited me to an interview after my August MCAT came in. Too bad for them I was already accepted to 3 schools. I may have actually considered them if they didn't wait so late to care.

I think DMU is losing a good number of quality students to other schools by doing this.

 

[ejpcuse]

Thanks for the advice so far!

Do you know how you go about taking the MCAT (August) without letting the schools know you took it until the scores come out?

Do the schools automatically see that you took the August MCAT?

 

[It'sElectric]

I think DMU is losing a good number of quality students to other schools by doing this.

You're joking, right?

Also, I was contacted by DMU early on as to whether or not I wanted them to wait for my August MCAT score. I asked them if my current score was competitive in their eyes (they said yes), and so I told them to go ahead and send my file through with my previous April MCAT.

I'd be willing to bet that other schools will assume that you want them to wait on your file until the new MCAT goes through. Most schools aren't going to make the effort to keep checking up on you and any new developments (new MCATS, new grades, extra research). They'll assume that you can do that for them.

 

[OSUdoc08]

You're joking, right?

Also, I was contacted by DMU early on as to whether or not I wanted them to wait for my August MCAT score. I asked them if my current score was competitive in their eyes (they said yes), and so I told them to go ahead and send my file through with my previous April MCAT.

I'd be willing to bet that other schools will assume that you want them to wait on your file until the new MCAT goes through. Most schools aren't going to make the effort to keep checking up on you and any new developments (new MCATS, new grades, extra research). They'll assume that you can do that for them.

I'm not joking. I didn't interview at DMU for the sole reason that I already had 3 acceptances.

 

[It'sElectric]

I think DMU is losing a good number of quality students to other schools by doing this.

Sorry, I was making reference to this quote in particular. While I do feel bad for the few individuals who never have their file go to review while the school waits for the August MCAT, I don't see this as being DMU's fault. Furthermore, I'm sure their not missing out on too many applicants, since they already (like soooo many other schools) have such a great number of applications to sort through.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Sorry, I was making reference to this quote in particular. While I do feel bad for the few individuals who never have their file go to review while the school waits for the August MCAT, I don't see this as being DMU's fault. Furthermore, I'm sure their not missing out on too many applicants, since they already (like soooo many other schools) have such a great number of applications to sort through.

I think you're missing the point. DMU may be inviting people to interview too late in the game. Quality students will already have been accepted elsewhere at this point, and no longer have interest in living in Iowa.

 

[It'sElectric]

I think you're missing the point. DMU may be inviting people to interview too late in the game. Quality students will already have been accepted elsewhere at this point, and no longer have interest in living in Iowa.

I'm honestly not missing the point, so we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[Doc Martins]

A pending MCAT retake won't delay the interview process if your current MCAT is adequate.

Are you sure about that? A friend was telling me just a little while ago not to inform schools that I am going to retake because if they know that, they will not look at the application until they receive the updated MCAT score. She knew because it happened to her friend.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Are you sure about that? A friend was telling me just a little while ago not to inform schools that I am going to retake because if they know that, they will not look at the application until they receive the updated MCAT score. She knew because it happened to her friend.

I was accepted to 2 medical schools prior to my August results being available. These schools knew that I had retaken the MCAT.

If the MCAT is high enough the first time, they won't care. If it is too low, then you would have had to wait anyway.

 

[It'sElectric]

Doc Martins, I would contact each of the schools individually to determine their policy. Some schools will simply wait until your August scores, others will automatically review you as is, and then not review again once the new scores are in.