Medical School Application Timeline

[eurydicejacque]

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[NickNaylor]

You would be at a disadvantage. Understand many applicants have their applications complete before you would even be able to send them out. However, if you're diligent about doing secondaries (i.e., work on them during the summer) and have your application ASAP, you could probably whip out an acceptance. Apply to your state schools for sure.

If you have the time, it would probably be best to simply wait until the next cycle as you'll need every advantage you can get.

 

[LRAccord624]

Yes, you would be at a disadvantage. Many people have their stuff finished now. However, my apps were not verified until late august, and i managed to pull off some late interviews and acceptances. I was very very lucky and I would never advise anyone to apply that late. Only a very high MCAT And awesome ECs will offset a semi low GPA AND late application, IMO.

JW, if you want to treat autism, why not consider neurology or pediatric neurology?

 

[mvenus929]

What state are you from? That makes a ton of difference in this discussion. If you're from, say, California, you might as well wait another year. If you're from Texas, you'd be at a larger disadvantage, since they start interviews in like July, but you might have a greater chance of acceptance. If you're from Colorado, which only has one pretty competitive state school, you'd be at a disadvantage. If you're from NY, you can probably get away with it.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I completely agree with all of the above comments on how disadvantaged you will be. The usual recommendation is to apply more broadly if you are still insistent on applying during this cycle.

To answer the second part of your question, there IS an ADVANTAGE to applying early even if your application is awaiting MCAT results. The verification of your AMCAS application (basically, verification of your transcripts) does not start until you submit your AMCAS application. This process can take anywhere from a few days early in the season to as long as 6 weeks during the busy part of the season (longer if problems are encountered). If you submit now without MCAT results the verification process will still begin; that way the once your MCAT results are available, you application will be complete. If you wait until your results are available to submit you'll have to tack on an additional 2-6 weeks for the verification process, which makes your application much later than mid August, more like mid September (which can be devastating for even above average applicants, not to mention those that are average or below average).

Note: If you have NOT submitted your application and AMCAS states they have received your transcripts, then that is all that means, they will not start processing the information until you submit (and pay).

 

[Pewter]

You may be at a disadvantage taking the MCAT in July, but that's when more than half of the candidates sitting for this standardized test.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

You may be at a disadvantage taking the MCAT in July, but that's when more than half of the candidates sitting for this standardized test.

Do you have a source for this? From my experience reviewing applications, I didn't think that it was the case that more than half of the applicants took the MCAT in July of their application year. Though, I admittedly don't have hard numbers myself.

If you have a source, please reply with it to this comment. Thanks.

 

[eurydicejacque]

Thanks!

 

[eurydicejacque]

Thanks!