MSTP and early MCAT, less of any issue than MD?

[mdhouse]

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After searching these forums thoroughly I've come across many threads that stress it is essential that you do not take the MCAT any later than early July for MD... but does this hold for MSTP?

Here is my situation:
I did not have a chance to study too much this semester. However, I took the practice princeton review mcat and got a 37 (low verbal). The june 18th mcat is filled up, so I'm left with july test dates. Unfortunately, I am NOT a morning person and can't help but think an 8am test will have a significant impact on my score. I can't really think until I've exercised.
So I'm left with July 30th (the only noon administration in July).

Would delaying until this date be a mistake? I realize July 2nd MCAT wouldn't exactly be early either, but do I run the risk of being lumped in with really late applicants if I take it July 30th?

stats: gpa 4.0 (berkeley), honors thesis, one publication and another on the way, 4 years of research experience), so I can't help but think a July 30th mcat wouldn't have a huge impact on my MSTP applications (considering that many claim not to have rolling admissions).

Any opinions?

 

[dmblue]

I think it's just as important. Plus you have around double the essays to write, so this would push you further behind.

In talking to someone who is on an admissions panel at WashU, I probably would have had several more interviews if I had submitted before I did. I would recommend taking the earlier one.

 

[mdhouse]

I think it's just as important. Plus you have around double the essays to write, so this would push you further behind.

In talking to someone who is on an admissions panel at WashU, I probably would have had several more interviews if I had submitted before I did. I would recommend taking the earlier one.

Well, I am submitting the amcas app mid june, and could potentially work on secondaries immediately after I finished the mcat. Thus, my app would be complete once the MCAT was scored (September 1st or so for July 30th mcat).

However, I am not sure how many MSTP schools wait until they have your mcat score to send out secondaries, I remember reading that some do, but I have no idea as to how many.


I will probably just follow your advice and go early july tho, thanks

 

[nystargate]

In my opinion, you should do what works for you. Clearly you feel that the morning test will hurt your score, so take the afternoon test even if it's at a later date. What should you do to avoid being lumped in with late applicants?

1. Start working on secondaries when you have free time. There's a whole list of prompts on these forums and with your exceptional stats, you will be applying to a lot of the top MSTP schools. Also, most of the secondaries are extremely repetitive so once you finish up a couple schools it's more of a copy/paste/edit job.

2. Write your 2 additional essays and have your application submitted. Basically get everything done on AMCAS and just have it waiting for your MCAT score. Don't make the mistake I made and wait for the MCAT score to come in and then send in your AMCAS. Doing this really hurts you since AMCAS takes a while to verify grades.

 

[mdhouse]

In my opinion, you should do what works for you. Clearly you feel that the morning test will hurt your score, so take the afternoon test even if it's at a later date. What should you do to avoid being lumped in with late applicants?

1. Start working on secondaries when you have free time. There's a whole list of prompts on these forums and with your exceptional stats, you will be applying to a lot of the top MSTP schools. Also, most of the secondaries are extremely repetitive so once you finish up a couple schools it's more of a copy/paste/edit job.

2. Write your 2 additional essays and have your application submitted. Basically get everything done on AMCAS and just have it waiting for your MCAT score. Don't make the mistake I made and wait for the MCAT score to come in and then send in your AMCAS. Doing this really hurts you since AMCAS takes a while to verify grades.

Should I try to submit the primary AMCAS app before I even take the MCAT? I know you said not to wait until the scores are released, but would it hurt if I submitted 2 weeks after I took the MCAT?

 

[nystargate]

Should I try to submit the primary AMCAS app before I even take the MCAT? I know you said not to wait until the scores are released, but would it hurt if I submitted 2 weeks after I took the MCAT?

Well first of all make sure your AMCAS is complete and your content with the essays, activities section, etc. before you submit. I would recommend sending your AMCAS in as early as possible; do not worry about the time difference between your MCAT date and when you submit AMCAS. If you need the two extra weeks after MCAT to touch up essays it's understandable. However, if your MCAT studying is going strong and you just happen to finish up AMCAS, go ahead and submit it before your MCAT test date.

Just remember that getting AMCAS verified and having your MCAT score isn't the end of paperwork. Your application at a school is really only complete after secondaries are done and LOR's are in.

 

[GliaGirl]

If you think that the morning is not the best time for you, don't do it. I took the noon MCAT and rocked it, whereas my 8am practice tests all ended up with me getting low 30s. If you're not a morning person, taking the noon MCAT is the best thing in the world! Then again, it is kind of late in the season. You won't be early, but you won't be late either, and your stats rock, so you'll be fine. Is there a place you could drive an hour to get to and take an earlier noon exam?

 

[mdhouse]

If you think that the morning is not the best time for you, don't do it. I took the noon MCAT and rocked it, whereas my 8am practice tests all ended up with me getting low 30s. If you're not a morning person, taking the noon MCAT is the best thing in the world! Then again, it is kind of late in the season. You won't be early, but you won't be late either, and your stats rock, so you'll be fine. Is there a place you could drive an hour to get to and take an earlier noon exam?

I've looked in other zip codes but I haven't seen any test times that differ from the "master" schedule page on the main site. They have the June 18th 12 pm, and the next one isn't until July 30th *sigh*

I could probably finish up my application in about 3 weeks (so I'd be submitting end of June). Would there be any point in doing this considering that my mcat scores wouldn't be released until September 1st (July 30th mcat date).
I'm currently seated for the July 2nd mcat but as I mentioned in the first post, I have a serious aversion towards the early hours of the morning, and I haven't been able to motivate myself to get up at 7am and start taking a test by 8am everyday for the next 3 weeks. Pitiful I know.

I think it's just as important. Plus you have around double the essays to write, so this would push you further behind.

In talking to someone who is on an admissions panel at WashU, I probably would have had several more interviews if I had submitted before I did. I would recommend taking the earlier one.

Just curious, when did you take the mcat and submit your application?

 

[dmblue]

I've looked in other zip codes but I haven't seen any test times that differ from the "master" schedule page on the main site. They have the June 18th 12 pm, and the next one isn't until July 30th *sigh*

I could probably finish up my application in about 3 weeks (so I'd be submitting end of June). Would there be any point in doing this considering that my mcat scores wouldn't be released until September 1st (July 30th mcat date).
I'm currently seated for the July 2nd mcat but as I mentioned in the first post, I have a serious aversion towards the early hours of the morning, and I haven't been able to motivate myself to get up at 7am and start taking a test by 8am everyday for the next 3 weeks. Pitiful I know.





Just curious, when did you take the mcat and submit your application?

sophomore year, and late july (verified mid august, right after I broke my arm = delay)

 

[anemone2]

Hey OP - I was a late applicant last cycle..my first secondary arrived in mid-September (so AMCAS was submitted mid/late August). I'm convinced this hurt me at schools with Oct. 15 deadlines (Tri-I comes to mind) whose secondaries didn't even arrive until October. But I don't think the lateness was an issue elsewhere (got a decent number of interviews). I'm certainly not suggesting anyone wait as long as I did to submit their stuff, but I think if you have your AMCAS verified, LORs sent, and secondaries mostly written by the time your scores arrive around Sept. 1st, you should be fine at most places.

 

[Neuronix]

A great score late is better than a decent score early is my general, who knows how good it is rule of thumb.