need your opinion

[TalinAagam]

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when should I start writing up my application/essays

I am planning on rewriting the mcat in First week of July. (previously got a 11PS,8VR,10BS)

should I start my application now and submit in june as soon as it opens up?
or since I am planning on redoing the mcat, and my scores will arrive in the first week of august, then should I wait until after writing the mcat, and work on the application in the one month while I wait for my scores?

 

[didimao]

Definitely try to submit your AMCAS app when it opens up or at the very latest, by the time you take your MCAT. It takes about a month for your AMCAS app to process. Therefore, after taking the MCAT, you can wait a month for both your scores and AMCAS to process at the same time.

 

[TalinAagam]

Just worried about spending the time on the essays for primary application. do you think studying for mcat + writing the personal statement can chew up too much time away from the mcat studyig?

 

[dahassa]

The only essay is your personal statement. You do, however, have to describe all of your activities. It took me about 2 days to polish my activities page. The personal statement takes a while. I wrote it 6 months before (it took about 2 days) but then I spent 6 moths getting ppl to edit and it looked pretty different by the end.

Don't wait until Auguat. I turned my AMCAS in middle of July and I felt that was the latest you should turn it in. Try to turn it in in June if possible. If you feel too busy w/ MCAT then work on it a little until you take the MCAT and spend the week after the MCATwrapping everything up. Dont wait more then the 2nd week of July.

 

[TalinAagam]

The only essay is your personal statement. You do, however, have to describe all of your activities. It took me about 2 days to polish my activities page. The personal statement takes a while. I wrote it 6 months before (it took about 2 days) but then I spent 6 moths getting ppl to edit and it looked pretty different by the end.

Don't wait until Auguat. I turned my AMCAS in middle of July and I felt that was the latest you should turn it in. Try to turn it in in June if possible. If you feel too busy w/ MCAT then work on it a little until you take the MCAT and spend the week after the MCATwrapping everything up. Dont wait more then the 2nd week of July.

Thanks for your reply! I'll aim to get it submitted by second week of July.

Would you say the most time-consuming part of amcas is getting reference letters in, getting transcript in, and writing ps and activities list?
Or is there anything more that's more time consuming?

 

[dahassa]

Thanks for your reply! I'll aim to get it submitted by second week of July.

Would you say the most time-consuming part of amcas is getting reference letters in, getting transcript in, and writing ps and activities list?
Or is there anything more that's more time consuming?

Pretty much. The rest of it is just forms, typing in all of your classes/grades, family background, and so on. It takes a while for AMCAS to process your transcripts and recs so do that in June b/c they all have to be in b/f you can turn in your AMCAS in July for verification.

Good luck and don't stress out too much. Just focus on getting a killer MCAT!

 

[dahassa]

One last tip that I almost forgot! Part of the reason my July submitted application wasnt late is because I looked at SDN and wrote most of my secondaries b/f my app was verified. People start posting the questions as soon as they get them in June/July. Work on them in July (secondaries are where all of the essay questions are), and that way come August when your app has been verified, you turn your secondaries in right away. If you can get all of your secondaries in by the end of August should be good time wise.

 

[TalinAagam]

Thanks for your replies, It really clears things up.

edit: just saw your md applicant profile, boy you really had a great application cycle, I guess all is well with that good mcat score