NO!!My MCAT is too old!

[el indio]

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So I am trying to narrow down my list of schools and I find out that several of them technically will not accept my mcat. I took it at the end of August 2007. I applied last year but was not successful. Here I am about to go through the process again, and already a huge blow.

The schools that say no thanks: UCSD, UCSF, Jefferson, Mt Sinai, Rush, UChicago, and Northwestern(I think UCLA may be in there too but I couldn't find it-just figured it's a UC thing). They either say within 3 years of matriculation or no earlier than 1/2008.

How stringent are these deadlines? I feel as though some schools just say it to deter some applicants, and they would accept a qualified applicant if the mcat is only a couple months too old. I'm also sure some schools act all high and mighty when it comes to their prerequisites and have no leniency(curse them all!). I also don't want to actually contact them to ask, because then they would have to follow the official policy even if there is an unofficial one lurking around the admissions committee offices. That is unless there is a computer that does an initial screening and automatically tosses 'ineligible' apps. Then I'm definitely screwed.

Any advice? Obviously i don't really have time to take the test again, nor do I want to, and I have a good score to begin with, 13p-12b-11v-36R. But I also dont want to waste the time and money applying to schools where I'm out by default.

 

[sedaniel]

So I am trying to narrow down my list of schools and I find out that several of them technically will not accept my mcat. I took it at the end of August 2007. I applied last year but was not successful. Here I am about to go through the process again, and already a huge blow.

The schools that say no thanks: UCSD, UCSF, Jefferson, Mt Sinai, Rush, UChicago, and Northwestern(I think UCLA may be in there too but I couldn't find it-just figured it's a UC thing). They either say within 3 years of matriculation or no earlier than 1/2008.

How stringent are these deadlines? I feel as though some schools just say it to deter some applicants, and they would accept a qualified applicant if the mcat is only a couple months too old. I'm also sure some schools act all high and mighty when it comes to their prerequisites and have no leniency(curse them all!). I also don't want to actually contact them to ask, because then they would have to follow the official policy even if there is an unofficial one lurking around the admissions committee offices. That is unless there is a computer that does an initial screening and automatically tosses 'ineligible' apps. Then I'm definitely screwed.

Any advice? Obviously i don't really have time to take the test again, nor do I want to, and I have a good score to begin with, 13p-12b-11v-36R. But I also dont want to waste the time and money applying to schools where I'm out by default.

I've always heard/been told that your MCAT can be no more than 3 years old. 🙁 Sucks, I know. I'll have to retake too if I don't get in this cycle.

 

[njbmd]

So I am trying to narrow down my list of schools and I find out that several of them technically will not accept my mcat. I took it at the end of August 2007. I applied last year but was not successful. Here I am about to go through the process again, and already a huge blow.

The schools that say no thanks: UCSD, UCSF, Jefferson, Mt Sinai, Rush, UChicago, and Northwestern(I think UCLA may be in there too but I couldn't find it-just figured it's a UC thing). They either say within 3 years of matriculation or no earlier than 1/2008.

How stringent are these deadlines? I feel as though some schools just say it to deter some applicants, and they would accept a qualified applicant if the mcat is only a couple months too old. I'm also sure some schools act all high and mighty when it comes to their prerequisites and have no leniency(curse them all!). I also don't want to actually contact them to ask, because then they would have to follow the official policy even if there is an unofficial one lurking around the admissions committee offices. That is unless there is a computer that does an initial screening and automatically tosses 'ineligible' apps. Then I'm definitely screwed.

Any advice? Obviously i don't really have time to take the test again, nor do I want to, and I have a good score to begin with, 13p-12b-11v-36R. But I also dont want to waste the time and money applying to schools where I'm out by default.

Schools have deadlines and they are just that dealines. They are not to "play with you" but for you to meet. Most schools will automatically screen you out when MCAT transcripts show that the test results are too old. With that being said, it's up to you to meet and exceed all deadlines. "It's just a couple of months" won't cut it.

No medical school turns away applicants. Those secondary fees are a good source of income. The more applicants, the more secondary fees as now, most schools don't screen. This is why you need to be sure that you meet those deadlines (you don't want to waste application money) and that you are fairly competive for said school (wishing and hoping to be the outlier is another waste of application money).

Look for some schools that don't have deadlines that exclude your MCAT and don't apply to those that clearly state that your MCAT is too old. To do so, without retaking that exam would be a waste of money.

 

[PharmaTope]

if your score is EXPIRED, when you apply do the schools at least see your OLD SCORE?


i.e. if you took the mcat 5 yrs ago it is expired and did well, would the schools still see you did well on the exam 5 yrs ago?

 

[kismetcatcher]

So I am trying to narrow down my list of schools and I find out that several of them technically will not accept my mcat. I took it at the end of August 2007. I applied last year but was not successful. Here I am about to go through the process again, and already a huge blow.

The schools that say no thanks: UCSD, UCSF, Jefferson, Mt Sinai, Rush, UChicago, and Northwestern(I think UCLA may be in there too but I couldn't find it-just figured it's a UC thing). They either say within 3 years of matriculation or no earlier than 1/2008.

How stringent are these deadlines? I feel as though some schools just say it to deter some applicants, and they would accept a qualified applicant if the mcat is only a couple months too old. I'm also sure some schools act all high and mighty when it comes to their prerequisites and have no leniency(curse them all!). I also don't want to actually contact them to ask, because then they would have to follow the official policy even if there is an unofficial one lurking around the admissions committee offices. That is unless there is a computer that does an initial screening and automatically tosses 'ineligible' apps. Then I'm definitely screwed.

Any advice? Obviously i don't really have time to take the test again, nor do I want to, and I have a good score to begin with, 13p-12b-11v-36R. But I also dont want to waste the time and money applying to schools where I'm out by default.

I was in the same boat last year when I applied. I ended up deciding to take the MCAT again (though I did fairly well) and ended up doing much worse. I then took the MCAT the third time and got around the same score as the first time. I would suggest taking it again and making sure that you do it SOON....

I think the only school that is really lax about the time when the MCAT is taken is Brown, but they also only accept 80 ppl or some ridiculously small number...

good luck!!!

 

[lms1712]

So I am trying to narrow down my list of schools and I find out that several of them technically will not accept my mcat. I took it at the end of August 2007. I applied last year but was not successful. Here I am about to go through the process again, and already a huge blow.

The schools that say no thanks: UCSD, UCSF, Jefferson, Mt Sinai, Rush, UChicago, and Northwestern(I think UCLA may be in there too but I couldn't find it-just figured it's a UC thing). They either say within 3 years of matriculation or no earlier than 1/2008.

How stringent are these deadlines? I feel as though some schools just say it to deter some applicants, and they would accept a qualified applicant if the mcat is only a couple months too old. I'm also sure some schools act all high and mighty when it comes to their prerequisites and have no leniency(curse them all!). I also don't want to actually contact them to ask, because then they would have to follow the official policy even if there is an unofficial one lurking around the admissions committee offices. That is unless there is a computer that does an initial screening and automatically tosses 'ineligible' apps. Then I'm definitely screwed.

Any advice? Obviously i don't really have time to take the test again, nor do I want to, and I have a good score to begin with, 13p-12b-11v-36R. But I also dont want to waste the time and money applying to schools where I'm out by default.

Why don't you just take it again? I guess it will make you look good and sincere...

 

[dragonfly99]

I think if I were in this situation I would try to find schools that will take an MCAT that old. Aren't there any at all?
I would also retake the test...if you start studying hard now, you should be able to get ready in a month or two, right? If you do that, you will still have a score this year. It is a little risky, but your score really should not go down drastically if you take it seriously.

It sucks and it is hard, but you're going to have to do a lot of hard-ass things to get through med school and residency. You just don't even realize all the things right now because you can't see through admissions to the other side. So get tough and suck it up now.

 

[jasin]

I've always heard/been told that your MCAT can be no more than 3 years old. 🙁 Sucks, I know. I'll have to retake too if I don't get in this cycle.

That's why you are suppose to take the mcat before you start applying or when you are a senior. That gives you a grace period of 2 years.