Non-Trad - Should I apply this cycle or wait a year?

[BrokenSpokes]

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29 year-old non-trad here. I returned to school in January 2024 to do a post-bacc for med school. This is my last semester, as I already completed Bio 1, Bio 2, Chem 1, Chem 2 in my first degree. I haven’t taken the MCAT yet, but my original plan was to study this summer for the MCAT, taking it in August, and then apply next cycle. I live in a VLCOL area and could probably take multiple months off of work easily just to dedicate to studying.

However, I’m becoming anxious to move on with things and I’m not really looking forward to taking another gap year to try and apply to medical school. I’m committed to this so I would have no problem doing it - but I’d like to start earlier if it’s a possibility. So that got me thinking - what if I applied this summer?

If I did this, I would probably try and take the MCAT in mid-June. That would give me a month of dedicated preparation before the test after school finishes. I’m taking a lighter course load this semester and I’m already beginning to review for the MCAT - it helps that I’m taking Biochemistry this semester. I know a mid-June MCAT would mean my application doesn’t get looked at first, which isn’t ideal, but if this cycle didn’t work out my thought is that I can always apply next cycle, which was my original plan in the first place. If my MCAT is bad I can always re-take and dedicate more study time next time.

Do you think it’s a little foolhardy to plan to apply without an MCAT, or does it make sense in this case? Part of me worries if med schools will find that I haven’t demonstrated enough commitment to medicine yet, because I only started going back for a post-bacc in January 2024. However I have some quite unique life experiences and my application stands out in other ways I think.

Here is some other info about my application:

GPA: 3.66 cumulative, 3.82 science, 4.0 post-bacc (assuming I get As this semester).
Leadership: Organic / Gen Chemistry Tutor (currently); Other leadership from previous career
Clinical experience: ~1500hrs by application time (working 20hrs/week as a PCT while in school)
Volunteer: ~1000hrs (AmeriCorps)
Research: No scientific research, but in my previous degree I did conduct an independent qualitative research project on development programs while living a developing country

I think my writing skills are above average (my first degree was in Anthropology which required a great deal of writing) and think I could make quite the stellar personal statement and do well on secondaries. Do you think it’s a good idea for me to apply this cycle, without knowing my MCAT yet? I imagine that I could probably get a good enough score for DO schools (506-509 range) from my limited experience with the test right now.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Stuaccount]

Wait a year. Give yourself enough time to do well on the MCAT. You don’t want to retake it or be a reapplicant because you rushed.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What's your prep strategy for the MCAT? It's not impossible to submit an application using the throwaway strategy if you're taking the test in June. But you better be prepared to abort your application if the score doesn't come out favorably; if it does, you can always add schools. The fun question is if your result is 504-511, what would you do?

Poll schools that are on your wishlist. What would they advise? Always include DO schools; their cycle runs a little later than the MD cycle.

 

[whichbreath]

I think the rest of your application is fine, maybe just spin your research experience positively. If you have letters of rec lined up, then all you need is an mcat score to apply. If you're ok with DO, you can take it in June. Otherwise I'd maybe spend a little more time studying (1 month of content review, another month for some practice tests) and take it in July - Sept.

 

[esob]

If waiting a year is an option AND your application will be stronger next year, the answer is always wait.

 

[ntds]

as it was pointed out to me yesterday. you're score will likely dictate your strategy.

 

[LindaAccepted]

29 year-old non-trad here. I returned to school in January 2024 to do a post-bacc for med school. This is my last semester, as I already completed Bio 1, Bio 2, Chem 1, Chem 2 in my first degree. I haven’t taken the MCAT yet, but my original plan was to study this summer for the MCAT, taking it in August, and then apply next cycle. I live in a VLCOL area and could probably take multiple months off of work easily just to dedicate to studying.

However, I’m becoming anxious to move on with things and I’m not really looking forward to taking another gap year to try and apply to medical school. I’m committed to this so I would have no problem doing it - but I’d like to start earlier if it’s a possibility. So that got me thinking - what if I applied this summer?

If I did this, I would probably try and take the MCAT in mid-June. That would give me a month of dedicated preparation before the test after school finishes. I’m taking a lighter course load this semester and I’m already beginning to review for the MCAT - it helps that I’m taking Biochemistry this semester. I know a mid-June MCAT would mean my application doesn’t get looked at first, which isn’t ideal, but if this cycle didn’t work out my thought is that I can always apply next cycle, which was my original plan in the first place. If my MCAT is bad I can always re-take and dedicate more study time next time.

Do you think it’s a little foolhardy to plan to apply without an MCAT, or does it make sense in this case? Part of me worries if med schools will find that I haven’t demonstrated enough commitment to medicine yet, because I only started going back for a post-bacc in January 2024. However I have some quite unique life experiences and my application stands out in other ways I think.

Here is some other info about my application:

GPA: 3.66 cumulative, 3.82 science, 4.0 post-bacc (assuming I get As this semester).
Leadership: Organic / Gen Chemistry Tutor (currently); Other leadership from previous career
Clinical experience: ~1500hrs by application time (working 20hrs/week as a PCT while in school)
Volunteer: ~1000hrs (AmeriCorps)
Research: No scientific research, but in my previous degree I did conduct an independent qualitative research project on development programs while living a developing country

I think my writing skills are above average (my first degree was in Anthropology which required a great deal of writing) and think I could make quite the stellar personal statement and do well on secondaries. Do you think it’s a good idea for me to apply this cycle, without knowing my MCAT yet? I imagine that I could probably get a good enough score for DO schools (506-509 range) from my limited experience with the test right now.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I think you have a decision to make. Would you rather have reduced chance of acceptance this year and increased likelihood of reapplication or have your application as strong as possible and reduced chance of the need to reapply? Please realize that if you wait, you could also possibly have more study time and a higher MCAT score, which in addition to applying early in the 2026 cycle, would increase your chances of acceptance.

However, you could also take @Mr.Smile12 approach. The risk there is that if the score is not what you want due to your not having quite enough time to study, it's already on your record and some programs average.

I'm usually in the have all your ducks lined up for success camp, but as I said it is a personal choice. I'm also assuming that you have all the experiential boxes checked.

 

[StorkDocStudent]

I think it depends on your overall plans. i think your app is competitive, so depending on what your school list is like, you could apply this summer knowing your app is strong outside of the MCAT. If you’re looking at top tier schools though, I would wait.

 

[BrokenSpokes]

I wanted to thank you all for this very wise advice. It means a lot to me and I am considering everything you all wrote.

Things have changed somewhat recently. In the past few weeks I had some academic advisors recommend me to apply for a (privately funded) undergraduate research program at my school, which would allow me to do biochemical research under a close working relationship with a professor. I was told I would be highly competitive and it seems like I would have a decent chance of getting into the program if I applied. It's nearly a year long and is somewhat well-known.

The only catch is that I would need to become a full-time student for another whole year, and work towards completing a second degree (probably in Chemistry) which seems like it could be unnecessary. The other problem is that my research would start in the summer, meaning I would be working 40 hours a week and unable to study full-time for the MCAT (which was my original plan).

I'm debating the pros and cons of this, especially as I would need to continue to pay for a second degree throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. I think if I could swing it it would make me more competitive, but I'm not sure. I don't know if schools would care about me getting a second degree in chemistry, especially if my GPA is already decent. And I'm worried about not having the proper time to study for the MCAT.

On another note - I think some of you are wise with asking me to wait to apply until I am completely ready, but I have to admit I would really like to start sooner rather than later if I could. I know I might not get in during the first cycle of applications, but if possible it would really be great - so that's why I'm considering trying to apply right away.

If any of you have additional advice to me in this situation, it would be greatly appreciated.

(Edited to add some additional context/information)

 

[karaya]

You don't need the extra research. You already have some research, and MCAT takes priority. The extra year of class is also unnecessary.

One more piece of advice. Don't plan to retake the MCAT. What I mean is do it right the first time: give yourself 6-8 weeks with no commitments, finish your Q-banks and Uworld, and use your AAMC FLs judiciously because their diagnostic value is only good on the first try. It's possible to do this for a mid-June test (that was my path). But if your FLs are coming back low, don't be afraid to push it back to August.

 

[LindaAccepted]

I wanted to thank you all for this very wise advice. It means a lot to me and I am considering everything you all wrote.

Things have changed somewhat recently. In the past few weeks I had some academic advisors recommend me to apply for a (privately funded) undergraduate research program at my school, which would allow me to do biochemical research under a close working relationship with a professor. I was told I would be highly competitive and it seems like I would have a decent chance of getting into the program if I applied. It's nearly a year long and is somewhat well-known.

The only catch is that I would need to become a full-time student for another whole year, and work towards completing a second degree (probably in Chemistry) which seems like it could be unnecessary. The other problem is that my research would start in the summer, meaning I would be working 40 hours a week and unable to study full-time for the MCAT (which was my original plan).

I'm debating the pros and cons of this, especially as I would need to continue to pay for a second degree throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. I think if I could swing it it would make me more competitive, but I'm not sure. I don't know if schools would care about me getting a second degree in chemistry, especially if my GPA is already decent. And I'm worried about not having the proper time to study for the MCAT.

On another note - I think some of you are wise with asking me to wait to apply until I am completely ready, but I have to admit I would really like to start sooner rather than later if I could. I know I might not get in during the first cycle of applications, but if possible it would really be great - so that's why I'm considering trying to apply right away.

If any of you have additional advice to me in this situation, it would be greatly appreciated.

(Edited to add some additional context/information)

While the research opportunity sounds wonderful, you don't need research to be accepted to many MD programs. You do need a competitive MCAT score for all. The research would strengthen your profile a lot if you wanted to apply to research-oriented programs. However, if your main goal is to become an MD and you don't want to take more time before starting medical school, focus on the MCAT and your current post-bac program and then apply to programs that do not put a lot of emphasis on having had research. Another personal decision.