I'd like to make a suggestion to all of you non-trads who are worried that taking the August test will put you at a disadvantage when applying to medical school:
wait. Wait not to take the test, but rather to
apply. So, if you take the test in August 2005, plan to matriculate not in fall 2006, but rather in fall
2007.
I realize that many of you may have a reflexive response to not want to consider such an idea, and some of you may also have financial or other life issues that make such a plan unsuitable for you. But for those of you who simply eschew the idea because you feel that you are already "too old" and too far behind the traditional students with whom you'll be competing, please consider that you are being penny-wise and pound-foolish by refusing to wait for one more year.
Here are my arguments as to why it may be to your advantage to wait one more year. One, being a late applicant
does put you at a disadvantage, regardless of your age, and especially at schools with rolling admissions. But, if you take the MCAT this August to apply for fall 2007, you become one of the
earliest test takers, rather than one of the latest. And, worst case scenario, if things don't go well in August, you can re-take next April 2006 with no prejudice against you, because you won't be a late test-taker then. You'll merely be taking the test
on time. Two, in the whole scheme of things, one extra year will not make a major difference in your ability to become a physician, nor in the length or quality of your working life. You are going to be five, ten, 15 years, or more older than the traditional students anyway; why worry about one extra year now? Three, an extra year gives you the time you may need to get your life and application in order so that you can realistically apply to medical school. Besides your MCAT score, do you also need to shore up a low undergrad GPA? Do some more shadowing or volunteering? Pay off your credit card debt so that you can get a loan for school? The extra year can help immensely here. Finally, applying to medical school is a long, arduous, and expensive undertaking. Doesn't it make the most sense to put your maximum effort into it, and give it your best shot the first time, so that you won't have to undergo the entire process again the following year?
I took the MCAT in August 2004, and I chose to wait to apply exactly as I've suggested. I can tell you that the worst thing about the whole plan has been having to cool my heels for eight months after getting my scores back last October.
