pending MCAT - add reach schools later?

[nychila]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I will be submitting my AMCAS primary application a few days after my MCAT, thus without knowledge of its score. Others on SDN have recommended submitting the application to only safety schools in this case, without reach schools at first in case the MCAT score doesn't measure up to the reach schools, then add the reach schools later if the released MCAT score shows potential.

Wouldn't following the advice above would put the applicant at a slight disadvantage at the (rolling) reach schools, since they would be submitted later than when they could have been submitted (along with the safety schools)? Ideally, I would like to maximize my chances at all schools, safety and reach.

Aside from saving money wasted on submitting and subsequently withdrawing from reach schools after finding out about a low MCAT score, are there other advantages to submitting AMCAS to only safety schools at first without the reach schools?

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I am in the same position.

I am applying to only my state school (the one I will apply to no matter what my score is), this is just to get my application verified before 6/29. My score will come back sometime next week, so I can add schools any time I want and not change my verification date. As long as you get verified before 6/29 it does not matter if you wait to apply to your reach schools, at least not to any dramatic extent, as that is the first day schools will receive applications.

If you get your MCAT scores before 6/29, I would suggest just applying to your state school and apply to reach schools once you know your MCAT's ability to get you into them.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Your application will take about six weeks to be verified, longer than it takes to receive your MCAT score. Very few schools will send you a secondary before your primary application is verified, so you'll get no head start by applying to reach school's before you know your MCAT score. Don't take the risk of losing all that money; apply to only one or two schools initially just to get the verification process started.

 

[nychila]

Don't take the risk of losing all that money; apply to only one or two schools initially just to get the verification process started.

Wouldn't I submitting my AMCAS to reach schools later put me at a disadvantage at rolling schools?

For example, say that my MCAT is tomorrow (mid-June), and I'm submitting my AMCAS after I fill out the application tomorrow night (also mid-June). My entire primary application would be complete around mid-July. But if I apply to reach schools after my application is complete, AAMC processing and transferring that application to those schools will delay my application there to probably August.

If the only disadvantage of applying to reach schools without knowing your MCAT score is the cost of adding a few more schools at $34 a piece, I might just do that, to be as early as possible at all schools.

Is my logic above correct...?

 

[LittleDandelion]

Wouldn't I submitting my AMCAS to reach schools later put me at a disadvantage at rolling schools?

For example, say that my MCAT is tomorrow (mid-June), and I'm submitting my AMCAS after I fill out the application tomorrow night (also mid-June). My entire primary application would be complete around mid-July. But if I apply to reach schools after my application is complete, AAMC processing and transferring that application to those schools will delay my application there to probably August.

If the only disadvantage of applying to reach schools without knowing your MCAT score is the cost of adding a few more schools at $34 a piece, I might just do that, to be as early as possible at all schools.

Is my logic above correct...?

No, because it does not matter. Your reach schools would not even look at your app without your MCAT score. The whole point of submitting with only one school first is to get it through the verification process. They will only start reviewing your app once your MCAT is in, so why not save the money by waiting till you know the score and add the schools later?

 

[nychila]

No, because it does not matter. Your reach schools would not even look at your app without your MCAT score. The whole point of submitting with only one school first is to get it through the verification process. They will only start reviewing your app once your MCAT is in, so why not save the money by waiting till you know the score and add the schools later?

Will there be a AMCAS processing delay, transferring my application to the reach schools, if I only add those schools once I know my MCAT score? That is, if I add additional schools on the day my application is considered complete with my MCAT score, schools will immediately see my application through AMCAS, so there is essentially no delay or disadvantage?