Please Help: Can I retake the MCAT this August without telling AMCAS?

[NUgirl]

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I want to apply this June but i think I need to retake the MCAT. I was wondering if I can go ahead and send in my application now without checking the box that asks if you are planning to take the MCAT in august. And schools can just review me now with my current MCAT. Then, in Oct I can send the Aug MCAT. Is that even possible?

 

[NineSixteen]

First, I don't know if it's possible or not, but I do want you to ask yourself what advantage you might have to doing this. You didn't post your score, but if it's low enough that you feel you have to retake it, is it possible low enough for schools to reject you w/o a secondary? If you apply now and a school sees your MCAT and that you're not planning to retake it, they may put your application in the wrong pile...once they close your file, it's difficult to get them to re-open it.

Then what happens if you do better on the August test? You release your scores and schools then wonder why you lied and said you were not retaking the test. That doesn't look so good either.

I would either tell them that you're planning to retake the test or hold off applying until after the August MCAT. Just my opinion. I don't see any advantage to witholding information that they'll eventually find out, anyway.

 

[NUgirl]

I took the MCAT last Aug and was going to wait till this June to apply cause I was going to take it again in apr. then, in Dec I decided that I didnt ever want to take the test ever again and applied to just four schools because it was so late. I ended up with two interviews out of the four but then got waitlisted at both. I feel like my MCAT is holding me back. So, I decided actually TODAY to maybe retake it.

I could have submitted my app yesterday. Why isnt it possible for someone to decide to retake it after they submit the app? Im not lying to anyone. I actually only thought about it today.

I can get interviews with the MCAT score I got since I already did, but I dont know if Ill get acceptances with it.

I dont want to make the mistake of applying late again this year, and Oct is WAY TOO LATE for my number one choice: Loyola, which fills up in late Dec.

That's why I want to apply with the score I have now, POSSIBLY take the Aug, and then send that score in. Does anyone else know if that's possible?

Thanks!

 

[SolidGold]

I'm in a similar situation. If you read the AMCAS carefully, it says that if you are still "unsure" if you will be taking the August MCAT, you should answer NO. If you do take the August MCAT, your new scores should be sent out to the designated schools on your AMCAS in October if you have your scores released. Since I'm still unsure I want to take it again, I answered NO and submitted the AMCAS yesterday because I don't want to repeat what happened last year with submitting so late, although a few day difference is not a big deal.

Hopefully we get in this year! :wink:

 

[SolidGold]

Forgot to mention that the schools that get your AMCAS early won't be expecting a new MCAT if you don't put it on your AMCAS, so they could interview you early with your old score. I believe that the schools will get your scores for August no matter what if you release them.

The best thing to do though is verify with AMCAS by calling them, which is usually a nightmare, but maybe they have their act together this year.

 

[NUgirl]

Thank you so much Solidgold for the info! I will
definately submit the application either tonight or tomorrow without saying that I will take the MCAT in august cause Im still not certain I want to retake it. But at the same time, I want to apply early and get early interviews unlike this year.

It makes sense that the schools wont be expecting the MCAT so they will consider you before then. I really hope that is the case!

So are you taking it in Aug for sure? Do you know when the deadline is to send in the request to take it? Thanks!

By the way, I hope we get in this year too!!! :wink:

 

[NineSixteen]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by NUgirl:
•
I could have submitted my app yesterday. Why isnt it possible for someone to decide to retake it after they submit the app? Im not lying to anyone. I actually only thought about it today.

•••••That's fine...only if memory serves you can update your AMCAS application at any time, at least parts of it, and they actually encourage you to do so as soon as you receive any new information. I understand your reasons better, now, after reading this second post. If I were in your shoes I think I would still put "Yes" that you're planning on taking the August test...but that's just me, I'm a stickler for honesty and disclosure 🙂

 

[none]

There's no ethical or moral issue with checking either box regardless of your actual plans. The problem is whether this will all be beneficial to you. Yes, you could get interviews early based on your current scores...you could also get rejections and based on previous experience, the latter is more likely.

 

[NUgirl]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by NineSixteen:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by NUgirl:
•
I could have submitted my app yesterday. Why isnt it possible for someone to decide to retake it after they submit the app? Im not lying to anyone. I actually only thought about it today.

•••••That's fine...only if memory serves you can update your AMCAS application at any time, at least parts of it, and they actually encourage you to do so as soon as you receive any new information. I understand your reasons better, now, after reading this second post. If I were in your shoes I think I would still put "Yes" that you're planning on taking the August test...but that's just me, I'm a stickler for honesty and disclosure 🙂 •••••Well, thanks for being honest. 🙂 I understand your stance on the situation.

the thing is, I am still not even 25% sure I want to retake the MCAT. The idea just came into my head this morning. I am going to submit my app tonight though for sure. I dont think you can update that specific section though without writing something to AAMC. I think you can only change the designations at no charge.

Im normally TOO honest, but I dont think this is lying because I have no clue if I will take it again. Most likely I wont. And Im prob not going to know if I will actually be ready till August since I havent studied this material in over a year. I also know first hand what it's like to hand in the app late, and I refuse to do it this time too.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

I am considering taking the August MCAT too, but submitting next week. I figure that my current scores, though somewhat low, might be good enough to get me in. If not, I will be in a position to reapply next year with a higher score.

 

[shanet74]

I'm actually in a similar boat, as I took my MCAT last August, and will be taking it again this August. I actually called a couple of the schools I was interested in, and talked to my pre-med advisor. Both of them reccomended that I go ahead and apply now with my current MCAT score and the box CHECKED saying that I am taking the August MCAT. This will show the medical schools that you do plan to improve your score, and either they will go ahead and schedule an interview figuring that your old score is good enough anyways, or (if your score isn't good enough) they put your file on hold until the new scores come in. Therefore, you (and I) have nothing to loose by checking the box, and it will actually save the school from looking at your application, seeing a low score and the August box NOT checked, and rejecting the file. Obviously, I'm not an application guru, but this is what I was advised.