Please Help! ---I'm completely lost right now...

[mt1774]

Here is my predicament and please tell me if I even have a chance or should I just wait til next year:

I am taking my MCAT for the first time on Sept. 4th.
I have not finished my application yet. Someone told me that schools won't even look at your application unless they have your mcat scores. So I figured since my scores won't be available until around Oct. 4th, I will submit my application RIGHT after I take my mcat. I'm just trying to really study right now.
I have the list of schools that I want to apply to. The kicker is I don't have about 2 of my LOR's information to fill in.
The pre-med advisor told me that I can sign up for the interview and get a committee letter, but she said to do that around september.

So here are my questions:

Am I too late in the application process for this year? Or should I just go ahead and apply anyways after the MCAT?

Should I pay and list all of my schools? Or list just one just in case I bomb the MCAT? Is there even an option for me to go back and list extra schools once the application has been submitted?

If I want to submit my application, but am lacking the LOR information, can I still submit but just include the info at a later date? Or once I submit, its over?

What do I tell to my LOR writers like when to submit? Do I tell them to just write it on a regular letterhead and submit it in asap? I plan on using interfolio.

I plan on having 3 letters of recc from science instructors, a committee letter, one from the director of my work, one from the doc I have been shadowing. Is this too many letters? Which ones should I cut out if it is too many?

I currently have a 3.95 in my bachelors program, but a 3.7 in my overall grades at the university. How good of a score do I need on the mcat for them to even glance at my apps?

My target schools are Tulane, University of South Alabama, Florida State University, University of South Florida, University of Florida, and University of Central Florida

Are any of these schools harder to get in than another? I researched and found that most of these schools had an application dealine of Nov 1st or Dec 15th. So is that the latest they will receive an app? So the latest that I would have to submit my apps would be sept, since it takes awhile for them to process it?



OMG! I am so sorry for this really long post, but right now I am lost in the process and any clarification would be fantastic!!

I would greatly appreciate any feedback. Thank you in advance! 😀

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[NotAsking4Much]

Here is my predicament and please tell me if I even have a chance or should I just wait til next year:

I am taking my MCAT for the first time on Sept. 4th.
I have not finished my application yet. Someone told me that schools won't even look at your application unless they have your mcat scores. So I figured since my scores won't be available until around Oct. 4th, I will submit my application RIGHT after I take my mcat. I'm just trying to really study right now.
I have the list of schools that I want to apply to. The kicker is I don't have about 2 of my LOR's information to fill in.
The pre-med advisor told me that I can sign up for the interview and get a committee letter, but she said to do that around september.

So here are my questions:

Am I too late in the application process for this year? Or should I just go ahead and apply anyways after the MCAT?

Should I pay and list all of my schools? Or list just one just in case I bomb the MCAT? Is there even an option for me to go back and list extra schools once the application has been submitted?

If I want to submit my application, but am lacking the LOR information, can I still submit but just include the info at a later date? Or once I submit, its over?

What do I tell to my LOR writers like when to submit? Do I tell them to just write it on a regular letterhead and submit it in asap? I plan on using interfolio.

I plan on having 3 letters of recc from science instructors, a committee letter, one from the director of my work, one from the doc I have been shadowing. Is this too many letters? Which ones should I cut out if it is too many?

I currently have a 3.95 in my bachelors program, but a 3.7 in my overall grades at the university. How good of a score do I need on the mcat for them to even glance at my apps?

My target schools are Tulane, University of South Alabama, Florida State University, University of South Florida, University of Florida, and University of Central Florida

Are any of these schools harder to get in than another? I researched and found that most of these schools had an application dealine of Nov 1st or Dec 15th. So is that the latest they will receive an app? So the latest that I would have to submit my apps would be sept, since it takes awhile for them to process it?



OMG! I am so sorry for this really long post, but right now I am lost in the process and any clarification would be fantastic!!

I would greatly appreciate any feedback. Thank you in advance! 😀

It's not really too late. If you think you're ready to apply...go for it. I wouldn't say you'll be at any advantage, but if your heart is set on it, shoot.

You can fill in your LOR's later, no worries.

Yes you can always add more schools. I would just finish the app and submit now, since it takes a while to verify. It'll update with your MCAT score...

As for letters, different schools have different caps. Maybe cut one from sci? They usually require two. Your GPA is fine. MCAT: anywhere in the 30's is good, pref mid 30's.

 

[mt1774]

Thank you so much for your prompt response! I feel like I have a glimmer of hope...

 

[just one]

If you wait to submit until after your MCAT release then it could take up to another 6-7 weeks to get verified and released to schools. I think that you can submit now and have the course load portion verified in the meantime. I don't know this from personal experience but it has been posted by several people on SDN. You might check with AMCAS. It may save you several weeks.

 

[Red Potato]

just go ahead and submit AMCAS already. Schools will still send in secondaries once you're vertified, but they won't look at your application until your mcat score comes it. However, seeing as how you won't be complete (that is, LORs are in, MCAT score are in, secondaries are in) until mid-october, that might be a disadvantage to you if your mcat score isn't at least a 30+.

 

[lstone13]

It's not too late, but you had better get on it. If you are going to apply this fall, then yes, go ahead and submit your AMCAS as soon as possible! Do NOT wait until you get your MCAT scores because it will take 5-6 weeks for your application to get verified after that submission.

Also, in case you haven't done so already, submit your transcripts NOW. This is important because this takes a while for them to confirm they have received your transcripts and then add that to the time it will take them to verify your transcript with your application.


To answer your questions:

1. No you're not too late, but go ahead and submit your application with MCAT scores pending (see above explanation).

2. Yes, you can add schools later after you've already submitted your AMCAS. So, what I might suggest is go ahead and submit your application to a few schools, and then, once you get your MCAT scores, you can add more to your application.

3. You need the LOR info to submit your AMCAS, but they don't have to be received yet. LOR's don't really have to be in until you submit your secondaries, but you have to have your LOR info (i.e., who is writing the letters, etc.) on your AMCAS. Go ahead and see if you can get your profs/pre-med committee to commit to writing your letters, and then you can submit their info on AMCAS.

4. Of course they need to submit them asap, but as far as the letterhead or whatever is concerned, I don't know. All my LOR's knew what to do...

5. My pre-med advisor recommended the following: 2-3 science profs, 1-2 humanities profs, and the advisor's own letter of evaluation. Then, for personal references, 1 from a physician you've maybe shadowed or a research lab director or whatever, and then 1 from a person who has seen you work with patients.

6. Your GPA seems great! Is your science GPA good? As far as the MCAT is concerned, it really just depends on where you apply, but I think you are safe to pass the screen as long as you're above a 30.

7. Are you from Florida?? If not, then check out those Florida school stats. They barely take in out-of-state students. You might want to invest in the U.S. News Top Medical Schools book or maybe just stop by Barnes and Noble with a notepad and take notes on the schools you're looking at.