Process for submitting primary before MCAT score?

[RodofAsclepius]

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So I'm taking the MCAT mid-June so I won't receive my score until after AMCAS submission has opened. Everything else for my application is pretty much squared away so I was hoping to submit my primary for verification right when it opens. However, I'm a little confused about the steps for doing so when I don't yet have my MCAT score.

Do I just add one school as a "placeholder" until the score is posted? Do I need to indicate that I plan to add my score later?

Also, will I be super behind/have reduced chances if I add my other schools only in July when the score is released?

Thanks!

 

[Lucca]

So I'm taking the MCAT mid-June so I won't receive my score until after AMCAS submission has opened. Everything else for my application is pretty much squared away so I was hoping to submit my primary for verification right when it opens. However, I'm a little confused about the steps for doing so when I don't yet have my MCAT score.

Do I just add one school as a "placeholder" until the score is posted? Do I need to indicate that I plan to add my score later?

Also, will I be super behind/have reduced chances if I add my other schools only in July when the score is released?

Thanks!

I won’t comment on process of applying without a score but you should be fine submitting to schools in July. Anytime before the end of August is still OK.

 

[chaim123]

So I'm taking the MCAT mid-June so I won't receive my score until after AMCAS submission has opened. Everything else for my application is pretty much squared away so I was hoping to submit my primary for verification right when it opens. However, I'm a little confused about the steps for doing so when I don't yet have my MCAT score.

Do I just add one school as a "placeholder" until the score is posted? Do I need to indicate that I plan to add my score later?

Also, will I be super behind/have reduced chances if I add my other schools only in July when the score is released?

Thanks!

Again, I think a lot of us have thoughts on applying without an MCAT score, but here is the process to do what you are asking:

• On June 1, submit your AMCAS with one school as a "placeholder". This should be a throwaway school that you don't care about. This will put your application in line to be verified, and will be submitted to that school immediately.
• In mid-July, add the rest of the schools and pay the rest of the fees. Your application will be sent immediately. This is still VERY EARLY. So don't worry about that.

As for indicating that you plan to add a score later - short answer yes. Take a look at AMCAS - it automatically uploads your score and asks for future test dates. So if you are submitting June 1 and haven't taken the MCAT yet, you'll need to input your future test date of June whatever. That score will then automatically be added to your file. Per the 2019 AMCAS application guide:

"If you have not yet taken the MCAT exam or have not yet received a score for a recently taken MCAT exam at the time you submit your application, it is very important that you include in your application the test dates for upcoming or recently taken MCAT exams. If you do not do so, medical schools will have no way of knowing that they should expect (additional) MCAT scores from you. Be sure to keep this section current after you submit your application!"

 

[timephone]

^^^ Ditto what the above posters said.

Submit your primary in early June w/ a single "throwaway" school added. The throwaway school should be your highest reach school. The logic is that, in case your MCAT score ends up being terrible, you've only applied to one school this semester and it's one you'd be unlikely to attend anyways. Therefore, you could apply again next year and not be considered a "reapplicant" at the majority of schools you really expect to be competitive at (you're only considered a reapplicant to a specific school if you've previously submitted a primary to said school).

AMCAS will verify your transcripts before your MCAT score even gets in. As soon as you get your MCAT score, add the rest of your schools to your application.

You should get secondaries shortly after this. Fill these out and make sure your rec letters are squared away. It's only after every school has your primary, secondary, and rec letters that they review your application for an interview invite. If you have all of these in by August 1 you're early. You should absolutely have all of these in by September 1.

 

[RodofAsclepius]

@timephone I'm a little confused on the throwaway school aspect. I've been told that it wouldn't matter if you ended up a reapplicant at just that one school because during the next cycle, all the schools you'd apply to would see that you applied to a school the previous year.

 

[chaim123]

@timephone I'm a little confused on the throwaway school aspect. I've been told that it wouldn't matter if you ended up a reapplicant at just that one school because during the next cycle, all the schools you'd apply to would see that you applied to a school the previous year.

Each school asks individually on AMCAS "Have you applied to THIS school before" - it's a school specific question.

A school would only know that you applied the previous year, but not at their school, if they searched your name in last years Multiple acceptance report.

 

[Pikerun]

What's the point of the throwaway school? Is that just in case you don't like your MCAT score? Because I heard that you can apply just like normal and the schools will get your grade once AMCAS does.

 

[chaim123]

What's the point of the throwaway school? Is that just in case you don't like your MCAT score? Because I heard that you can apply just like normal and the schools will get your grade once AMCAS does.

If you get a 482, it would be better to not have wasted the money on primary apps + being a reapplicant next week.

 

[RodofAsclepius]

Each school asks individually on AMCAS "Have you applied to THIS school before" - it's a school specific question.

A school would only know that you applied the previous year, but not at their school, if they searched your name in last years Multiple acceptance report.

Ah got it. Thanks! I know a few people who are taking the MCAT at the end of June, but went ahead and chose ALL of their schools with their primary. They claim that they'll be too late if they add the schools after receiving scores. But functionally, wouldn't it be the same timeline-wise? Schools wouldn't look at your application either way until you got your MCAT score. Except if you add all your schools initially, you're putting all your eggs in one basket.

 

[gyngyn]

@timephone I'm a little confused on the throwaway school aspect. I've been told that it wouldn't matter if you ended up a reapplicant at just that one school because during the next cycle, all the schools you'd apply to would see that you applied to a school the previous year.

We would not.
Many schools do ask about previous cycles, though.