Q: Applying after taking MCAT in August?

[UnPocoLoco]

Heyo! I was currently applying to med schools for this application season as well as studying for the MCAT. As of right now I'm scheduled to take my MCAT for the first time on August 14th. Given the later date is it alright for me to submit the primary application only after I finish taking the MCAT? Or is there still value in submitting it as early as possible even though my score wouldn't be released til the end of August?


On a side note, can anyone comment on what they think about applying that late? I know its super important to apply early but taking the MCAT in August is when I'll truly be most prepared. I was originally set on applying only DO for this reason, but I was approved to AAMC's FAP so I thought I might as well shoot my shot. Hopefully, with the craziness and everything's that's happened this cycle I still have some hope.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[akg0119]

If you submit your primary in mid-August after your MCAT, it will take ~8 weeks for you to be verified- this means you wouldn't be verified and schools wouldn't receive your primary app until mid-October!!! This is way too late to be any kind of serious contender.

If you submit your primary application now to a single (throwaway) school, you can be verified by the time you take your MCAT. Then, you can add all your schools and start receiving/sending back secondaries immediately (schools will send you secondaries before they have your MCAT score).

 

[penguinsfan71]

Submit before you get your score, that way you can be verified by the time you get it. If you want, only choose one "throwaway school" when you submit, that way if the MCAT goes poorly, you can reapply next year without being a reapplicant at the schools you actually want to apply to.

 

[HouseJC]

Let's not assume that OP is applying only to the States. If he/she is applying to Canada, then it is perfectly fine, as we do not have a rolling admissions criteria.

 

[GreenDuck12]

Taking the MCAT when you are best prepared is more important than meeting an arbitrary timeline to apply to medical school. For this cycle, I do not think that an August MCAT is too late, especially since the score turnaround is faster than it has been historically.

n=1 but I submitted my primary application in August and had it verified in less than 5 business days. That being said, I would not count on things being so quick this cycle and for the backlog for verification to continue for some time.

I think it would be better if you submitted your primary application before August for verification if and only if you can do so without taking time away from MCAT prep. If it is not possible to do this, make sure you get your transcripts transmitted early as that seems to be an area that is taking a lot of time this year.