Question about cutoffs for secondaries

[doctorswole]

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So right now, I am sort of in a weird situation because I feel as if my MCAT score is the one thing that is holding me back from a number of schools. I am retaking the MCAT pretty soon and I expect to do better, but I am unsure if I should submit my application soon with a larger number of schools, or just submit with a smaller amount of schools and then add after I receive my MCAT score. I think I will probably do the latter in either case, but I am really trying to determine how small I should make my initial list.

My question is this:
When an applicant is rejected for a secondary based on cutoffs, is the application "stuck back in the pile" or is it disregarded? Perhaps there is a third option of disregarding until an updated score is received?

My concern is that I may not get a secondary for some places based on my older MCAT score. I am aware that new MCAT scores are sent to schools, but I am not sure how it works for this case.

 

[kickster]

So right now, I am sort of in a weird situation because I feel as if my MCAT score is the one thing that is holding me back from a number of schools. I am retaking the MCAT pretty soon and I expect to do better, but I am unsure if I should submit my application soon with a larger number of schools, or just submit with a smaller amount of schools and then add after I receive my MCAT score. I think I will probably do the latter in either case, but I am really trying to determine how small I should make my initial list.

My question is this:
When an applicant is rejected for a secondary based on cutoffs, is the application "stuck back in the pile" or is it disregarded? Perhaps there is a third option of disregarding until an updated score is received?

My concern is that I may not get a secondary for some places based on my older MCAT score. I am aware that new MCAT scores are sent to schools, but I am not sure how it works for this case.

Your MCAT score is the one thing holding you back? The MCAT isn't exactly a minor aspect of the application.

Most schools don't have cutoffs for secondaries, and the ones that do are very low. I wouldn't be concerned unless you absolutely bombed the MCAT and are applying to schools well out of the range of your current score.

 

[doctorswole]

Your MCAT score is the one thing holding you back? The MCAT isn't exactly a minor aspect of the application.

Most schools don't have cutoffs for secondaries, and the ones that do are very low. I wouldn't be concerned unless you absolutely bombed the MCAT and are applying to schools well out of the range of your current score.

without going into a lot of detail, yes

my old mcat score is fairly mediocre, but I had not taken any biology courses, nor did I take anything past the first semester of general chemistry

I expect to do much better this time around, but I am still trying to determine whether or not I should wait until my second mcat score is released before adding the schools which have higher median mcat scores

my gpa is high by comparison, which is why I am in this weird situation

 

[doctorswole]

anyone have a definitive answer on this?

 

[kickster]

I believe the MSAR will tell you what schools screen, so buy the online version and look into it. The important thing is to get the secondaries cause if you apply late you're shooting yourself in the foot. When will you have your new score?

And just out of curiosity why on earth would you take the MCAT when you were completely unprepared?

 

[BABSstudent]

If they screen you out, you get a rejection. Rejections are permanent, which is why many people from the last cycle haven't been rejected yet. The school will not reject them until school starts and they have their class filled.

Now if you want them to hold off on reviewing your application, you make note if a future MCAT date on the primary. The schools will not review your application until the new score comes in.

 

[doctorswole]

If they screen you out, you get a rejection. Rejections are permanent, which is why many people from the last cycle haven't been rejected yet. The school will not reject them until school starts and they have their class filled.

Now if you want them to hold off on reviewing your application, you make note if a future MCAT date on the primary. The schools will not review your application until the new score comes in.

alright this is the kind of answer I was looking for, thank you all

I have already put a "pending score" thing on the application, but I wanted to make sure

probably going to go through the application once more to check for mistakes, then submit with a few schools, and then just add more when I get my score back which is around when I expect the application to get verified by which works out (should get score at the end of July - beginning of August)