Question about Planning Years

Started by Jambino
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
Jambino

Jambino

The Fox
10+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hi, I posted one of these questions before but didn't get a good reply back, so figured I would post it again. I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to answer the following question

Is it possible to submit an app in January? The reason I ask is because I am in a tight schedule right now and can't seem to fit my MCAT's when I have time to study for it. Since I'm a junior who just switched to medicine, I am taking an extra year to finish my pre reqs and all my reqs for my major (which I changed this year as well). I wanted to take the MCATs during my last fall year because I wouldn't have as many classes then

OR, should I just finish my major first, go into a postbacc program and finish the pre reqs for Med school there?

OR maybe just finish all my reqs for my major first with one or two science classes, and then finish them all at the end??

I'm in a bit of a rut, so any help is appreciated.
Thank you
 
You gotta get some facts first.

The mcat is given from Jan to early Sept, so taking it in the fall is not possible.
Applications are accepted between June and roughly oct/nov (the year prior to matriculation) so you can't submit the app in Jan, but you should already be interviewing by then.

You should have the prepeqs done before the mcat, and the mcat done by the time you submit your app. However you manage that in terms of your schedule and finishing your major is up to you. And you might have to just cram it into your "tight" schedule becuase this stuff isn't supposed to be easy.
 
You can take the MCAT in September and apply in early June of the following year. Or you can apply that same fall not knowing your MCAT score and being disadvantaged by the lateness of the application cycle, keeping in mind that some schools have October deadlines for application. It takes about 5-6 weeks for transcript verification if you apply in October, vs a few days in early June.

Whether you complete all your prerequisites before graduation or afterward in a postbac doesn't matter, as all the grades will be included in your undergrad GPA. If it's less expensive to go elsewhere for the prerequisites, that's fine to do.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
1) Take the prereqs.
2) Take the MCAT (Jan - Sept)
3) Submit application (Jun - Oct)
4) Interview (Sept - Mar)
5) Matriculate (July-Sept)

MCAT is good for three years. You don't have to take it the year you plan to matriculate (in other words, you can take it in September, and apply to following June).
 
Wow, thanks Mvenus929 and Catalystik, I appreciate the help!! So I can probably take the MCAT during my last year in the fall (september) and submit my app in June. However, I would have to wait an extra year for interviewing without doing anything. Would this be detrimental (since it would total out to 6 years in undergrad)?? And would I have to explain what I was doing during the "off year" ?
 
You might have some interviews by late summer after applying in June, but the interview season goes to march, April, May of the next year depending on the school.

Many applicants have a glide year if they apply after graduation or postbac. Many Secondaries ask you what your plans are for that year. It often comes up in interviews also. And many use that year's activities as fodder for update letters. So it's a good idea to do something fruitful, besides playing video games while living in your parent's basement, that would enhance your application.
 
Catalystik said:
You might have some interviews by late summer after applying in June, but the interview season goes to march, April, May of the next year depending on the school.

Many applicants have a glide year if they apply after graduation or postbac. Many Secondaries ask you what your plans are for that year. It often comes up in interviews also. And many use that year's activities as fodder for update letters. So it's a good idea to do something fruitful, besides playing video games while living in your parent's basement, that would enhance your application.
Click to expand...

This is good news! Catalystik, would you recommend completing all pre reqs and graduating before submitting an application, or only completing the pre reqs? I figure I could have something to do during the off year if I put off graduation. Also lessens the load off of me right now to complete them.

What do you think?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.