Question about Verification for Schools

[dedicated2be]

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Hello All,

I posted a few weeks ago regarding the application timeline and mcat and all of you were a big help. So here is my other question: I have read in some threads that it may be wise to submit AACOMAS with one or 2 schools listed, get verified, and then add more later. (I hope to submit app in June and take MCAT in Aug, so scores come Sept).

So just wanted to get your advice, what are the pros/cons of just submitting AACOMAS to 1/2 schools, and then adding more after scores come back? Is it fairly easy to add more schools later? Will it put me really behind in the secondary essay scheme of things, or will I already be as behind as possible because of late mcat? Sorry for any ignorant questions, first time applying. Thank you! 🙂

 

[BenZq]

The Pro for submitting your application early is getting AACOMAS Verification. Once your AACOMAS Certified you can add other schools and should receive more secondaries rather quickly. The only cons are maybe having your application put on the back-burner for the 1-2 schools you send it to initially (while they wait for your MCAT) and also having to pay a little bit more money I think for applying to extra schools later. If I remember correctly, AACOMAS charges you more money if you apply to schools all-at-once vs separately.

My recommendation is to apply to the schools you are interested in on day 1, then update your applications with your MCAT. I've heard of people receiving secondaries even before their scores are in.

Best of Luck

 

[Iliketoytles]

hello all,

i posted a few weeks ago regarding the application timeline and mcat and all of you were a big help. So here is my other question: I have read in some threads that it may be wise to submit aacomas with one or 2 schools listed, get verified, and then add more later. (i hope to submit app in june and take mcat in aug, so scores come sept).

so just wanted to get your advice, what are the pros/cons of just submitting aacomas to 1/2 schools, and then adding more after scores come back? is it fairly easy to add more schools later? Will it put me really behind in the secondary essay scheme of things, or will i already be as behind as possible because of late mcat? Sorry for any ignorant questions, first time applying. Thank you! 🙂

Still submit as early as you can. It'll give you great piece of mind that you have that monster taken care of. To add additional schools, all you do is log back into AACOMAS and add more schools, the same way you added the initial one. You can do this at any time... and it takes about a week for your application to be sent to those schools (AACOMAS sends any updated changes you put on your online application to schools every Tuesday, I think). So yeah, no biggy. There isn't really a con to it.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

as far as logistically, there really aren't any pros. i don't remember if AACOMAS will start the verification process without an MCAT at all. if you are retaking it is more valuable, but I am not sure you can even submit without everything in.

fill out everything so it is out of the way. a lot of people do that because they are waiting on a retake and in that case, if you send applications to 20 schools and your MCAT comes back as 30, cool. If it comes back at 24, you just wasted money to half the schools. They do this to start verification and to hold off on spending a ton of money. Can anyone confirm or deny whether you can get verified before you have an mcat?

 

[dedicated2be]

Ok, so it seems the general consensus is to apply to a couple top choice schools early, and get the verification process started. meantime work on any secodaries which may come in, and mcat of course. after mcat score received, assess, and then send application to more schools.

does this sound about right for the plan?

 

[BenZq]

Ok, so it seems the general consensus is to apply to a couple top choice schools early, and get the verification process started. meantime work on any secodaries which may come in, and mcat of course. after mcat score received, assess, and then send application to more schools.

does this sound about right for the plan?

Remember that timing is CRITICAL for completing secondaries, so waiting until september to apply to all but 1-2 schools is a mistake imo. I would apply to all the schools you are interested in attending, while taking FrkyBgStok's advice regarding competitiveness into account. (consider only apply to schools w/ lower MCAT averages before you get your score)

This obviously assumes that AACOMAS will verify you without an MCAT score. Otherwise, you're out of luck and just need to wait it out.

 

[Iliketoytles]

as far as logistically, there really aren't any pros. i don't remember if AACOMAS will start the verification process without an MCAT at all. if you are retaking it is more valuable, but I am not sure you can even submit without everything in.

fill out everything so it is out of the way. a lot of people do that because they are waiting on a retake and in that case, if you send applications to 20 schools and your MCAT comes back as 30, cool. If it comes back at 24, you just wasted money to half the schools. They do this to start verification and to hold off on spending a ton of money. Can anyone confirm or deny whether you can get verified before you have an mcat?

I'm almost positive AACOMAS doesn't need your MCAT score to start verification. MCAT isn't on the side checklist either...they just have to have your transcript and payment.

But yeah... OP, Stok brings up a good point. Wait to see what your MCAT score is, then update your school list... since, as he mentioned, you might decide to adjust your school list depending on what your score is.

 

[COMedic2Doc]

as far as logistically, there really aren't any pros. i don't remember if AACOMAS will start the verification process without an MCAT at all. if you are retaking it is more valuable, but I am not sure you can even submit without everything in.

fill out everything so it is out of the way. a lot of people do that because they are waiting on a retake and in that case, if you send applications to 20 schools and your MCAT comes back as 30, cool. If it comes back at 24, you just wasted money to half the schools. They do this to start verification and to hold off on spending a ton of money. Can anyone confirm or deny whether you can get verified before you have an mcat?

From doing research with my pre-med advisor, talking with a friend who graduated DO school, meeting with one DO program already for transcript review, and here on SDN; yes they will start verification without an MCAT score. It actually is beneficial because once the MCAT score it's a really short turnaround in AACOMAS timeframe to the schools being updated as well. I am unsure about the additional fees for additional schools, so that will be something that I will be investigating shortly. It is also fair to mention, OP, that you will need to stay on top of the schools that you send your AACOMAS too without an MCAT score to make sure that they verify you as being complete so your secondaries will not be delayed.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Based on the two above me, disregard my previous stuff. I retook my mcat so I had one from the beginning. Definitely stay on top of submitting early to get the verification done, however you can't become complete, so don't fill out your application at the expense of your mcat studying.

 

[COMedic2Doc]

Based on the two above me, disregard my previous stuff. I retook my mcat so I had one from the beginning. Definitely stay on top of submitting early to get the verification done, however you can't become complete, so don't fill out your application at the expense of your mcat studying.

Definitely do not sacrifice your MCAT study time for filling out the darn primary. I highly recommend getting this done early (i.e. personally I'll be doing it between finals and concentrated MCAT study time). Both the AMCAS and AACOMAS open very soon to start filling them out, but don't sacrifice study time to fill it out. Good luck.

 

[dedicated2be]

As always, very appreciative for all of your detailed replies. So editing the plan a little: try and work on primary after finals quickly and get it submitted to a couple schools of choice. stay updated on secondaries and get this going ASAP after verification is complete. (MCAT hardcore side by side of course). And once scores come, assess, and then add schools. Does this sound about right?

 

[Iliketoytles]

As always, very appreciative for all of your detailed replies. So editing the plan a little: try and work on primary after finals quickly and get it submitted to a couple schools of choice. stay updated on secondaries and get this going ASAP after verification is complete. (MCAT hardcore side by side of course). And once scores come, assess, and then add schools. Does this sound about right?

Sounds like a good plan. It'll take about a week or two for secondaries to start coming in via email after your primary is verified. This is plenty of time to pre-write your secondaries... especially since a lot of schools have very similar essays so you can reuse your answers (remember to change the name of the school if you address the name in your secondary. the last thing you want is to have "AZCOM" typed in a CCOM secondary, hah).

So yea... don't let pre-writing your secondaries distract you from MCAT studying. Good luck!

 

[dedicated2be]

Thank you so much. You have no idea how helpful your input is. Will continue to bug all of you with questions as the process starts. 🙂

 

[COMedic2Doc]

Absolutely. My approach and many others' approach here is that we are a team, not individuals, which means that we cheer for each other's success, we encourage each other on, etc. My personal stance is that the changes of healthcare in the future will best be addressed as a team, not individuals (yes there's room for gunners too, just the team player gunners 😀 ). Good luck this cycle, and I'll be applying this cycle as well, delaying my MCAT (due to returning from Iraq in November of last year), etc. 👍

 

[COMedic2Doc]

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[dedicated2be]

Here's my personal visualization of this whole process (advisors, team players, etc all tied in to the video with my being the one in the cockpit) 🙂

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JpozIzjuYKc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That's awesome. What a good attitude and some great positivity! 🙂

On that note, I began a new thread with a few questions related to transcripts. If any of you have any input on that, it'd be most helpful. Thanks again!

 

[COMedic2Doc]

That's awesome. What a good attitude and some great positivity! 🙂

On that note, I began a new thread with a few questions related to transcripts. If any of you have any input on that, it'd be most helpful. Thanks again!

Yeah just trying to get the bugger to embed here LOL

 

[COMedic2Doc]

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