QUESTION: Aug MCAT + secondaries?

[notburntyet]

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So, I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but I've received 11 secondary applications...some 'automatic', some not. Do I fill these out ASAP, or should I focus my energy on the MCAT and work on them after August 14th?

I'm in need of advice.

 

[Scubadoc]

i'm filling out the ones that have a deadline. the others i am kind of waiting on because i need to spend as much time as i can reviewing for the mcat. if you have time to do all the secondaries, i am sure it wouldn't hurt to do them though!

 

[notburntyet]

Scubadoc, thanks for replying.. honestly I haven't even cracked any open, there wouldn't be any with deadlines before late fall, though, right?

why do i feel like everyone 'gets it' except me

 

[VFrank]

Some of the ones I've gotten say "you must return this secondary within four weeks of receiving it." You might want to at least open them to find out -- don't just let them collect dust.

 

[marr]

go all out and do them. It hurts you if schools have your mcat score but not your secondaries. Take this from someone who took the august mcat and waited to send in the secondaries. make sure to have your LORs in too.

 

[redruby]

I don't understand, if schools don't even get our scores until mid-October, why does it matter if the secondaries aren't in ASAP? Does it make a difference to have the secondaries in now or in at say, the end of August?

 

[VFrank]

I don't understand, if schools don't even get our scores until mid-October, why does it matter if the secondaries aren't in ASAP? Does it make a difference to have the secondaries in now or in at say, the end of August?

I would read the instructions for the secondary application. If there is a due date (within four weeks -- whatever), I would not ignore it. It's a lot easier to just follow the instructions than it is to try and argue your way out of them.

 

[!dr_nick!]

Man, unless there is a due date, wait until you have taken the MCAT, and then fill them out the next week and then send them off.
Lots of schools dont even look at your app until all data they require is in your file. This, of course, includes your MCAT which doesnt come in until October.

 

[vtucci]

I am in the same position- I have 3 secondaries so far without the August MCAT or my AMCAS application even processed. I am trying to get them in before the deadlines.

 

[JimDiGriz]

So, I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but I've received 11 secondary applications...some 'automatic', some not. Do I fill these out ASAP, or should I focus my energy on the MCAT and work on them after August 14th?

I'm in need of advice.

I took MCAT in August last year and just like you I started receiving secondaries as soon as I put down some schools I wanted to apply to (NYMC was the first secondary). Since most of them didn't have deadlines (certain schools that screen for secondaries will give you deadlines), I waited until after the MCAT to do them. On the other hand, filling out secondaries might give you some variety and a break from studying.

 

[NonTradMed]

If they dont' receive your mcat scores until October, I always figure, why bother sending them out early and risk a bad Mcat score?

Unless there is a deadline, I plan on putting them off until after mcat. I do envy people who only have the applications to contend with though.

 

[pateltr1]

They do take about 4 weeks to process secondaries. So might want to have them ready before Oct 15.

Just a thought.

 

[NonTradMed]

They do take about 4 weeks to process secondaries. So might want to have them ready before Oct 15.

Just a thought.

So, I'm thinking after the august mcat, i do my secondaries, and turn them in by mid-September (i'm figuring it will take about a month to do all the secondaries with all the schools I'm applying to), will that be 'good enough'? Or is that already hurting my chances, and if so, how much? I know at this point, I wont' be able to change the situation, but it's good to know how much in the dog house I am already by doing this.....