Questions about how AMCAS app submission work exactly

[aurevoir0711]

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I asked many people before coming here, but people are telling me different things, so I am a little confused about how AMCAS work.

I have the MCAT exam scheduled on 5/19, but the more I study, the more I realize I am not ready yet. So I want to delay the exam and there are 6/1 and 6/19 options. Exam score will be released 7/6 and 7/17 respectively.

I am going to work on my primary as I am studying for the MCAT and already asked for all LORs. I will also make sure that all the transcripts get to AMCAS in May.

If I take the MCAT on 6/19, I plan to finish the primary app no later than 6/25. Once I submit the app, am I verified immediately even if I state that I will submit my score later? If I am not verified immediately due to lack of MCAT, does the submitted app get verified on the same day when the MCAT score is released?

Also, if I can get verified without the score, would the schools send me secondaries right away (or minimal delay) when the score is released?

As usual, I am summarizing the questions below.

1a. Do I get verified at the moment I submiy AMCAS or is there a wait time?
1b. If there is a wait time, how long does that take?
2. Assuming I submit my primary app on 6/25 without MCAT score, would that be considered early?
3. When the score is released on 7/17, does the score get updated immediately on that day?
4. Would the schools that require MCAT score for sending out secondaries send the secondaries immediately once the score is updated? Or would the schools wait until my score is updated to look at my primary app, making submitting primary early meaningless?

I would sincerely appreciate many responses. Thanks in advance.

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

1a. There is a wait time for grade verification/processing. It doesn't happen automatically.
1b. I've seen 2 weeks to 6 weeks, depending how overloaded they are.
2. Relatively. But it doesn't matter until your score posts.
3. If not that day, overnight it will update.
4. The school won't get it until the score is attached and the entire thing is complete & verified.

Check AMCAS FAQs. They explain verification in detail.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Start working on your primary now. There's no need for it to be done late. Have your PS and ECs done, proofread and ready to go. Putting in all your grades takes 90 minutes at most. If everything is in order, it should be no more that 2-3 hours from "Login" to "Submit". Also, you don't need to submit your LORs when you do the primary. They can be added later.

July is when most schools start sending out secondaries so you will not be behind. But if you wait until late June to even submit your primary, it may be stuck in the backlog of verification and delay you a few weeks.

Moral of the story, if you need to push back your MCAT, not a problem as long as you have your primary submitted and that's the only loose end.

 

[flip_08]

Before the MCAT your focus should be on studying. If you wait until 6/1 to start writing your personal statement, activity descriptions, secondary essays, and asking for LORs you will be behind in the application process. I would recommend spacing those activities out and giving yourself time to write the best essays possible. Rushing through them isn't going to result in good essays. If you can get your PS done while studying then you could make it work but again I wouldn't recommend rushing your application.

 

[Babbitt4MVP]

Conservatively, having all in by Labor Day is early. However, do not think your admissions chances are demonstrably lessened if your application isnt complete until end of September.

Is this really the case? I've heard so much emphasis on submitting your application as early as possible with the nature of rolling admissions. Anything later than June, I've heard, already means your chances are reduced. September definitely feels really late, since interviews begin as early as August for some schools. Could you clarify?

Also, how long does it take schools to send you secondaries after they receive your primary (assuming it's already been verified by AMCAS, and your MCAT scores are in)?
Say I'm taking the MCAT June 17th, I get my primary completed and verified by early July, and my scores come in July 17th. Assuming all is well with the MCAT, I send my verified primary to a bunch of other schools. When would you say they'll start sending me secondaries?

Thanks for the tip on getting your primary verified with just one school before your MCAT is in, I didn't know about that!

 

[DontSugarCoatIt]

1a. There is a wait time for grade verification/processing. It doesn't happen automatically.
1b. I've seen 2 weeks to 6 weeks, depending how overloaded they are.
2. Relatively. But it doesn't matter until your score posts.
3. If not that day, overnight it will update.
4. The school won't get it until the score is attached and the entire thing is complete & verified.

Check AMCAS FAQs. They explain verification in detail.

I have a curve ball for you. Say an applicant is in a similar situation to the one above: pending a new MCAT in the application cycle. However, he/she has a prior MCAT that effectively passes all secondary invite screenings. This person wants to take his/her new MCAT as late as possible without losing their spot in line for application reviewal.

Does having an adequate old MCAT on hold place him/her in line for application reviewal by the admissions committee prior to interview invites? Or does having a pending new MCAT put him/her at the bottom of the admission's committees' stack, and therefore, submitting an early primary and subsequent secondary futile?

I guess this is what it boils down to. Do you have to have no pending MCATs to submit a secondary? And how long does it take for AMCAS to send your new MCAT to school once it is posted?

 

[boogiecousins94]

I submitted my primary June 23 and it got verified July 21 last year just for reference so it's about a month