School List? Should I wait until July?

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

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[radian313]

Hello SDN,

I've read a handful of threads on this, I just want to make 100% sure I don't mess anything up this cycle so I thought I'd post something on my specific situation.

As I'm sure most of you know, the application for DO schools opened today. My question is, should I wait until my MCAT scores are back in July to apply to all of the schools I am interested in and apply to a "throwaway" school (as I've seen it described) to get my transcripts verified? Or should I just apply to all of the schools I'm interested in now based on my practice test score? (I have 1.5 months to do nothing but study for the MCAT, confident I can get it up a few points by then.)

For those advocating for applying to all schools now, could I get help constructing a school list so that I'm not throwing any money away?

Summary of Application:

Stats:
cGPA: 3.298; yes it is that close to a 3.3 on my official transcript... (3.7ish my past 60 credits)
sGPA: 3.48
MCAT (Practice): 502

EC's:
Volunteering - 120 hrs (ER (70ish)/Red Cross/Assisted Living Facility/Various events)
Clinical Experience - 6,000+ hours (Radiology Assistant; promoted in February to Lead Radiology Assistant)
Shadowing - 120 hrs (MD and DO of many specialties; 70hrs with a DO Immunologist)
Research (Drosophila Genomics) - 100 hours w/ poster presentation
Tutoring (Immunology) - 10 total hours in Fall semester (asked to come back next year, same subject)

Letters of Recommendation:
1.) DO Immunologist - Strong
2.) Immunology Professor - Strong
3.) History of Medicine Professor - Good
4.) Cadaver Lab Professor - Good
5.) Committee Letter from school

Thank you,
-NF

If this is your first mcat, your app wount get verified until aacomas gets your score. If you have a score on file, and have absolutely no intent to apply to a throwaway school, sure go ahead as your app will be verified then.

I speak from experience.

 

[OverlyRomantic]

The DO app is longer than the MD app. Your sGPA is solid, so I think you can afford to wait to apply until July. However, earlier is always better; Do a throwaway and then add schools later

 

[DrMikeP]

You can apply to AACOMAS with a date scheduled for MCAT noted in the app. I'd do a throw-away school to get verified and then send broadly as soon as your score gets into AACOMAS.

I was burned by sending mine out before my MCAT score came in to all of my schools and it took emails to get some to consider my "new/" really the first time MCAT score. One school in CA put a "0" for my MCAT and I was auto rejected before my score was released. The idiot student assistant kept arguing with me they had my MCAT score of "0" and that meant I was rejected. They don't further evaluate "rejected" applications, so it was a pain to get it straight.

August and Sept are on time so you'll probably be fine. Just get that MCAT up to 504+.

Best of Luck!