Secondaries

Started by MDaspiration2020
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MDaspiration2020

MDaspiration2020

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Hey guys,

I was thinking about applying to DO schools in this upcoming cycle but I unfortunately need to redo my MCAT this summer. If I mark a MCAT retake on my AACOMAS application, will I still receive secondaries or will my app be put on hold until my new score is released. My MCAT score was a 24 which is subpar, however my GPA is a 3.65 which should be competitive.

Thanks
 
Yes, you will receive secondaries. You won't receive any II's until your MCAT is in. There's an option to add an MCAT score into your app after you've submitted it; you can also submit your app without the mcat date, and once you have your score you can add it into the app and the schools will be updated. Or, you can just add in a test date and send the app in (you'll update the schools with the score once it's received).
 
OverlyRomantic said:
Yes, you will receive secondaries. You won't receive any II's until your MCAT is in. There's an option to add an MCAT score into your app after you've submitted it; you can also submit your app without the mcat date, and once you have your score you can add it into the app and the schools will be updated. Or, you can just add in a test date and send the app in (you'll update the schools with the score once it's received).
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Makes sense. I was planning on submitting my primary application in May. Then writing my MCAT early July and completing secondaries from July- August while waiting for my new MCAT score. Once I get my score, I can then update and submit my application. Just wondering if this timeline makes sense.

Thanks for your help
 
Yes, that makes sense. This is what I would do if I were you:
  • Submit primary in May without second MCAT date
  • Dominate MCAT in July while completing secondaries
    • Reasoning: Most schools will send you secondaries, some won't. This will you'll get a secondary from a ton of schools
    • Do not fill out secondaries for the top tier schools that value a high MCAT
  • Get your 528/528, fill it out in your app. Resend scores. E-mail schools that you sent an updated scores
  • Get interviews
  • Ace interviews
  • Get acceptances
  • Go to medical school
  • Become a doctor
  • ?????
  • Profit
 
OverlyRomantic said:
Say something terrible happens, and you have to void your MCAT, the schools will never know. If you put in the test date, you can't remove it. You'll have to manually e-mail each school saying that the MCAT is voided, and why you voided it.
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This is good advice if you think voiding is likely. Otherwise I wouldn't do it.

I applied some time ago, but it seems the advice I gave then and shortly after hasn't trickled down. Some schools (not an insignificant number) have a primary filter. If you don't meet their filter requirements when you submit the primary, they will do one of 3 things: (1) put you on hold until you do, (2) hang on to your app and wait if you have something like an MCAT pending, or (3) reject you outright.

A number of schools will reject students when they don't see a pending MCAT and your MCAT is subpar. I wouldn't risk this. I would even suggest figuring out which schools do not have a well known primary filter and only submit apps for those schools first, until you get your new MCAT results, then submit the rest. Try to determine if you fulfill the filters from the beginning as that will be helpful.

OP, if you are sure you're going to retake the MCAT, I would just put the date. If you have to postpone or something, you can do so, and just resubmit your MCAT report after the score comes back.
 
I suppose I'm sharing from my experience. I took an mcat this summer, but due to some unexpected things, I had to void it. I had a blank test date on my app, and it was a pain to contact 30+ schools and let them know that the MCAT was voided.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
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