Secondary application Submissions (For those with app experience)

[texasholdems]

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I would like to hear from you guys, especially those who have experience in the whole application process.

I submitted my primary, got it verified 3~4 weeks ago. However, my recent MCAT wasn't upto my expectation (pretty low), and want to take it on September. I am all in for this application cycle, and will not withdraw my application.

Obviously most schools I applied to sent me secondary applications.
Here' my question.

Should I SUBMIT secondaries now before taking the new MCAT? Will it have any advantage vs. submitting it later in september or october while waiting for the score? Does it make any difference?

I ask this because I have written some essays for those secondaries, have all my letters and etc. I basically have everything except MCAT, and I know that most schools won't open file until it is fully complete.

So, should I submit secondary now or just wait until September?

 

[MedPR]

I would like to hear from you guys, especially those who have experience in the whole application process.

I submitted my primary, got it verified 3~4 weeks ago. However, my recent MCAT wasn't upto my expectation (pretty low), and want to take it on September. I am all in for this application cycle, and will not withdraw my application.

Obviously most schools I applied to sent me secondary applications.
Here' my question.

Should I SUBMIT secondaries now before taking the new MCAT? Will it have any advantage vs. submitting it later in september or october while waiting for the score? Does it make any difference?

I ask this because I have written some essays for those secondaries, have all my letters and etc. I basically have everything except MCAT, and I know that most schools won't open file until it is fully complete.

So, should I submit secondary now or just wait until September?

Submit now and indicate that you are retaking. That's all you can do if you refuse to withdraw.

 

[Jojokarade]

Submit now and indicate that you are retaking. That's all you can do if you refuse to withdraw.

I agree with MedPR. If you wait until September to submit your secondaries, then you will already be at a HUGE disadvantage for places with rolling admissions. Submit a high quality secondary now, ace the MCAT, and you will be fine.

 

[texasholdems]

After my submission and MCAT score release, Do I need to let each school know that my MCAT is now released and they can open the file? or will they automatically/immediately know the score is released and my app is complete?

 

[boshtrich]

Submit them now. If you submit secondaries now, each school will have them on file and your application will be complete when they get the new MCAT score. This is much better than waiting until September and then having to wait for the schools to get the secondaries and process them, which can take a couple weeks. Returning secondaries quickly can also help show an increased level of interest in the school.

 

[Jojokarade]

After my submission and MCAT score release, Do I need to let each school know that my MCAT is now released and they can open the file? or will they automatically/immediately know the score is released and my app is complete?

AMCAS should know right away and should pass them on to the schools. While it has been a few years since I took the MCAT, I remember something before or after the test where you could designate which schools to send the score directly to. I could just be making this up in my head but it is a vague memory.