Should I push back my mcat test date?

[LACMA]

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Hello good people of SDN!

Just an overanxious pre med here.

How much of a difference will two weeks make? My exam is scheduled for May 6th, but that's the end of my finals week. I'm thinking of pushing back my exam to May 20th.

So it takes a month to get your scores and another month to verify your application. How much will this hinder my application? If i submit my app without an mcat score, will UCs still look at my application?

Many thanks!

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

It all depends on how much studying you have already done vs how much you need.

Though with it being right at your finals I'd be inclined to push it later to avoid adding MCAT stress to finals stress

 

[oobie]

It matters on how much effort you're willing to put into it and how close you are to your goal. I can answer that it shouldn't hinder your application. You can submit your app without an mcat score, but by the time you get it (whether it is in the first week of June or the third/fourth week of June), med schools won't see your application until July 1st I believe. People say that you should submit your application to one school that you know you'll apply to (some say a throw-away school) and that'll at least get your application processed. However, I finished my application in the third or so week of June and was still accepted to a medical school. You're still ahead of many people if you choose to finish/submit your application in late-ish June. If you do submit early to one school and get it verified, you can add more schools and that'll get done in a couple of days.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Two weeks is unlikely to make any difference in terms of your grasp of the material. But I could definitely see rescheduling to give yourself time to destress after finals and to make sure your head is 100% in the game for the exam. MCAT day is a loooong day.

A May 20th test date shouldn't really delay your app once you figure in the time it takes to be verified and to complete your secondaries. (Schools that send secondaries to everyone will send them even if they haven't received your MCAT score.) It's risky to choose your full school list without an MCAT score. So maybe only designate 1 school in AMCAS and add others once you get your score?

 

[LACMA]

Rule 1: Take MCAT when ready. Schools dont admit you because you have an early MCAT score but because you have a good MCAT score.

I am also not a believer in submitting an application without knowing your MCAT score.

so wise!! all of you. Thank you!

 

[Terror Billy]

@LACMA take it whenever you feel ready, the latest date you'd probably want to take it this cycle to have everything in by and be "early" is the mid-June dates. 2 weeks after your finals week might not be enough unless you're able to get a good amount done now during the school year too!

You could theoretically still submit your primary on June 1/2 with one school, and then start pre-writing secondaries.

 

[LACMA]

@LACMA take it whenever you feel ready, the latest date you'd probably want to take it this cycle to have everything in by and be "early" is the mid-June dates. 2 weeks after your finals week might not be enough unless you're able to get a good amount done now during the school year too!

You could theoretically still submit your primary on June 1/2 with one school, and then start pre-writing secondaries.

Alright, thank you! I've been studying since late february. I'm just concerned that the stress of finals week will get to me, and i won't have enough sleep and stuff. I'm still gonna wait to see how i do on my practice exams leading up to the exam before i decide whether or not to actually take the exam. I think i'll do what you said 🙂 thank you so much again!!

 

[ciestar]

As someone who actually did push their mcat back by two weeks, it did help me. I just time to take a few more practice tests and review them. If you honestly think it's better for you to postpone, then do it, no matter how small the time frame. You have to be in the right state of mind for this exam and dont need added stress of finals.

 

[medic86]

As someone who actually did push their mcat back by two weeks, it did help me. I just time to take a few more practice tests and review them. If you honestly think it's better for you to postpone, then do it, no matter how small the time frame. You have to be in the right state of mind for this exam and dont need added stress of finals.

To add:

As someone who didn't add two weeks to their study study time... I really wish I did. 😛