should I submit my AMCAS or wait it out?

[kreddy2]

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Hello everyone, I'm a first-time poster, long time lurker.

I recently finished my AMCAS application, and was about to pull the trigger, when I thought of something. My MCAT scores come out in 10 days (my first score wasn't so hot), and I feel like I improved (so I'm thinking at least a 30+). Past that, I have no idea. So would it be a good idea to wait it out the 10 days, see my MCAT score, and go from there? It would probably be too late to take it again for this cycle, I'm already pushing it (plus I don't know how it works taking the MCAT a 3rd time), so if I didn't do so hot I would abandon MD/PhD and look to some PhD programs that allow transfer into MD/PhD. As a side note, I've applied broadly (~20 schools) with only a few of the upper tier schools.

Right about now, I'm thinking of just spending the cash and seeing what happens from there.

Notes about the rest of my application: I have an average GPA (~3.5 with tons of upper-level science courses), and the rest of my application is very strong (good LORs, a lot of research experience, good extracurriculars).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Neuronix]

So would it be a good idea to wait it out the 10 days, see my MCAT score, and go from there?

Two competing issues here:

1) Your app is getting kind of late.

2) You don't want schools to never look at your second MCAT score before making a decision on you.

I think issue #2 outweighs issue #1. Another 10 days isn't going to hurt you significantly more unless you are getting past any deadlines at the end of this month (are there any primary deadlines at the end of this month?). Your transcripts are verified I hope.

You can take the MCAT a third time. I'd do it next year some time if you don't get in this cycle and are so inclined.

Almost no PhD programs allow transfer into MD/PhD programs. For the few that do, you are evaluated as if you were applying MD/PhD from the start. Whatever is keeping you from MD/PhD now will keep you from MD/PhD then. They don't look at your PhD performance and take you based on that. They take you based on your ugrad GPA, MCAT, research experience, and then if you've been a strong grad student that's only confirmation of your undergrad credentials. Never go PhD thinking it's a backdoor into MD/PhD. The best option in this case is MD -> MD/PhD (more common) or MD on a research trajectory.

 

[kreddy2]

Thanks for your input Neuronix, if I'm not mistaken you're at Temple? I used to work there for a couple of summers (2006/2007), is the new med school built yet? A few questions/comments:

- I indicated that I was taking a 2nd MCAT on my application, so doesn't that mean that schools don't fully evaluate your app until those scores come in?

- There are no primary deadlines at the end of this month, this is not a factor. And yes, my transcripts are verified (is this the only factor in the processing time of the app?). I just want to have my app in ASAP.

- I understand that it is more difficult to transfer Phd -> MD/PhD, but ultimately, if I had to choose 1 degree, it would be PhD (that's why I suggested it). I figure that although MD -> MD/PhD is common, it's unguaranteed. If I were to go the PhD route, I would take the MCAT again before starting grad school and then apply later. If I didn't get in, I would be disappointed, but not as much as I would be if I failed to get in MD -> MD/PhD (hopefully that makes sense).

Krishna

 

[silvermuse]

At this point, verification of your AMCAS is going to take about a month. You should submit NOW, select only one school, and then add the rest if your MCAT score is good.

After you see your MCAT score and decide if it's good enough to apply this cycle, you should look up all the secondary prompts and start working on them so you can submit them as soon as you receive them. This way you'll be complete by late September/early October.

It's still a little late but since MD/PhD seems to review later, you should still have a shot.

 

[Neuronix]

Thanks for your input Neuronix, if I'm not mistaken you're at Temple?

You are mistaken.

- I indicated that I was taking a 2nd MCAT on my application, so doesn't that mean that schools don't fully evaluate your app until those scores come in?

You pose a strange question. If they don't fully evaluate your app until those scores come in, then what's the harm in waiting? If they do evaluate your app before those scores come in, you're likely to be rejected. Why take the risk?

- There are no primary deadlines at the end of this month, this is not a factor. And yes, my transcripts are verified (is this the only factor in the processing time of the app?). I just want to have my app in ASAP.

I thought the transcript verification process was the most time consuming part of AMCAS that is out of your own control. Has this changed?

(hopefully that makes sense).

Makes sense to me. Good luck!

At this point, verification of your AMCAS is going to take about a month. You should submit NOW, select only one school, and then add the rest if your MCAT score is good.

This is good advice. Maybe this is what you need to be doing if you can't have your AMCAS verified until you submit to at least one school. I applied a long time ago and procedures do change...

 

[tortuga87]

you should also look up secondary questions on these forums and answer them while your AMCAS is being verified, so you can submit secondaries as soon as the AMCAS ppl finish

 

[kreddy2]

Again, thanks everyone for the input. So, just to clarify:

I can submit my AMCAS to 1 school, and add other schools after submission dependent on my MCAT score? What I might just do is add about 5 schools I think I have the best shot in, and add the other 15 based on how my MCAT scores look.