Spring Quarter Grades Prior to Submitting AMCAS Application

[relentless11]

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Hello all. Just wondering if anyone who successfully applied actually waited until they got their spring quarter grades when submitting their AMCAS in.

From what i understand, the AMCAS app will be available in late-May, and can be submitted in June. Since i want to get the best GPA i can (and spring qtr will make a difference), would it be bad to wait until Spring Quarter Grades have come out? The quarter ends June 17, and according to registrar, it takes between 3-5 weeks for current quarter grades to make it onto the transcript.

My current plan is to submit my AMCAS once the qtr ends. Professors usually know our grades within a few days after the final. So i'll use that grade on my AMCAS application to expedite its submission. I'll just tell the registrar to submit my transcripts to AMCAS once spring qtr grades are available. That means worse case, they will send it out around July 15, or at the earliest, the first of July. Would that delay be bad? Obviously this is better than taking the August MCAT, which would delay things even further, but everyone has been making such a big deal (understandable) about applying early...that is it worth the wait?
Reasons for waiting is 1) assuming i keep my 4.0 trend in this post-bacc, spring quarter grades will make a 0.1 difference in my GPA (from a 2.65 to a 2.74). 2) Th inclusion of spring quarter will allow them to see that i spent a normal academic year with a 4.0 average in upper division biomed engineering classes, vs. 2.5's in various undergraduate degree/school requirements.

Another option is to send it anyways with the 2.65. Does AMCAS allow one to update their transcripts? Or do med school's readily accept updates in such a manner?

**Note unlike my previous thread, where i asked about applying in August for a mere 0.03 GPA increase, this is for spring quarter and for applying in July. Sorry that i'm starting to analyze this down to a temporal level, but since my GPA is my weak point in my application, i want to make it as good as possible, BUT as many have stated, applying EARLY is a VERY good thing. So i'm kinda figuring out which one is the better option in regards to July (rather than August) vs. June when considering a potential GPA change of +0.1.

 

[docmemi]

first off, you wont be able to update your gpa or grades through amcas after u submit your app online; schools would only care if you get an interview, and even then your amcas is the one they really use and look at...basically your gpa they use is what you give on your amcas and you cant change that one.

second, a 0.1 diff might mean nothing. but i think having something more recent will make a diff, esp if those grades are good. are you taking the mcat this april?? honestly, since most schools dont send secondaries out until august and many do so automatically to everyone, sending your app in july ends up not being that much of a big deal....cause you would theoretically get the secondaries the same time as someone who did it in june. at least that has been my experience this cycle. i would check if the school you think you have the best shot sends secondaries auto or they do a prelim review. in my opinion, completing your secondaries early is the mosssssssssst important!!! make sure your letters are in and all also. so you want to be complete the earlies. july is just right to get the sec early, then you should turn sec. plus, if you are taking the mcat in april, youll prolly want to get your score...which comes out, i think, around june 24.

so, i say go ahead and wait. although the .1 wont make a diff, the most recent upward trend, which im sure will be a big issue in your file, will say something. and july wont be too late, in my opinion. i like your idea of submitting your amcas once you know your grades, end of june, from your prof, that could make things much faster. just make sure you put the true grade. then get those transcripts in asap. you might want to call amcas and ask them if they put your file in line once you submit it or they wait for your transcripts to arrive; if they dont wait for transcripts, then go ahead and send it in before the transcripts get sent.

lets see what other people think...

 

[medhopeful08]

so the reported gpa that schools list (on their brochures, etc) is the one on the AMCAS?

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by medhopeful08
so the reported gpa that schools list (on their brochures, etc) is the one on the AMCAS?

So, if I do well winter quarter and not do so hot spring quarter, the schools won't find out? Or will they ask for grades during secondaries or later on?

 

[starforce_chips]

I need the application process sorted out.

What does the AMCAS consist of, exactly? When a university has an AMCAS deadline, is that just for the AMCAS application? Can I send my transcript say two or three weeks afterward when my newest grades are final?

 

[priyanka]

http://forums.drslounge.com/showthread.php?t=168194

Your answer IS somewhere in this thread. Since people have addressed different questions in this post, I thought it is best to let each of you find your respective answers. It isn't something that I've posted. I personally thought it answered all my questions so far!

 

[Shaz]

Just wait before you submit. Make sure you get the grades you want though...don't count your eggs yatta yatta yatta...(i forget how that one ends)