Submit AMCAS in July

[brettp11]

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Will waiting to submit AMCAS in July after a few summer courses be a mistake? Transcripts will be available July 1st and I would like these courses to contribute towards my GPA and be on the AMCAS transmittance.

Thanks.

 

[quideam]

Here's my advice, for whatever it's worth:

If the summer courses will really bring up your GPA significantly (from a 3.3 to a 3.5 or something dramatic like that), and your current GPA is low (under a 3.5? I don't know what you consider low), then it's not a bad idea. However, since you're applying to medical school this year, I'm assuming that you're a junior. Given that, you probably have 90+ credits already, so that 3 or even 6 additional credits won't really make a difference in your GPA. The only exception to this, in my opinion, is if your science gpa is low and you've only taken a few science courses (just pre-reqs, maybe one or two more) and the classes you are planning on taking over the summer are science classes that you think you can get As in. Then it might be worth it.

Otherwise, I would say just send your transcript in now. Some people have told me that schools often request grade updates with your secondaries, so you can always send your summer scores then. Also, i'm pretty sure (but ask a pre-med advisor) that once you've completed your AMCAS file, you can still ask them to update your grades and have your school send your updated transcript.

If it were me, I would send everything in as early as possible; I know that in a lot of places, sending things in early is huge plus, especially if you feel that your stats are borderline.

Well, that's my two cents. Good luck 🙂

- Zina

 

[Yogi Bear]

last year, a friend of mine turned in his amcas a week after the website went online and his app was processed/verified w/in 2 weeks or so. i turned mine a week after his and mine took twice as long to process/verify. consequently, getting secondaries/interviews were slightly delayed for me compared to him (not by much though). (i.e. getting an interview first week in sept as opposed to one and the end of sept).


once u send in ur amcas, they will immediately forward ur biographical info to ur schools. however, ur coursework won't be sent til it's been verified.

 

[abw]

Hey!

I think July is fine - you'll still beat all of the August MCATers. I started grad school last summer and wanted the grades of my first two classes included (although they really didn't do anything for my overall gpa) I had to wait until the 3rd week of July to have my transcript sent, but AMCAS was only waiting on that one transcript. (I sent everything else was in early) I got a bit nervous after waiting a week that it didn't say "transcript received" on the website, so I called and had them check - that might have helped my stuff get through a bit quicker because within a week from that, it was verified. I don' t think it hurt my chances at all, even though I had low stats.

 

[Street Philosopher]

I submitted mine 7/17 last year. It did not hurt me at all.

 

[Trix]

I submitted on 8/01 last year and don't think it hurt me at all. Started getting secondaries in mid Sept., and my first interview was in November.

 

[apf]

i think submitting in july is fine. but the earliest possible is best. it is one of the only things you can control about your application.

i feel the obligation to share my problems with AMCAS. make sure you follow up on the processing of your applications. DO NOT assume that because you applied mid-july that the processing should take more than a few weeks. i know people who submitted in august and were processed in three weeks.

so, if there is a delay, assume there is a problem and don't let them tell you any differently. i submitted my application last year on july 2nd but was not processed until august/sept because of a *glitch* in the system. it took a lot of fighting and pressure from many different directions to get it all sorted out.
anyway, it all worked out.
but don't let this happen to you!!

good luck everyone!🙂