Submit app before finishing classes or take summer classes?

[MrFixIt]

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Hey everyone,

A little background: I'm a non-trad (graduated almost 5 years ago) with a degree in bio and have pretty well-rounded ECs. I have many, many hours shadowing and volunteering as well as years of working in hospitals as a CNA. I have yet to take the MCAT and am planning on doing that next month in June. I have great LoRs and a pretty solid personal statement, I think. However, my grades are sub-par hovering around a 3.00 although a definite upward trend and >3.5 for the last 90 hours. I've been doing a DIY post-bac and have a 4.0 so far but need another 8 credits, so 2-3 classes, to be comparable to my formal post-bac counterparts per my top choice med school advisor's advice.

So! My dilemma is: do I take classes this summer around my MCAT date and potentially forfeit any medical office/lab jobs I'm offered (I have 3 interviews right now for nearby practices and hospitals) so I can get every part of my application in early before August; or do I focus on just the MCAT and potential job this summer and take the extra classes this Fall thereby postponing my app completion until mid-December?

Truthfully, I'm not concerned about the job, I'm most concerned with the issues that arise with clustering too much class and MCAT stuff together or with delaying my completed app for so long.

Thanks for the help, y'all!

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Having your app completed by mid-December virtually guarantees that you will be a reapplicant for MD schools. Don't know about DO schools because their cycle is a bit longer.

Unless getting into medical school this cycle is a top priority, I would get the job, take the MCAT this summer, and finish your required courses in the Fall and wait to apply next cycle, not this one coming up. Use the extra time to increase your ECs and make yourself a more competitive candidate.

Your current trajectory for both options are fraught with potential traps. MCAT studying should be the priority and both options you are looking at seems to take focus away from that most important of exams. Focus 100% on the MCAT this summer, job, and then classes in the Fall....

 

[MrFixIt]

Having your app completed by mid-December virtually guarantees that you will be a reapplicant for MD schools. Don't know about DO schools because their cycle is a bit longer.

Unless getting into medical school this cycle is a top priority, I would get the job, take the MCAT this summer, and finish your required courses in the Fall and wait to apply next cycle, not this one coming up. Use the extra time to increase your ECs and make yourself a more competitive candidate.

Your current trajectory for both options are fraught with potential traps. MCAT studying should be the priority and both options you are looking at seems to take focus away from that most important of exams. Focus 100% on the MCAT this summer, job, and then classes in the Fall....

I'm not so keen on the mid-Dec. idea for those same reasons. Getting in this cycle is a top priority so I think I'm going to take the MCAT in early June as originally planned, then take the summer courses I need so I can have everything done and in by the end of July. If I miss out on a cool job then so be it. I have a stacked EC list and don't have any particular job prospects that would overcompensate for anything else on my app.