Submitting AAMCAS Before MCAT to get verification started

[velodork]

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Ill be taking the MCAT in June with scores to be released in July, but want to submit my application early to at least 1 school to get the verification process started ASAP.

If I were to submit my application to only one school before my MCAT score is available, should I submit to:

1. In state (competitive)
2. In state (reach)
3. OOS (competitive)
4. OOS (reach)

I'm having a hard time figuring the logic behind any one of these choices... Thanks for the feedback!

 

[beachside]

Submit it to a school that you don't really want to go to, like one of your backup options. The reason is that they may reply with a deadline for having your application completed, which obviously you won't be able to meet. I screwed myself in that way.

 

[velodork]

What was the timeline/deadline they gave you to submit your completed application? Just to be clear, my application would potentially be submitted early June, with MCAT scores ready for submission Mid July (~6 weeks out). Do schools really demand a completed app that quickly in situations like these?

 

[candbgirl]

Since beachside has experience perhaps you should listen to his advice. Other than that I'd send it to a school you don't care about in case your MCAT doesn't turn out as you hoped.

 

[velodork]

If you can take the MCAT one month earlier your score will be back before any apps are released and you won't have to worry about it

Unfortunately the May MCAT is during finals week, so it's just not an option. April MCAT would be rushed, so June it is.

 

[medic86]

Unfortunately the May MCAT is during finals week, so it's just not an option. April MCAT would be rushed, so June it is.

Smart!

Just do what beachside suggested and apply to a school you have no chance at. If I had to do the same, I'd just apply to Hopkins. 😛

 

[beachside]

What was the timeline/deadline they gave you to submit your completed application?

2 weeks. I think those were the only two schools that had deadlines for me though... and of course they were the ones I submitted the primary to before I took the MCAT. There was no mention of a deadline on their websites.

 

[velodork]

Smart!

Just do what beachside suggested and apply to a school you have no chance at. If I had to do the same, I'd just apply to Hopkins. 😛

Harvard it is!

 

[threesparrows]

The real issue is that if the MCAT turns out below what you're comfortable applying with, you may choose to delay your app a year and retake. Then you will be considered a reapplicant at whichever school you designated on AMCAS. So pick a school low on your list of ones you'd like to apply to. I wouldn't designate Hopkins without an MCAT score, personally. If your GPA and other factors do not make you a candidate there, you are just wasting $. If you were planning to apply there anyway, then maybe.

FYI I took a June MCAT and followed this strategy and it worked out for me.

 

[velodork]

The real issue is that if the MCAT turns out below what you're comfortable applying with, you may choose to delay your app a year and retake. Then you will be considered a reapplicant at whichever school you designated on AMCAS. So pick a school low on your list of ones you'd like to apply to. I wouldn't designate Hopkins without an MCAT score, personally. If your GPA and other factors do not make you a candidate there, you are just wasting $. If you were planning to apply there anyway, then maybe.

FYI I took a June MCAT and followed this strategy and it worked out for me.

Thank you very much for the feedback! So it sounds like my best bet would be a reach/high reach school that I would like to go to...

 

[bionerd20]

I followed this strategy, too, and it worked out - but definitely take practice tests before you submit the app and make sure the scores are around what you want them to be. It sounds like you'll be submitting about 2 weeks before your mcat, so you should be taking practice tests at that point anyways.

 

[velodork]

I followed this strategy, too, and it worked out - but definitely take practice tests before you submit the app and make sure the scores are around what you want them to be. It sounds like you'll be submitting about 2 weeks before your mcat, so you should be taking practice tests at that point anyways.

Totally. I've already started some light review. I'll be ramping up between now and the test date and i have already registered for a Kaplan on site course leading right up to the test. Needless to say- I'll be ready for it!

 

[grizzlypuffs105]

I followed this strategy, too, and it worked out - but definitely take practice tests before you submit the app and make sure the scores are around what you want them to be. It sounds like you'll be submitting about 2 weeks before your mcat, so you should be taking practice tests at that point anyways.

I just want to make sure I understood everyone's recommendation because I'm in the same boat - I'm taking the MCAT in June but want to have my application in as early as possible with only the MCAT score missing until it scored in July.

FYI: I am interested in Texas schools (OOS) but I plan on turning everything in later than May 1st because they don't even look at OOS applicants till later.

My plan was the following:
1. send in all materials on June 1st (LOR's, transcripts, etc.) to AMCAS. I will indicate all schools I am interested in and that I think I'll be competitive for (although I won't have an MCAT score at this time, I will be basing my decisions of an expected score range)
2. take the MCAT in June and have scores sent to all the schools

If I understand correctly, I should not do this because once I apply in June I will only have a few weeks to complete the application and since my MCAT score will not arrive till July, I may be screwed? Am i understanding this correctly? And if this is accurate, should I then wait till early July to indicate additional schools and only apply to one school i don't care about on June 1st so my application has already been verified by the time I list other schools in July?

 

[ridethecliche]

If your primary is verified by July and your scores and primary go in to schools in the first couple of weeks of july, and you finish your secondaries by the end of july/early august, you'll be fine re: timing of application.

You're making a good call though since your school list will depend on your MCAT. I'd plan out what you think it should look like though i.e. you should have some sort of idea from your practice tests.

 

[grizzlypuffs105]

If your primary is verified by July and your scores and primary go in to schools in the first couple of weeks of july, and you finish your secondaries by the end of july/early august, you'll be fine re: timing of application.

You're making a good call though since your school list will depend on your MCAT. I'd plan out what you think it should look like though i.e. you should have some sort of idea from your practice tests.

Okay. I think I'll shift my plans then a little bit. I'll have everything except for the MCAT submitted on June 1st, choose one school I don't really care about, and then choose all the other schools in early July about 2 weeks before my scores arrive. Since my application will already be verified, all they'll need is the MCAT score to be received and my entire application, including secondaries, will be completed by the end of July.

Since my MCAT score won't arrive until July 20th, I don't see what else I can do.

 

[ridethecliche]

You can also pre-write your secondaries. I did this since my committee letter didn't go out till mid august. Made my life far easier.

 

[grizzlypuffs105]

You can also pre-write your secondaries. I did this since my committee letter didn't go out till mid august. Made my life far easier.

You mean answer them when they send them to me, so by the time the MCAT received on July 20th, I will send these in as well?

 

[ridethecliche]

You mean answer them when they send them to me, so by the time the MCAT received on July 20th, I will send these in as well?

Check the school specific threads. People will post the secondary topics right off the bat when they receive them. You can pre-write the secondaries this way meaning that you'll just copy paste them into the forms when you get them from the schools. It saves a LOT of time.

You don't want to have to think about the prompts after getting them if you don't have the luxury of already having your score.