Summer Classes, When to submit

[Thelonious Chunk]

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[MedNation907]

Right now my stats sit at
cgpa: 3.47
sgpa: 3.57
gpa over last 60 hrs: 3.8
MCAT - July 18

I am taking two summer classes that are repeats of science courses. If I get As (been getting As all year) then
cgpa: 3.52
sgpa: 3.72
over last 60 hours: 3.9

Honestly, my attention isn't on your GPA's as much as it is your MCAT. Your current GPA's are fine for a full fledged list of schools, and September is early enough in the cycle to have bumped grades be effective -- so I wouldn't worry about that. But you don't have an MCAT score yet. 28 schools is a very long list which will make for a very time-consuming application (secondaries/essays) -- because of this, I would send your primary to at least half of those schools just so you can get an early start on those secondaries. Wait to send your app to schools with 28+ MCAT averages -- add them if you get a competitive score back in August.

I have to submit my app today to redeem fee assistance. What this does, however, is lock my app until academic update. I'll have my summer grades in at the beginning of August, but I won't be able to update those grades through AACOMAS until September when academic update starts.

Just to re-iterate (and this is just my opinion) September isn't too late to update your GPA's. Your situation would be different if your current GPA's were <3.2, but you're already in decent shape without the retakes.

Should I just skip academic update and send my grades straight to the schools (28 of them)?

I'm honestly not 100% sure what "academic update" is, I'm wondering if this is a new concept from the AACOMAS update. But there are 2 things to be done when you finish classes -- update those letter grades in AACOMAS and send in your new transcript to AACOMAS. Just do those two things as soon as possible, you'll be fine.

My question is, should I submit all my primaries now, or just a couple now to get verified and then submit the rest in september after grades are in? Should I only put in my secondaries after all my classes are done?

Again, I would at least apply to half and send in secondaries as soon as you can. You may be underestimating how much time these require. The sooner you get started, the more time you can take when you start to burn out.

 

[Thelonious Chunk]

Again, I would at least apply to half and send in secondaries as soon as you can. You may be underestimating how much time these require. The sooner you get started, the more time you can take when you start to burn out.

Thanks for the perspective. I suppose I was concerned that if I turned in secondaries before my summer grades are in through AACOMAS, that they would only review my app that one time, without considering the upcoming grades (if that makes sense). Or will they take a thorough look only once all classes +MCAT are in, regardless of when I submit secondaries?

 

[MedNation907]

Thanks for the perspective. I suppose I was concerned that if I turned in secondaries before my summer grades are in through AACOMAS, that they would only review my app that one time, without considering the upcoming grades (if that makes sense). Or will they take a thorough look only once all classes +MCAT are in, regardless of when I submit secondaries?

This is highly subjective as there's likely not a single method to how schools review candidates. But the bolded is definitely not the case. With rolling admissions many candidates are reviewed 2-3 times before a final decision is made -- and that's the case for applicants who are 100% complete. Getting your app in early will get eyes on the rest of your application earlier and get you into that review cycle earlier -- so by the time you do have updates available (MCAT and summer classes) MAYBE the committee has already reviewed the rest of your application and is at least familiar with it.

Now just note that the system I am describing above is one that was explained to me by an admissions member at ONE school, for all I know it could be completely different at other schools -- but I would wager an early app is always beneficial against the odds.