redm1496 said:
crazy_cavalier,
You have just made my day. I was wondering. If I apply now with my score and still retake in August, will med schools still consider me with my April score even though I am still retaking or will they wait on my August scores to come in?
Yeah, I posted about this earlier on the 5th page, but I'll copy what I wrote here so you don't have to go backwards. First off, if you plan on retaking in August, you must check the little box that says "I plan to retake the MCAT in August" on your AMCAS. It is dishonest to retake in August and not check that box. You need to notify the schools.
If you indeed plan to retake in August, here's what happens:
CC said:
If you decide to retake in August - and that's your choice, no one else's - then here's what will happen: you will apply through AMCAS as usual, you can submit it whenever (although try to submit early)... when the schools on your list receive your AMCAS and process it, they will send you secondaries. Fill those out, send them back to the schools. Then the schools WAIT until they get your August scores. That means you'll be twiddling your thumbs and waiting on your ass until October before you hear anything at all from any of the schools. At some places, especially high-applicant-volume and at rolling schools, it'll take even longer than October before you even get a decision as to whether you're invited for an interview - and trust me, those interview spots fill up fast. You're at a disadvantage by doing the August MCAT, but if your file is hella strong, then guess what? You'll be fine. The delay won't hurt you much. But if you're mediocre or average, your best chance of survival is EARLY, because all the superstars show up out of nowhere in the Fall and BAM, you're left up $#!t creek.
Anyway, personally, redm, I don't think you should retake. I think your score is good enough to get you allopathic acceptances. In general, as with my previous posts, I urge you to have confidence in yourself and do not doubt yourself. If you become apologetic about your score, or if you doubt yourself, you will surely come out of the app process defeated. Also, choose your schools wisely when you draft up your AMCAS list. Don't give in to the US News Crapreport. It's BS. Add a lot of schools like Loyola, UIC, Rush, Finch, Ohio State, Ucincinnati, Drexel, Temple, Tulane, EVMS, GW, VCU, Penn State, Jefferson. All fantastic schools, and all schools that you will have a fair shot at with a solid 28 (9/10/9) and such a high GPA! (3.9 is #ucking amazing, trust me. It will carry a LOT of weight and will get you interviews at many of those schools). I just hope your clinical contact is significant. Dont forget your app isn't just the MCAT and GPA, but certainly those two alone are the very first factors. Clinical contact, good LORs, a decent PS are the other half of the puzzle, and they need to be good too. Good luck!
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Edit: Don't necessarily eliminate reach schools! You can add a few reach schools to your list! Sometimes you hear stories about people with 27's getting into Yale, or Columbia, or whatever. It happens. It does. Usually those people have high GPAs, like you, so don't count yourself out the running. Just goes to show the whole process is bizarre and arbitrary, and that applying to many places, far and wide, is the best possible strategy.
I hope you do the same.
