Thoughts on applying in December

[mulcahysj]

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Due to some mitigating circumstances I will be unable to apply until December. I need to wait until Fall semester ends for the grades to post to raise my cGPA to a 3.1 from a 2.9. What are your thoughts on this and what is the best way to try and tackle this situation. I know it is at the point where it can be considered late during the DO cycle. I have started the application process. Should I send in my other transcripts to get verified first and once the MCAT is complete send that in and then just wait on the grades to post until i submit those? I don't want to apply with a 2.9 early and get auto rejected before the adcoms even get to see my application. So even though it is late, I think that waiting until December is still better as I will be applying this cycle no matter what. Thoughts?

 

[DrEnderW]

Are you taking classes in the spring as well? Will that give you another opportunity to boost your GPA again?

You're correct, there is minimal chance of getting in with a 2.9 and even less so when you're applying late. That is a combo for failure. I would consider taking this cycle off and applying early June next year. You need to wait and see what your MCAT score is too. What are your timed practice tests looking like? If you're not killing it, I'd push the MCAT to the spring because you're going to need a great score to offset the low GPA.

Don't rush the process. You're risking not getting in and being a reapplicant vs taking a few months to apply with a stronger app.

 

[mulcahysj]

MCAT is in August and practices are exceptionally strong. I am taking a few classes in the Spring as well. I just need to get over the 3.0 cGPA hump. my sGPA is 3.8 and my last 60 credits are at a 3.9 of all upper level courses in sciences and humanities. there is a gap between my schooling due to military service. I have 8 years active duty as a combat medic with multiple deployments, awards, multiple DO LOR's etc. I have a very strong app, I just need physical eyes on. Thats why I will be applying this cycle. I just want to know the best way to submit the application as I have multiple schools attended. So should I submit those schools transcripts now to get verified and then wait on my last transcripts to post in December? Would that facilitate or expedite the process?

 

[Goro]

I recommend applying with the best possible app, even if it means sitting out an app cycle.


I have started the application process. Should I send in my other transcripts to get verified first and once the MCAT is complete send that in and then just wait on the grades to post until i submit those? I don't want to apply with a 2.9 early and get auto rejected before the adcoms even get to see my application. So even though it is late, I think that waiting until December is still better as I will be applying this cycle no matter what. Thoughts?

 

[MedNation907]

Without a doubt I'd wait a year.. but assuming you don't care and will apply regardless, here's my take:

If I'm understanding this correctly: you plan to wait until early/mid December to start the processing of your primary app (so that your initial app holds your 'bumped' GPA). This means you'll have to wait an additional 5-6 weeks to have your app processed and receive secondaries in late January at best. I'd advise you to apply to 1 safety school once you see that your MCAT score is on par. So in September submit your primary (and all of your other schools transcripts) to one school that you can see yourself going to (but not a top choice) and that doesn't have a high stat threshold. This will allow you to simply add schools to send your primary application once your Fall semester ends, because AACOMAS has already processed it.

Even considering this scenario, you're looking at being 100% complete around January -- it's just really late dude. I agree that it seems you have a strong application (except your cGPA) and with a high MCAT score I think you will find a seat somewhere. But if you waited a cycle and applied earlier, you would have multiple options Idk it's just a no-brainer to me, I had to make the tough decision to wait a year -- so I know it's not easy. But applying with the best possible app makes the most sense, and that includes timing.

 

[Dr. Death]

And if you don't get in anywhere due to the tardiness of your application and gpa you will be applying next cycle as a reapplicant. Just a thought. You might also research which schools have really late cycles. I think I saw on the LMU thread that people were still interviewing in mid april.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Wait until June. December is almost guaranteed a reject.

 

[mulcahysj]

And if you don't get in anywhere due to the tardiness of your application and gpa you will be applying next cycle as a reapplicant. Just a thought. You might also research which schools have really late cycles. I think I saw on the LMU thread that people were still interviewing in mid april.

Is a reapplicant really considered negative? I would think a reapplicant with an improved application would not look bad, hence my reasoning for applying in December. If I get accepted, great. If not, then no harm no foul as my application will be improved for the following cycle. That was my thought process.. If I am looking at it wrong please someone correct me. Either way I have a backup plan for next cycle that will improve the application, but with my aforementioned thought process I just imagined it would be worth a shot. Thoughts?

 

[user3]

Due to some mitigating circumstances I will be unable to apply until December. I need to wait until Fall semester ends for the grades to post to raise my cGPA to a 3.1 from a 2.9. What are your thoughts on this and what is the best way to try and tackle this situation. I know it is at the point where it can be considered late during the DO cycle. I have started the application process. Should I send in my other transcripts to get verified first and once the MCAT is complete send that in and then just wait on the grades to post until i submit those? I don't want to apply with a 2.9 early and get auto rejected before the adcoms even get to see my application. So even though it is late, I think that waiting until December is still better as I will be applying this cycle no matter what. Thoughts?

If you do not care where you go, completing secondaries in December and having 27+ MCAT should still result in at least 1 acceptance with 3.1-ish GPA's.