Wait to submit app without mcat

[23premes]

---

Members do not see this ad.

There are a lot of threads like this but I think my question is a little more specific. I'm taking my mcat May 8th next week and my average is 32/33. Assuming all goes well I'm fine applying with that score but if I don't get that I don't think I'll want to submit my application. Should I start submitting everything June 1 or just wait until I get my scores back some time mid June? I don't want to start my application only to have to withdraw it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dancingmate]

I think you will be fine waiting a week. I submitted mine the middle of the second week last year, and I got interviews and acceptances. I would fill it all out, writer your personal statement and activities and fill in your coursework and send you transcripts. If your scores come back as you expected, then you can submit right away without having to wait and fill it out. If your scores don't and you decide not to apply, then your work for next year is done!

 

[CarlosDanger]

If you're going to do all the work anyways, just go ahead and submit your AMCAS to start the processing. Designate only one school so it'll be as cheap as possible upfront. When you get your score back, you can add more. Based on mine and many other experiences from last year, most people score pretty close to their average on AAMC practice tests. I did within 1 point. There's no reason to wait if you don't absolutely have to. Give yourself every advantage you can! There will be a lot more applicants submitting 2 weeks after AMCAS opening than during the first day or two. Wait times for processing go up and up as time goes on.

 

[23premes]

If you're going to do all the work anyways, just go ahead and submit your AMCAS to start the processing. Designate only one school so it'll be as cheap as possible upfront. When you get your score back, you can add more. Based on mine and many other experiences from last year, most people score pretty close to their average on AAMC practice tests. I did within 1 point. There's no reason to wait if you don't absolutely have to. Give yourself every advantage you can! There will be a lot more applicants submitting 2 weeks after AMCAS opening than during the first day or two. Wait times for processing go up and up as time goes on.

My main concern is money. I don't wanna spend all this money and then have to withdraw. My biggest concern is test anxiety. I can really do well when I'm calm and everything is good, but sometimes, like on my last exam, I get stressed and then I can't think straight and end up bombing it. Does it cost more to add more schools later on?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CarlosDanger]

My main concern is money. I don't wanna spend all this money and then have to withdraw. My biggest concern is test anxiety. I can really do well when I'm calm and everything is good, but sometimes, like on my last exam, I get stressed and then I can't think straight and end up bombing it. Does it cost more to add more schools later on?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It costs about $30 per school I think, so if you submit at the very beginning with only 1 school, you'll basically be paying the processing fee + $30. Test anxiety was an issue for me too, but I think you can be confident that your hard work and preparation will pay off. Even with some nervousness, you should be ok. I was really nervous before the test, but in the end did the same. Leading up to the test, I practiced taking the first minute or so of each section to just take some deep breaths and clear my head. It seemed to work pretty well. Practice mimicking the test conditions as closely as possible during your practice, which you've probably been doing already, and you'll be ok.

You probably can wait and still get acceptances, submitting in mid June is not late, it's just that applying as early as possible is the easiest thing you can do to give yourself an advantage. After all of the actual hard work of studying and taking the MCAT, you want to take advantage of timing if at all possible.

 

[23premes]

It costs about $30 per school I think, so if you submit at the very beginning with only 1 school, you'll basically be paying the processing fee + $30. Test anxiety was an issue for me too, but I think you can be confident that your hard work and preparation will pay off. Even with some nervousness, you should be ok. I was really nervous before the test, but in the end did the same. Leading up to the test, I practiced taking the first minute or so of each section to just take some deep breaths and clear my head. It seemed to work pretty well. Practice mimicking the test conditions as closely as possible during your practice, which you've probably been doing already, and you'll be ok.

You probably can wait and still get acceptances, submitting in mid June is not late, it's just that applying as early as possible is the easiest thing you can do to give yourself an advantage. After all of the actual hard work of studying and taking the MCAT, you want to take advantage of timing if at all possible.

Do you have any other advice for how to stay calm during test day. I will like literally sometimes blank over stuff I know like the back of my hand. I've never really had this before with any other test, it's frightening. I'm thinking maybe meditation or anything at this point. I've even thought about getting a beta blocker but I don't want that to mess me up if I haven't used one ever


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk