When in the App Cycle is considered "Early" and "Late" for Primary Amcas?

[HinduHammer]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello,

I have been under the impression from talking with admissions folks at my state school as well as having seen it on SDN that one is in the best position by submitting their complete primary AMCAS application in early June.

I was planning on taking the MCAT for the first time on June 5th and having my AMCAS otherwise complete/submitted by mid-June. This way, as soon as my MCAT score is released in early July, I would have my AMCAS submitted relatively "early" in the cycle. (That is, if I understand the process correctly. Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

However, I only started studying/starting a prep course last weekend. It is clear that I have much to learn, review, and practice and I do not think I will be ready by June 5th. I am shooting for a 35+, though my diagnostic was only 23. Of course, I will be satisfied with anything above a 30.

Therefore I am wondering when is considered "early," "OK," and "late" in the application cycle in terms of having my AMCAS completely verified and submitted including transcripts, LORs, and MCAT. If I take the MCAT in early July and have my score released by August, would my application still be early, or would it be average - or even late?

I am a non-traditional, post-bacc student with a cGPA of 2.88 and sGPA of 2.88, with a 4.0 in almost 2 years of post-bacc work. I have decent ECs including working in business and the public sector and quite a bit of community service. I am planning on applying only to MD this cycle, but may apply DO if I get a chance to find a DO physician to shadow. I will be applying to at least 20 schools but strongly prefer my in-state allopathic school.

Lastly, if I have to push back my MCAT date to July or even August, would it be wise/alright to submit an application this cycle or would it be too late? I know that first application cycle = best, however I am eager to apply and matriculate, as I am almost 30.


Thanks,

 

[supermintyfresh]

However, I only started studying/starting a prep course last weekend. It is clear that I have much to learn, review, and practice and I do not think I will be ready by June 5th. I am shooting for a 35+, though my diagnostic was only 23. Of course, I will be satisfied with anything above a 30.

I would say it's really hard to get a 35+ if your diagnostic is a 23. How are your more recent AAMC practice tests? You definitely should consider DO schools as a backup because the GPA <3.0 could cause you to be auto-screened out despite your post-bacc work.

I would say a July/August MCAT wouldn't be too late if you were an average applicant, but considering you want to maximize your chances this cycle at MD schools, I would say maybe wait until next cycle -- if that's feasible for you? Only take the June date once you are consistently scoring above a 30 on the official AAMC practice tests. Best of luck!

 

[dyspareunia]

I would say it's really hard to get a 35+ if your diagnostic is a 23. How are your more recent AAMC practice tests? You definitely should consider DO schools as a backup because the GPA <3.0 could cause you to be auto-screened out despite your post-bacc work.

I would say a July/August MCAT wouldn't be too late if you were an average applicant, but considering you want to maximize your chances this cycle at MD schools, I would say maybe wait until next cycle -- if that's feasible for you? Only take the June date once you are consistently scoring above a 30 on the official AAMC practice tests. Best of luck!

I got a 34 and my diagnostic was a 19.

 

[woltej1]

Good thing is you can submit and have your AMCAS verified without a MCAT score. AMCAS will either add it to your profile if it hasn't been verified yet or update the schools when your MCAT is available. So the latest you would want to take the MCAT would be the beginning of july so that you can have secondaries in by early/mid august.

 

[HinduHammer]

I would say it's really hard to get a 35+ if your diagnostic is a 23. How are your more recent AAMC practice tests? You definitely should consider DO schools as a backup because the GPA <3.0 could cause you to be auto-screened out despite your post-bacc work.

I would say a July/August MCAT wouldn't be too late if you were an average applicant, but considering you want to maximize your chances this cycle at MD schools, I would say maybe wait until next cycle -- if that's feasible for you? Only take the June date once you are consistently scoring above a 30 on the official AAMC practice tests. Best of luck!

I have not taken any more AAMC or FL tests. On my diagnostic I had a 8PS, 12VR, and 3BS. I have a lot of work to do on BS, so I think its feasible to aim for a 35. Also, given my GPA, I need to aim as high as possible. Given your and other responses, I may push back my test date until July. I am still curious to see what others have to say, since you advise to take early given my low stats. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Cheetah13]

If that's your diagnostic score w/o studying, I'm sure you are capable of scoring a 35. My advice is to submit primary as early as possible in June, because the 1-2 weeks after the application opens there is a quick verification turn around.
Take your MCAT like first week of July, then prewrite your secondaries. If your entire application is complete before mid August, I think that it may still be considered early

 

[Jennyfishy]

If you've been studying well, your diagnostic doesn't mean anything. However, if you've been averaging <30 for your MCAT tests, it may be better to work on your other app weaknesses before spending money to apply. I would say late is submitting AMCAS in mid-July to after, especially with the delays this year because a lot of people weren't verified until late Aug/September.

The latest MCAT you would want to take is like...Late May or early June (submit your AMCAS without your score first if you are confident)

 

[AticusHolmes]

Superminty fresh is completely wrong about the diagnostic. I had a friend who took the actual MCAT, got a 23 in May, studied like crazy and got a 34 when he sat in late July...I don't know why someone would even say that...its simply not true. Where you start out affects how much work you have to do to get to where you want to go, but it doesn't limit in any way where you could end up...it just is a statement about how hard it will be to get there...

Keep going and ignore Supermintyfresh, because he/she is simply super wrong.

 

[CarlosDanger]

I have not taken any more AAMC or FL tests. On my diagnostic I had a 8PS, 12VR, and 3BS. I have a lot of work to do on BS, so I think its feasible to aim for a 35. Also, given my GPA, I need to aim as high as possible. Given your and other responses, I may push back my test date until July. I am still curious to see what others have to say, since you advise to take early given my low stats. Thanks for your feedback.

I checked back in my email, and I received most of my secondaries around July 6-9th last year (my app was otherwise complete at this point). If you wait until this time to take your MCAT you'll definitely be behind the first batch of complete apps that schools receive. At some schools, I would've been complete at minimum a month before you. I'm not saying thats going to be considered late or some kind of death sentence for you, it is what it is. I personally wanted to give myself every advantage which meant having a complete app to schools ASAP.

 

[CarlosDanger]

@cybermaxx12 @AticusHolmes - twinsies?

 

[Dr. Bob Doe]

Hello,

I have been under the impression from talking with admissions folks at my state school as well as having seen it on SDN that one is in the best position by submitting their complete primary AMCAS application in early June.

I was planning on taking the MCAT for the first time on June 5th and having my AMCAS otherwise complete/submitted by mid-June. This way, as soon as my MCAT score is released in early July, I would have my AMCAS submitted relatively "early" in the cycle. (That is, if I understand the process correctly. Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

However, I only started studying/starting a prep course last weekend. It is clear that I have much to learn, review, and practice and I do not think I will be ready by June 5th. I am shooting for a 35+, though my diagnostic was only 23. Of course, I will be satisfied with anything above a 30.

Therefore I am wondering when is considered "early," "OK," and "late" in the application cycle in terms of having my AMCAS completely verified and submitted including transcripts, LORs, and MCAT. If I take the MCAT in early July and have my score released by August, would my application still be early, or would it be average - or even late?

I am a non-traditional, post-bacc student with a cGPA of 2.88 and sGPA of 2.88, with a 4.0 in almost 2 years of post-bacc work. I have decent ECs including working in business and the public sector and quite a bit of community service. I am planning on applying only to MD this cycle, but may apply DO if I get a chance to find a DO physician to shadow. I will be applying to at least 20 schools but strongly prefer my in-state allopathic school.

Lastly, if I have to push back my MCAT date to July or even August, would it be wise/alright to submit an application this cycle or would it be too late? I know that first application cycle = best, however I am eager to apply and matriculate, as I am almost 30.


Thanks,

You are in a similar situation as I am in with the MCAT. I believe it is very possible to go from 23 to 35 by june 5th just put in the time.

 

[About28]

I got a 17 on my diagnostic and a 34 on the actual test. Diagnostics are not predictors at all. Either way, I applied this cycle with a 3.65 and a 34 and will not receive any acceptances because I applied late. DO NOT APPLY LATE. I'm going to be a reapplicant because of that seemingly small mistake.

 

[manofmen]

just wondering, if in this cycle i submitted secondaries all in october, was that considered on the late side/very late side/very very late side? i'm curious @About28 when did you submit your app? i'm considering reapplying as well

 

[woltej1]

I'd say applying within the 2 weeks prior to a school closing its secondary is very very late. 1 month before would be very late. The second week of september and after would be on the late side.

 

[HinduHammer]

Good thing is you can submit and have your AMCAS verified without a MCAT score. AMCAS will either add it to your profile if it hasn't been verified yet or update the schools when your MCAT is available. So the latest you would want to take the MCAT would be the beginning of july so that you can have secondaries in by early/mid august.

If I understand you correctly, I can submit my AMCAS by early June including activities, PS, transcripts, and LORs, which would be verified and submitted to medical schools. After my MCAT score is available, all the schools will be updated? If that is correct, I would only worry that my application would be thrown out before they see my MCAT score due to my low GPA.

If I do as you suggest and have my AMCAS verified without the MCAT score, take the early July MCAT, and have my complete primary verified/submitted to medical schools and receive secondaries by early/mid August, then I would still be in the early/mid timeframe in the app cycle?

Edit: it seems other posters think that even mid August might be too late? However, in a post I Made on the WAMC forum, Goro suggested that I not take the MCAT before I'm ready, which I tend to think makes sense.

 

[nabilesmail]

I was consistently hitting 37-38 on the AAMC tests and my diagnostic was a 8/8/9 24.

Though this was before studying , before ochem, 2nd semester physics, and any physio knowledge whatsoever

 

[HinduHammer]

If that's your diagnostic score w/o studying, I'm sure you are capable of scoring a 35. My advice is to submit primary as early as possible in June, because the 1-2 weeks after the application opens there is a quick verification turn around.
Take your MCAT like first week of July, then prewrite your secondaries. If your entire application is complete before mid August, I think that it may still be considered early

Thank you for the encouragement. What I'm getting from your post is that even if I submit my secondaries by mid August, I would still be in the "early" or "earlyish" part of the application cycle? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Based on your post and others, I am leaning towards re-scheduling my MCAT towards early July to devote more time to studying.

 

[nabilesmail]

June primary early, July primary average, august primary average/late

 

[milski]

If I understand you correctly, I can submit my AMCAS by early June including activities, PS, transcripts, and LORs, which would be verified and submitted to medical schools. After my MCAT score is available, all the schools will be updated? If that is correct, I would only worry that my application would be thrown out before they see my MCAT score due to my low GPA.

If I do as you suggest and have my AMCAS verified without the MCAT score, take the early July MCAT, and have my complete primary verified/submitted to medical schools and receive secondaries by early/mid August, then I would still be in the early/mid timeframe in the app cycle?

Edit: it seems other posters think that even mid August might be too late? However, in a post I Made on the WAMC forum, Goro suggested that I not take the MCAT before I'm ready, which I tend to think makes sense.

That is correct. The schools will not look at your application until they get your MCAT, so it is very, very unlikely that they will reject you based on GPA only.

mid-August was definitely too late for me this cycle, it took almost two months to get verified which meant being complete with secondaries around mid-October. Around the same time people were already getting acceptances.

Goro has a point too, taking the MCAT before you are ready is not going to help you.

 

[tmn]

Early: the day it opens. Late: the day after the day it opens.

 

[3838]

I checked back in my email, and I received most of my secondaries around July 6-9th last year (my app was otherwise complete at this point). If you wait until this time to take your MCAT you'll definitely be behind the first batch of complete apps that schools receive. At some schools, I would've been complete at minimum a month before you. I'm not saying thats going to be considered late or some kind of death sentence for you, it is what it is. I personally wanted to give myself every advantage which meant having a complete app to schools ASAP.

I agree with him. I submitted my primary first week of August and I can tell you that some of my friends (similar stats, interests, experiences...it's kind of weird how alike we are... Despite having gone to different schools) landed a lot more interviews than I did. Submitting early is something that can really make a difference. You're competing with less ppl for early interview spots. Don't rush into this. If you need to take a year off, do it! Apply next cycle. I wanted to that...but my parents really took issue with it.

 

[3838]

I agree with him. I submitted my primary first week of August and I can tell you that some of my friends (similar stats, interests, experiences...it's kind of weird how alike we are... Despite having gone to different schools) landed a lot more interviews than I did. Submitting early is something that can really make a difference. You're competing with less ppl for early interview spots. Don't rush into this. If you need to take a year off, do it! Apply next cycle. I wanted to that...but my parents really took issue with it.

In that year, keep your grades up, kill your MCAT, and have experiences that really allow you to grow.

 

[HinduHammer]

I checked back in my email, and I received most of my secondaries around July 6-9th last year (my app was otherwise complete at this point). If you wait until this time to take your MCAT you'll definitely be behind the first batch of complete apps that schools receive. At some schools, I would've been complete at minimum a month before you. I'm not saying thats going to be considered late or some kind of death sentence for you, it is what it is. I personally wanted to give myself every advantage which meant having a complete app to schools ASAP.

Thank you for looking through your e-mails and providing that anecdotal information, I find it to be very helpful! I guess I will just have to play it by ear over the next few weeks. If I feel like I'll be ready to take an earlier June MCAT, then it would clearly behoove me to do so. Otherwise I might have to wait until July and just take the hit in terms of application time. In the meantime I'll submit my AMCAS and LORs as soon as it opens in June I guess.

 

[About28]

just wondering, if in this cycle i submitted secondaries all in october, was that considered on the late side/very late side/very very late side? i'm curious @About28 when did you submit your app? i'm considering reapplying as well

Well my primary was submitted in August, verified in september, and I got my secondaries in between mid october and mid november, so yeah you were like super late too.

To show the importance of applying early, I was lucky enough to receive one interview. After I got rejected, the woman with admissions was nice enough to go over my app and tell me everything looked great and my interviewers thought I was amazing, they had just given away all their OOS seats for that year. Had I done everything exactly the same, just earlier, I would likely have an MD acceptance this cycle. As long as your only issue was applying late, I'd say reapply ASAP.

 

[Seatown1]

Is the last week of June considered to be alright? I plan on having my AMCAS application complete by the first week of June, but I am re-taking the MCAT (likely) on May 22nd, meaning that my score isn't released until June 24th.

Also, will schools look at my application if I submit it in early June? I'm asking because I have already taken the MCAT once.

Thanks

 

[Jennyfishy]

Is the last week of June considered to be alright? I plan on having my AMCAS application complete by the first week of June, but I am re-taking the MCAT (likely) on May 22nd, meaning that my score isn't released until June 24th.

Also, will schools look at my application if I submit it in early June? I'm asking because I have already taken the MCAT once.

Thanks

You can submit for verification without an mcat score to save you time from the processing delay. I took my mcat on may 18 and submitted amcas on june 24th (worked out, prob would've been better if I actually researched my school list better lol). It's still considered pretty early, but just be aware that some folks who submitted on the first day may be getting their first IIs in July, before you would be verified.

 

[HinduHammer]

As an update, I still have my June 5 registration but am strongly leaning towards July 2, or even perhaps July 12. I am working 2 jobs, volunteering 4-10 hours per week, and currently and taking 11 credit hours, severely limiting my study time. Further, I need tons of content review on bio. I won't be free of classes and one job as a TA until May 15...I'm thinking that extra month or 6 weeks (July 2 vs. July 12) might be necessary despite the late application. With a <3.0 GPA, I need every MCAT point I can get...