When should I submit application by?

[premedprincess26]

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I am going to take the MCAT on June 18th. I have been told to submit the application before then so that it can be processed while my scores come back. Around what time should I submit to take advantage of this? Would it have to be by test date or a few days/weeks after? Or Before? Additionally, is the process to do this self explanatory? As in is there anything extra I need to do. I am only going to apply to one school to do this in case I am not happy with my MCAT. Will it take time to process the other schools or since the app is already processed would it just be a matter pressing send? Thank you so much! Any clarification would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Espressso]

@gonnif will be able to help here

 

[JoannePrada]

You can submit your application now. From what I know, the MCAT scores only come into play when your entire application is complete for the medical school (primary, secondary, letters of rec, MCAT, etc) and then the school will review. So you can submit the primary now to get it verified and then wait for/submit secondaries when they come in (if no screening occurs) and when the scores come in, your application will be considered complete and will be reviewed by the school.
This is what I assume. Although, I am unsure of whether schools will look at your MCAT before sending secondaries, but it shouldn't have an effect on the primary application.

 

[premedprincess26]

You can submit your application now. From what I know, the MCAT scores only come into play when your entire application is complete for the medical school (primary, secondary, letters of rec, MCAT, etc) and then the school will review. So you can submit the primary now to get it verified and then wait for/submit secondaries when they come in (if no screening occurs) and when the scores come in, your application will be considered complete and will be reviewed by the school.
This is what I assume. Although, I am unsure of whether schools will look at your MCAT before sending secondaries, but it shouldn't have an effect on the primary application.

How long do I have to get it in to still take advantage of this route? I know that if I will until my score comes out then I will end up applying pretty late into the cycle, but I am also not finished with my primary yet. So i'm wondering when i should send it in by to take advantage of getting it in early. I don't think schools look at apps until MCAT scores get in but this way the app will be processed before i have to wait for the score.

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

How long do I have to get it in to still take advantage of this route? I know that if I will until my score comes out then I will end up applying pretty late into the cycle, but I am also not finished with my primary yet. So i'm wondering when i should send it in by to take advantage of getting it in early. I don't think schools look at apps until MCAT scores get in but this way the app will be processed before i have to wait for the score.

First, focus on your MCAT. And then the second that's done, spend 5000% of your time on getting your primary sent in. And then once that's submitted, spend 5000% of your time getting your secondaries ready.
If I were you though, I'd wait one more year to apply. See how you do on the MCAT, find a job that interests you for the upcoming year, and take some time to reflect on your experiences before you apply.

 

[candbgirl]

What route are you talking about? Is your primary pretty well completed? Is your PS written and reviewed and buffed up? How are your ECs? Are they entered in the proper fields? How about your transcripts? Have they been received by AMCAS? How about your letters? How is your studying going for the MCAT?


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[ojy77511]

Is late July too late to apply?


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[premedprincess26]

What route are you talking about? Is your primary pretty well completed? Is your PS written and reviewed and buffed up? How are your ECs? Are they entered in the proper fields? How about your transcripts? Have they been received by AMCAS? How about your letters? How is your studying going for the MCAT?


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I mean i have been told that it is better to get the primary done before the MCAT so that it can be processed in the time it takes to get the scores back. I still have to work on the primary. PS is almost done. I still have to finish the work/activities section. Do transcripts have to be received by AMCAS before filing out the app?

The letters are finished for MD schools. But i'm also applying DO and they are not finished for that b/c most DO schools require a letter from physician and I don't have that yet.

 

[premedprincess26]

First, focus on your MCAT. And then the second that's done, spend 5000% of your time on getting your primary sent in. And then once that's submitted, spend 5000% of your time getting your secondaries ready.
If I were you though, I'd wait one more year to apply. See how you do on the MCAT, find a job that interests you for the upcoming year, and take some time to reflect on your experiences before you apply.

What is the harm in attempting to apply this cycle? I've been told it's a terrible idea to wait until after MCAT b/c by the time the application would get processed at that point it would be into August.

 

[aldol16]

I mean i have been told that it is better to get the primary done before the MCAT so that it can be processed in the time it takes to get the scores back. I still have to work on the primary. PS is almost done. I still have to finish the work/activities section. Do transcripts have to be received by AMCAS before filing out the app?

No. You can submit it prior to transcript receipt by AMCAS. However, they can't verify it until they get the transcripts so it's very important for you to get those in ASAP - now if possible. Ideally, all your transcripts will be in when you submit so they can verify it. As June wears on, the time it takes to verify increases.

 

[premedprincess26]

1) you get into medical school by having a good MCAT score not by having a early application
2) you should be prepping for MCAT and not spending any time on preparing primary application.
3) after you have taken the exam then you can prepare and submit the primary. do not rush writing the application as a well written application is needed to get you in to med school
4) You can submit any time with a single high reach school for verification.
5) you can speculatively prewrite secondaries while waiting for score
6) after you get your scores , you can add schools (that you have adjusted based on MCAT) and the now verified will be transmitted in one day.
7) since everyone will ask how late can I be? well by not having MCAT done by May you have competing priorities and cant have an efficient and rational cycle. it becomes rushed and not well done

So what I am asking is how early do I have to submit so that it is verified by the time I get my score so that I can immediately continue?

 

[premedprincess26]

No. You can submit it prior to transcript receipt by AMCAS. However, they can't verify it until they get the transcripts so it's very important for you to get those in ASAP - now if possible. Ideally, all your transcripts will be in when you submit so they can verify it. As June wears on, the time it takes to verify increases.

Ok, I will send them now. Additionally, could you help me understand the previous question as well? I'm just a little confused. Do you think I would have to get the app by before taking the MCAT so that it is verified by the time I receive my score, or will I have some extra time after the exam as well. (extra time as in time that will not result in my app getting verified after I get my score)

 

[candbgirl]

That's really hard to say. At the beginning verification is usually quick. As more primaries are submitted the time gap starts to increase. But as several people have told you you should be focusing on the MCAT right now. When that is done, finish up your primary and submit to like one school you most likely would never attend. (You really can't build a good list until you have your score.) Letters do not have to be submitted for verification but all of your transcripts do.


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[aldol16]

Ok, I will send them now. Additionally, could you help me understand the previous question as well? I'm just a little confused. Do you think I would have to get the app by before taking the MCAT so that it is verified by the time I receive my score, or will I have some extra time after the exam as well. (extra time as in time that will not result in my app getting verified after I get my score)

This is extremely hard to predict. There are graphs floating around of the average time it takes to get verified depending on the date you submit it. Or, alternatively, you can browse this thread from last year: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/amcas-submission-verification-2015-2016.1140485/

The point is, it's hard to predict whether your application will be verified by a certain date. Obviously, you want to submit it as early as possible but you also want to make sure everything is polished and acceptable to you. And you should be doing that as you prep rigorously for the MCAT (which shouldn't be more than 3-5 hours a day anyway not counting FLs).

 

[premedprincess26]

This is extremely hard to predict. There are graphs floating around of the average time it takes to get verified depending on the date you submit it. Or, alternatively, you can browse this thread from last year: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/amcas-submission-verification-2015-2016.1140485/

The point is, it's hard to predict whether your application will be verified by a certain date. Obviously, you want to submit it as early as possible but you also want to make sure everything is polished and acceptable to you. And you should be doing that as you prep rigorously for the MCAT (which shouldn't be more than 3-5 hours a day anyway not counting FLs).

Why shouldn't it be more than 3-5 hours?

 

[aldol16]

Why shouldn't it be more than 3-5 hours?

It becomes quite difficult for most people to focus after 3-5 hours of intense studying. You're better off taking that time off and doing something else - better for your mental health too. It's better to do 3-5 hours of intense, focused studying than 8-9 hours of unfocused studying with little effort.

 

[040111333]

1) you get into medical school by having a good MCAT score not by having a early application
2) you should be prepping for MCAT and not spending any time on preparing primary application.
3) after you have taken the exam then you can prepare and submit the primary. do not rush writing the application as a well written application is needed to get you in to med school
4) You can submit any time with a single high reach school for verification.
5) you can speculatively prewrite secondaries while waiting for score
6) after you get your scores , you can add schools (that you have adjusted based on MCAT) and the now verified will be transmitted in one day.
7) since everyone will ask how late can I be? well by not having MCAT done by May you have competing priorities and cant have an efficient and rational cycle. it becomes rushed and not well done

no it is not too late. just get your application complete (primary secondary MCAT LOR) in by early Sept

@gonnif Okay, I'm very confused. I've been lurking on these threads but I feel like the advice given by adcoms regarding timing and when it is too late to be complete is contradictory. Basically, my confusion lies in that first, you said that not having an MCAT by May is bad, but then you also said it's okay to be complete by early Sept for MD? Then, why not just take the early July MCAT and be complete in August. Why do people on SDN suggest taking an entire year off if the MCAT is taken later than April-May? If everything is ready and good, is there really any harm done if an applicant is complete by mid-August (I'm asking for MD only…I know DO cycle is longer). If so, what is the harm done and why is this worth a year off?

Sorry for all the questions…I just feel overwhelmed with all the differing opinions 🙁 so don't know what to really believe

@LizzyM @gyngyn @Goro and any other adcoms feel free to chime in too :]

 

[040111333]

Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick Two Out of Three Project Management Triangle

It is the difference between optimal and acceptable.

Optimal for a rational, logical, non-task competing application cycle is having MCAT taken by May so score is available prior to first transmission. This is
staring on time and thus being able to complete the many necessary tasks so they dont compete with each other for time, priority, and effort. Or the equivalent of keeping up with work in multiple courses from the beginning of the term. Taking the above "Good, Fast, Cheap" idea, you can have it Good and Cheap (in terms of effort) because it doesnt need to be as Fast as you have the most time here to spend.

Acceptable is getting everything done that you need to by the time you need to. That will mean having competing priorities such as prepping for the MCAT and trying to polish your primary and trying to prewrite secondaries and checking on LORs. This is the equivalent of not keeping up with your work during the term and now having to complete papers or prep for multiple exams that are due the same time. Its like spending all-nighters to get things done. So in the "Good, Fast. Cheap" idea, you must have Fast and it must be Good, so now it isnt Cheap in terms of effort/energy. In fact, you may not have enough energy to get it Good while trying to get things in on time or you sacrifice quality to get it Fast.

I call the second "Acceptable" concept the "Summer Cascade" where all the tasks start cascading down to the deadline. It is not an optimal method.

So back to your specific confusion. For best results, have MCAT done by May. In terms of timing, have everything in by mid September. And remember this is mostly rolling admissions. To get everything done with a later than May MCAT and have it all (Primary, Secondary, MCAT and LOR) in by September you risk not being good, And you dont get in by being fast, you get in by being good. I said all this before in this thread (see my self-quote below).

One more thing, taking a rushed, late MCAT risks current and all future applications. Like herpes, a bad MCAT stays forever. And everyone you apply to will now you carry this.

Thank you for that explanation! Unfortunately, I'm past the optimal time since I didn't take my MCAT in May. I regret it now, but I'm trying not to focus my energy on that at this point. I'm signed up for June 18, but do you think it's worth postponing to July 8th in case it means I could get a slightly higher score? Or will being complete in July with a June 18 test score offset that a bit? Would taking it June 18, seeing my score and retaking July 22nd if needed be the worst thing to do? If the score was lower or the same on my retake, I know I have to step out of the cycle, but would the two scores and a third MCAT screw me for next cycle?

If you could please advise me based on the premise that I'm def applying this cycle, I'd be grateful!

 

[JoannePrada]

No, MCAT is used for initial screening for schools. without it, your application will sit and will not be reviewed at all by the school

But you can still submit the primary for verification, correct? I wasn't sure what happens after that, I know the schools won't review the application, but it still shouldn't affect the primary?

 

[premedprincess26]

you can submit primary for verification. you should do so with one "throwaway school"

So as of now my plan is to get my primary verified by June 30th with one "throwaway" school, wait for MCAT results, if I don't like MCAT results I will withdraw my app. If not, I will continue with it. is this the correct thinking?

My pre med advisor told me that there isn't really much harm in applying. She said that even if you don't get it and add something significant in the next year (I'm already doing MPH) it's find to re-apply. I was a little skeptical (considering she got the MCAT and GRE mixed up), but is this really true? If it is, then I should plan on applying no matter what?

 

[MDmichelle]

Just for reference I submitted my primary 5-7 days after taking my mcat (June 19th) and it wasn't processed until August 5th.

 

[connie95]

Just for reference I submitted my primary 5-7 days after taking my mcat (June 19th) and it wasn't processed until August 5th.

Could you please share how your timeline worked out? When did you start getting interviews? Also, I see you got accepted...how many acceptances did you manage and when did you get your first one? Do you think the August completion date was a big problem?

 

[MDmichelle]

I had my first interview the first week of October, got the invite mid September. I had 6 interviews and 5 acceptances, first acceptance in the second week of November.

I also had all of my secondaries completed within 6 days of being processed, so as long as you get those in decently quickly you should be good.

I was only sharing because some people I know had their apps processed in 1 week, obviously I wasn't as fortunate, but everything still worked out! So if you are running a little behind there is no need to freak out, but it is helpful to know that sometimes its going to take awhile since a lot of people submit in June.(=

 

[connie95]

I had my first interview the first week of October, got the invite mid September. I had 6 interviews and 5 acceptances, first acceptance in the second week of November.

I also had all of my secondaries completed within 6 days of being processed, so as long as you get those in decently quickly you should be good.

I was only sharing because some people I know had their apps processed in 1 week, obviously I wasn't as fortunate, but everything still worked out! So if you are running a little behind there is no need to freak out, but it is helpful to know that sometimes its going to take awhile since a lot of people submit in June.(=

Wow congrats! How many schools did you apply to? Did you have a high MCAT score, URM, or anything else different about your app?

 

[MDmichelle]

thanks(=

I applied to 8 schools all decently close to where I'm from (PA), average mcat for MD and >3.8 GPA, not URM. I did a lot of volunteering with the underserved(>500hrs) so that most likely stood out on my app.

 

[aldol16]

1) Applying as reapplicant lowers your chances of acceptance

This is only true if you are a reapplicant at that school right? Since on the AMCAS, they only ask you if you're a reapplicant for each school you're applying to. Of course, if you don't get in the first time, it's probably harder to get in the second time even to schools you haven't applied to simply because of a weak application.