When Should I Take the MCAT (realistic timeline)

[kj8210]

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Hey guys. So I'm deciding between two test dates for the MCAT this year and I was looking for some advice. I am deciding between taking the test on May 30th or June 20th. I really want to take it on June 20th because I think that extra 3 weeks would help me do better on the test overall. However I was thinking about taking it on May 30th because I heard that getting your application out as soon as possible was really important. If someone could give me a possible timeline of events if I were to take the MCAT on June 20th and have everything (transcript, personal statements, etc) done and ready to send out once I get my MCAT score, that would be great.

 

[TheShaker]

You can submit your stuff before your MCAT score comes out so you don't really have to worry about being late in terms of submission and verification. I recommend taking the June MCAT if you're still in school, I think the 3-4 weeks of sustained study with no outer obligations really helped me and likely raised my score by ~4 points.

 

[BABSstudent]

If you take the June test you would still fill out the AMCAS on the first day it opens and submit it to at least one school (probably a state school) that you would apply to no matter what. That starts the verification process and it should be done in a few days. If you wait for the MCAT to be over to do this then the verification time will be like 6 weeks.

You will get your score back in July and you can pre write all your secondaries using the school specific forum. All that will be left is to copy/paste and check a few boxes. Realistically, you should be complete at all schools by late July.

 

[kj8210]

Thanks for the quick reply guys. So I can fill out the primary application and send it out before receiving my MCAT score? I already know 3-4 MD schools I definitely want to apply to along with 2-3 definite DO schools. Should I ask my school to send out transcripts right after I send out my application? Will I also be able to fill out secondaries before I receive my MCAT score or will I need to wait?

 

[BABSstudent]

Thanks for the quick reply guys. So I can fill out the primary application and send it out before receiving my MCAT score? I already know 3-4 MD schools I definitely want to apply to along with 2-3 definite DO schools. Should I ask my school to send out transcripts right after I send out my application? Will I also be able to fill out secondaries before I receive my MCAT score or will I need to wait?

Have you school send out the transcript ASAP. You can't be verified without AMCAS receiving (and VERIFYING) your grades.

And the secondaries tend to vary by school. Some of them wait while others don't care. However, your application will not be marked complete until the school has your MCAT score so they won't even look at it until everything is in.

 

[kj8210]

Right but the thing is my school sends out my recommendation letters in something called a Committee Letter Packet, where the Pre-Health committee at my schools collects all the recommendation letters and also writes one of their own and sends them all out to schools together. They said they need my MCAT score to finalize the letter and it would take about a month after receiving my MCAT score to finalize. So then if I take the June MCAT, the letters will only go out late August and schools won't look at my application till early September (assuming I have everything else handed in before I receive my MCAT score).

 

[BABSstudent]

Right but the thing is my school sends out my recommendation letters in something called a Committee Letter Packet, where the Pre-Health committee at my schools collects all the recommendation letters and also writes one of their own and sends them all out to schools together. They said they need my MCAT score to finalize the letter and it would take about a month after receiving my MCAT score to finalize. So then if I take the June MCAT, the letters will only go out late August and schools won't look at my application till early September (assuming I have everything else handed in before I receive my MCAT score).

You are correct. So you can either forgo the committee letter, take the MCAT earlier, or be complete at each school in August. Those are your options.

 

[Ashley1989]

OP, I would follow your gut on this and take the later test date. As others said, you can still submit just without your MCAT. I would imagine that if you took the earlier test date and didn't feel ready it will be just more stress to try and change your exam date. How many posts do we see on here from people freaking out from not having enough time to study.

 

[MilMD01]

If you submit without your MCAT, I'm pretty sure they don't even review your primary, until after they receive it.

I recommend taking the MCAT on the earliest date that is possible, so that you can submit your application on the earliest date possible as well.

 

[kj8210]

You are correct. So you can either forgo the committee letter, take the MCAT earlier, or be complete at each school in August. Those are your options.

I can forgo the committee letter? I thought it was required?

 

[BABSstudent]

I can forgo the committee letter? I thought it was required?

No, but it is a bonus to have. Personally, if I was you, I would study hard and take the earlier MCAT.

 

[sinombre]

I can forgo the committee letter? I thought it was required?

Plenty of schools require a committee letter if your undergraduate institution offers one. You should get the committee letter if possible.

 

[nabilesmail]

NO MATTER HOW BURNT OUT YOU ARE SUBMIT YOUR PRIMARY WHILE STUDYING FOR YOUR MCAT- PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER YOUR MCAT

sorry- had to emphasize

 

[kj8210]

NO MATTER HOW BURNT OUT YOU ARE SUBMIT YOUR PRIMARY WHILE STUDYING FOR YOUR MCAT- PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER YOUR MCAT

sorry- had to emphasize

Haha no thanks for the advice! Guess I better get off of this site and keep studying 👍

Thank you guys for all the advice, it means alot!