When to apply?

[karlat]

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I'm a non-grad student and was working full time when I attempted the MCAT in July 🙁 did terrible.. 5/7/7 and I soon became part time and have devoted more time to studying. I thought I was going to apply for this cycle until I just received my score. I've signed up to take the MCAT in Jan.
Should I still apply to DO schools that have deadlines listed in Jan. or Feb? Or will they rule me out without seeing my new score? my GPA is around 3.5 and my EC's are very strong. Should I just wait till the next cycle and apply early?

 

[keels99]

That's a pretty late application. I sent secondaries in February and it was really stressful. I did get accepted, but my MCAT score was also already in at the time of application. I would just hold off and apply next cycle. Save your money.

 

[AlteredScale]

I'm a non-grad student and was working full time when I attempted the MCAT in July 🙁 did terrible.. 5/7/7 and I soon became part time and have devoted more time to studying. I thought I was going to apply for this cycle until I just received my score. I've signed up to take the MCAT in Jan.
Should I still apply to DO schools that have deadlines listed in Jan. or Feb? Or will they rule me out without seeing my new score? my GPA is around 3.5 and my EC's are very strong. Should I just wait till the next cycle and apply early?

Wait till next cycle. Give this year to really hit a home run with the MCAT 🙂 you can do this!

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Yea I would wait to apply next cycle, especially if money is tighter. If you wait you can take your time, really focus on the MCAT without any unnecessary pressure. Give yourself some time to really keep building up your application. Then when next cycle rolls around you can send your application in on the first day. You can also spend some time pre writing secondary applications so that way you can get your secondaries back really fast. There are a couple people on here, not even with the best stats, who have a half dozen interviews already simply because they took the time to build their application and because they sent their secondaries back super fast. These people who are really on top of it and have done everything early are the ones who are going to get into the best schools.

 

[peaches55]

Hi all,

I graduated from undergrad in 2009, got my MSc in Public Health from LSHTM in London in 2012 and have since been doing research/working in the public health field.

I took the MCAT in 2009 and got a 28, retook it this year and got a low 24. It was difficult to study while working full-time + volunteer. My gpa undergrad was 3.4. Is it worth applying this cycle to DO schools or should I retake the MCAT and apply next cycle? I'm really eager to start next fall, but don't want to apply if there's no chance of getting in.

I appreciate your feedback!!

 

[baxt1412]

Hi all,

I graduated from undergrad in 2009, got my MSc in Public Health from LSHTM in London in 2012 and have since been doing research/working in the public health field.

I took the MCAT in 2009 and got a 28, retook it this year and got a low 24. It was difficult to study while working full-time + volunteer. My gpa undergrad was 3.4. Is it worth applying this cycle to DO schools or should I retake the MCAT and apply next cycle? I'm really eager to start next fall, but don't want to apply if there's no chance of getting in.

I appreciate your feedback!!

I would suggest retaking and applying next cycle. You probably should have never retaken after getting a 28... now it will look like you got a 28 on a fluke. you can find some schools that will take your highest score or superscore though.

i still think you should wait until next year and retake some classes if at all possible in addition to studying for the MCAT and getting another 28+ to show schools that the first wasn't a fluke.

 

[peaches55]

Can DO schools see your scores taken prior to 3 years ago? It's a really a shame that my score went down, but I was able to score higher the first time because the material was fresh since I just graduated. Thanks for your reply.

 

[baxt1412]

Can DO schools see your scores taken prior to 3 years ago? It's a really a shame that my score went down, but I was able to score higher the first time because the material was fresh since I just graduated. Thanks for your reply.

Didn't see that the MCAT was in 2009. I am unsure if they can see that far back or not... Might be a good question to ask @Goro or aacomas directly

 

[peaches55]

It looks like they don't accept MCAT scores over 3 years old, same as MD schools. I originally planned on applying to MD schools as well, which is why I retook it. Really upset I didn't improve, but the circumstances were difficult. Do you still suggest waiting next cycle with mcat 24 and GPA 3.4? Not sure my masters and work experience can carry me through... Thanks, in advance. Im a long time lurker but finally posting!

 

[Goro]

A 19 is lethal.

Jan/Feb deadlines mean you, at best, be interviewing for a spot on a wait list.

I'm a non-grad student and was working full time when I attempted the MCAT in July 🙁 did terrible.. 5/7/7 and I soon became part time and have devoted more time to studying. I thought I was going to apply for this cycle until I just received my score. I've signed up to take the MCAT in Jan.
Should I still apply to DO schools that have deadlines listed in Jan. or Feb? Or will they rule me out without seeing my new score? my GPA is around 3.5 and my EC's are very strong. Should I just wait till the next cycle and apply early?

We see all MCAT scores. Your 28 -> 24 is what we call "knowledge decay". Do NOT apply this year. The lessons for both posters is to apply only when you are fully ready and have the both possible app. OP, you have some real deficits and need to fix them before retaking the MCAT.


I took the MCAT in 2009 and got a 28, retook it this year and got a low 24. It was difficult to study while working full-time + volunteer. My gpa undergrad was 3.4. Is it worth applying this cycle to DO schools or should I retake the MCAT and apply next cycle? I'm really eager to start next fall, but don't want to apply if there's no chance of getting in.

 

[golfman7]

I'm a non-grad student and was working full time when I attempted the MCAT in July 🙁 did terrible.. 5/7/7 and I soon became part time and have devoted more time to studying. I thought I was going to apply for this cycle until I just received my score. I've signed up to take the MCAT in Jan.
Should I still apply to DO schools that have deadlines listed in Jan. or Feb? Or will they rule me out without seeing my new score? my GPA is around 3.5 and my EC's are very strong. Should I just wait till the next cycle and apply early?

I would wait to apply next year as well. You want to give yourself plenty of time to score well on the MCAT so you can have your choice of schools. There's nothing wrong with waiting an extra year to put together your best application. That's what I decided to do at least. Good luck.

 

[karlat]

Wait till next cycle. Give this year to really hit a home run with the MCAT 🙂 you can do this!

Thank you! I'm working on it!

Yea I would wait to apply next cycle, especially if money is tighter. If you wait you can take your time, really focus on the MCAT without any unnecessary pressure. Give yourself some time to really keep building up your application. Then when next cycle rolls around you can send your application in on the first day. You can also spend some time pre writing secondary applications so that way you can get your secondaries back really fast. There are a couple people on here, not even with the best stats, who have a half dozen interviews already simply because they took the time to build their application and because they sent their secondaries back super fast. These people who are really on top of it and have done everything early are the ones who are going to get into the best schools.

I actually took the exam without taking Physics II, so taking it this fall will make up for my PS deficit. Thank you for that advice! I actually was thinking that I could get a super head start with finishing up everything for next year. I'm feeling much better about it 🙂 I'll def work on getting stronger apps for the next few months.

I would wait to apply next year as well. You want to give yourself plenty of time to score well on the MCAT so you can have your choice of schools. There's nothing wrong with waiting an extra year to put together your best application. That's what I decided to do at least. Good luck.

Thank you! How did it work for you? The good thing is, I'm working at a lab affiliated with a great med school, so I'll use it to my advantage.



Question for all-- what study technique did you guys use?

 

[golfman7]

Thank you! I'm working on it!


I actually took the exam without taking Physics II, so taking it this fall will make up for my PS deficit. Thank you for that advice! I actually was thinking that I could get a super head start with finishing up everything for next year. I'm feeling much better about it 🙂 I'll def work on getting stronger apps for the next few months.




Thank you! How did it work for you? The good thing is, I'm working at a lab affiliated with a great med school, so I'll use it to my advantage.



Question for all-- what study technique did you guys use?

I used Berkley review for Gen chem physics and ochem. If you master the content in the Gen chem and physics books you will be well prepared for Ps. I liked the tpr science workbook for bio passages because they felt more similar to the current mcat. Also get examcrackers and maybe Princeton review to get your bio content down. If you get your content down and do tons of practice passages and exams you will score much better on your second mcat.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Good luck! I ended up taking a couple gap years for similar reasons and while at first it hurts to sort of accept defeat and intentionally force yourself to wait another year, in the end it was probably the best decision that I have made towards medical school.

 

[formerphoenix]

When do y'all think is too late to submit the primary DO app?

 

[PKA<0]

When do y'all think is too late to submit the primary DO app?

Bump