When to Submit/Certify??

[Nom]

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Ok, here is my deal. I have a previous MCAT on file in my AMCAS app and I am not sure when to submit/certify my app because I am re-taking the MCAT on June 17th.

Transcripts are on the way to AMCAS, I already requested my LORs, am done with my 15 activities and I just have to put the finishing touches on my PS, so I'm basically ready. Should I just submit the application when everything (aside from June 17th MCAT) is completely ready or should I wait until closer to getting my MCAT score to submit/certify?

My other MCAT on file is a 29 so I dont think it would DQ me on any initial/pre-secondary screenings (at least for the schools I am applying to) so I am not sure if there is any issue with submitting my primary when all else is ready.

Thoughts?

 

[allie1361]

If you're taking the MCAT June 17th, you should have your scores around the 17th of July, well before any med schools start handing out interview invites. So I'd say submit it as soon as you can if your PS is as good as it's going to get. AMCAS can verify your transcripts while they wait for your MCAT scores, and as soon as they get that, you'll be completely verified.

 

[gravitywave]

There is a space on the MCAT page of AMCAS to indicate that you have another score coming. Schools will hold off on review of your app until the next scores post. In the meantime, submit by mid-June to secure your place in the verification queue. The wait starts to lengthen after that.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

There is a space on the MCAT page of AMCAS to indicate that you have another score coming. Schools will hold off on review of your app until the next scores post. In the meantime, submit by mid-June to secure your place in the verification queue. The wait starts to lengthen after that.

Agreed. You really want to get your application rolling. Some people would say that submitting now instead of later (in anticipation of your upcoming score release) doesn't matter because it is well before interview invites go out, but this isn't entirely true. Some programs will at least send you a secondary application to complete (which takes time) without an MCAT score and in your situation, since you already have an MCAT score, some schools may start processing your information based on your first score (I don't think any school would reject you w/o the second score, but they certainly could get things started if your first score meets their minimum threshold). While it is true that interview invitations are not usually being extended at that time, admissions committees and staff are hard at work processing applications, recording the application’s completion date, and ranking/scoring their applicants.

Submitting ASAP is always best, but as stated above, make sure everything else in the application is in proper order for submission. Good luck.

-admissions committee interviewer / senior medical student (3 days to go)

 

[Nom]

Thanks all--I think I am going to submit as early as possible. When I applied before my previous MCAT (29) on got me nixed before secondaries at Mayo (which I don't anticipate getting into anyway, haha).

If all else fails/goes through very quickly, I will just call the schools and ask them to hold the application until my June 17th MCAT comes out.

 

[unleash500]

I am on a similar boat, and I was wondering if I could just choose one school to select, and then submit. And after my second mcat score is ready, I check off other schools to apply.

Can I do this? And if so are there any problems that can arise in doing so?

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I am on a similar boat, and I was wondering if I could just choose one school to select, and then submit. And after my second mcat score is ready, I check off other schools to apply.

Can I do this? And if so are there any problems that can arise in doing so?

All you need is 1 school to submit and get verified. I have not heard of any problems doing what you suggest.

 

[runawayclock]

I have a similar dilemma except I'm on a single waitlist. When re-applying this cycle, should I just pick one school, submit, wait until ~mid july to add more schools if I have not heard back? Or pick more than one, submit, then wait to hear back? Also, is it okay to re-apply to the same school while still on the waiting list, or will that seem pre-mature?