Will taking the MCAT in September be a disadvantage for getting into med school?

[smartybug123]

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I am applying this summer, and I am not ready for my scheduled MCAT test date right now. Would it put me at a terrible disadvantage to take the MCAT on the last day possible (September 13)?

 

[sully677]

That would be pretty late. You could take a year off and work or travel, and apply extremely early next cycle for your best shot??

 

[MichiganEMTInt]

I am applying this summer, and I am not ready for my scheduled MCAT test date right now. Would it put me at a terrible disadvantage to take the MCAT on the last day possible (September 13)?

How far are you in the application cycle? Are your primary apps in? Have you gotten secondaries yet? The answer to your question is yes, it is late, but there is a fine line between applying too late and getting in despite this because you are a competitive applicant.

If you choose to make the decision to take your September test:
1. Do the best you possibly can.
2. Get your LORs IN to the schools you applied to.
3. Have everything COMPLETE at your schools so the only thing they're waiting on is a score.
4. Figure out ahead of time how to get your score to those schools as soon as humanly possible, preferably faster than the speed of light. If this is not possible, buy a Lamborghini.

 

[chitownGpremed]

i would say, take the september mcats if you feel that the rest of your app is unimpeachable; without an mcat score until october, any part of your app that isn't stellar will cause it to go to the bottom of the heap/ or get you a rejection.

 

[CCLCMer]

I am applying this summer, and I am not ready for my scheduled MCAT test date right now. Would it put me at a terrible disadvantage to take the MCAT on the last day possible (September 13)?

Yes. You run the risk that all of the invites will already be handed out if you apply very late. Like some other people already said, if you can't take the MCAT sooner than September, consider sitting out a year.

 

[riceman04]

I am applying this summer, and I am not ready for my scheduled MCAT test date right now. Would it put me at a terrible disadvantage to take the MCAT on the last day possible (September 13)?

Adcom members have said in the past that having a file not complete until mid to late fall would mean the earliest you could receive an interview would be around Feb/March.

 

[greg1184]

I wouldn't throw away a year if everything else in your application is complete and all you need is your MCAT score.

 

[hopefuldoc87]

I wouldn't throw away a year if everything else in your application is complete and all you need is your MCAT score.

it's not throwing away a year if his chances are drastically lowered by applying so late.

its applying early next cycle as to have the best chance possible...

glass half full 🙂

 

[riceman04]

I am applying this summer, and I am not ready for my scheduled MCAT test date right now. Would it put me at a terrible disadvantage to take the MCAT on the last day possible (September 13)?

If you follow through...then just make sure you have EVERYTHING else complete in your file. There will still be many stragglers who are busy completing secondaries. The good thing about only having to wait for your scores is that schools are automatically notified. I interpret this as you possibly being complete as soon as your scores arrive. So you would officially enter the under review pile in early October!

best of luck to ya!

 

[greg1184]

it's not throwing away a year if his chances are drastically lowered by applying so late.

its applying early next cycle as to have the best chance possible...

glass half full 🙂

If the OP has all the applications done then he will be complete one month into interviews. It is not that bad. If the OP hasn't even sent in the primary or secondaries yet, then yes, you might as well wait till next year.

OP: Here is some potentially helpful info:

Will taking the MCAT in August hurt my chances of getting accepted to medical school? Admissions offices get this question all the time and for us the answer is no. Scores from the August test usually reach medical schools in the first half of October. Most schools are just beginning the interview process at that time. If you are going to take the MCAT in August, the best thing to do is to send in everything else needed to complete your application way before October. That way, when your MCAT scores arrive in October your application will become complete instantly.

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,2600-1;14190-2;47735-3,00.html

NOTE: This information pertains to the old paper based MCAT format when it used to take 2 months to get scores. However with the new MCAT format if you take it in september the medical schools will STILL get the score in October (since it now only takes a month), making this information relevant.

 

[hopefuldoc87]

If the OP has all the applications done then he will be complete one month into interviews. It is not that bad. If the OP hasn't even sent in the primary or secondaries yet, then yes, you might as well wait till next year.

i know, its just in the SDN world, if you dont get your file complete by august, YOUR ****ED.

 

[Green Apple]

I don't care what University of Miami says, getting everything done by mid October is generally considered late. This is well past the 1st round of interview invitations for many schools, who send out invitations as early as August and September, and will have even ACCEPTED a bunch of people by mid October. By completing your application in October, you'll be at a disadvantage by competing for the much fewer interview spots available. Even if you have your app completely ready by the time your score comes out, who's to say it'll get looked at right away? Admissions committees may meet on a biweekly basis, or even less frequently. If you don't care where you go, then I'm sure you'll get in somewhere. But if you have your eyes set on a top institution, you'll need every advantage you can get. So if you want your accomplishments to be given the fair consideration they deserve, do yourself a favor and apply next year. I think you can find some meaningful activity to do in the meantime.

 

[deleted74029]

It depends, my state school doesn't do rolling admissions so it wouldn't hurt as much. They also say if you are out of state you should "apply early ie september 30" which means they still consider september early. I'm sure there are probably very few other schools that are like this though.

 

[NebStudent]

Depends how strong your application is. I had sent all my information with all my essays done by september. The best advice you hear people tell you is to apply early. Applying early is one of the best ways to get into medical school especially if you are not a strong candidate. I was accepted into three by the end of December and that is with an MCAT of below a 30!

 

[bcat85]

How far are you in the application cycle? Are your primary apps in? Have you gotten secondaries yet? The answer to your question is yes, it is late, but there is a fine line between applying too late and getting in despite this because you are a competitive applicant.

If you choose to make the decision to take your September test:
1. Do the best you possibly can.
2. Get your LORs IN to the schools you applied to.
3. Have everything COMPLETE at your schools so the only thing they're waiting on is a score.
4. Figure out ahead of time how to get your score to those schools as soon as humanly possible, preferably faster than the speed of light. If this is not possible, buy a Lamborghini.

Yep... I wasn't complete at a couple of schools until october or so.. it worked out ok for me.

 

[runningdoc]

What if we take an MCAT retake in september, but have everything else complete prior-with an mcat high enough to receive secondaries? Do you think it's as bad?