Withdrawing Application

[haaskj]

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So go figure I get all of my applications sent in and I start to recieve a ton of supplementals...which is good, but it turns out that I am not going to be able to attend medical school for the year that I am applying. (Family reasons)

My thinking is that I can withdraw my applications and reapply next year.

Will I be 'penalized' at all for withdrawing my applications? And will my MCAT score be fine if I am comfortable with it? Or do I have to take the MCAT again?

Just trying to figure out what to do before I start sending in more $ for applications.

Thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

The MCAT score is generally good for 2-3 years at most MD schools.

If you are not yet verified, you can withdraw through AMCAS by clicking the proper box, and you will get back some money. If you have been verified, then you would need to wirthdraw from each school individually and you would be a reapplicant next year. If you are a reapplicant, you are expected to have improvements in your application when you reapply. There are a few schools that are less friendly to reapplicants.

Rather than sending in a blanket withdrawal, you might check and see how friendly your schools are to permitting a deferral of matriculation until the following year. Some don't allow it. Some permit deferral with an excellent reason. And some are very open to it. The MSAR will tell you if deferrals are allowed. Where it says "yes" you could call the school for more information.

 

[haaskj]

The MCAT score is generally good for 2-3 years at most MD schools.

If you are not yet verified, you can withdraw through AMCAS by clicking the proper box, and you will get back some money. If you have been verified, then you would need to wirthdraw from each school individually and you would be a reapplicant next year. If you are a reapplicant, you are expected to have improvements in your application when you reapply. There are a few schools that are less friendly to reapplicants.

Rather than sending in a blanket withdrawal, you might check and see how friendly your schools are to permitting a deferral of matriculation until the following year. Some don't allow it. Some permit deferral with an excellent reason. And some are very open to it. The MSAR will tell you if deferrals are allowed. Where it says "yes" you could call the school for more information.

That makes sense.

One follow up question, you said that that application must be improved as a reapplicant. Would an improved sGPA and cGPA classify as an improvment or should an MCAT also be improved? I really would like to avoid retaking the MCAT.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Catalystik]

The MCAT need not be improved if you're happy with your score. If your GPA is competitive, that needn't be improved either (but it better not go down). It's the extracurriculars that you'd want to be sure are beefed up and, if necessary, added to if they are lacking in some respect.