<p>I'm scheduled to take the MCAT on June 15th, except I'm not really sure whether I'll be prepared by then, b/c it's only a month away. I'm seriously considering moving the date to July 13th, however, I don't know if this will adversely affect my application.</p>
<p>Does anyone know whether there's a difference between taking the MCAT in June than in July? Both are already pretty late, is there a difference in how late? I know there's a huge one between June and May.. </p>
<p>Secondly, I've read comments from other people about sending in their AMCAS app on June 1st even before their MCAT scores are available. Will schools even look at the AMCAS app without the MCAT or should one just wait for the MCAT to come in before submitting the AMCAS app?</p>
<p>Schools will not look at the AMCAS app without an MCAT score, but the AMCAS process is long enough (they have to verify transcripts etc.) that you should send it in anyway.</p>
<p>And June is considerably better than July. Obviously this depends on what kind of score you're looking at at the time, however.</p>
<p>Early is better, but to tell you the truth, I sent mine in the first week of October...without my MCAT scores. </p>
<p>First things first (and BDM, correct me if I'm wrong), when you submit your AMCAS application electronically, it is not immediately sent out to the medical schools. AMCAS takes your application and your transcripts, compares them, makes sure everything matches up the way it should, computes your official AMCAS GPA, and does whatever other processing it is that they do with each application. Obviously they won't start this until they have your transcripts from each and every school you earned college credit at. I'm also 98% that they won't start until they have your MCAT score, which is automatically reported to them assuming you don't void your exam on test day. Only when your entire AMCAS application is complete and processed will be it be sent out to schools, and then who knows how quickly it will be looked at then. </p>
<p>One of the big reasons why there is a push to get stuff in early (besides having schools getting your app early), is that you avoid having your application tied up with AMCAS too long. There is usually a glut of applications coming in around in August and early September, and AMCAS can take as long as 6 weeks to finally process your application. </p>
<p>The issue of submitting your application before you know your MCAT score is that it might affect where you apply. If you have been taking practice exams and getting 35's, it might lead you to apply to one set of schools, which, if you were to bomb the exam and end up with a 24 might leave you no chance whatsoever. The converse (from average to great) is certainly not as bad, but also leaves you without the opportunity to add schools at which you previously would have believed you were uncompetitive.</p>
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The issue of submitting your application before you know your MCAT score is that it might affect where you apply.
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<p>This is a definite disadvantage, but I think -- and I'm not sure -- but I think you might be wrong about holding for an MCAT score, BRM. I believe AMCAS will in fact forward your application without an MCAT score and schools can wait to receive that. Again, I am not sure of this.</p>
<p>And while it's not desirable, you can always continue to add schools after your MCAT score comes back. It's a waste of money and delays your application even further, but you can retarget somewhat after your MCAT score is in.</p>
<p>Submit your application in early June without the MCAT score and get your grades verified. This is the rate-limiting step and can be done without your MCAT scores. This way as soon as you receive your MCAT score, you can simply update your primary and it will be complete.</p>