Taking the MCAT in late July / early August?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hey all,</p>

<p>I'm about to be a senior next year, and I'm planning to apply for medical school this summer. However, the people at FAP (federal aid assistance) have been horrendous at reviewing my application, which I'll yell at them for on Monday. However, during that time both the June and July 6th MCAT have filled up in my area (Ohio).</p>

<p>Right now I'm looking at either the July 16th or July 28/29th as test dates for my MCAT. I know it's not good, but I've heard that as long as I get my AMCAS and letters of recommendation on time, I should get back at least some secondaries, and once my MCAT scores reach med schools in late August, I should start getting some interviews.</p>

<p>My question is, should I just jump on the July 16th now and not take the risk of having that date fill up too, or is there not really much of a difference in taking it on the 16th or the 28/29th? I know that earlier is better, but I'm not sure if 2 weeks will really hurt me. Plus, I really really can't afford the $200 for the test fee.</p>

<p>I guess I'd just like some general advice on whether or not it would really hurt to wait until late July to take it. Just some info about myself:</p>

<ul>
<li>Systems and Control Engineering major (B.S.)</li>
<li>GPA: 3.79, Science GPA: 3.80)</li>
<li>MCAT: Planning on getting 30+</li>
<li>Research Experience (Was in an NCI summer program last year, and will be doing research in neurophysiology with a professor over the summer and possibly next fall)</li>
<li>No Clinical Experience (Trying to volunteer at the Free Clinic this summer, but the waiting list is insanely long)</li>
</ul>

<p>Thank you in advance,
Ray</p>

2

<p>It will really hurt you applying late in the cycle. D1 did it and it was a HUGE mistake on her part (one of several) and I think it definitely cut down on the number of interviews she received. (Number of interviews offered–2 and one was in-state from a school that interviews every in-state applicant that meets minimum standards.)</p>

<p>BTW, what is going to hurt you even more is the lack of clinical experiences. In fact --and this is going to sound harsh–is that without any clinical experience on your resume, you may as well not even bother applying this cycle.</p>

3

<p>Neither of those test dates is seriously viable. You’ll have to wait a year and apply then, or drive very far and take the MCAT somewhere else (or hope that one of the test centers opens up, which it might). I know that’s not what you were hoping to hear.</p>

4

<p>So… Does anybody have some more positive advice?</p>

5

<p>^^^^ Everything will work out in the end…</p>

6

<p>No, seriously. Neither of those dates is seriously viable. You’re going to harm your chances of admissions a LOT if you try to apply with a July 16th test date, to say nothing of July 28. It’s going to be a major problem.</p>

<p>As long as you’re shooting yourself in the foot anyway (July 16), shooting yourself in the ankle instead (July 28) won’t be particularly much worse.</p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>You’re getting good advice, which is probably better than blindly positive advice…</p>

8

<p>It definitely sucks Ray, but WOWMom, bluedevilmike, and Icarus are right. While you’re setting yourself up at a serious disadvantage if you wait to take the MCAT so late–to the effect that it’s hardly even worth applying–that’s probably not your biggest hurdle. Taking the MCAT late (as in, in July) might be a different story if you had a ridiculously competitive application save for the late MCAT date, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.</p>

<p>Having gone through this arduous process myself (just last cycle, actually), I can wholeheartedly tell you that if I were starting over again but in your shoes, knowing what I know now, I ABSOLUTELY would not apply this cycle. I would spend a year carefully preparing for the MCAT, getting all my ducks in a row (in terms of where to apply, LORs, personal statements, etc), and most importantly–finding some meaningful clinical experience.</p>

<p>Without significant clinical, volunteer, leadership, and extracurricular experience you’re going to have a very difficult time getting interviews (and as you know, you must be interviewed in order to be accepted). The reason is that many of your secondaries (which seem to play a significant role in interview invitations) will be lacking as a result–many secondary questions ask about clinical, volunteer, leadership, and other experiences. Additionally, your LORs probably won’t be as strong as they could be, since your recommenders won’t be able to elaborate on your experiences (because it seems like you have few experiences).</p>

<p>The MCAT date is a small problem, and if it were your only problem, I think you’re correct in thinking that two weeks wouldn’t make a huge difference. The bigger problems are your lack of clinical experience, (presumably) your lack of volunteer work, and (presumably) your lack of leadership and extracurricular experiences. While research and GPA are important, there’s more to your application than just those elements, and you’ll quickly find that there are TONS of qualified applicants out there who meet every single one of those elements…and then some. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, you won’t be a competitive applicant if you primarily have a few summers/semesters of research and a good GPA (which you definitely do). If you’re not a competitive applicant, and you don’t get into med school, then you will have wasted lots of time, energy, and money applying–and you won’t even have a great result to show for it.</p>

<p>I think you’re much better off developing your clinical experience, finding meaningful volunteer/leadership/extracurricular experience, and strengthening your relationships with people who will eventually be able to write ridiculously strong recommendation letters for you. If you have limited resources and can literally only afford to apply once, then it would probably be in your best interest to apply next year. </p>

<p>I’m sure that sucks to read, and I wish I had happier advice to offer you, but after going through this whole crazy process last year, I just can’t imagine giving you any advice other than what I just did. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>