MCAT in August

[Guest sunkyu]

I didn't take early MCAT in april. I know that if I take one in this august, I have to wait until next year. But is there any US school which I can send all other documents in this June anyway and send the MCAT score in October? I really don't want waste a whole year.

[Guest moo]

Take the one in August and wait for your scores to come in October. In the meantime fill out all your applications, secondaries, etc. Your file won't be complete until October (which means you won't get interviews till November/December at the earliest) but you will still be in the game for the entering class of 2005 (class of 2009).

[Guest ocean11]

If this helps... I know people who got accepted to US med schools who took the August MCAT. Just get everything done like secondaries, LOR etc.... ASAP and then you'll be completed in October.

 

Good Luck

[Guest pinkbonkers]

Hi,

Why does it matter when you write the MCATS for US colleges? Why does applying earlier put you at an advantage as opposed to applying in October?

Also, will writing the August MCAT meet the deadline for IS schools?

thanks

[Guest moo]

A lot (not all) of US schools tend to operate on a "rolling basis" which means that they process applications on a first come first served basis. So that means if you take the MCAT in April you will have a "completed" application in time when you submit your application in June, giving you first shot. However, it is my experience that as long as you have a solid app (i.e., if you are SURE that you can score higher in August) there really is no disadvantage to taking the August MCAT.

[Guest studentz]

You have to have everything else into AMCAS sot hat the only thing you're waiting for is the MCAT score. That being said, you may run into trouble completing secondaries on time depending on which and how many schools you apply to. A lot of schools won't let you access the secondary app until they receive the AMCAS app, and you may have only a few weeks to finish em off.

[Guest nextstopmd]

I applied to US schools for admission this September and I was faced with a dilemma. I had already written the MCAT but was writing it again in August and I knew I would do a lot better, so I decided to wait for August MCAT in the hope that my higher marks would offset my later application.

 

If you really really want to go to the States, it's a lot easier to get in if you already have your MCAT (ie from April) and do your AMCAS application and fill out the secondaries as soon as possible. That being said, I decided to go with the August MCAT and still got into a couple US schools. I feel that if my application was in earlier I would have received even more interviews in the States.

[Guest Sarah371]

I agree with nextstopmd, I was betting on Canadian school but I think the fact that my applications were not complete until October hurt my chances at some schools. I got 5 interviews out of 10 schools applied to and two acceptances and 3 wait lists.

 

One thing you can do is let the schools know that if you are accepted for interview that you would be willing to fill in spots on short notice if people have canceled their interviews.