I'm applying to med school this summer, but I won't have my AMCAS submitted until July 10 probably. When can I expect secondaries to arrive if I have a 3.46 GPA and a 29? I've applied to a huge range of schools...is there a standard response time for screening?
Also, I took the MCAT last year, and I have registered to take it again. On the standardized test score section of the AMCAS they ask if you intend to take it again, but if you are not sure you should mark "no." If I mark "yes," will the admissions people wait to screen my AMCAS until after they've received my second test score or will they send me a secondary application based off of my first score (29)? If they do wait to send out secondaries, would it be advisable then to mark "no" and then to have my scores sent afterwards? If the 29 doesn't meet their standards, will they simply throw away my application? So basically, I'm wondering if I should mark "yes" or "no" for the question "are you going to take the MCAT again"? There is actually a small possibility that I will decide not to take it, but I am almost positive that I will take it.
Finally, I was wondering what type of language I should use for the explanation portion of the post-secondary experiences. Should it be like a resume? Should I use the word "I" or should it mostly be passive voice? Should I try to be as comprehensive as possible, with each explanation taking up the entire 510 characters alotted?
If you're planning on taking it (sounds like you are), then keep it marked "yes". At the very worst, schools where you are borderline will probably wait for your new MCAT scores, and if you make the cutoff w/ your old score, then you'll probably get the secondary right away.
On 28 Jun 2004 19:37:27 -0700, [email hidden]
(Andrea) said:
Hi,
I'm applying to med school this summer, but I won't have my AMCAS submitted until July 10 probably. When can I expect secondaries to arrive if I have a 3.46 GPA and a 29? I've applied to a huge range of schools...is there a standard response time for screening?
Also, I took the MCAT last year, and I have registered to take it again. On the standardized test score section of the AMCAS they ask if you intend to take it again, but if you are not sure you should mark "no." If I mark "yes," will the admissions people wait to screen my AMCAS until after they've received my second test score or will they send me a secondary application based off of my first score (29)? If they do wait to send out secondaries, would it be advisable then to mark "no" and then to have my scores sent afterwards? If the 29 doesn't meet their standards, will they simply throw away my application? So basically, I'm wondering if I should mark "yes" or "no" for the question "are you going to take the MCAT again"? There is actually a small possibility that I will decide not to take it, but I am almost positive that I will take it.
Finally, I was wondering what type of language I should use for the explanation portion of the post-secondary experiences. Should it be like a resume? Should I use the word "I" or should it mostly be passive voice? Should I try to be as comprehensive as possible, with each explanation taking up the entire 510 characters alotted?
I'm not sure the information "noob" gave is correct. If you mark "yes", then AMCAS may wait until your new MCAT scores are in *before* processing your application. This means that your application won't go out to medical schools until late October. At this point, most schools have already selected the majority of students they will interview, and leave only a few open slots for exceptional candidates who apply late.
You might want to check with your premed advisor or directly with AMCAS to clarify this.
"noob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
If you're planning on taking it (sounds like you are), then keep it marked "yes". At the very worst, schools where you are borderline will probably wait for your new MCAT scores, and if you make the cutoff w/ your old score, then you'll probably get the secondary right away.
As far as I can recall, when I applied ('98), if your MCATs were in to AMCAS at the time your application arrived, then the scores were included as verified. If you checked "taking again", then AMCAS would just tell schools that you were were planning on taking the test again, but the application would still go out. It would be up to the schools to decide whether to wait for the new scores or just go ahead and process the primary. Most would wait for the additional scores if you were borderline.
ntmed said:
I'm not sure the information "noob" gave is correct. If you mark "yes", then AMCAS may wait until your new MCAT scores are in *before* processing your application. This means that your application won't go out to medical schools until late October. At this point, most schools have already selected the majority of students they will interview, and leave only a few open slots for exceptional candidates who apply late.
You might want to check with your premed advisor or directly with AMCAS to clarify this.
