Can I apply to med school before taking MCAT?

Yes, it is possible to get into certain medical schools without taking the MCAT. Though, you must keep in mind that the vast majority of schools require you to take the MCAT. As a result, your options become more limited should you choose to skip the exam.

Can you submit med school application before MCAT?

If you're not an early-bird type of test-taker, however, the good news is that your medical school application can be verified and processed without your MCAT score.

Can you apply to med school while waiting for MCAT score?

Most schools won't even complete a review of your application without an MCAT score. If you were sending in your application early—to take advantage of rolling admissions, for example—not having your MCAT score to send can greatly delay a review of your application.

Do you have to take the MCAT before med school?

All medical schools in the United States and many in Canada require MCAT scores for regular admission to medical school. Many health profession schools and graduate programs also accept MCAT scores in lieu of other standardized tests.

Can you take the MCAT the same year you apply to medical school?

Often, students will choose to take their MCAT exam in the same year they are applying to medical school. For example, if you are thinking about attending medical school in fall 2025, you might consider taking your exam during 2024.

When should you take the MCAT? | Medical School Application Guide

Can I take the MCAT in July and still apply to medical school?

Realize that your application to medical school is not going to be considered until it's complete. And even if you do your AMCAS and AACOMAS primary applications in July, your MCAT score takes a month to come back. So a July MCAT means a completed application in August.

When to take the MCAT and apply to med school if you re taking a gap year?

It depends on whether you're planning to take a gap year or not. If not, you should apply during the spring of or summer after your junior year. If you are taking a gap year, you should apply in the summer after your senior year.

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into medical school?

Medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada that necessitate the MCAT typically accept scores ranging from 490-495 at the minimum. Scores below 490 are rarely if ever, accepted. Interestingly, a vast majority of individuals score above this range.

When should I start applying for medical school?

You will submit your application to medical schools in May or June the year before you actually matriculate. For example, if you plan to start medical school in August of 2025 you will submit your applications in May of 2024.

When should I submit my med school application?

You may start the primary application process as early as April and, ideally, you should complete it by June or July. Regular deadlines stretch between now and December (If you apply through the Early Decision Program (EDP) , the deadline is August 1).

Is 494 a bad MCAT score?

A great score is 515 to 528 (the maximum possible score), while an average score is 502 to 508. In contrast, a poor score is 501 and below. This guide will go over what a good MCAT score is and how medical schools use your score to make their decision.

Is 495 a good MCAT score?

A 495 MCAT score is below the national average and is likely to make getting into med school quite challenging. If you have a 495 MCAT, consider retaking the test or applying to medical schools that are known to accept students with a low MCAT.

Do med schools look at GPA or MCAT?

Because of the sheer volume of medical school applications they have to wade through, admissions officers have to make some initial screening decisions based largely on GPA and MCAT scores.

How long before applying to med school should you take the MCAT?

Often, students will choose to take their MCAT exam in the same year they are applying to medical school. For example, if you are thinking about attending medical school in fall 2023, you might consider taking your exam during 2022.

Is it bad to submit AMCAS without MCAT?

No, your AMCAS can be submitted and verified before you have an official MCAT score.

How early should I apply for MCAT?

Aim to take the MCAT as early in the year as possible, preferably no later than mid-May before AMCAS application submissions begin in early June. Completing the exam earlier will allow you to complete your AMCAS application early, and the earlier you submit your application, the better.

What month do most people get accepted to medical school?

Rolling admissions means that applications are evaluated as they are received. Applying early in the cycle may increase your chance of admission. Many schools begin interviewing in August or September, and some M.D. schools offer acceptances as early as mid-October (and even earlier for D.O. schools).

When should I take the MCAT if I want to start medical school in 2024?

The best time to take the MCAT is by April or May in the first year of your application cycle. For example, if you want to start medical school in fall 2025, you should take the MCAT by the end of May 2024. This way, you receive your MCAT score in time to be an early applicant to medical school.

What is a bad first MCAT score?

So, technically speaking, a bad MCAT score would be anything below 500. However, in order to be a competitive applicant, you should aim to score much higher than 500. A good MCAT score largely depends on the schools you are applying to.

Should I retake a 507 MCAT?

If you want to maximize your chances of achieving medical school acceptance, and if your overall application is not strong, we recommend you retake the MCAT if your score is 507.

Is a 510 MCAT good enough for MD?

Considering that a 510 is quite close to the average MCAT score of a 501, it's not very competitive for med-school admission. With a 510, you might make some med-school score cutoffs, but the rest of your application needs to be very competitive to make you a viable candidate for most med-schools.

Does taking the MCAT twice look bad?

Taking the MCAT twice is fine; even three times shouldn't impact your admissions too much. However, any more tries can begin to damage your application. Aim to avoid taking the MCAT multiple times while planning to retake it once if necessary.

Do you take the MCAT junior or senior year?

The MCAT is something that requires planning and should not be taken on a whim. The ideal time to take the MCAT is the spring of your junior year of college, if you plan to attend medical school immediately following graduation.

Is it harder to get into medical school if you take a gap year?

Not really! However, it's important to have a clear plan and make the most of your gap year. Medical schools will be interested in how you used your time and what skills or experiences you gained that will contribute to your success in medical school and as a future physician.