Am I very/ridiculously late in the application process?

[Jorje286]

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So I'm taking the MCAT this friday, and planning to apply this cycle. I'm almost done with my AAMC application, and will be submitting it shortly after I do the MCAT. Basically, my AAMC application will be all and done with (with transcripts verified), when the MCAT scores come out, around October 5. This is the time I should start getting secondaries.

Does this put me at serious disadvantage?

I know that by the time I submit my AAMC application (next week), I'm still way ahead of the AAMC deadline, and way ahead of the school deadlines for the secondary applications. Just hoping I get some feedback for people who applied equally late in past cycles. Thanks!

 

[britishmafia]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe many MD/PhD programs are delayed enough that this would not matter at many schools.

For example, many schools do not convene until October, some as late as December or January (UNC and Mayo for example). Keep an eye out on that schedule.

With regard to the schools that start earlier, you would be at a slight disadvantage I'd say.

 

[sunshine8i8]

Some schools have begun their secondary application review processes already and are lining up students to interview. Keep in mind that interview spots are basically rolling as well and are not as abundant as regular MD interviews.

 

[Neuronix]

Does this put me at serious disadvantage?

Serious, no. It depends on the school. If you're a well qualified applicant it won't matter much. If you're borderline the hypothesis is that it'll matter more as schools clamp down on their interviews later in the season. Overall I wouldn't worry that much, especially if you get your secondaries in quickly.

Either way you're roughly like the August MCATers of my day (used to be October when they'd get their scores back). It's not a huge deal. SDNers are just extra neurotic. I'm not immune. I had my primary in from Spain from a net cafe the day it went online and sent every secondary back lickety split. Still, every year roughly 1/3 of the apps will come in at or right before the deadline. It drives the program administrators nuts, but it's true. They know this happens and typically have spots still around for the good applicants among them.

 

[taXi]

I applied that late in '03 (around sept. 29th, I believe). I applied to 10 schools, submitted 8 secondaries, went on 5/6 interviews. Got 3 MD only acceptances, and 1 MD/PhD acceptance (nonMSTP, but close to home). In my case, the outcome was favorable but not optimal.

 

[Jorje286]

Thanks for the responses.

Serious, no. It depends on the school. If you're a well qualified applicant it won't matter much. If you're borderline the hypothesis is that it'll matter more as schools clamp down on their interviews later in the season. Overall I wouldn't worry that much, especially if you get your secondaries in quickly.

Either way you're roughly like the August MCATers of my day (used to be October when they'd get their scores back). It's not a huge deal. SDNers are just extra neurotic. I'm not immune. I had my primary in from Spain from a net cafe the day it went online and sent every secondary back lickety split. Still, every year roughly 1/3 of the apps will come in at or right before the deadline. It drives the program administrators nuts, but it's true. They know this happens and typically have spots still around for the good applicants among them.

lol, makes sense now. Reading this forum, I've always had the impression that if you don't apply in the first part of the cycle, your chances are drastically limited. So I just want to make sure that I didn't shoot myself in the foot by delaying the MCAT. As for my stats, I think I'm a solid applicant. 3.9 GPA (with 3.94 BCPM) but not from a top school, various research experiences with a paper to be sumitted in a couple of weeks. I've been scoring 38/39s on the practise MCATs so I'm anticipating something like that on the real one. So I guess I'm a "qualified" applicant. Of course being international will complicate things futher, but at least I still have a "chance."

Anyway, I'd appreciate more input from applicants with experience on this issue.

 

[URHere]

I was a late applicant too, and from my experience I would say that having everything in by October isn't a terrible thing for most schools, but that it might destroy your chances at others. During my application cycle, I had two schools send me letters directly after receiving my secondaries to tell me that all interview slots had already been offered. Both of these schools had early secondary application deadlines for MSTP students, so I should have probably seen it coming.

My only advice to you would be to look at when each school sets their deadline for receipt of MSTP materials - some are Oct 1st (which clearly wouldn't work for your situation) and others are Oct 15th or Nov 1st (which may still be cutting it too close). If a school has a deadline that is too early for you to meet, don't waste your time and money.

 

[anemone2]

Regarding those Oct. 15th deadlines - does your AMCAS App need to be verified by then or just submitted?

 

[URHere]

Regarding those Oct. 15th deadlines - does your AMCAS App need to be verified by then or just submitted?

The dates listed for MD admissions are submission deadlines, however, many schools have specific deadlines for MD/PhD applicants, and those are usually completion deadlines (meaning that AMCAS needs to be verified, secondaries completed, LORs received, etc.). Be sure that you look over program websites and materials that come with secondaries very closely so that you know exactly what these dates are.