Application Process Question

[RayRay20]

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So I just found out my school won't send out committee packets (with all my letters of recommendation) until after July 4th. I'm planning on submitting my AMCAS application early June.

My question is, will med schools start reviewing my AMCAS application even though my letters of rec haven't arrive yet? For example, I know med schools won't review your app until your MCAT score is in, is this also the case for LOR?

I don't want to be late in the application cycle because of committee packet submissions.

 

[Ari1584]

So I just found out my school won't send out committee packets (with all my letters of recommendation) until after July 4th. I'm planning on submitting my AMCAS application early June.

My question is, will med schools start reviewing my AMCAS application even though my letters of rec haven't arrive yet? For example, I know med schools won't review your app until your MCAT score is in, is this also the case for LOR?

I don't want to be late in the application cycle because of committee packet submissions.

From my understanding, schools will not review your letters of rec until you send back your secondaries. So you should be fine with having them send them out July 4th. Then you can upload them and just send them through and they will be added to your file.

 

[christina30]

So I just found out my school won't send out committee packets (with all my letters of recommendation) until after July 4th. I'm planning on submitting my AMCAS application early June.

My question is, will med schools start reviewing my AMCAS application even though my letters of rec haven't arrive yet? For example, I know med schools won't review your app until your MCAT score is in, is this also the case for LOR?

I don't want to be late in the application cycle because of committee packet submissions.

If you submit in early June, your primary won't even be verified by AMCAS until after July 4th (It takes 4-6 weeks, at least).

Schools won't receive it until after it's been verified, so July 4th is more than early enough.

 

[RayRay20]

From my understanding, schools will not review your letters of rec until you send back your secondaries. So you should be fine with having them send them out July 4th. Then you can upload them and just send them through and they will be added to your file.

That would be ideal if it's true. Either way, thanks for the quick responses - I was getting a little worried there.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

If you submit in early June, your primary won't even be verified by AMCAS until after July 4th (It takes 4-6 weeks, at least).

Schools won't receive it until after it's been verified, so July 4th is more than early enough.

I am not sure about this time frame. I know the AMCAS 2011 FAQ page states 4-6 weeks, but this is more of a worst case scenario, not a best case scenario. Applicants who submit AMCAS on June 1 and who have already had their transcripts received by the AMCAS office can have their application verified within a few days; once the application numbers increase, the verification times also increase. I base these comments on my own personal experience as an applicant, but also, more importantly, as an admissions committee interviewer for my medical school. Of all of the applications I have reviewed, those who submitted in early June took 1-2 weeks to verify and those who submitted in late June / early July took 2-3 weeks to verify.

Either way, submit AMCAS ASAP, schools usually evaluate LOR's with the secondary applications.

- admissions committee interviewer / senior medical student

 

[mvenus929]

If you submit in early June, your primary won't even be verified by AMCAS until after July 4th (It takes 4-6 weeks, at least).

Schools won't receive it until after it's been verified, so July 4th is more than early enough.

It doesn't take 4-6 weeks if you submit early June. If you submit on the first day, it'll take a day or two if you have all your stuff together. If you submit mid-June, it might take 3 weeks. It doesn't start taking the full 4-6 weeks until July, depending on the cycle.

Schools don't get the applications of those verified until after June 20th or so. very few schools will send our secondaries before July 4th. So, you're safe.

 

[JmanDO]

Basically, the LORs aren't as essential (processing-wise) as MCAT scores. So yes, they'll begin evaluating your course work and EC's and will add your letters when they arrive (as someone said, they likely won't be finished processing your app before july 4th).

Don't worry. Even if they do, adding new letters takes much less time than it does to process. If they've processed you already, adding new letters should take less than a week.