Application Timing Question

[cubs3canes]

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I looked in the FAQs and could not find an answer. When should I submit my ERAS? I know that our Dean;s letters will not be finished until October 1, unless we are applying to an early admission program (Optho, Neuro, and what not).

Should I have my application done by that date or can i wait until October 17th and try to secure a better recommendation.

Thanks

 

[jtw]

You should submit your ERAS as early as possible--in other words the first day that ERAS allows you to submit it. Don't wait for your letters, you can add them to the application as they come in. But you should submit your general info and personal statement on the first day because programs will start to evaluate applicants right away. I submitted mine on Sept 1st last year, and got my first interview invite 2 days later, even though I had only one letter submitted. Granted, this is very unusual, but it does happen and it demonstrates that it can pay off to be early. There is no advantage to waiting, unless you are still trying to figure out what specialty to apply to and thus can't write a personal statement. hope this helps. good luck.

 

[cubs3canes]

You should submit your ERAS as early as possible--in other words the first day that ERAS allows you to submit it. Don't wait for your letters, you can add them to the application as they come in. But you should submit your general info and personal statement on the first day because programs will start to evaluate applicants right away. I submitted mine on Sept 1st last year, and got my first interview invite 2 days later, even though I had only one letter submitted. Granted, this is very unusual, but it does happen and it demonstrates that it can pay off to be early. There is no advantage to waiting, unless you are still trying to figure out what specialty to apply to and thus can't write a personal statement. hope this helps. good luck.

Awesome and quick...thanks.

So let me get this straight. I can submit my application without even designating letters to each individual program? Or do I have to at least know who is going to write the letters?

 

[jtw]

if i remember correctly, you do not need to designate letters to programs or name letter writers before submitting. And you can change/add/delete letters throughout the application process. If you know your letter writers, it is probably a good idea to go ahead and add them and designate programs, but it's not required.

 

[fishtolive]

maybe a dumb question--but how exactly are the recs added to the application--our schools do it?

 

[cchoukal]

that's definitely how it worked at my school. You would have your letters forwarded to whoever the coordinator is, and then you'd designate each of your letters in ERAS (like naming one: letter from john smith) and the coordinator would scan in the letter from john smith and it worked pretty seamlessly. Although, I guess I have no evidence that the programs actually got the correct letters!