Applying a little late?

[Bbev]

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I've been feeling super anxious and not exactly confident about applications this June so I'd really appreciate more encouraging words. :/

I know chances are greatest when applications are submitted within the first week of June, however I'm not entirely sure when the earliest I should send mine in.

Backstory: Throughout my senior year, I was unsure of whether I wanted to continue with medicine because the combination of very heavy family issues and cramming two degrees in four years was just wearing me out. Med school was always a dream of mine, but that last year was unbelievably tough and I was constantly full of doubt. I just couldn't see myself going on for much longer. I graduated last August and decided to take the gap year to decide what I was doing, while also taking upper level science classes. FORTUNATELY, I rediscovered my passion in science while working as a part-time CNA and as a research assistant and taking these fascinating science classes, and have now officially decided that this is indubitably, 100% what I want to dedicate my life to. I just wish it hadn't hit me so late.

I was told by two friends of mine who are students at PCOM that you absolutely must send in your application early, within the first few days the system opens, and after mid-July, it's just too late. I don't know if that makes sense for me to do because the earliest MCAT I could sign up for was June 20 and it will take a month to receive my scores anyway. Also, another more embarrassing problem: I have two classes that I absolutely must retake this summer (neither were available this Spring). I took these classes during that rough senior year so it was just really hard for me to succeed. They were also my first online courses and I was just not at all accustomed to that format. (Not trying to make excuses here. Just being honest. Don't scold me for failing hehh..) The final grades for one class is not finalized until the first week of July and the second class is not done until mid August. Would it be bad to send in my application without these grades replaced first? I am completely and absolutely certain I can get high grades in those classes to replace my old low ones. Would it look less bad that I ever got low grades in the first place if I waited to send apps in with my better new grades? Or is it fine if I send in apps and they see that I'm currently replacing them? I don't know if it would be better to apply early with a lower sGPA or later with a clearer, more enhanced GPA.

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm very determined to not let this dream die.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

It's best to apply June first. But if not as long as you're not in after September chances are you'll be fine.

 

[rsb299]

Obviously my personal experience is purely anecdotal, so please take what I'm about to say with a heavy grain of salt. I didn't submit DO applications anywhere until the end of October and at that point I was only complete at PCOM because they were the only school to which I applied that didn't require a physician letter. I received an interview invite about 2.5 weeks later and attended in January. Still no word on my application. I wasn't complete anywhere else until the very end of January, and I received an interview invite right away from AT Still KCOM, attended a week later and was accepted a week later, and just yesterday I received an interview invite from LMU-DCOM but have yet to schedule it.

So basically, it's possibly to find a little bit of success applying late, but avoid it like the plague if you can. I was very stupid and got very lucky with the opportunities I've received. I also re-took the MCAT in December and my score went up from a 25 to a 30; the schools at which I wasn't complete until the end of January didn't even get my application until my second score had been released.

Also, someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you able to include in-progress courses on your application? And when the grades come in your AACOMAS GPA will update when the transcript is processed?

 

[premedkid16]

I had a friend who submitted her primary in August, I believe. She received interviews at some mid-tier DO schools (basing this strictly off of MCAT/GPA), and she got interviews at both during January. She was a fairly strong applicant, however. She just got in this past month. So, based off her case, it is not impossible, but as you can expect, especially for the more competitive schools, the sooner you send in your application the better.

 

[umfc7181]

I'm a first year at Pcom. Just my personal account but didn't take the mcat till mid July submitted primary end of August and secondary early October. Interviewed a month later. For sure the earlier the better but I would not worry too much about not submitting into July escesially if that means time to study and be best prepared for the mcat. I can't speak for other schools but I know when I applied Pcom didn't start sending out secondaries until the end of August anyway.

 

[Bbev]

Obviously my personal experience is purely anecdotal, so please take what I'm about to say with a heavy grain of salt. I didn't submit DO applications anywhere until the end of October and at that point I was only complete at PCOM because they were the only school to which I applied that didn't require a physician letter. I received an interview invite about 2.5 weeks later and attended in January. Still no word on my application. I wasn't complete anywhere else until the very end of January, and I received an interview invite right away from AT Still KCOM, attended a week later and was accepted a week later, and just yesterday I received an interview invite from LMU-DCOM but have yet to schedule it.

So basically, it's possibly to find a little bit of success applying late, but avoid it like the plague if you can. I was very stupid and got very lucky with the opportunities I've received. I also re-took the MCAT in December and my score went up from a 25 to a 30; the schools at which I wasn't complete until the end of January didn't even get my application until my second score had been released.

Also, someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you able to include in-progress courses on your application? And when the grades come in your AACOMAS GPA will update when the transcript is processed?

I know I can for sure send in the new transcripts when they are complete and my GPA will adjust, but I'm more worried about a tarnished first impression. As in, if they see low grades that I'm currently working and are immediately more unsure because my retakes are still in the process, as opposed to completed retakes with certain, feasible proof that I did and can do better. Does this make sense what I'm saying? Maybe I'm just overthinking things and this shouldn't really even be a considered. I'm just afraid schools won't be too keen on waiting for me and pass me up.

P.S. Congrats on getting interviews and good luck with the rest of your decisions!

 

[Bbev]

I had a friend who submitted her primary in August, I believe. She received interviews at some mid-tier DO schools (basing this strictly off of MCAT/GPA), and she got interviews at both during January. She was a fairly strong applicant, however. She just got in this past month. So, based off her case, it is not impossible, but as you can expect, especially for the more competitive schools, the sooner you send in your application the better.

Thanks for the input. Quick question: how do you distinguish between more and less competitive schools? I feel like I have a good idea with public, older schools being harder (MSUCOM) while newer, private schools are a bit less competitive (AZCOM), and a school like CCOM is extremely challenging. So what aspect should I base competitive level off of? GPA, MCAT, etc? I'm definitely going to put more focus early on in completing apps for more competitive schools.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

I sent in primaries in July and still got interviews. With that said, I recommend you submit your primary before August. AACOMAS took 6 weeks to verify my primary. I began doing secondaries in late August and September and finishing everything by October.

If you get that primary out there in June or July, you can start secondaries in July/August just around the time you finish up your classes and mcat. It is extremely advantageous to be ahead of the curve on this because around October-December you have those students that aren't getting into MD schools start applications. So regardless of your lower grades and no mcat score, the primary can be submitted and then you can update schools about your retakes. I mean your gpa will not go up from 2 summer classes by a lot.

 

[Bbev]

I sent in primaries in July and still got interviews. With that said, I recommend you submit your primary before August. AACOMAS took 6 weeks to verify my primary. I began doing secondaries in late August and September and finishing everything by October.

If you get that primary out there in June or July, you can start secondaries in July/August just around the time you finish up your classes and mcat. It is extremely advantageous to be ahead of the curve on this because around October-December you have those students that aren't getting into MD schools start applications. So regardless of your lower grades and no mcat score, the primary can be submitted and then you can update schools about your retakes. I mean your gpa will not go up from 2 summer classes by a lot.

Thanks a ton, that helps a lot. It's not necessarily my overall GPA that I'm concerned about, just that the grades in these two classes in particular are unacceptable. Since I have two science degrees and took non-degree science classes, I have way too many credits for my GPA to have a huge shift anyway. I just know that you can't have grades for science classes at a certain cutoff point for some schools, and I'm below that. But anyway, thanks again. I know I should focus on just getting these apps done early and just continuously update them as I can.

 

[premedkid16]

Thanks for the input. Quick question: how do you distinguish between more and less competitive schools? I feel like I have a good idea with public, older schools being harder (MSUCOM) while newer, private schools are a bit less competitive (AZCOM), and a school like CCOM is extremely challenging. So what aspect should I base competitive level off of? GPA, MCAT, etc? I'm definitely going to put more focus early on in completing apps for more competitive schools.

IMO, i feel the definition of competitiveness for medical schools is somewhat arbitrary. Assuming medical schools take a look at the whole application, it's difficult to tell; however, for my own purposes when I apply this upcoming cycle, I look at the combination of reported MCAT/GPA scores as the most objective standard. However, one important factor to consider is also regional bias.

 

[Goro]

The DO cycle is a lot longer than MD so you're fine up to the end of Dec.

I've been feeling super anxious and not exactly confident about applications this June so I'd really appreciate more encouraging words. :/

I know chances are greatest when applications are submitted within the first week of June, however I'm not entirely sure when the earliest I should send mine in.

Backstory: Throughout my senior year, I was unsure of whether I wanted to continue with medicine because the combination of very heavy family issues and cramming two degrees in four years was just wearing me out. Med school was always a dream of mine, but that last year was unbelievably tough and I was constantly full of doubt. I just couldn't see myself going on for much longer. I graduated last August and decided to take the gap year to decide what I was doing, while also taking upper level science classes. FORTUNATELY, I rediscovered my passion in science while working as a part-time CNA and as a research assistant and taking these fascinating science classes, and have now officially decided that this is indubitably, 100% what I want to dedicate my life to. I just wish it hadn't hit me so late.

I was told by two friends of mine who are students at PCOM that you absolutely must send in your application early, within the first few days the system opens, and after mid-July, it's just too late. I don't know if that makes sense for me to do because the earliest MCAT I could sign up for was June 20 and it will take a month to receive my scores anyway. Also, another more embarrassing problem: I have two classes that I absolutely must retake this summer (neither were available this Spring). I took these classes during that rough senior year so it was just really hard for me to succeed. They were also my first online courses and I was just not at all accustomed to that format. (Not trying to make excuses here. Just being honest. Don't scold me for failing hehh..) The final grades for one class is not finalized until the first week of July and the second class is not done until mid August. Would it be bad to send in my application without these grades replaced first? I am completely and absolutely certain I can get high grades in those classes to replace my old low ones. Would it look less bad that I ever got low grades in the first place if I waited to send apps in with my better new grades? Or is it fine if I send in apps and they see that I'm currently replacing them? I don't know if it would be better to apply early with a lower sGPA or later with a clearer, more enhanced GPA.

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm very determined to not let this dream die.