Applying early vs. waiting for grades

[lbzak]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey everyone,

I plan on applying to med school this cycle and I would like to submit my application as soon as possible. However, I am currently studying abroad in Australia and the semester does not end until June. My grades will not be available until mid-July. Can I submit my application while my grades for this semester are pending? Or do I need to wait until my grades appear on my transcript? I really don't want to wait until July. The classes I am taking now are not required for medical school and my GPA is in pretty good shape as it is. In other words, I would not need to wait for these grades in order to boost my GPA.

On another note, I have a question concerning the admission requirements for Johns Hopkins. On their website, it states that 4 credits of Biochemistry are required, including a lab component. I took Biochemistry, but there was no lab component to the class and it was only three credits. There is also no separate Biochemistry lab course that is offered at my school. Because of major requirements, I am taking a more advanced Biochemistry course in the Spring of my senior year, the only time it is offered. This also does not have a lab component. Do you know if this will be detrimental to my application? I'm worried that they will not even consider me because of it. I have been doing an independent study lab course for 1.5 years in molecular biology. I know it's not the same, but I'm hoping this can somehow fulfill the biochemistry lab requirement. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks for your help!

 

[slatermd]

Submit early with classes pending; update when the transcripts are ready.

 

[Spin]

Submit early with classes pending; update when the transcripts are ready.

This, even if you DID need the extra classes to boost your GPA. Applying early is incredibly helpful.

 

[hiyaman]

Submit early with classes pending; update when the transcripts are ready.

Hi Sorry this is a stupid question but...

This thread says you can't update your amcas grades after submitting but i just realized that was in 2003 lol.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=69923

Has it changed since then?

 

[lbzak]

Hi Sorry this is a stupid question but...

This thread says you can't update your amcas grades after submitting but i just realized that was in 2003 lol.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=69923

Has it changed since then?

Maybe the online application can't be changed after it is submitted, but transcripts and update letters can be sent once grades are in. That is what I got out of it.

 

[hiyaman]

ah okay that clears up a lot.

 

[slatermd]

Ha, it's not a stupid question. There is a lot of confusion around this subject, and let me be the first to say that I don't have answers for all of the different possible scenarios.

It goes something like this:

1. You enter your completed coursework and your grades
2. You enter "future coursework"
3. You submit your application. You can no longer make changes to it through AMCAS.
4. The courses and grades you entered for "completed coursework" are verified by AMCAS after you submit, once they receive official transcripts.
5. Any updates, grades for future coursework, etc. must be sent directly to the schools where you apply.

It is my understanding that your app won't be reviewed by schools until your transcripts are verified by AMCAS (I could be wrong about this). It won't be verified by AMCAS until they have your transcripts.

Since the semester in question is not "required" for your application, I would not list it under completed coursework, because this will result in your application being delayed by AMCAS, as they wait to verify your transcripts. I would list it as "future coursework" and then send your transcripts directly to the schools you care about as an "update" to your application.

I am basing this on everything I have read on SDN, not on anything more reliable. Anyone else out there can feel free to correct me.

 

[berriesandcream]

Similar thing here. I'm wondering if I should wait for my spring grades (definitely will boost my GPA from about 3.57 to 3.6) in mid June 20s, or submit with only my winter grades with like that 3.57ish and update letter. Kind of a double edge sword:raise GPA, but apply late(r), or keep GPA, apply from day 1. Mind you, I'm taking my MCAT on May 21, so my scores come out June 21. Advice?

 

[slatermd]

How much will these grades affect your science GPA?

It will take AMCAS a week or so to verify your transcript after you send it. So if it is mailed late June, it won't be verified until early July.

 

[hiyaman]

How much will these grades affect your science GPA?

It will take AMCAS a week or so to verify your transcript after you send it. So if it is mailed late June, it won't be verified until early July.

um, in terms of the application cycle is being verified in early july late if you are trying to apply early? lol weird phrasing.

 

[berriesandcream]

um, in terms of the application cycle is being verified in early july late if you are trying to apply early? lol weird phrasing.

yup, that's what I'm getting at.

In terms of my sciGPA, I'll be taking ochem and another upper div chem course, so possibly?

 

[Spin]

um, in terms of the application cycle is being verified in early july late if you are trying to apply early? lol weird phrasing.

I don't think it's LATE late, but it's not early anymore. You want to get verified and send out primaries to the schools you know you're applying to asap. If you're waiting on something (MCAT, final GPA) before deciding to apply to certain schools, you can always add those schools later.

 

[lbzak]

Thank you all for your responses. I will probably submit in early June as I planned and list my current study abroad courses as "future coursework". Also, just to clarify, when are letters of recommendation due? Do you send them in with the primary or secondary application? Is it also beneficial to submit them as early as possible? I will have four by June but I have not asked a non-science professor for an LOR yet and I wanted to give him a later due date because it will be short notice. Is this ok? I was thinking asking him to submit the LOR by July or August.

 

[Spin]

Thank you all for your responses. I will probably submit in early June as I planned and list my current study abroad courses as "future coursework". Also, just to clarify, when are letters of recommendation due? Do you send them in with the primary or secondary application? Is it also beneficial to submit them as early as possible? I will have four by June but I have not asked a non-science professor for an LOR yet and I wanted to give him a later due date because it will be short notice. Is this ok? I was thinking asking him to submit the LOR by July or August.

Schools don't accept LORs until they ask you for a secondary. After that, you're application isn't considered "complete" until you submit all of the LORs that they ask for. If you're submitting your primary in early June, you'll be verified early enough for schools to start asking for LORs in July, so I'd definitely try to get the letter by then. If you can ask your prof to submit it earlier, like in June, that would be even better just in case he end up procrastinating. If that would be rushing him, though, I'd definitely tell him that July is fine. You don't want him to be pissed at having to write your letter on such short notice.

Submitting your primary early is mainly helpful because it helps you "complete" your secondary application pretty quickly too, and that's what will get you early interviews and early acceptances. Don't use that as an excuse to delay your app, though! Some schools will invite applicants for interviews before all LORs are in, so request the LOR for June or July and get on with the rest of your application asap.