Applying Early

[docjg17]

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Hi everyone,
I am kinda new to this so please excuse me if this question has been asked a million times.
Does applying early really improve your chances of acceptance. I have heard here and there that applying as early as possible (June 1st) can make a difference. If anyone has any insight into this myth (or truth), I would love to hear it. Thanks

 

[gossmer]

Hi everyone,
I am kinda new to this so please excuse me if this question has been asked a million times.
Does applying early really improve your chances of acceptance. I have heard here and there that applying as early as possible (June 1st) can make a difference. If anyone has any insight into this myth (or truth), I would love to hear it. Thanks

Not a myth. Apply early and often!

 

[tacrum43]

Hi everyone,
I am kinda new to this so please excuse me if this question has been asked a million times.
Does applying early really improve your chances of acceptance. I have heard here and there that applying as early as possible (June 1st) can make a difference. If anyone has any insight into this myth (or truth), I would love to hear it. Thanks

Yes. It very much does, unless you are a top applicant who is applying to non-rolling schools (that is, schools that don't send out any decisions regarding acceptance offers until sometime in the spring). Most schools don't do that, however.

 

[ladydoc2be]

Applying early definitely makes a difference! I'm a borderline candidate. Little research, and both mcat and gpa are on the low end. However, I sent in my AMCAS the day it was available and I had all my secondaries in by the end of August. I ended up getting 6 interviews. So far I have 1 acceptance, and I got wait listed at all the other schools. My acceptance was at the school I interviewed at first (Wright State). I had this interview in october and I was one of the first to be interviewed. I feel that this definitely increased my chances of getting in. Most schools do rolling admissions so the earlier you send everything in, the better. If you are a borderline candidate, it's absolutely essential that you apply early because that's really the only thing you have going for you. Good luck!

 

[browniegirl86]

By all means, apply as early as you can! Get all your letters, etc. lined up early in the spring semester and you'll be good to go.

The earlier you can get an interview, in general, the better chance you have (especially at schools with rolling admissions).

Good luck to you!

 

[snobored18]

I will go against the grain on this one...I submitted my AMCAS Oct. 14th...most secondaries were in by November 30th...started interviewing in December...I have 5 acceptances and no post interview rejections (yet) in my hand so I can't truthfully say that applying really late hurt me. Now some schools I think I screwed myself over at...mainly schools like SLU, MCW and Vermont where I was lukewarm applying to anyway because it seems like everyone and their mother uses these schools as back-ups...just so you know i got lazy and only turned in 14 secondaries...of that I have had 9 interview invites and 2 post secondary rejections (UNC-chapel hill and Wisconsin...I was stupid to even try as an oos)...still haven't heard a peep from the schools above. As far as stats go I am no uber-applicant rather I am exactly at the MSAR matriculant average...lots of ECs and great rec letters, but after reading this site I honestly though I was screwed because I applied so late...thats hardly been the case...so unless you want to go to MCW, SLU or those type of schools I don't think applying late will kill your chances

 

[prettymd05]

I, too, was sort of late in the game. I had all of my LOR's already filed in my advisors office because I thought I was applying last year but ended up taking a year off. Thus, that was a plus for me. I had to take the August MCAT over which was a negative and which, as you know, delays the completion of your file. Luckily, I already submitted my AMCAS application right after taking the MCAT. All in all, I submitted sec's for 19 schools and got 11 interview offers. I am holding one acceptance and no rejections (yet). I must say that things were possible because I have killer EC's, impressive LOR's (which a good amount of my interviewers commented on and quoted from what some of my prof's said about me), and a really good personal statement.

In all, I would suggest the earlier the better but it certainly does not mean a detrimental outcome!

-pretty

 

[lobster M.D.]

i guess i will give my 2 cents here, i agree that applying early can help certain applications and often does, but what i like most about applying early is that i had the bulk of my interviews and some acceptances all before december, i am breathing easy, while my late applying august mcater, while still with 8 interviews, is still sweating everyday until that first acceptance comes, i think the ability to reduce stress and blood pressure a few months early is well worth the effort to apply asap

 

[ahumdinger]

I don't think there's a big difference between applying in June and applying in July. When you apply as soon as AMCAS is out, you often have to wait until July anyway to get your secondaries. But there is a difference in applying in July and say, August or September, because if you do it earlier, you have more time to work on secondaries. The downside to applying early is that you often have to wait FOREVER!! You may be frustrated when you realize that the people who apply later are getting their secondaries within a few days, and sometimes you won't hear back from a school because they are waiting for the august mcat scores to come out. So be prepared to wait, have a lot of patience!!

 

[lyn2006]

One more thing I'd add to the list of why to apply early is that the earlier you're in somewhere the more likely they will have money to give you (scholarships/grants) if there is any available...

 

[prana_md]

the ability to reduce stress and blood pressure a few months early is well worth the effort to apply asap

amen.

I'm a re-applicant, and I can't stress enough the difference applying early made. I applied after labor day last cycle, and ended up with 3 interviews, all in March. I was waitlisted and rejected. This year, I got started close to the first day you could submit AMCAS, and I was accepted 12/8 to U of Pittsburgh. (Sorry, Seahawk fans.) As we approach mid-February, candidates with equal or better stats are getting waitlisted instead of accepted. (I'm seeing this on SDN threads right now.)

Also, take into account glitches and hiccups that can delay your application. If you're submitting transcripts from multiple schools, it can take a while for them to get to AMCAS. You also have to wait to be verified by AMCAS. To sum up -- lots of waiting.

The only reason to apply later is if you think your MCAT score will be significantly better in August than in April.

GOOD LUCK! 🙂