Changes to AMCAS application 2011-12 cycle

[globalmobile]

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EDIT: Just realized I read that wrong and it's actually going to get worse for us quarter kids. Aweeee sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

LOL I was gonna say...wouldn't it be worse? That's a good point to bring up though, that it is making it more difficult for those with quarter-system. :/

 

[LuciusVorenus]

LOL I was gonna say...wouldn't it be worse? That's a good point to bring up though, that it is making it more difficult for those with quarter-system. :/

I know we get no love 🙁

I was totally fine with submitting after quarter grades were out since applications wouldn't be sent until the end of June anyway, but now I might be almost a month late. Not sure if it's worth it anymore :/

 

[globalmobile]

I know we get no love 🙁

I was totally fine with submitting after quarter grades were out since applications wouldn't be sent until the end of June anyway, but now I might be almost a month late. Not sure if it's worth it anymore :/

What?? You won't be a month late!! Of course it's worth it!!! If you have good stats then you're fine! You don't have to apply super duper early to be accepted. Do not be tempted to give in to these cognitive distortions 🙂

 

[LuciusVorenus]

What?? You won't be a month late!! Of course it's worth it!!! If you have good stats then you're fine! You don't have to apply super duper early to be accepted. Do not be tempted to give in to these cognitive distortions 🙂

I still have a year so we'll see what happens. My counselor made a good point though, it balances out in the end because we get 3 "grade cycles" per year while you guys only get 2, so I guess we end up submitting more "grades." Whatever that means.

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

I feel that if they are planning to send your app to schools earlier by so much, they should've let us know earlier because this changes my application time table a bit. Sorta a last minute announcement imo.

Are you serious? This is probably the funniest thing I've seen on sdn today! The difference in (tentative) release date of the primary is about 2 weeks. And it's only March. Did you want to be personally notified last year? What kind of impact do you expect this to have on your app?

The app still opens in May and you are still only complete when your secondary is processed...this virtually changes nothing.

 

[Isoprop]

I still have a year so we'll see what happens. My counselor made a good point though, it balances out in the end because we get 3 "grade cycles" per year while you guys only get 2, so I guess we end up submitting more "grades." Whatever that means.

Quarter kids also have to worry about not meeting the required semester hours required at some schools. A 4 unit class = 2.xx semester hours which usually doesn't cut it. Luckily, my alma mater had 5 unit classes at upped the maximum # units to 20 to balance it out.

They should switch the entire country to quarters. Makes more sense.

 

[ReptarBar]

You really think so? Normally I would think it's fine, but it seems so many are jumping to submit their application on the first day right away! You think there is a huge difference in the admission's perception between June 10th application pool and June 28th? I never know any more, it seems things that I think are fine, I come here and find that I need to worry about lol

im sure most people do not send their apps the first day. SDN gives a poor representation of reality.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

Quarter kids also have to worry about not meeting the required semester hours required at some schools. A 4 unit class = 2.xx semester hours which usually doesn't cut it. Luckily, my alma mater had 5 unit classes at upped the maximum # units to 20 to balance it out.

They should switch the entire country to quarters. Makes more sense.

The only bad thing about the quarter system is how rushed everything feels. I'm on spring break and they've already released the syllabus, telling us to make sure we're ready for our first midterm in 2 weeks -_-

 

[chiapet874]

Are you serious? This is probably the funniest thing I've seen on sdn today! The difference in (tentative) release date of the primary is about 2 weeks. And it's only March. Did you want to be personally notified last year? What kind of impact do you expect this to have on your app?

The app still opens in May and you are still only complete when your secondary is processed...this virtually changes nothing.

Yes in fact, I would have like a notification a year ago. Why were they in such a rush implement these changes that they had to do it this cycle and oh-btw- let us know 2 months before the submit date.

It is simply in principle- just cause the changes aren't that big of a deal doesn't mean they shouldn't have informed us earlier. For instance, I will be sure that their new LOR requirements may effect some people. But what are you gonna do?

 

[raltima07]

You really think so? Normally I would think it's fine, but it seems so many are jumping to submit their application on the first day right away! You think there is a huge difference in the admission's perception between June 10th application pool and June 28th? I never know any more, it seems things that I think are fine, I come here and find that I need to worry about lol

Im taking the MCAT in may to, so this sucks. I will be later than normal

 

[Slack3r]

They should switch the entire country to quarters. Makes more sense.

If anything, semesters make much more sense than quarters.

 

[NickNaylor]

I've never been a quarter system, and I dun get it.

 

[gravitywave]

Im taking the MCAT in may to, so this sucks. I will be later than normal

just because AMCAS is going to be transmitting data sooner this year, doesn't mean that schools are going to be reading it any sooner. just something to think about....

 

[raltima07]

just because AMCAS is going to be transmitting data sooner this year, doesn't mean that schools are going to be reading it any sooner. just something to think about....

I hope that is the case, but what would hold them back?

 

[LizzyM]

I hope that is the case, but what would hold them back?

Vacations...

Also, what's the point if the interview season isn't going to be any earlier? I suspect that most schools schedule the interview season to correspond to the return of M2 students from summer break (as they are often hosts and tour guides), the return of interviewers from summer vacation, and the completion of applications including MCAT scores, LORs and supplementals. If you think that some of the big feeder schools are going to be writing their letters 2 weeks sooner, you might be mistaken.

I have been a big believer in "be early or go home" but over these past 2 cycles I've seen that computerized files are making "being early" less advantageous. It is so easy to sort and skim the cream on a daily basis and leave the less desirable behind (although we set a 2 week deadline for looking at an application once it has been assigned to a reviewer). Consequently, a really strong applicant might get through the process and be invited for interview in 48 hours while a less desirable one might take 4 weeks -- and there is no telling how long you might sit just because there are 3,000 applications in the queue and not more than 600 are assigned to readers at a time.

Frankly, anything before July 15 is early. Secondaries submitted by August 1: early. Relax and enjoy the ride.

 

[globalmobile]

Vacations...

Also, what's the point if the interview season isn't going to be any earlier? I suspect that most schools schedule the interview season to correspond to the return of M2 students from summer break (as they are often hosts and tour guides), the return of interviewers from summer vacation, and the completion of applications including MCAT scores, LORs and supplementals. If you think that some of the big feeder schools are going to be writing their letters 2 weeks sooner, you might be mistaken.

I have been a big believer in "be early or go home" but over these past 2 cycles I've seen that computerized files are making "being early" less advantageous. It is so easy to sort and skim the cream on a daily basis and leave the less desirable behind (although we set a 2 week deadline for looking at an application once it has been assigned to a reviewer). Consequently, a really strong applicant might get through the process and be invited for interview in 48 hours while a less desirable one might take 4 weeks -- and there is no telling how long you might sit just because there are 3,000 applications in the queue and not more than 600 are assigned to readers at a time.

Frankly, anything before July 15 is early. Secondaries submitted by August 1: early. Relax and enjoy the ride.

Thank you so much for clearing that up!!! I think I will go ahead and take the MCAT by end of May. It seems that it should be fine! 🙂

 

[globalmobile]

im sure most people do not send their apps the first day. SDN gives a poor representation of reality.

hahaha, noted!! 🙂