complete application - 2 wk rule?

[tiparalyzed]

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so, my school doesn't send out its committee letter until mid-aug. would it still be to my advantage to submit secondaries as soon as possible aka 2 week rule? won't i not get interviews anyway until my application is complete (secondaries + LORs)?

 

[RHeff]

How many other LORs did you submit?

 

[tiparalyzed]

it's one of those committee packet things through virtualevals. committee letter + 4 letters. all at once.

 

[chiapet874]

I don't quite remember, but why is the 2 week rule suggested?

All that matters is when your file is 100% completed. Say your committee won't be sending out your letter in a month or so, what difference does it make to have your secondaries in way before your file will even be completed.

I find it unlikely ADCOMS will be sitting there, in front of a completed file, and comparing when secondaries were sent out for a student and when they were submitted back.

 

[Propylene]

For what it's worth, on some of my applications it showed the date I submitted the secondary and then the date the letters came in separately. It might look nice to have the secondary in early, just to show your interest in the school?

 

[NickNaylor]

I don't quite remember, but why is the 2 week rule suggested?

All that matters is when your file is 100% completed. Say your committee won't be sending out your letter in a month or so, what difference does it make to have your secondaries in way before your file will even be completed.

I find it unlikely ADCOMS will be sitting there, in front of a completed file, and comparing when secondaries were sent out for a student and when they were submitted back.

Because assuming the secondary is the last part of your application the school will receive, every day you don't complete the secondary is another day you don't get reviewed and another day for more interview invites to be given out (meaning fewer opportunities for you). A lot of people also think that schools gauge interest based on how quickly you return the secondary, but I think that's dubious at best.

OP, you won't get anything out of finishing your secondaries before your letter gets in as you won't be complete. That said, don't use that as an excuse to twittle your thumbs.

By the way, two weeks is entirely arbitrary - get your apps in as quickly as possible while providing high quality answers to the questions you're asked. I would aim to get them done no later than a month after you receive them (which is equally as arbitrary but a little more reasonable for most people). Don't sacrifice quality to meet some arbitrary deadline some person came up with four years ago.

(sent from my phone)