Complete by August, Is that good?

[RamblinRose]

I am hoping to be complete with my secondaries by sometime in August. I've already finished most of them, but I'm waiting on one more letter of rec to get added to my file before I send my letter packet to schools.

Question is: Is being complete in August considered early and/or good?

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[flip26]

I am hoping to be complete with my secondaries by sometime in August. I've already finished most of them, but I'm waiting on one more letter of rec to get added to my file before I send my letter packet to schools.

Question is: Is being complete in August considered early and/or good?

August is certainly not "early" and is arguably not very "good" either.

August = not early, not terribly late, thus not so good, either...

 

[MilkmanAl]

It's on the early side of average, I'd say.

 

[flip26]

It's on the early side of average, I'd say.

Maybe so, but in rolling admissions, average = not terrible, but not so good, either...

 

[MilkmanAl]

Oh yeah, I agree. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

 

[ar2388]

i thought getting secondaries in by august was good? that is if your primary is verified and everything.. don't most adcoms not meet until mid august if not september (like columbia?)....

 

[MilkmanAl]

Personally, I'd say complete by early August is good. Complete by late August is approaching average but maybe still a wee bit on the early-ish side. Many adcoms don't meet until later, but it's still good to have your application high up in their queue of ones to review. First come, first serve, ya know.

 

[flip26]

i thought getting secondaries in by august was good? that is if your primary is verified and everything.. don't most adcoms not meet until mid august if not september (like columbia?)....

Well, there are plenty of people already reporting that they have August interviews scheduled. Now the only way that would be possible would be to have been complete "early," right? And by "early" that would mean June to mid July, right?

At the other extreme, Emory doesn't even make its secondary available until September...

As always, it depends. For some schools, August may be perfectly fine. For others, though, August could actually be considered "late."

 

[Vihsadas]

If August is in the "average" or "late" category this year, that means that July was really the only month that was "early". It was impossible to be marked complete at any school earlier than Jun 24th this year as that was the date that AMCAS released primary applications.

If you're complete by the middle of August I'd say you're fine.

 

[bcat85]

You should be fine. Most schools haven't begun giving out interviews at that point. You won't be the first guy, but you'll be alright.

 

[RySerr21]

i thought getting secondaries in by august was good? that is if your primary is verified and everything.. don't most adcoms not meet until mid august if not september (like columbia?)....

i second that....i was always under the impression that if you submitted your primary in by august you were considered late....now it if you submit your secondaries in by august you are late??? i find that hard to believe.

 

[rockydoc]

i second that....i was always under the impression that if you submitted your primary in by august you were considered late....now it if you submit your secondaries in by august you are late??? i find that hard to believe.

Agreed. I think some people are confusing primaries with secondaries here. I mean, its late July and there are still plenty of schools that havent even sent out secondaries yet. being complete in august is still fine. I mean, it might be the difference between a sept. and oct. interview or something, no biggie

 

[BrnEyes]

Agreed. I think some people are confusing primaries with secondaries here. I mean, its late July and there are still plenty of schools that havent even sent out secondaries yet. being complete in august is still fine. I mean, it might be the difference between a sept. and oct. interview or something, no biggie

I also agree. It is mentioned quite often on these forums, but to reiterate, the SDN community is not necessarily representative of all applicant for a given cycle. You may see a good number of posters here with secondaries completed early and interviews in August, but I really don't think that is the norm, persay. Kudos to them, but at the same time, don't let it stress you out (not that this is the case). Either way, I think having your secondaries in by mid-August should be just fine.

Just my 2 cents.🙂

 

[sunnysnow7]

Is it ok to turn in secondaries before letters of recs are complete?

 

[flip26]

Agreed. I think some people are confusing primaries with secondaries here. I mean, its late July and there are still plenty of schools that havent even sent out secondaries yet. being complete in august is still fine. I mean, it might be the difference between a sept. and oct. interview or something, no biggie

I know several people who had September interviews last year and had multiple offers of admission on October 15.

The value of early interviews and early notification are huge. Very liberating, and also allows you to significantly trim your later interviews to a manageable few...it can save a ton of money in travel expenses, not to mention a load of stress, too.

 

[chessknt]

Well some of us dont have control over when we get to be compelte because the damn schools wont send us their secondaries (ie Georgetown, tulane, and tufts atm)

 

[flip26]

Is it ok to turn in secondaries before letters of recs are complete?

Yes. In fact, some schools don't even ask for the LORs until after interviews, so make sure you know what each school wants...in other words, don't send LORs to a school until they ask for them, and conversely, go ahead and get your secondaries in ASAP...

 

[flip26]

Well some of us dont have control over when we get to be compelte because the damn schools wont send us their secondaries (ie Georgetown, tulane, and tufts atm)

Then you have no worries on those schools, right? "Late vs early" is relative to the other applicants - if you are not complete at a school until September, and that school has been sending out interview invites since June, you may be on the wrong side of the bell curve...

Have you listened to the podcasts put out by Pritzker last year? On one of them, the magnitude of late vs early and how it affected one's chances at this particular school was spelled out something like this: early applicants had about a 1 in 8 chance at getting an interview...late applicants had about a 1 in 100 chance of getting an interview...now you tell me if being early matters there or not?

 

[bUBBA gUMP]

Well some of us don’t have control over when we get to be complete because the damn schools wont send us their secondaries (i.e. Georgetown, tulane, and tufts atm)

I second that emotion - and I’d add that many of us work full time and are therefore at a disadvantage. no complaining here...simply sayin' that those who are able to sit in front of the pc all day pondering essay prose may be able to have gotten 'er done 6/24, but not if we have other responsibilities.

p.s. don't kill the non-trad🙂

 

[scottyT]

...Have you listened to the podcasts put out by Pritzker last year? On one of them, the magnitude of late vs early and how it affected one's chances at this particular school was spelled out something like this: early applicants had about a 1 in 8 chance at getting an interview...late applicants had about a 1 in 100 chance of getting an interview...now you tell me if being early matters there or not?

Correlation, not necessarily causation.

We have to acknowledge that early applicants are more likely to be type-A pre-meds who are on top of their s***, have good numbers and activities, and are more likely to get an interview regardless of when they apply. I get what you're saying, but maybe the early pool is, on average, more qualified than the later pool.

I've never heard about these podcasts. Mind sharing a link with the rest of us?

 

[rockydoc]

I know several people who had September interviews last year and had multiple offers of admission on October 15.

The value of early interviews and early notification are huge. Very liberating, and also allows you to significantly trim your later interviews to a manageable few...it can save a ton of money in travel expenses, not to mention a load of stress, too.

I agree, that would be absolutely ideal...and everyone hopes for that....but also remember that is also relative to each person....if your first interview is in Oct. vs Sept. and you get an acceptance notice in late Oct. or early Nov. then you can still cut down on your subsequent interviews just as someone you interviewed in Sept. and was accepted in mid-Oct could....its really just the diff. of a month...not the end of the world...might not be ideal though

Plus, if you're a good applicant, being complete in Aug may still put you in the sept. slot for interviews anyways at certain schools...i've seen this happen

 

[flip26]

Correlation, not necessarily causation.

We have to acknowledge that early applicants are more likely to be type-A pre-meds who are on top of their s***, have good numbers and activities, and are more likely to get an interview regardless of when they apply. I get what you're saying, but maybe the early pool is, on average, more qualified than the later pool.

I've never heard about these podcasts. Mind sharing a link with the rest of us?

Not really - IIRC, they said it was not a matter of the quality of the applicants, but a matter of when they were complete and considered for interviews...by November, they have already interviewed more than enough applicants to fill the class and have offered admission or interview invites to more than enough people...later applicants had a much higher hurdle to jump over than if they had applied earlier in the cycle...the "bar" for interview invites and offers of admission get raised as time moves on...

Search for it...some kid who goes to Pritzker spearheaded the podcasts...his screen name is his real name spelled backwards (something like ben ferguson)...

 

[chessknt]

Then you have no worries on those schools, right? "Late vs early" is relative to the other applicants - if you are not complete at a school until September, and that school has been sending out interview invites since June, you may be on the wrong side of the bell curve...

Have you listened to the podcasts put out by Pritzker last year? On one of them, the magnitude of late vs early and how it affected one's chances at this particular school was spelled out something like this: early applicants had about a 1 in 8 chance at getting an interview...late applicants had about a 1 in 100 chance of getting an interview...now you tell me if being early matters there or not?

People have already submitted to the schools I mentioned. I have already drafted their essays to completion and am just waiting for them to send me an email inviting me to complete their secondary while all of the other people who got that email a week ago are ahead of me by the virtue that I am being unfairly delayed by something that I have no control over.

 

[flip26]

People have already submitted to the schools I mentioned. I have already drafted their essays to completion and am just waiting for them to send me an email inviting me to complete their secondary while all of the other people who got that email a week ago are ahead of me by the virtue that I am being unfairly delayed by something that I have no control over.

Then in that case, you are in good shape.

How are you being "unfairly delayed by something I have no control over?" LORs?

 

[chessknt]

Then in that case, you are in good shape.

How are you being "unfairly delayed by something I have no control over?" LORs?

...........

The schools have not sent me their secondary invites, but have sent them to other people=unfair delay out of my control.

 

[Vihsadas]

The problem is that anecdotal evidence cannot be generalized. Just because Pritzker operates one way does not mean that most schools operate that way.
As I said before, the first day that primaries were released to any school was June 24th. So if being complete by early/mid August is late, then that means you really only have 1 month to be early.

The other problem is that its entirely school dependent. Many schools haven't even sent secondaries yet, and some schools may not even start looking at them until August (cite the other thread with the M3 who sits on an admissions committee). Just chill. Get your apps in as fast as you can, and try and be complete by mid-August.

 

[bozz]

Yeah it's annoying being delayed by LORs.. I'm almost done with submitting secondaries, and here I am waiting to be complete.

 

[SN2ed]

I agree with the notion that finishing your secondaries by August or early August is good. Now, if you are just submitting your primary for approval in August, then not so good.

 

[ar2388]

i am also waiting for LOR's....my last recommender is (hopefully) submitting his this week but ive no idea of the status of my committee letter...

 

[flip26]

The problem is that anecdotal evidence cannot be generalized. Just because Pritzker operates one way does not mean that most schools operate that way.
As I said before, the first day that primaries were released to any school was June 24th. So if being complete by early/mid August is late, then that means you really only have 1 month to be early.

The other problem is that its entirely school dependent. Many schools haven't even sent secondaries yet, and some schools may not even start looking at them until August (cite the other thread with the M3 who sits on an admissions committee). Just chill. Get your apps in as fast as you can, and try and be complete by mid-August.

Pritzker is the only school that has been so explicit in describing how much being late hurts an applicant in numerical terms, but all rolling admissions schools say pretty much the same thing on this topic - the earlier, the better. Why do people want to bury their heads in the sand over this? The later you submit secondaries (the later relative to when an individual school first released secondaries), the steeper the hill...

I agree with something you wrote - you really do only have about one month or so to be "early" and in the first big wave of applications and completed secondaries. I read the stats somewhere, but you might be surprised at how many people are complete relatively "early." Can't put my hands on it, but it is something like 25 percent of all applicants...

Whatever...believe what you want to believe about all of this, but being "average" when it comes to med school app completion is risky...being "late" is deadly...as far as I am concerned, if you aren't early, you are late...

 

[bozz]

Most people I know from school.. even high achieving students w/ great scores are just getting started on their personal statements. SDN honestly seems like a whole different world. I've seen maybe 5 people on SDN who are complete at 1 or more schools at this point.

 

[p30doc]

Most people I know from school.. even high achieving students w/ great scores are just getting started on their personal statements. SDN honestly seems like a whole different world. I've seen maybe 5 people on SDN who are complete at 1 or more schools at this point.

SDN is a different world, but perhaps a world where its occupants have a better chance of getting into med school. I am complete at least 7 schools, they have sent me emails notifying me, out of the 30 secondaries I have currently submitted.

 

[dtepper]

Question: Waiting on my LOR (which should be done in 1 - 2 weeks) committee letter... I have submitted 8 or so secondaries (mdapps it). When my LOR is submitted and my secondaries are complete, will I be considered early, average, or late? I was originally under the impression that early august -> mid august is early .. anything past is starting to get into avg territory, and later is late. Is this right?

 

[hopefuldoc87]

i should be complete at five of my schools by friday. i'm just waiting for my pre-med committee to upload the committee letter to VE, and they said they should by the end of this week...so hopefully by then I'll be complete.

 

[Vihsadas]

Pritzker is the only school that has been so explicit in describing how much being late hurts an applicant in numerical terms, but all rolling admissions schools say pretty much the same thing on this topic - the earlier, the better. Why do people want to bury their heads in the sand over this? The later you submit secondaries (the later relative to when an individual school first released secondaries), the steeper the hill...

I agree with something you wrote - you really do only have about one month or so to be "early" and in the first big wave of applications and completed secondaries. I read the stats somewhere, but you might be surprised at how many people are complete relatively "early." Can't put my hands on it, but it is something like 25 percent of all applicants...

Whatever...believe what you want to believe about all of this, but being "average" when it comes to med school app completion is risky...being "late" is deadly...as far as I am concerned, if you aren't early, you are late...

Noone is burying their head in the sand. It's well known that an earlier app is extremely important. The main issue is that the wording and tone of your posts seem to indicate that being complete in August could be very detrimental to your app. I disagree. Is July better? Sure.

 

[sux2bu09]

lol by sdn standards it feels like it would be late......but by average student standards its probably on time

 

[hopefuldoc87]

lol by sdn standards it feels like it would be late......but by average student standards its probably on time

you think that those that frequent SDN in general have better rates of acceptances than someone who has never been on SDN???

wouldn't that be an interesting study. 😀

 

[p30doc]

you think that those that frequent SDN in general have better rates of acceptances than someone who has never been on SDN???

wouldn't that be an interesting study. 😀

I think it is true that SDN has higher acceptance rates than the non-SDN population. Those who frequent SDN are likely to be better 'informed' than those who don't frequent SDN. At the same time those who frequent SDN are most likely the type of people who are competitive and on top of their stuff in general and *might* have higher stats as a result. There might be a correlation between SDN and rate of acceptance, but SDN doesn't necessary lead to that higher rate. Someone needs to make this their undergrad independent research project.

 

[hopefuldoc87]

i Think It Is True That Sdn Has Higher Acceptance Rates Than The Non-sdn Population. Those Who Frequent Sdn Are Likely To Be Better 'informed' Than Those Who Don't Frequent Sdn. At The Same Time Those Who Frequent Sdn Are Most Likely The Type Of People Who Are Competitive And On Top Of Their Stuff In General And *might* Have Higher Stats As A Result. There Might Be A Correlation Between Sdn And Rate Of Acceptance, But Sdn Doesn't Necessary Lead To That Higher Rate. Someone Needs To Make This Their Undergrad Independent Research Project.

Shotty!

 

[greg1184]

August is certainly not "early" and is arguably not very "good" either.

August = not early, not terribly late, thus not so good, either...

Being COMPLETE in August is certainly early considering most schools begin interviews in september.

I was complete at the end of august and got admitted the first day a school can accept: October 15.

 

[hopefuldoc87]

Being COMPLETE in August is certainly early considering most schools begin interviews in september.

I was complete at the end of august and got admitted the first day a school can accept: October 15.

some schools i've heard start interviewing in august. I guess for those select schools, being complete in august would put you in a disadvantage in SDN standards, but its probably not even much of a slight disadvantage to the real world standards, as those complete in august would be interviewing in sept.

 

[harposnarpo]

Being COMPLETE in August is certainly early considering most schools begin interviews in september.

I was complete at the end of august and got admitted the first day a school can accept: October 15.

Thanks for posting, this made my day. I'm submitting my app this evening, and getting LORs and writing secondaries while waiting for verification. Should be complete around the same time as you were if all goes according to plan.

And Miami's high on my list.

 

[flip26]

Noone is burying their head in the sand. It's well known that an earlier app is extremely important. The main issue is that the wording and tone of your posts seem to indicate that being complete in August could be very detrimental to your app. I disagree. Is July better? Sure.

Again, you agree with me. July is better than August. June is better than July. August is better than September. And June/July is way better than September. Being complete in August for any applicant who could have been complete in late June or by mid July with a little more planning and effort does seem detrimental to that applicant's chances - you don't agree? Or do you really think it doesn't matter?

And it is questionable how "well known" it is that early is better - there are plenty of people posting on SDN (where we all assume this is known) who are asking about getting their primary in "soon" and asking for LORs...in late July!

People speak of things "beyond their control" like LORs. Sorry, but you had "control" over this - you could have asked for LORs earlier, for instance, and you could have asked for more than you needed in case some fell through.

People getting screwed by late committee letters is another thing, though. These schools that don't get committee letters done until mid summer are screwing their students royally. But to the extent that the committee letter is delayed because the student failed to get all the necessary materials to the committee on time (LORs, etc) is really the fault of the student...