deadlines?

[pastryman]

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Hey guys, I don't think I have ever posted on here before. It is recommended to apply very early and everyone around here seems to have their primaries in already. I do not get my MCAT score until Aug 17, and my personal statement is being tweaked around. Plus, my letter writers are waiting for my MCAT to finish their letters so I will expect the application to be complete around September 1st. But, then I have to add on the processing times and slow postal service for transcript deliveries and what not. The deadline for the TMDSAS is Oct 1st for the schools I wish to get get into. Interestingly, interviews start August... Anyway, I was just wondering if I can expect an almost fair chance at medical school if I hit in pretty close to the application deadlines. Are deadlines really deadlines or are they too late for an above average (but not extraordinary student)? If they really aren't deadlines, dang I will be sad.

Oh and I just wanted to throw in a little PS question. How many extracurricular activities do people throw into their statement? I threw in 3 (research, shadowing, volunteering at a hospital). AND how much do people usually write on each activity? I wrote a 5 paragraph statement (no not the standard high school form; it was a coincidence) and each activity was about half a paragraph. I am just wondering if I should make my PS more about my activities or keep it about my personality and ideas of medicine.

Thanks to those who finished reading this mini-essay!

 

[Catalystik]

You will not have the same chance with an application that becomes complete late in the cycle, as many interview spots are already given away by then and the statistical chances of getting one of the remaining spots is obviously going to be lower. This effect will be moreso for the average applicant compared to a highly-competitive applicant. And is devastating for the below average applicant.

Maybe you could start prewriting your Secondary essays so your turn-around time is quicker at each school. Prompts will be available in the School Specific Forums in PreMed Allo.

The Personal Statement is supposed to be about your journey toward medicine and the experiences that led to your knowing it was right for you. There is another place for in-depth discussion of activities on the application and your PS should touch on them only in so far as they help to answer the primary question, without being overly repetitive. There is no one right way to write a PS.

Resources for ideas about the PS:
Depakote's PS tips: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=536199
PS guide: http://www.startmedicine.com/app/PersonalStatement.asp
Ryan Aycock's advice: http://www.scribd.com/doc/12077119/Getting-Into-Medical-School-Guide
Familyaerospace blog http://forums.studentdoctor.net/blog.php?b=3844

 

[pastryman]

Thanks! I hope I will be competitive enough but I am okay if I do not get in. One year off to build my resume and gain even more maturity isn't going to hurt. What is the rush, you know? My personal statement sounds in sync with your suggestion, thanks again.