DO timeline

[listener23]

I understand that DO has longer cycles so what dates are considered:

1. Early
2. Late
3. Don't even bother applying

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[zachdwphoto]

i would like to know this too

 

[gocougs339]

Early, Late, and Don't Bother are going to vary depending on which schools you're applying to and your stats. The better your stats are and your ties to a specific school or the area around the school are, the later you can apply and still likely be offered an ii or a spot. Different schools send out secondaries and ii's at different times. I know CUSOM starts interviewing in August while other schools don't start until October. Obviously, early is applying as soon as possible or within a weeks of as soon as possible. Late is going to depend on your stats and links to the school/area. Don't even bother applying near primary or secondary deadlines.

In general, I'd say try to get interviews before Jan for the best shot of getting an acceptance if you are not going to apply early. That usually means having secondaries in by mid October and primaries in by the end of September.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

For low stat applicants:
Early: June to Aug
Late: October
Don't bother: Dec

For high stat applicants:
Early: June to Sept
Late: Dec
Don't bother: Deadline

 

[StarFall]

For low stat applicants:
Early: June to Aug
Late: October
Don't bother: Dec

For high stat applicants:
Early: June to Sept
Late: Dec
Don't bother: Deadline

Post MD timeline too please.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

For low stat applicants:
Early: June to Aug
Late: October
Don't bother: Dec

For high stat applicants:
Early: June to Sept
Late: Dec
Don't bother: Deadline

I would second this

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Early, Late, and Don't Bother are going to vary depending on which schools you're applying to and your stats. The better your stats are and your ties to a specific school or the area around the school are, the later you can apply and still likely be offered an ii or a spot. Different schools send out secondaries and ii's at different times. I know CUSOM starts interviewing in August while other schools don't start until October. Obviously, early is applying as soon as possible or within a weeks of as soon as possible. Late is going to depend on your stats and links to the school/area. Don't even bother applying near primary or secondary deadlines.

In general, I'd say try to get interviews before Jan for the best shot of getting an acceptance if you are not going to apply early. That usually means having secondaries in by mid October and primaries in by the end of September.

Ugh that kind of stinks a little bit... I am definitely interested in CUSOM, but I know there are a few more higher on my list (some of the older schools). It is going to be challenging gauging where to interview at (if I am even lucky enough to get interviews). I have enough money for maybe 3 flights. One is reserved for PCOM, I will hold that money until like February most likely. But I dont know about the other two... if I get the interview invite to CUSOM, should I hold off for the possibility of older or more established schools to be interested in me in October (such as UNECOM, NOVA, Rowan), or should I take the opportunity CUSOM has given... that is my internal dilemma. I know there is going to be some really hard decisions to make soon...

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Post MD timeline too please.

Early: june
Late: aug
Dont bother: mid sept

Keep in mind this is a primary submission timeline

 

[Dr Turkelton]

Some DO schools start accepting people in September, seems it's helpful to apply as early as possible (ie june) to those schools.

 

[gocougs339]

Ugh that kind of stinks a little bit... I am definitely interested in CUSOM, but I know there are a few more higher on my list (some of the older schools). It is going to be challenging gauging where to interview at (if I am even lucky enough to get interviews). I have enough money for maybe 3 flights. One is reserved for PCOM, I will hold that money until like February most likely. But I dont know about the other two... if I get the interview invite to CUSOM, should I hold off for the possibility of older or more established schools to be interested in me in October (such as UNECOM, NOVA, Rowan), or should I take the opportunity CUSOM has given... that is my internal dilemma. I know there is going to be some really hard decisions to make soon...

Honestly, I'd interview at the schools that give me ii's first and check SDN to see if you're in one of the first few interview groups. From personal experience, I can say that if you are in the first couple of groups of interviews at a school your odds of getting in are great. By the time ii's go out, most schools have a big stack of secondaries already and interview applicants they prefer right away. If they are inviting you to an early interview, chances are they really like you.

 

[radian313]

This may be a stupid question, but does having in your stuff early with a pending MCAT put you at any sort of "advantage".....and thus keeping in touch with the school in the mean time?

 

[Goro]

At least for my school:

Early is June-November
moderately late is Dec
late is Jan 1 and beyond. At this point, we start rationing seats

Our rough turn-around time is six weeks from receipt of secondary to II.

I understand that DO has longer cycles so what dates are considered:

1. Early
2. Late
3. Don't even bother applying

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

At least for my school:

Early is June-November
moderately late is Dec
late is Jan 1 and beyond. At this point, we start rationing seats

Our rough turn-around time is six weeks from receipt of secondary to II.

Do you feel that early applications and interviews lead to a higher chance of being accepted? Like do you think that a student who interviews in September has a statistically higher chance than one who interviews in say October?

 

[shim0shim]

This may be a stupid question, but does having in your stuff early with a pending MCAT put you at any sort of "advantage".....and thus keeping in touch with the school in the mean time?

I am wondering the same thing

 

[Goro]

Yup. There's a feeling that "if you don't take them now, they'll go somewhere else". I understand the logic, but if there's something wrong with a candidate, I don't think we should take a flawed candidate. Our wily old Admissions Dean just thinks about filling seats, because he doesn't has to teach these kids.

But Sept vs Oct, odds are the same, even for Sept vs Dec. Now, Sept vs Feb? Then the odds start going down, because we're filling up the class by then.

Do you feel that early applications and interviews lead to a higher chance of being accepted? Like do you think that a student who interviews in September has a statistically higher chance than one who interviews in say October?

 

[LongTimeLurk]

Ugh that kind of stinks a little bit... I am definitely interested in CUSOM, but I know there are a few more higher on my list (some of the older schools). It is going to be challenging gauging where to interview at (if I am even lucky enough to get interviews). I have enough money for maybe 3 flights. One is reserved for PCOM, I will hold that money until like February most likely. But I dont know about the other two... if I get the interview invite to CUSOM, should I hold off for the possibility of older or more established schools to be interested in me in October (such as UNECOM, NOVA, Rowan), or should I take the opportunity CUSOM has given... that is my internal dilemma. I know there is going to be some really hard decisions to make soon...

Go to all interviews until you get accepted.

 

[ArtOfWar]

This may be a stupid question, but does having in your stuff early with a pending MCAT put you at any sort of "advantage".....and thus keeping in touch with the school in the mean time?

I am wondering the same thing

Yes there is an advantage. You won't have to wait for your application to be verified and can submit immediately after you get your score in. The verification timeline is something that many people underestimate - I applied last cycle and submitted my primary in mid-july and waited nearly a month and a half to get verified. So do it, submit your app with the score pending. Though it is rare I heard some schools will send you a secondary while your MCAT is pending which can give you a bit of a leg up.

So submitting with a pending score gives you an advantage as an overall applicant but as to whether schools will think you are keeping in touch with them by submitting I don't think most schools look at your app until it is complete until everything is in - though I'm not on any adcoms so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Go to all interviews until you get accepted.

Money is tight my friend, I have a wife at home and bills.
I will be able to drive to I think 2-3 (within 8 hours drive), but the others I will have to fly. I only have enough for maybe 3 flights, and even then thats pushing it. Ironically, the schools I really want to attend are flying distance, so I will really be picking and choosing which ones I like more, even before attending the interviews. The ones I like more will get my money for a flight.

 

[LongTimeLurk]

Money is tight my friend, I have a wife at home and bills.
I will be able to drive to I think 2-3 (within 8 hours drive), but the others I will have to fly. I only have enough for maybe 3 flights, and even then thats pushing it. Ironically, the schools I really want to attend are flying distance, so I will really be picking and choosing which ones I like more, even before attending the interviews. The ones I like more will get my money for a flight.

I hear you and totally understand the concerns.

These costs are super small relative to total expense of medical school. It is worth it to put this on credit if possible. You do not want to save money for an interview that may not come and you definately do not want to pay for app fees again next year. Once you get your first acceptance, (you were saying CUSOM is a safety - they start interviewing early if I recall correctly), then definately be super selective about where to attend and save that dinero. Good luck buddy.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I hear you and totally understand the concerns.

These costs are super small relative to total expense of medical school. It is worth it to put this on credit if possible. You do not want to save money for an interview that may not come and you definately do not want to pay for app fees again next year. Once you get your first acceptance, (you were saying CUSOM is a safety - they start interviewing early if I recall correctly), then definately be super selective about where to attend and save that dinero. Good luck buddy.

Likely not possible on credit either... we are pretty maxed out I am afraid. Even the 2k I have now is from my wife's grad plus loan.
I get you though, I suppose it is better to have an acceptance in hand but it may not have been your original #1, then have nothing and sit waiting. I suppose only time will tell.

 

[ArtOfWar]

Likely not possible on credit either... we are pretty maxed out I am afraid. Even the 2k I have now is from my wife's grad plus loan.
I get you though, I suppose it is better to have an acceptance in hand but it may not have been your original #1, then have nothing and sit waiting. I suppose only time will tell.

My advice would be to stagger your interviews as much as possible. Take your top choice school interviews ASAP for the others don't schedule the interview until Jan/Feb. If you are lucky enough to get an acceptance from a top choice then you can cancel the other interviews.

 

[WesternRedCedar]

Nope. Your app isn't complete until all items are in, an incomplete app is the same as no app.

This may be a stupid question, but does having in your stuff early with a pending MCAT put you at any sort of "advantage".....and thus keeping in touch with the school in the mean time?

 

[danny89]

Nope. Your app isn't complete until all items are in, an incomplete app is the same as no app.

Unless you already have an MCAT score on file with that "pending MCAT." Some schools will not make a decision until your new score comes in, while some make a decision on the spot.

 

[Sean Lee]

For low stat applicants:
Early: June to Aug
Late: October
Don't bother: Dec

For high stat applicants:
Early: June to Sept
Late: Dec
Don't bother: Deadline

If I submit primary early July, I am very early, right? And my stats are good for DO Schools.

 

[dial1010usa]

For low stat applicants: what is low? 3.1? 3.2?3.3? and MCAT 26?
Early: June to Aug
Late: October
Don't bother: Dec

For high stat applicants: what is high? 3.5?3.6? and MCAT 32? I'm just curious.
Early: June to Sept
Late: Dec
Don't bother: Deadline

 

[deleted436726]

For low stat applicants: what is low? 3.1? 3.2?3.3? and MCAT 26?
Early: June to Aug
Late: October
Don't bother: Dec

For high stat applicants: what is high? 3.5?3.6? and MCAT 32? I'm just curious.
Early: June to Sept
Late: Dec
Don't bother: Deadline

As someone with a GPA in the 3.2 range and a 32 MCAT, I would like to know as well 😛

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I understand that DO has longer cycles so what dates are considered:

1. Early
2. Late
3. Don't even bother applying

There are only estimates

Assuming an average applicant and submission of primary.

Early = June, July
On Time = August, September, October
Late = November
Don't bother = January

Assuming low stats, you should really have primary in before mid-September. Definitely don't bother in December.

Assuming high stats, you'll be okay up to mid-December. Don't bother if February.

 

[Sean Lee]

For low stat applicants:
Early: June to Aug
Late: October
Don't bother: Dec

For high stat applicants:
Early: June to Sept
Late: Dec
Don't bother: Deadline

Are these primary submission time?

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Money is tight my friend, I have a wife at home and bills.
I will be able to drive to I think 2-3 (within 8 hours drive), but the others I will have to fly. I only have enough for maybe 3 flights, and even then thats pushing it. Ironically, the schools I really want to attend are flying distance, so I will really be picking and choosing which ones I like more, even before attending the interviews. The ones I like more will get my money for a flight.

This is how good students sometimes get stuck at schools they don't want. They go to their first 2 or 3 interviews, get accepted and have no money for other schools they may like. Keep in mind deposits when doing your calculations. I was lucky enough that I got in on my 2nd interview. I would have only had money for 1 more interview. I barely made the deposits too. The first one I used the money I would have used with a 3rd interview, and for the second deposit I had to skip rent and pay my landlord that month in installments.