Does Every Applicant Get a Secondary?

[NickOICU812]

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I've never heard of this, but I spoke on the phone with two different schools and they both do it. Everyone who applies gets a secondary. What purpose does sending out that many requests for secondaries have other than to make money off the fee? How many applications get thrown in the garbage? This is a really disturbing thought. 😡
-Nick

 

[deuce924]

Some schools send out unscreened secondaries, some don't. It is just something you have to deal with while applying.

 

[shadowclaws]

Its usually listed on the msar which schools screen and which school send to everyone.

 

[Catalystik]

What purpose does sending out that many requests for secondaries have other than to make money off the fee? How many applications get thrown in the garbage? This is a really disturbing thought. 😡
-Nick

Consider the fees a nondeductible donation that pays the salaries of the admission staff.

 

[NickOICU812]

This is quite discouraging. Is there anyway to find out how many secondaries each school receives without calling each one individually?

 

[MassTransport]

For the non-screener schools, # of secondaries received roughly equals # of applicants. I don't see how it can be discouraging, you aren't made any less competitive because of this.

 

[njmed]

My primary application is still on line to be reviewed. I got 6 secondaries last week. My question is, whether the med schools (which we select in the primary) can see our primary application, before even it is verified ?.

 

[MassTransport]

Some schools will receive word that you're applying to them before your application's verified. These schools are non-screeners. I believe they get your name and address but not your complete application.

 

[njmed]

I agree. But If you send the completed secondaries before primary is verified, what happens to the secondaries that you sent ?. Will the med schools wait till the primary is verified ?. I heard about interview invites, even before the primary is verified. In that case, I think the med schools will be able to see the whole primary. Please clarify

 

[LifetimeDoc]

I've never heard of this, but I spoke on the phone with two different schools and they both do it. Everyone who applies gets a secondary. What purpose does sending out that many requests for secondaries have other than to make money off the fee? How many applications get thrown in the garbage? This is a really disturbing thought. 😡
-Nick

DING! You got it! They do it to make money, simple...period...end of story.

Some schools do screen out those who would have a snowball's chance in hell of ever getting in, but they send out way more secondaries (and require lots of $ for the privilege of sending them in) than they could possibly seriously entertain for an interview. Basically, filter the apps for exceedingly low GPAs and MCAT scores, then send out money-making secondaries to the bulk of them. They'll end up filtering them again, after they received your money, and auto-rejecting another batch before seriously looking at the applications.