Does it matter how long you take to get secondaries turned around??

[imnastywitit]

Hey, I have heard in the past that you are supposed to get your secondaries turned around as quickly as possible because, well, you look better if you send it out asap. It makes it seem like you really want the school, which is a good thing.

For me, however... I was verified on sept. 15th, so I've had all of my secondaries sitting in my inbox for a while... however I held off on doing them because I've been a bit busy... and plus my letters will not be sent to AAMCAS until this Thursday at the earliest. So I figured that it wouldn't be too bad if I finished them next weekend, since I believe they do not really look at your app until all materials are received.

However, was I wrong in this assumption? Am I going to look bad at schools because I've sat on their secondary for 20-28 days? The only one that said it HAS to be out within two weeks of receiving it was Miami, but that one I am finishing first...

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[NotSur]

Hey, I have heard in the past that you are supposed to get your secondaries turned around as quickly as possible because, well, you look better if you send it out asap. It makes it seem like you really want the school, which is a good thing.

For me, however... I was verified on sept. 15th, so I've had all of my secondaries sitting in my inbox for a while... however I held off on doing them because I've been a bit busy... and plus my letters will not be sent to AAMCAS until this Thursday at the earliest. So I figured that it wouldn't be too bad if I finished them next weekend, since I believe they do not really look at your app until all materials are received.

However, was I wrong in this assumption? Am I going to look bad at schools because I've sat on their secondary for 20-28 days? The only one that said it HAS to be out within two weeks of receiving it was Miami, but that one I am finishing first...

your turnaround time should be 2 weeks max. especially at this point of the cycle. seriously, what are you waiting for?

 

[schrizto]

Hey, I have heard in the past that you are supposed to get your secondaries turned around as quickly as possible because, well, you look better if you send it out asap. It makes it seem like you really want the school, which is a good thing.

Isn't it more than just indicating that you like the school in that you get your pick of interviews by submitting secondaries early, and thus an earlier interview means that you have a bigger chance for the spots they have remaining?

 

[imnastywitit]

your turnaround time should be 2 weeks max. especially at this point of the cycle. seriously, what are you waiting for?

Yes, but my LORS are not going to be sent to AAMC until next week. They won't look at my application until secondaries and LORS have been received, right?

Also, Seriously, I'm not waiting for anything. I've been a little busy with some stuff. This wasn't cuz of laziness....

 

[BlueElmo]

At this point, those secondaries should be turned around ASAP.

 

[jiggahova]

I designated about 25 schools on my amcas. When time came around for secondaries I ran out of money and only sent out about 15. After a few rejections I am starting to get nervous. Is it worth it to fill out the other 10 that have been sitting in my inbox for about a month? Or is it going to be an automatic rejection?

 

[NotAsking4Much]

If what you're asking is will schools look negatively upon you, no (except if some of them had deadlines). Schools have way more things to care about in your application than how many days you took to complete their app.

 

[schrizto]

Also, Seriously, I'm not waiting for anything. I've been a little busy with some stuff. This wasn't cuz of laziness....

If you are serious about medicine, applying to medical school should be a top priority. This is what you should be "busy" about, not whatever else you've been doing instead.

 

[Contrarian]

If you are serious about medicine, applying to medical school should be a top priority. This is what you should be "busy" about, not whatever else you've been doing instead.

this is the best excuse for blowing off studying for classes during the semester you are applying.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

If what you're asking is will schools look negatively upon you, no (except if some of them had deadlines). Schools have way more things to care about in your application than how many days you took to complete their app.

I think this is the only response that actually answered the question. Good job

 

[imnastywitit]

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[NotSur]

Yes, but my LORS are not going to be sent to AAMC until next week. They won't look at my application until secondaries and LORS have been received, right?

Also, Seriously, I'm not waiting for anything. I've been a little busy with some stuff. This wasn't cuz of laziness....

It takes time process your secondaries too. I'm not trying to be critical or uber-premed, I'm trying to give you my honest opinion. If I were you, I'd start trying to send them out today. Don't let them pile up. You want to give yourself enough time to do each application thoughtfully. The "2 weeks" rules is what we were taught at my undergrad. And now that I'm getting interviews, I'm noticing that they're from all the schools to which applied earliest even though my app wasn't complete for months after because of my MCAT. Anyways, I hope this helps.

 

[Food]

OP - stop being lazy. You're basically making the same mistake I made last year.

 

[imnastywitit]

OP - stop being lazy. You're basically making the same mistake I made last year.

eugh... sdn.....

i asked a question, not for life advice. 1/10 replies answered my question. ya'll guys need to take it easy...

last time i asked a question, the exact same thing happened....

 

[BlueElmo]

eugh... sdn.....

i asked a question, not for life advice. 1/10 replies answered my question. ya'll guys need to take it easy...

last time i asked a question, the exact same thing happened....

Yeah man, just turn them in really quick. It's for your own good. Good luck.

 

[JJMrK]

Supposedly some schools look at how long it takes you (MCW and UIC are rumored to). Some schools also have a deadline (usually 1 month from when you received it). The biggest problem though, is that the longer you wait the more interview spots they give away.

 

[SpaceDementia]

My guess is that it doesn't really matter at higher-ranked schools, but *might* matter at lower-ranked schools if they sense that you aren't interested. But that's a total guess. I think, however, that the far bigger key is the quality of the secondary. I do think you can redeem yourself if you send in an extremely polished secondary even if it's a fairly late return... and on the other hand, if you send it right away and it's not that great, they aren't going to be terribly impressed because it was a quick return.

 

[Food]

eugh... sdn.....

i asked a question, not for life advice. 1/10 replies answered my question. ya'll guys need to take it easy...

last time i asked a question, the exact same thing happened....

Sorry dude, those are the woes of SDN. It's tough to see the impact of certain things in the future...but from hindsight...I can tell you that it's worth doing things sooner rather than later. Now if only I could take my own advice.