Does submitting late especially hurt ORMs?

[zaneee20000]

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I'm a mid stats ORM applicant (3.8 cpa and 3.7sgpa) taking the mcat in July with an expected score around 510. If i submit my secondaries all in August will I be at a significant disadvantage compared to those of my demographic who applied in June and July? I'm especially worried because schools like Tulane would be a perfect fit based on my stats but they seem to have a fast application cycle. When I look on Admit, it seems like most people with my stats who were accepted, submitted their applications in July.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

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Submitting in August isn't what will put your application at a disadvantage. Mission fit is the key, and since we know nothing about your application profile, your file could be passed over despite your timing and your metrics.

Sure, I wouldn't wait until September. But if Tulane is a "rocket docket" when processing applications, you just need to make it work.

Applicants who submit early generally have high metrics too. As the cycle proceeds, the metrics of those applicants trends downward, so mission fit is absolutely essential to your chances.

 

[Goro]

Applications are also not processed in the order in which they are received.

In general, submitting late is not good for any applicant, except perhaps for those diamonds in the rough, and people who especially fit the mission of the school, like in state residents of a state school

 

[duckyt]

Applications are also not processed in the order in which they are received.

In general, submitting late is not good for any applicant, except perhaps for those diamonds in the rough, and people who especially fit the mission of the school, like in state residents of a state school

Hello Goro! Is submitting the primary application tomorrow considered late? I thought all of June was early, but now it seems like I won't be verified until mid-August (looking at the tracker). Will that significantly hurt chances, or is that still on-time?

 

[Goro]

Hello Goro! Is submitting the primary application tomorrow considered late? I thought all of June was early, but now it seems like I won't be verified until mid-August (looking at the tracker). Will that significantly hurt chances,?

For Gawd 's sake, no! And no.

 

[duckyt]

For Gawd 's sake, no! And no.

Thanks for your quick response!! I was scared there for a moment. 🤣 Have a good day!

 

[willowedacorn]

For Gawd 's sake, no! And no.

But when you look like at schools like Michigan, the students that were verified in August had much lower odds than students verified in July.

 

[Goro]

But when you look like at schools like Michigan, the students that were verified in August had much lower odds than students verified in July.

Citation?
Does U MI start interviewing in July.

 

[willowedacorn]

I forgot the numbers but calculating the % matriculated by month revealed a big gap between July and Aug

 

[Med Ed]

I forgot the numbers but calculating the % matriculated by month revealed a big gap between July and Aug

Applications get progressively weaker as each cycle progresses. The August batch, for example, will contain people who take the MCAT in July and bomb it.

The applicants who are truly on the ball with stats and ECs are also the ones who tend to have their applications locked and loaded in June.

 

[willowedacorn]

Applications get progressively weaker as each cycle progresses. The August batch, for example, will contain people who take the MCAT in July and bomb it.

The applicants who are truly on the ball with stats and ECs are also the ones who tend to have their applications locked and loaded in June.

Interesting. So a strong app complete in August doesn’t really get hurt?

 

[Med Ed]

Interesting. So a strong app complete in August doesn’t really get hurt?

It can, depending on how a given school structures its screening process. A rolling review will advantage earlier applications because they are looked at when interview slots are still plentiful. As slots dwindle screeners usually become more judicious. But, if an August app is truly strong, it should still be competitive despite being submitted later than most.

All this is to say there are multiple variables at play.

 

[willowedacorn]

It can, depending on how a given school structures its screening process. A rolling review will advantage earlier applications because they are looked at when interview slots are still plentiful. As slots dwindle screeners usually become more judicious. But, if an August app is truly strong, it should still be competitive despite being submitted later than most.

All this is to say there are multiple variables at play.

Got it, I’ll be submitting tonight so hopefully it doesn’t hurt too much. Also, is this true?? Sourced is a Cleveland clinic professor.

 

[zaneee20000]

It can, depending on how a given school structures its screening process. A rolling review will advantage earlier applications because they are looked at when interview slots are still plentiful. As slots dwindle screeners usually become more judicious. But, if an August app is truly strong, it should still be competitive despite being submitted later than most.

All this is to say there are multiple variables at play.

Just curious--are you an adcom?
Also, If a relatively weaker applicant receives an interview because they applied early in a rolling admissions cycle, are they more likely to be rejected later when the committee starts making acceptance decisions? So does applying early mainly increase the chance of getting an interview, while acceptance still depends on how that applicant compares with everyone else who interviewed throughout the cycle?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Just curious--are you an adcom?
Also, If a relatively weaker applicant receives an interview because they applied early in a rolling admissions cycle, are they more likely to be rejected later when the committee starts making acceptance decisions? So does applying early mainly increase the chance of getting an interview, while acceptance still depends on how that applicant compares with everyone else who interviewed throughout the cycle?

"Relatively weaker" assumes metrics' weight in the process. We look for mission fit and our confidence in passing the curriculum. Mission fit, mission fit, mission fit.

Some schools will relegate all decisions to one time in February/March. Others will do rolling admissions (and perhaps waitlist a ton of people who don't have a strong mission fit).

 

[Goro]

Just curious--are you an adcom?
Also, If a relatively weaker applicant receives an interview because they applied early in a rolling admissions cycle, are they more likely to be rejected later when the committee starts making acceptance decisions? So does applying early mainly increase the chance of getting an interview, while acceptance still depends on how that applicant compares with everyone else who interviewed throughout the cycle?

Acceptance is 100% on the interviewee.

 

[willowedacorn]

Got it, I’ll be submitting tonight so hopefully it doesn’t hurt too much. Also, is this true?? Sourced is a Cleveland clinic professor.

Bumping (check post for image)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Got it, I’ll be submitting tonight so hopefully it doesn’t hurt too much. Also, is this true?? Sourced is a Cleveland clinic professor.

Source? Why would a Cleveland Clinic professor be interested in AMCAS processing?

 

[willowedacorn]

Source? Why would a Cleveland Clinic professor be interested in AMCAS processing?

Medical School Applications Surge 36% on First Day | Neil Mehta, MBBS, MS posted on the topic | LinkedIn

Last year the total number of medical school applications went up 5.3% compared to the prior year. The AMCAS applications for 2027 cycle just opened on May 28. I just heard that the number of first day applications went up 36% compared to first day of applications last year. This raises a...

www.linkedin.com

I think it’s because he has a role in admissions and a substantial increase would change the way everyone would have to screen/rank. If true, this is terrifying. 36% is crazy.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Medical School Applications Surge 36% on First Day | Neil Mehta, MBBS, MS posted on the topic | LinkedIn

Last year the total number of medical school applications went up 5.3% compared to the prior year. The AMCAS applications for 2027 cycle just opened on May 28. I just heard that the number of first day applications went up 36% compared to first day of applications last year. This raises a...

www.linkedin.com

I think it’s because he has a role in admissions and a substantial increase would change the way everyone would have to screen/rank. If true, this is terrifying. 36% is crazy.

For context: now I see the LinkedIn post. He has no official role in admissions, as far as I know.

He presented hearsay, "I just heard...".

What's more interesting to me is the trail of comments.

 

[Med Ed]

Just curious--are you an adcom?

I was until term limits forced me off. Of all the committees I have served on (some of them being quite awful), admissions will always be my favorite.

Also, If a relatively weaker applicant receives an interview because they applied early in a rolling admissions cycle, are they more likely to be rejected later when the committee starts making acceptance decisions? So does applying early mainly increase the chance of getting an interview, while acceptance still depends on how that applicant compares with everyone else who interviewed throughout the cycle?

The best way to get an answer to this question is to get a student seat on the admissions committee at your future medical school. There is no substitute for seeing how the sausage is made firsthand.

Overall admissions trends are clear: odds of matriculation increase with higher metrics and more ECs. But at the level of the individual applicant, with the decision being made by a committee of humans, the results can be quite idiosyncratic.

 

[willowedacorn]

For context: now I see the LinkedIn post. He has no official role in admissions, as far as I know.

He presented hearsay, "I just heard...".

What's more interesting to me is the trail of comments.

@Mr.Smile12 @Med Ed @LizzyM

Just bumping this, considering the delay in verification times compared to last year (per the verification tracker), do you believe that this cycle has significantly greater application volume than last year?

I understand the LinkedIn post on its own isn’t enough to go on, but it certainly feels that way, and it would be consistent with year on year increases in other professional programs like Law.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

@Mr.Smile12 @Med Ed @LizzyM

Just bumping this, considering the delay in verification times compared to last year (per the verification tracker), do you believe that this cycle has significantly greater application volume than last year?

I understand the LinkedIn post on its own isn’t enough to go on, but it certainly feels that way, and it would be consistent with year on year increases in other professional programs like Law.

I'm following up to confirm a memo from AMCAS notes the spike. Similarly, I also report that AADSAS has also reported a spike upwards. We're not sure exactly what this means since it runs contrary to the perceived negative of OB3 loan caps going fully into effect.

We think it may be the effect of AI tools making it easier for applicants to polish their application materials and submit earlier. The delay in processing is also complicated by an issue with Parchment early in the process.

 

[LizzyM]

We won't know until November when AAMC releases its admissions report in conjunction with its annual meeting. Until then, we won't know if there is a total increase or merely a left shift with little to no change in the total.

Being early doesn't automatically mean you will be reviewed ahead of better applicants who submitted slightly later. We can easily sort and skim applications by zip code, MCAT, sGPA, or some other variables and prioritize some applications over others. It is not "first in, first out".

 

[willowedacorn]

We won't know until November when AAMC releases its admissions report in conjunction with its annual meeting. Until then, we won't know if there is a total increase or merely a left shift with little to no change in the total.

Being early doesn't automatically mean you will be reviewed ahead of better applicants who submitted slightly later. We can easily sort and skim applications by zip code, MCAT, sGPA, or some other variables and prioritize some applications over others. It is not "first in, first out".

I submitted June 24th and expected to be okay but given the delay in verification might end up late. Will schools slow down their review/interview rate if they are unsure whether this will be a high volume cycle?

 

[LizzyM]

Here's the thing.... Most schools will not start interviewing until August. Many start in September. Those with experience know that inviting applicants to select interview slots more than 3-4 weeks in advance is fraught with problems because some applicants will try to reschedule because they didn't know in July that they'd have an important obligation in November. Consequently, applications might be reviewed in July but slated to receive an interview invite (usually with a score of so many points) in September for an October date but if better applicants come along before an invitation is extended to that applicant, then you might get bumped for a later, but stronger, applicant. Some people do get those July and August interview invites for the first possible date but those folks can be "special" applicants that the school is particularly interested in recruiting.