early admission/decision: is it easier to get in this way?

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ghm

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hey guys. .i'm not really thinking of doing this. but, i was wondering, is it true that it's easier to get in if you apply "early decision/admission"? i read somewhere that schools accept 60 percent of these applicants
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I think you have to be a very competitive applicant to do this. If you are a competitive applicant, then it makes life easier for you. If not, it could just make you a very late applicant. But it seems like such a dreamy idea! <img border="0" alt="[Lovey]" title="" src="graemlins/lovey.gif" /> Now I want to do it!
 
in early decision program, you can apply only to one school. If you get accepted, you have to attend the school. I was thinking about it, too. That way school know that if they accept a student, he/she will attend. That may make them feel more secure about their decision.
 
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This is actually an idea I'm going to have to look more into if I have to reapply. Never even thought about this. The UC's don't offer this service, but USC does. Thanks for the post!
 
And if you get rejected under ED you still have time to apply. I will probably trying doing this. My GPA is not competetive but my ECs and motivation are. So I am not really sure what to do too.
 
wow. .i'm kinda surprised by some of your responses. is this really a plausible idea? i'm a reapplicant, too. if i wanted to take the Aug MCAT, can i still apply early decision?
 
now that i am desperate and am a reapplicant and seeing that other fellow sdn-ers are considering early decision, i am really going to look into the issue.

can anybody out there with experience early decisions share your knowledge, specifically: (info on USC particularly would be wonderful)

1. how competive do EDP have to be to be successful: ie: does MCAt have to be above 33?

2. also, i'm a reapplicant. . .can i retake the August MCAT: will they consider these scores?

3. how long does it take AMCAS to send your application to other schools if you don't get into your early decision.

4. also, if you don't get in early decision, will the school you applied as an early decision applicant defer you to the regular pool?

thanks for any info.
 
Can I apply to a few school as EDP since my stats are not really that competetive?
 
ask choker, he went through EDP hell at Cornell/Weill.

My 2 cents: Doing EDP is like betting on insurance in Blackjack...you really shouldn't do it unless you feel very lucky.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by RNA Ladder 2003:
•Can I apply to a few school as EDP since my stats are not really that competetive?•••••you can only apply to one. if you get in, you MUST matriculate there and can't apply anywhere else. :) EDP is generally for VERY competitive applicants. it is not like college early admission where you have a better chance with a low gpa and EDP.
 
yes. i went through EDP hell. don't do it.

please don't make me rewrite my experience with cornell. wait till the search option comes back on and look for it (i've posted it 1000 times).

long story short_ 2 interviewed EDP at cornell, 1 got in. i was the other one. i interviewed on sept 12, in NYC. totally messed up the interviews and was deferred in late sept and waitlisted in march. now im still waiting.

NEVER EVER EVER EVER APPLY EDP.

RESIST THAT SIEREN'S CALL!
 
Have to disagree. EDP was the only way to go for me. I wanted to go to this school, my stats are average and I feel like I nearly walked right in. I don't think EDP is difficult at all. I DO think it depends on the school. Some schools make it difficult to do EDP, but at my school nearly 100% that apply get in. Check it out some more for your school, don't just take one or two people's views.
 
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Just thought I'd add my input as someone who successfully applied through EDP. First of all, call the school and find out what the requirements are. Most schools have a minimum requirement for EDP that, if you satisfy, means you're already a relatively competitive applicant.

Secondly, I can't say how much of a relief it is to know you're in before the end of September. Zero responsibility during the 10 months before medical school!
 
I just contacted one of the schools with this question and will post as soon as I receive the reply.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by RNA Ladder 2003:
•Can I apply to a few school as EDP since my stats are not really that competetive?•••••If you apply EDP to your state school and you have their average numbers, I would venture to say you have a good shot. Some of my "average stat" (avg. as in accepted avg. stats) friends (3.5-3.6, 30) applied to state schools EDP and got in w/out a problem. The degree of "competitiveness" varies depending on the school.
 
hi guys. thanks for all the response. i, too, will try to get info from schools. (there's only one school that participates in EDP in my state. .that i know of. .and, i have been having a hard time getting a response from them. .but. .as soon as i hear anything, i'll let you guys know.)

i know there are risks for doing EDP, but, do you guys think that, in my case, the risk are minimized. .since. .

i'm a reapplicant planning on taking the Aug MCAT. so, could i apply EDP to a school with my old MCAT scores. and, then by Oct 1, if i still haven't gotten in. .i'll be able to apply to other schools with my new MCAT scores which should have just arrived. in my case, if i don't apply EDP, what do i have to gain? (as you can see, as the hours go by, i have become more serious about the EDP option)

by amcas rules, schools have to tell you whether or not you got in by Oct 1 through EDP, right? or, do some schools delay their responses?

also, do all schools put you in the regular pool if they do not accept you through EDP? or. .do some reject you?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by ghm:
•hi guys. thanks for all the response. i, too, will try to get info from schools. (there's only one school that participates in EDP in my state. .that i know of. .and, i have been having a hard time getting a response from them. .but. .as soon as i hear anything, i'll let you guys know.)

i know there are risks for doing EDP, but, do you guys think that, in my case, the risk are minimized. .since. .

i'm a reapplicant planning on taking the Aug MCAT. so, could i apply EDP to a school with my old MCAT scores. and, then by Oct 1, if i still haven't gotten in. .i'll be able to apply to other schools with my new MCAT scores which should have just arrived. in my case, if i don't apply EDP, what do i have to gain? (as you can see, as the hours go by, i have become more serious about the EDP option)

by amcas rules, schools have to tell you whether or not you got in by Oct 1 through EDP, right? or, do some schools delay their responses?

also, do all schools put you in the regular pool if they do not accept you through EDP? or. .do some reject you?•••••I am another successful edp applicalnt, and yes, it does depend on the school. I was informed by Oct 1 despite all the amcas nonsense going on then. I considered edp more of a "calculated" risk and made sure to get some informed advice from people at the school before I took the plunge.

The risk, of course, is that if you're rejected you are way behind in the application cycle. If I were a reapplicant, that would be unsettling to me.

As for whether it "minimizes" your risk, I'm not really sure I follow your logic. Retaking the MCAT in August increases your risk to one level, and then applying to edp seems to even further increase the risk. I don't think you should delude yourself that you would be "minimizing" risk.

The most important thing you should do is find out why the heck you were rejected so many times. If you go in not knowing why and praying to God that your MCAT goes up two or three points AND THEN apply edp, that would be particularly unwise IMHO.
 
I don't know about other schools and flat out rejections, but our school flips everyone over to standard admission if they don't immediately get in EDP...
 
Hairlessheart,

i think i shouldn't have said "minimize" my risk by being reapplicant.

you see, . . i am going to be a reapplicant. and, one of things i am going to improve is my MCAT. . .which i am planning to take Aug. since i will indicate on my AMCAS app that i will be taking the Aug MCAT, i am assuming that most schools will wait until Oct to review my application. (I'm guessing that Aug MCAT scores won't come out until late Sept/early Oct)

so, even if i don't apply EDP, my app will still be late to other schools b/c they would be waiting for my Aug MCAT.

so, i was thinking. . .while other schools waited for my new scores, i could apply EDP to one school with my old MCAT scores (and new extracurriculars i've been doing this year).

if my EDP school doesn't accept me, then i'll just go ahead and apply to a lot of schools with my new MCAT scores.

so, i was thinking. .with this logic (for my particular situation) . .i don't have much to lose if i EDP.

. . .does that make sense?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by ghm:
•Hairlessheart,

i think i shouldn't have said "minimize" my risk by being reapplicant.

you see, . . i am going to be a reapplicant. and, one of things i am going to improve is my MCAT. . .which i am planning to take Aug. since i will indicate on my AMCAS app that i will be taking the Aug MCAT, i am assuming that most schools will wait until Oct to review my application. (I'm guessing that Aug MCAT scores won't come out until late Sept/early Oct)

so, even if i don't apply EDP, my app will still be late to other schools b/c they would be waiting for my Aug MCAT.

so, i was thinking. . .while other schools waited for my new scores, i could apply EDP to one school with my old MCAT scores (and new extracurriculars i've been doing this year).

if my EDP school doesn't accept me, then i'll just go ahead and apply to a lot of schools with my new MCAT scores.

so, i was thinking. .with this logic (for my particular situation) . .i don't have much to lose if i EDP.

. . .does that make sense?•••••OK, I see your line of thiking. Please forgive me, I was up way too early in the morn.

Was your MCAT really that bad to begin with? Do you think that was your problem this year? I guess I'm wondering whether AMCAS will actually let you use one set of scores for EDP and another set if you get rejected. If so, I suppose it makes sense if your original MCAT is your weakness.

If they're really not what held you back, then I think it might be more advantageous to get an early start and get your app out to a bunch of schools.

Just as a sidenote/speculation...if you pick a school for EDP just because they're easy to get into and not because they're your true "first choice," they might see right through you. But if have nothing to lose...
 
I personally think that ghm's EDP idea is a good one and I was considering the same thing, except ghm's mcat IS good and mine is not. Anyway, the only problem with the plan is this: If you do EDP, you CANNOT even file your amcas until October, so your applications won't be complete until you send back all of your secondaries (this could happen in Nov/Dec). BUT, if you don't do EDP and take the August mcat, you can file your amcas on June 1st and it will be processed, and you can get those secondaries in by July and be complete the very day your mcat scorers come in (which I think is late October (like the 18th, not late sept).....so you are talking about losing a few months if you get rejected EDP.

This year, I filed my amcas Oct 3rd, was processed about 4-6 wks later, and sent in my secondaries in oct/nov/early dec. So I was not complete until then. Now I am suffering for my tardiness. So, if you don't have a VERY GOOD shot at getting in EDP, I reccomend you jyust get your stuff in early and apply the regular way.

Choker, is this correct? Were your applications complete very late in the process? Because it doesn't seem that you had very late interviews. Did you get your secondaries in the day after EDP was over or something? :confused:
 
I think EDP reqs depend on the school. I know baylor (where i was thinking of doign EDP and kicking myself now that i didn't) you need a 3.6 and a 33 to apply EDP. I do think that in some cases (ie. lamyers and others) it's a very good alternative. Check with the admissions office with any questions. If i had to do it over, i would've met with someone in the office, looked around first and REALLY showed them my interest, then applied EDP. I think that's a pretty good way to go about getting in, especially if you're borderline as far as stats go. --Trek
 
Ok unlike many of you I think I am like the only possible reapplicant who is not taking the MCAT again.

If i don't get in this year.

I AM DOING EARLY DECISION FOR PRITZKER.

I would have this year but I didn't know how badass the school was.
 
if you go through the regular decision process you can find out pretty early on about med school. i did everything as promptly as i could and was accepted in late october. thus i have been relaxed for about 1 month less than all the EDP acceptees.

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Kosmo:
•Just thought I'd add my input as someone who successfully applied through EDP. First of all, call the school and find out what the requirements are. Most schools have a minimum requirement for EDP that, if you satisfy, means you're already a relatively competitive applicant.

Secondly, I can't say how much of a relief it is to know you're in before the end of September. Zero responsibility during the 10 months before medical school!•••••
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Trek:
•I think EDP reqs depend on the school. I know baylor (where i was thinking of doign EDP and kicking myself now that i didn't) you need a 3.6 and a 33 to apply EDP. I do think that in some cases (ie. lamyers and others) it's a very good alternative. Check with the admissions office with any questions. If i had to do it over, i would've met with someone in the office, looked around first and REALLY showed them my interest, then applied EDP. I think that's a pretty good way to go about getting in, especially if you're borderline as far as stats go. --Trek•••••Yo Trek, what the dilly with Baylor? Is it really as hypercompetitive as some peeps say? I dunno, if it is, that doesn't seem to fit in with your laid back "non-gunning" mentality. I'm just going based on second hand accounts from friends, so I could be totally off. I would've applied but didn't think I stood much of a chance as an out of stater. Oh well.
 
hey guys,

i just wanted to tell you guys what i've gathered from talking to others about EDP these couple of days. i think most ppl say that it's way too risky, and many feel that it really hurts your chances of getting into med school if you're not admitted EDP. basically, i have decided not to do it.
 
I was just wondering if people had any statistics on what percentage of applicants who apply through EDP get accepted. I would think that not a lot of people apply like that. I was just trying to estimate my risks and whether it is worth to do. Do they still have to appoint you an interview? Plus you receive a reply by Oct 15th.
 
It really depends on which school you apply at. At my state school (KU) there were 36 EDP applicants, and 36 EDP acceptances offered last year. With odds like this it seems hard to go wrong! :)
 
yes, EDP is the way to go! I have known that i've been accepted since last October! school is so much easier and relaxing when you don't really care that much. At my school they took almost 100% of the EDP applicants also. I still have friend who are agonizingly waiting for a decision.

Go EDP! your life will be much easier depending on the school you get into. It sounds like Cornell is a good place NOT to do EDP, but the University of Kansas IS!

later
 
Maybe the stats are better for small state schools. I'm with Kirk. Our stats (USA) were 11/13 this year accepted, last year was 8/8 and the year before was 20/21. My friend almost went EDP and now regrets it as he is still waiting...
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by ghm:
•hey guys,

i just wanted to tell you guys what i've gathered from talking to others about EDP these couple of days. i think most ppl say that it's way too risky, and many feel that it really hurts your chances of getting into med school if you're not admitted EDP. basically, i have decided not to do it.•••••I am surprised that this thread even got to where it is now, because i have always thought that the risk of ED is too high and most people agree.

It is probably not fair to generalize every ED program. But before you apply, you should contact the admissions offices carefully and see if your chance is indeed significant higher if you apply ED. At the same time, ask what are the stats for other ED applicants.

If you ask any premed advisor, however, I guess that 99% of them would say "no" to applying ED simply because delaying your AMCAS filing is too great of a risk. People from regular application cycles do start getting in from Oct. 15 (Case Western, Baylor, etc. etc.) onward.

Lastly, since this has become an reapplicant thread. Have you thought about applying to McGill?

<a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010714" target="_blank">http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010714</a>

<a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=010516&p=2" target="_blank">http://forums.studentdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=010516&p=2</a>

The school is LCME-accredited (the link given on that thread can give more info on that). Plus, McGill does not generally interview Americans until after Christmas (and out-of-province applicants as well that time). It is NOT the same as SGU, Ross, RCSI, or Australian med schools.
 
RNA: My GPA is ~3.95 but I havn't taken the MCAT yet (tomorrow is the big day). I will be applying this cycle, hopefully EDP at KU. (They suggest having a 27+ on the MCAT and 3.5 GPA for EDP)
 
anyone know anything about EDP at umich?
 
Sorry for bumpin this up so late, but your 2 cents was well put, LK.

IMO, EDP is not a good route unless you fit all of the following description:

* Highly competitive application (GPA, MCAT, EC's, etc.).
* Cannot afford to spend lots of $ on application process.
* You absolutely know what school you want to go to (not "hmm I think EDP sounds good, which school would I like most?").

One irony about EDP is that if you are indeed a highly qualified applicant, then you stand a reasonable chance at getting scholarships/grants at some schools. If you apply EDP, the incentive for schools to create a financial aid package to attract you is gone.

Originally posted by LizardKing
ask choker, he went through EDP hell at Cornell/Weill.

My 2 cents: Doing EDP is like betting on insurance in Blackjack...you really shouldn't do it unless you feel very lucky.
Click to expand...
 
From what I gather from this post, it seems like the ONLY good thing EDP provides an applicant is the chance to know what school they're going to early. It's not like one's chances with EDP are that much better since if you were super qualified to begin with, you probaby would have been accepted with the regular pool also.

So... risk a late application and maybe bad financial aid... all for knowing a couple of months earlier? How many people DO apply EDP (total, for all med schools?)
 
well, can you decline an acceptance? If not, I would understand why finacial aid would be worse for EDP applicants. Schools already know that you have to enroll there that's why there is not reason for them to give you more money.
 
Originally posted by Spiderman [RNA Ladder 2003]
well, can you decline an acceptance? If not, I would understand why finacial aid would be worse for EDP applicants. Schools already know that you have to enroll there that's why there is not reason for them to give you more money.
Click to expand...

decline an acceptance? what do you think the premise of the EDP is?
 
I think EDP does significantly enhance your chance of being accepted to that one particular school. But even a two- or three-fold increase in acceptance rate over a meager baseline is small change in terms of the bigger picture. It's a calculated risk -- definitely one to be talked over with your pre-med advisor.

Originally posted by missmod
From what I gather from this post, it seems like the ONLY good thing EDP provides an applicant is the chance to know what school they're going to early. It's not like one's chances with EDP are that much better since if you were super qualified to begin with, you probaby would have been accepted with the regular pool also.

So... risk a late application and maybe bad financial aid... all for knowing a couple of months earlier? How many people DO apply EDP (total, for all med schools?)
Click to expand...
 
Nto sure what to do? Sometimes you really like a school, but then you visit and nope, not for me. So if you apply EDP without visiting, then you are stuck. If you aren't accpeted then your applications will be late..ughhhhhh:confused:

Any advice from MSTP students on EDP?
 
My understanding is that the success rates for EDP applicants are fairly low. Supposedly many schools who would consider you for regular admissions wouldn't look twice at you for EDP, since the applicant pool is much more competitive.
 
chica, empty your message box!
 
here's what i believe:

EDP will really help you out if you are a competitive applicant and you have your heart set one one school. if you show them that you want to be there, and if you have decent numbers... they want to ensure that you go there... hence the binding agreement. if, however, you are an applicant such as myself with not-so-stellar grades and mcats... you forego your opportunity to apply to a number of other schools while you wait on your EDP decision. this could be detrimental in the application process as you want to get your application out as soon as possible- critically important for an applicant with lower numbers. if you do not get into the EDP, then you are submitting your application very late into the game with stats that are dubious from the start. my recommendation would be to meet with someone from the EDP and discuss with them your chances if you apply there... if you can get a good word in with a couple of them, then that may be a feasible route. otherwise, i'd opt against it due to the fact that you would not get your application in until a few months from now.

peter
 
Well after reading thru some of the replies I am still not sure whether to apply thru early decision or not. Most of the "imnvitation to visit" this school seems to come thru official channels. Any ideas on how to get in to visit the school other than being enrolled in one of their programs?
Dumb question I know but any ideas.:confused:
 
Originally posted by 2badr
Well after reading thru some of the replies I am still not sure whether to apply thru early decision or not. Most of the "imnvitation to visit" this school seems to come thru official channels. Any ideas on how to get in to visit the school other than being enrolled in one of their programs?
Dumb question I know but any ideas.:confused:
Click to expand...

Not exactly sure what you are looking to do, but if you are interested in visiting a school to see what it's like before applying, just call the dean's office and ask to visit. I actually read something in a post last year about an applicant setting up a meeting with the dean-don't know if it's true though?

You could also see if there is an alumni from your undergrad there that would give you an unofficial visit.
 
Thanx Trix that is what I meant..sorry if it wasn't clear the first time.Thanx for the advice.I guess I was thinking that meeting with the dean seems like a bold step.I wonder if that is true-and if so how it turned out for him or her.
I will take your advice...:)
 
Does Creighton offer EDP?
 
bump.... I thought this would be a good time to start this thread again. I am still going back and forth on EDP. Any other thoughts from previous applicants?
 
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