Early Admission?

[millepora]

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I am definitely going to apply for early admission. As of now, I am planning to take my MCAT 5/28, and have my application in right after I get my MCAT score back (so I am guessing 7/1).

But, I realized that early admission does not end until 8/1. Is there any extra advantage to turn in your app on 7/1 compared to 7/29? I have always heard the earlier the better, but does it make any difference if you are still in the early cycle?

I was considering doing some extra volunteer work on my last month, if it made no difference.

 

[NotAndrew]

I am definitely going to apply for early admission. As of now, I am planning to take my MCAT 5/28, and have my application in right after I get my MCAT score back (so I am guessing 7/1).

But, I realized that early admission does not end until 8/1. Is there any extra advantage to turn in your app on 7/1 compared to 7/29? I have always heard the earlier the better, but does it make any difference if you are still in the early cycle?

I was considering doing some extra volunteer work on my last month, if it made no difference.

Do you mean early decision or does the school you are planning to attend have an early admissions program?

 

[Bacchus]

Unless you can guarentee that you will hit the MCAT out of the park, do not apply EDP. I wouldn't recommend EDP unless you have an MCAT score in hand. There are plenty of people that apply normally and have great stats -- EDP isn't a shoo-in and sometimes is too risky. I think the risk is too great for you without a definitive MCAT score.

Also, in the meantime between receiving your MCAT score and applying, get your AMCAS application verified. This will save you ample time since you will only need to add schools and not wait for the entire verification process.

 

[BlueElmo]

Have you taken practice tests? What are your scores?

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

Unless you can guarentee that you will hit the MCAT out of the park, do not apply EDP. I wouldn't recommend EDP unless you have an MCAT score in hand.

i second these comments. also, have you contacted the school and determined your competitiveness for EDP.

finally, if you're going early decision, then do it early! not right before the deadline for it.

 

[drizzt3117]

if you're only interested in one school (presumably a state school) then EDP isn't a bad idea if your stats are in line with those applicants that would normally be admitted. At my state school EDP applicants had a 75-90% acceptance rate.

 

[Shawnpremed]

Are you a CA resident? If you are, and are considering Early Decision, you might actually want to choose an out of state school, unless ur stats are high.
In any case, applying early (before Aug.) helps because of time needed for verification.

 

[millepora]

I am an NC resident. I am referencing early admissions, not early decision.

I average a 24 (out of 15 practice tests), which I know is considered a weak score, but I have been studying hard since June 2008. My goal is 27 by May. I figure though, unless the test is a fluke, if I had been studying a year for the test, a retake after two months would hardly make a difference. If I were to retake, I would take it a year later.

 

[NotAndrew]

I am an NC resident. I am referencing early decision, not early admission.

I average a 24 (out of 15 practice tests), which I know is considered a weak score, but I have been studying hard since June 2008. My goal is 27 by May. I figure though, unless the test is a fluke, if I had been studying a year for the test, a retake after two months would hardly make a difference. If I were to retake, I would take it a year later.

I would advise against EDP and apply to 30 schools for regular admission.

 

[Cadams1]

With a 24, you should look DO. You probably won't be able to do MD with it. Nothing wrong with a DO.

 

[millepora]

yes

 

[AdmiralChz]

I probably should have put this at the beginning of the thread (and forgive me for being blunt). I am not looking for advice of my how strong of applicant I am. I have already spent countless hours researching statistics (and yes I will apply to a ratio of DO schools). But I do feel I have a competitive chance if I can get a 27, because I am a minority, I have a 3.8 GPA, and I have strong amount of extracurriculars.

Whoops, I guess I used the right choice of words initially. I am referencing to early admissions (I had look it up), the vocabulary is just so similar...lol. So any advice on that is appreciated.

You won't be competitive - at all - with a 24 on your MCAT, especially for EDP. While a 27 is better, it still pales in comparison to what others will be applying with. URM or not, I have a hard time seeing any situation where you'd be accepted early with those stats. It's hard enough getting into med school in the first place, early decision makes takes it to the next level.

If you can't get above 30 above your MCAT, I would strongly discourage applying early - it will put you behind in ALL of your other applications and that is not really something you can afford with your stats.

By the way, are you talking about Early Decision Programs here, or something else? It's a little unclear...

 

[Shawnpremed]

I think he made it clear that it was an early admissions program. Either way, I'd postpone the MCAT til you hit about 30 on practice. I'm not sure if being a minority will excuse you from getting a 27. In the event you get rejected from that early admis. school, you risk becoming a re-applicant to them in the future..

 

[njbmd]

I am definitely going to apply for early admission. As of now, I am planning to take my MCAT 5/28, and have my application in right after I get my MCAT score back (so I am guessing 7/1).

But, I realized that early admission does not end until 8/1. Is there any extra advantage to turn in your app on 7/1 compared to 7/29? I have always heard the earlier the better, but does it make any difference if you are still in the early cycle?

I was considering doing some extra volunteer work on my last month, if it made no difference.

If you are not well above the admissions stats for a particular medical school, don't apply early decision. If your MCAT comes in lower than you expect, the apply with the rest of the applicant pool. July 1 is not early decision and is not particularly early for getting your application submitted.

 

[virusgirl]

I probably should have put this at the beginning of the thread (and forgive me for being blunt). I am not looking for advice of my how strong of applicant I am. I have already spent countless hours researching statistics (and yes I will apply to a ratio of DO schools). But I do feel I have a competitive chance if I can get a 27, because I am a minority, I have a 3.8 GPA, and I have strong amount of extracurriculars.

Whoops, I guess I used the right choice of words initially. I am referencing to early admissions (I had look it up), the vocabulary is just so similar...lol. So any advice on that is appreciated.

But perception of your application strength influences how people will answer your original question. It is difficult to assess whether applying early admissions on 7/1 vs. 7/29 will make any difference for you when some people question the strength of your application in general. It's good that you've spent time researching statistics, but NotAndrew and Cadams1 have made valid points. Granted, this is purely anecdotal, but the people I know who have been accepted through an early admissions process were highly competitive in every respect. If you want to apply early admissions, by all means go ahead -- but recognize that with a low MCAT score, you will face challenges, GPA and URM status notwithstanding.

 

[virusgirl]

I think it would help if we clarified what "early admissions" means. My understanding is that when an applicant applies early admissions, they apply very very early. As in, sophomore year early (this is what two of my friends did). This is not the same as EDP, or applying as early as possible within the normal pre-senior-year cycle.

 

[millepora]

d

 

[KeyzerSoze]

There's an entire thread about the misapplication of those tables. Suffice it to say that the numbers on that chart do not automatically translate into your chances. Of course, if your application is strong in other ways, it may be a good estimate.

 

[Spiker]

Basically Early Decision is for people with extremely high stats who wants to lock into their dream school asap

 

[TheMagicCookie]

I probably should have put this at the beginning of the thread (and forgive me for being blunt). I am not looking for advice of my how strong of applicant I am. I have already spent countless hours researching statistics (and yes I will apply to a ratio of DO schools). But I do feel I have a competitive chance if I can get a 27, because I am a minority, I have a 3.8 GPA, and I have strong amount of extracurriculars.

Whoops, I guess I used the right choice of words initially. I am referencing to early admissions (I had look it up), the vocabulary is just so similar...lol. So any advice on that is appreciated.

I may be the only one that thinks this and maybe it's because I'm tired...but it irritates me a little that you are banking on the fact that being a minority is going to give you an edge over another applicant (that may possibly even have a better mcat). I've never much agreed with the whole affirmative action thing.

People on this site have a lot of useful information and when a large population of them are telling you that a 24-27 won't cut it, you might be wise to consider it good advice.

 

[236056]

.

 

[NotAndrew]

People keep saying 24 because you said 24. However it is silly to speculate on your chances when the biggest factor in determining them is not available. The early admissions program is really just "if you apply early, you hear back early" and yes a month will make a difference. You should do the extra volunteer work anyway and send update letters to all schools. The acceptance grid on the AAMC website is misleading, and as Keyzer Soze said there are multiple threads about how misleading it is. Also if you start a thread about how something will affect your application, people will ask you about the rest of it and offer their advise. The reason we do this is because so many people(yourself included) are misinformed.

 

[Bacchus]

Seems most people still think I am referencing EDP...

I will define it,

Early Decision process- Is when you apply to one school, usually well before the regular time of applying. Sometime right out of HS. You have to be very strong academically, and they will save a slot for you during the time you plan to matriculate.

Early Admisssion (what I am planning to do)- Is an option that some schools have. If you turn in your application before 8/1, you will usually hear back a lot earlier than an applicant who applies beyond that point.
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I don't know why everyone keeps repeating 24, I have almost three months to improve 3 points. I think that is a goal that I can meet. As I stated above I think I would be a competitive applicant IF I got a 27. If still don't believe me, look at they statistics and see for yourself.

Not being a minority
http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm

Being a minority
http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt-raceeth.htm

According to AAMC, I have a 91 percent change of getting accepted if I get a 27, and have a 3.8 GPA. Even if I got a 24 (and made no progress in the next three months), I would still have an 86 percent change of getting accepted.

The average MD school averages a 30 on their MCAT and a 3.6 GPA for their acceptees. This of course is taking account every student, which is at least 80 percent non-minority. So you mean to tell me that minorities with a MCAT 3 points lower than average and a GPA higher than average, do not have a competitive chance?

I am not trying to come off as arrogant, I am only stating the facts.😉

There are people with your stats that did not do well this year. And as far as applying early... everyone likes to get everything in before the 8/1 you speak of. Its not some miracle date and you still may wait a long time to get any word from schools.

Also don't shoot for a 27. That likes shooting to finish a marathon and stopping at the 2 mile mark... LAME.

 

[smm99]

I don't know why everyone keeps repeating 24, I have almost three months to improve 3 points. I think that is a goal that I can meet. As I stated above I think I would be a competitive applicant IF I got a 27. If still don't believe me, look at they statistics and see for yourself.

Ummm... what makes you think that if you are consistently scoring 24 in practice, that come test day you will magically score a 27 or higher? I agree that you have a good amount of time to prepare and do better, but if your only measure of current performance is a 24, that is what you should be thinking about, not the magic 27 floating in the sky.

 

[UGAmkw]

I absolutely love how someone being a minority helps with medical school. I know when I look for the best doctor, I make damn sure they are a minority so I can get the abolsute best care! What a bunch of BS

 

[virusgirl]

Seems most people still think I am referencing EDP...

I will define it,

Early Decision process- Is when you apply to one school, usually well before the regular time of applying. Sometime right out of HS. You have to be very strong academically, and they will save a slot for you during the time you plan to matriculate.

Early Admisssion (what I am planning to do)- Is an option that some schools have. If you turn in your application before 8/1, you will usually hear back a lot earlier than an applicant who applies beyond that point.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know why everyone keeps repeating 24, I have almost three months to improve 3 points. I think that is a goal that I can meet. As I stated above I think I would be a competitive applicant IF I got a 27. If still don't believe me, look at they statistics and see for yourself.

Not being a minority
http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt.htm

Being a minority
http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt-raceeth.htm

According to AAMC, I have a 91 percent change of getting accepted if I get a 27, and have a 3.8 GPA. Even if I got a 24 (and made no progress in the next three months), I would still have an 86 percent change of getting accepted.

The average MD school averages a 30 on their MCAT and a 3.6 GPA for their acceptees. This of course is taking account every student, which is at least 80 percent non-minority. So you mean to tell me that minorities with a MCAT 3 points lower than average and a GPA higher than average, do not have a competitive chance?

I am not trying to come off as arrogant, I am only stating the facts.😉

No offense, but please try harder, because you're not doing a very good job.

You are putting an inordinate amount of faith in the mitigating effect of being a URM -- so much so that you don't appear to be at all worried that your avg MCAT score is only a 24. Regardless of what your actual intention is, you are perceived as projecting a very significant sense of entitlement.

 

[millepora]

People keep saying 24 because you said 24. However it is silly to speculate on your chances when the biggest factor in determining them is not available. The early admissions program is really just "if you apply early, you hear back early" and yes a month will make a difference. You should do the extra volunteer work anyway and send update letters to all schools. The acceptance grid on the AAMC website is misleading, and as Keyzer Soze said there are multiple threads about how misleading it is. Also if you start a thread about how something will affect your application, people will ask you about the rest of it and offer their advise. The reason we do this is because so many people(yourself included) are misinformed.

The reason I thought you would be more likely to be considered, rather than just getting acceptance earlier, is because they have more slots to fill so they are less choosey. I could be wrong though...

 

[millepora]

yes

 

[AdmiralChz]

The reason I thought you would be more likely to be considered, rather than just getting acceptance earlier, is because they have more slots to fill so they are less choosey. I could be wrong though...

This reminds me of applying early decision to college - to show a school that you REALLY want to go there over everywhere else and thus improve your chances. It's a good idea, but I have no idea either way if this holds for early decision in medical schools, though... anyone got any insight here?

 

[AdmiralChz]

You're not the only one... I'm a minority and it offends me. This type of attitude is what makes people resentful against URMs. I worked hard to get where I am, have not expected to get a break from anyone and can prove my capabilities. When I read posts like this, it makes me feel like others will just think I coasted on the fact that I'm a minority. 👎

It is sad and almost alarming that the OP has used such language - as virusgirl said it reeks of "entitlement." It has the same effect as saying "my parents are celebrities and will buy me in to medical school" - that same sense of entitlement or feeling that it is your RIGHT to get into medical school is massively irritating to people, especially those that have not had luck this cycle (or people who had trouble in the past).

As for "stretching cognitive abilities" - do not sell yourself so short, it almost comes across that you say that you are lacking the mental ability to do well. Would you want a surgeon who was lacking in the same respect?

 

[virusgirl]

What do you mean by "rights?" The last time I checked, all medical students, from all races, enjoy the same rights.

It's good that you've worked so hard on the MCAT and made so much progress. Unfortunately, progress only counts for so much. A 24 is still a very low score, regardless of where you started from. If you're only averaging a 6 on VR, you should keep in mind that many schools have an automatic cut-off of 8 in each sub-section.

You say you don't understand why you have to defend your academic standing -- it is because you are missing the big picture. You wanted to know about your application for early admission, and people on this thread are trying to communicate to you that your medical school admission, early or otherwise, is questionable given your MCAT scores. Instead of becoming frustrated because people are not giving you the answer you want to hear, you really should consider the feedback that you are receiving.

 

[serikk85]

Wow, this thread is a neo-conservative's playground.

 

[flip26]

Seems most people still think I am referencing EDP...

I will define it,

Early Decision process- Is when you apply to one school, usually well before the regular time of applying. Sometime right out of HS. You have to be very strong academically, and they will save a slot for you during the time you plan to matriculate.

Early Admisssion (what I am planning to do)- Is an option that some schools have. If you turn in your application before 8/1, you will usually hear back a lot earlier than an applicant who applies beyond that point.

Your attempt to "define" EDP vs EA is a fail.

You are mixing up EDP with BA/MD programs, I think (but it is pretty hard to decipher exactly what you think you are describing).

And EA is not a program, as you describe it, it is simply getting your apps in early in the cycle to rolling admissions schools. And by the way, 8/1 is not even considered early - it is not close to early - AMCAS will open in early June, and THAT is early.

 

[millepora]

EDP
http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/programs/earlydecision.htm

I have been told by numerous admissions officers the earlier the better, and I guess when I was reading through the Princeton Review '168 medical schools' I assumed when they said 8/1 deadline for early decision they were referencing early applications. But, they must have just been referencing the EDP program. I guess if I am wrong, and made false correlation, then the only thing I have to go by is "the earlier the better."

 

[WhitJord85]

To your original question millepora...The best thing to do in this situation would probably be to finish your AMCAS application as soon as it comes out so you can submit it the first day possible. I would forgo the early decisions thing completely. It's really to your disadvantage unless you are only going to apply to one school (probably not that best idea, anyway) or you have super high stats.

However I would say people on this board are most generally of the opionion that you have to have super high stats and stellars ECs/clincials/research to have good chance at getted accpeted to US MD schools. While there are advantages to having high stats, not everyone who gets accepted to med school does. Look at the averages... obviously the averages of accepted students with regards to GPA and MCAT are higher than for all applicants, but they are called "averages" for a reason.. because ~1/2 were higher and ~1/2 were lower. So take all that with a grain of salt.

With regards to the MCAT score, keep studying. Someone mentioned earlier that your practice average of 24 is low... well... yes and no. The average MCAT score of all those who take is ~24. However the accepted MD applicant is higher. I'm sure you can find all those stats and probably have. So don't let that kill your confidence. Keep up the hard work. Don't get discouraged by these boards... it's to your advantage to ask what people think is the best thing to do... because as they say "2 heads are better than one" but, IMO, these boards are frequented by more of the high GPA/high MCAT stat people with tons of ECs/clincal experience/research... who feel that what they have accomplished is whats necessary to get accepted. Also, none of us here are experts... we all only know trends and what we have been told...just to put that out there.

Getting into med school is difficult... no matter what your stats...so don't make it harder on yourself by losing your confidence. If its what you really desire to do, then you should do everything you can to make it happen... and don't let anyone, anywhere tell you you can't make it.

 

[TheMagicCookie]

OP, you are going back and forth with this minority issue. You say that being a URM is not the main reason you think you stand a good chance of acceptance (despite the likelihood that your mcat will be below average), then you come back and say that you should be able to play the minority card since you've worked hard and deserve to take any boost that's available. The majority of us on here have worked our butts off, too...I don't recall receiving any special treatment because of this. When it's all said and done, it doesn't matter what a doctor's heritage or skin color is...what will matter is how well suited they are for this profession. If a person isn't qualified, it sure doesn't seem logical to offer them a spot based on their ethnicity.

If you truly aren't banking on being a minority to give you an edge over someone else, why don't you omit this information from your application? Sure would set you on an equal playing field with the rest of us.

 

[millepora]

I guess this brings me to another question...

If I had my application done before I received my MCAT scores back, could you turn it in and get a head start on processing? Since I am taking the MCAT on the May 28th, and I get my app done Jun 15th. By this timeline it would mean that I am submitting my application 2 weeks before my MCAT score. Would it be harmful to do this (besides the fact that you are have submitted you app w/o knowing your MCAT scores)?

 

[Bacchus]

I guess this brings me to another question...

If I had my application done before I received my MCAT scores back, could you turn it in and get a head start on processing? Since I am taking the MCAT on the May 28th, and I get my app done Jun 15th. By this timeline it would mean that I am submitting my application 2 weeks before my MCAT score. Would it be harmful to do this (besides the fact that you are have submitted you app w/o knowing your MCAT scores)?

Read my first response.

 

[millepora]

Ok, I did again.

This is a totally new thing to me, so AAMC has to verify your application before you can submit it to medical schools. Then do they send it back to you for corrections, and you choose to submit it? How long does that take?

 

[NotAndrew]

To your original question millepora...The best thing to do in this situation would probably be to finish your AMCAS application as soon as it comes out so you can submit it the first day possible. I would forgo the early decisions thing completely. It's really to your disadvantage unless you are only going to apply to one school (probably not that best idea, anyway) or you have super high stats.

However I would say people on this board are most generally of the opionion that you have to have super high stats and stellars ECs/clincials/research to have good chance at getted accpeted to US MD schools. While there are advantages to having high stats, not everyone who gets accepted to med school does. Look at the averages... obviously the averages of accepted students with regards to GPA and MCAT are higher than for all applicants, but they are called "averages" for a reason.. because ~1/2 were higher and ~1/2 were lower. So take all that with a grain of salt.

With regards to the MCAT score, keep studying. Someone mentioned earlier that your practice average of 24 is low... well... yes and no. The average MCAT score of all those who take is ~24. However the accepted MD applicant is higher. I'm sure you can find all those stats and probably have. So don't let that kill your confidence. Keep up the hard work. Don't get discouraged by these boards... it's to your advantage to ask what people think is the best thing to do... because as they say "2 heads are better than one" but, IMO, these boards are frequented by more of the high GPA/high MCAT stat people with tons of ECs/clincal experience/research... who feel that what they have accomplished is whats necessary to get accepted. Also, none of us here are experts... we all only know trends and what we have been told...just to put that out there.

Getting into med school is difficult... no matter what your stats...so don't make it harder on yourself by losing your confidence. If its what you really desire to do, then you should do everything you can to make it happen... and don't let anyone, anywhere tell you you can't make it.

Way to botch the definition of average.

 

[Bacchus]

They correct what they don't like. You will be able to log in during May and submit sometime in June. Verification takes 4-6 weeks. Your application will be auto-updated with MCAT scores. You don't need MCAT scores to verify your application, thus you save yourself time instead of waiting until you get your scores.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Way to botch the definition of average.

Meh... if you look at this, it's not far off. 24.9 is the mean, and a scaled score of 25 is 44.7 - 50.9 percentile.

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/examineedata/combined08.pdf