Early Application

[CurrySpice]

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I read all the time on the Pre-Allo board about how important it is to get your application in ASAP once it is released. Is there a big boost for vet school too or does it not matter if you send it in in October?

 

[elefante7]

It is due in early October and the site is notorious for crashing toward the deadline so they always tell you to get it in at least two weeks in advance. Other than that, I don't think there is any advantage besides peace of mind that it is done.

 

[twelvetigers]

No matter what time you submit your application to VMCAS, all of them are sent to the respective vet schools at the same time. The only exceptions here (in the US) are Tufts, Texas, and Tuskegee because they do not use VMCAS.

Correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[bmichs75DVM]

Ya, I submitted my VMCAS on Sept. 6th and my Supplemental on Sept 16th. I did not hear about an interview until the night after Thanksgiving, which I believe is around the same time most people heard about their interviews at OSU.

 

[DVMorBust]

The reason for applying early to med schools is that most of them have rolling admissions (they'll invite people for interviews in July and accept them by August, even if the application is still open, and so your chances get lower as you wait, because they might have most of their class filled up early).

No vet schools use this approach that I'm aware of, so just make sure it's in by the deadline.

 

[sambone]

I submitted my VMCAS app 2 days b/f the deadline, and got all my supplemental application solicitations and interview invites just as soon as everyone else. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[david594]

Ohio seems to do things on somewhat of a rolling basis. This year people had their supplementals well before I even got my VMCAS submitted(although I waited until the last day for that).

I was also under the impression that interview invites were made also on a rolling basis. Something about the professional admissions office going through the applications in batches and then sending them on to the veterinary admissions office.

 

[Skillet9886]

I know that Ohio responded with supplementals based on when VMCAS was submitted, but I didn't think it was rolling in the same sense that some med schools are. I don't think someone that submitted VMCAS in early September would get an interview invitation over someone with the same stats who submitted right at the deadline. They would get their supplemental sooner, but have the same chance of acceptance. At least that was the impression I got.

I submitted my application the evening before the noon deadline (Oct 1?)...I think. It was right around there, anyway. I had it sitting in my computer done for a while, but was too freaked out to submit it, in case I'd forgotten anything. I actually did remember a few honors/awards that I hadn't included in the first "draft" of it, so I'm glad I waited. I honestly didn't want to wait quite that long, but one of my rec letter people procrastinated, and then was impossible to get in touch with. It was quite frustrating. I know they don't have to be in until the 15th or something like it, but I didn't want to give up the ability to edit the eLoR section...just in case. It turned out to be a good decision, because on September 30th-ish, she called me to say that she couldn't find the email from VMCAS! I had to delete her from that section and re-submit her information so she'd get another email and could fill out the rec letter. Needless to say, I was a bit on edge that week.

This is a longwinded way of saying I recommend waiting for a little while, especially if you have a similar mindset as me, but not waiting so long that you're submitting it the morning it's due, because, as was mentioned earlier, it notoriously crashes at the last minute. And then you're screwed.

 

[HopefulAg]

The only exceptions here (in the US) are Tufts, Texas, and Tuskegee because they do not use VMCAS.

Yup but no benefit to submitting early here either.

And the form A&M uses (TMDSAS) is basically just the VMCAS rehashed and with an uglier web page. I don't see why they don't just use VMCAS. It's the exact same stuff and several things I just copied and pasted from one to the other.

 

[VMCAS001]

Hi All,

Now that VMCAS has updated their hosting, the system no longer crashes. The reason for requests to submit your application is two weeks prior to deadline is that is builds a buffer for any potential problems (late elor submissions; application errors; etc..). ALSO, 80% of application submit within the last two weeks of the cycle. This causes HUGE call volume to our office, and HUGE email volume.

I HIGHLY recommend early submission (before the two week mark). You wouldn't want to find out at the last minute that you can't submit becuase of something you could have controlled earlier.

Your VMCAS Staff.

 

[sumstorm]

Heck, even if you call VMCAS months ahead, you can't always get consistent answers to problems, EXPECIALLY if you are a non-trad with odd experience.

Sorry, being honest. Start early. Finish as much as you can as early as you can. Then hold on to it for a while and let it settle, update anything you are currently doing in early September, review a final time and have at least one detail oriented person review it in detail one last time (and since it tends to be torturously long to click on each link, pay them in food and drink AFTER they do the review) then submit in early September.

I was still chasing down answers to questions from a month previous, and still getting very inconsistent answers. VMCAS really needs to post a list of common questions and stated policies regarding things like experience, awards, etc. I submitted a few days before Oct 2. I was also letting my FT job hours accumulate.