Hey guys im looking into applying for an early assurance program and am trying to gather information on the pros and cons of it. If i apply to this early assurance program and do not get in, are other medical schools able to see this on my application. I am a sophomore so it would be a year until i start taking the mcat and applying. Also the program isn't legally binding but i was wondering if there would be any backlash if i accept the early assurance program and then decide to apply elsewhere next year. thanks
early assurance programs.. good or bad idea
- Thread starter Eagleye2
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Pros depend on the program. Program's like Icahn's flex med let you skip the MCAT if admitted and you are guaranteed a spot at a really great medical school. Some might have an MCAT cutoff that isn't very difficult to clear (30 ish or even lower).
I cant answer the question on other schools knowing or not about your app to these programs but I can't imagine it would matter or that they would know. Since these programs dont use AMCAS (AFAIK) you wont show up as a re-app on AMCAS. Even so, these programs are crazy competitive most of the time so if you are rejected I doubt it would reflect badly on you. At most I could imagine someone seeing it and thinking "tried, but failed, oh well guess thats why he's applying traditionally now".
If a program wants you to score a 515+ and keep ur GPA above 3.8 I don't really see the benefits to early assurance unless you want to go to this school no matter what. The reason being that you might be shortchanging your potential options if you had just applied traditionally (including potential scholarships etc. once you are in that range of competitiveness).
I cant answer the question on other schools knowing or not about your app to these programs but I can't imagine it would matter or that they would know. Since these programs dont use AMCAS (AFAIK) you wont show up as a re-app on AMCAS. Even so, these programs are crazy competitive most of the time so if you are rejected I doubt it would reflect badly on you. At most I could imagine someone seeing it and thinking "tried, but failed, oh well guess thats why he's applying traditionally now".
If a program wants you to score a 515+ and keep ur GPA above 3.8 I don't really see the benefits to early assurance unless you want to go to this school no matter what. The reason being that you might be shortchanging your potential options if you had just applied traditionally (including potential scholarships etc. once you are in that range of competitiveness).
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These programs are intended for people that really need to go to a particular place, for example because they have a family with them in that city that couldn't easily move. With the exception of Icahn's very competitive program, early admit stuff is not a good idea to pursue just for early peace of mind reasons.
thanks for your response, its the penn state early assurance. The problem is i will be going through my pre-med committee at my undergraduate first and i feel like if i back out after the committee interview i feel like they would not give their approval next year when i apply regularly
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What's your reason for seeking early assurance? Just to have certainty a year sooner?
its local and ive been looking at going there since start of undergraduate. Also, i figured if it was low risk/high reward at the very least it would give me experience to the interview/application process without technically being a reapplicant. But if this is indeed high risk then i would love for someone to explain why because if it is, i will not do it. Im just making sure im not missing something that could hurt me later on such as not being able to apply to other schools if i want to do so.
