Early Decision (EDP), my story. Anyone else?

[organdonor]

I applied and was accepted using the Early Decision Program. I'm starting this thread to share some information as well as to reflect on how/what I did. Hindsight is always 20/20. For those who don't already know,

Early Decision Program (EDP)

Related

Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR&#8482😉
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)

To apply through the Early Decision Program (EDP), applicants must follow these guidelines:

1. Apply to only one U.S. medical school by the stated deadline date (August 1 for schools that participate in AMCAS);
2. Provide the school with all required supplemental information by the stated deadline date (August 1 for those schools that participate in AMCAS); and
3. Attend only this school if offered a place under the EDP.

If these guidelines are met, applicants will be notified of the school's admission decision by October 1.
If not accepted under the EDP, applicants will automatically be placed in the regular applicant pool by the school and may then apply to additional schools. EDP regulations apply to both AMCAS and non-AMCAS participating schools.
For the 2010 entering class, 79 medical schools will offer admission through the Early Decision Program. Since most participating schools only admit a small portion of their entering class through the program, only applicants with an excellent chance of admission to a particular school should apply under this program.

I barely met my schools minimum MCAT score. As I understand it, these minimums vary by school
********Warning***All following information pertains to IUSM ONLY***** Warning**

• a grade point average of at least 3.6/4.0; and
• a Medical College Admission Test total of 30, with no numeric score below 8, and a writing sample score no less than "O."

Applicants not admitted in the Early Decision Program generally remain under consideration for later review by the Admissions Committee, and may apply to other medical schools.

Mainly I applied EDP because I only wanted to go to school at this particular one. It is my only in-state and therefore is much cheaper than anywhere else. I would have gone to other schools, but I didn't want to.

One of my concerns was what would happen if I didn't get in. Obviously not applying to other schools until October would be a detriment. However, I was accepted, as well as every single one of the people who applied EDP that I talked to. A third year who also applied EDP flat out asked them in her interview "So I heard all EDP'ers get in if they pass the background check. Is that true?" And you know what? They said YES! I can understand that, I mean it really shows a commitment to the school and they have already screened out bad stats.

Another big concern for me was the fact that if accepted EDP, you don't have any other acceptances and you are obligated to attend that school. Therefore you don't have different financial aid packages to compare. The school also has no obligation of "enticing" you with attractive aid. This fear was supported by my financial aid package, received just days ago. I received no aid besides the standard loans. Ditto for another EDP'er with better stats than my own. However, another applicant who got in regular decision with similar stats also got nothing. At IU at least, they give alot of merit scholarships based on your 1st and 2nd year performance, so EDP doesn't matter for that.

Another fantastic reason to apply to a school like IU via EDP is campus placement. IU has a full NINE campuses, which vary wildly in age, city size, curriculum, latitude, staff, attendance policies, class size, etc. At IU, EDP'ers get their choice of campus placement. This is an important thing to remember. I put down a deposit on an apartment in October, but some of my friends won't know which campus they will attend until May.

Alot of people seem to ask "should I do EDP." Well, I'm glad I did. I don't think it is realistic to expect much in the way of competing offers of financial aid (at least for me, some of you may differ) and the first choice of campus really helped. If it weren't for the campus placement though, I'm not sure it would have been worth it.

Anyways, this was my two cents. Hope I can help guide someone in the right direction.

I would do it again, at least to IU. Anyone else care to chime in? Did you apply EDP? I would especially like to hear from people (if there are any) who applied EDP and got rejected. Would you do it again? Why or why not?

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[SSC2]

Really? That's awesome. I remember I had a thread on EDP.

I recently asked my advisor whether I should do an EDP and she suggested that it wouldn't be a good idea because this particular school only takes really huge reasons into account and it would severely limit my chances of getting in. Sometimes they take 0 people even for EDP.

I was surprised because it really is my #1 choice and apparently you have to have a reason such as "My spouse lives here" or "My kids go here" something like that Idk. She said even if you surpass their standards it's not a good idea..

:/

 

[organdonor]

Any other EDP care to share?

 

[BenUstudent]

so for a EDP you can only apply to only 1 M.D. med school (if you don't get in, you apply to the others in October). but, could I still apply early (june or July) to D.O. schools?

 

[DoctorDude]

I applied and was accepted using the Early Decision Program. I'm starting this thread to share some information as well as to reflect on how/what I did. Hindsight is always 20/20. For those who don't already know,
I barely met my schools minimum MCAT score. As I understand it, these minimums vary by school
********Warning***All following information pertains to IUSM ONLY***** Warning**
Mainly I applied EDP because I only wanted to go to school at this particular one. It is my only in-state and therefore is much cheaper than anywhere else. I would have gone to other schools, but I didn't want to.

One of my concerns was what would happen if I didn't get in. Obviously not applying to other schools until October would be a detriment. However, I was accepted, as well as every single one of the people who applied EDP that I talked to. A third year who also applied EDP flat out asked them in her interview "So I heard all EDP'ers get in if they pass the background check. Is that true?" And you know what? They said YES! I can understand that, I mean it really shows a commitment to the school and they have already screened out bad stats.

Another big concern for me was the fact that if accepted EDP, you don't have any other acceptances and you are obligated to attend that school. Therefore you don't have different financial aid packages to compare. The school also has no obligation of "enticing" you with attractive aid. This fear was supported by my financial aid package, received just days ago. I received no aid besides the standard loans. Ditto for another EDP'er with better stats than my own. However, another applicant who got in regular decision with similar stats also got nothing. At IU at least, they give alot of merit scholarships based on your 1st and 2nd year performance, so EDP doesn't matter for that.

Another fantastic reason to apply to a school like IU via EDP is campus placement. IU has a full NINE campuses, which vary wildly in age, city size, curriculum, latitude, staff, attendance policies, class size, etc. At IU, EDP'ers get their choice of campus placement. This is an important thing to remember. I put down a deposit on an apartment in October, but some of my friends won't know which campus they will attend until May.

Alot of people seem to ask "should I do EDP." Well, I'm glad I did. I don't think it is realistic to expect much in the way of competing offers of financial aid (at least for me, some of you may differ) and the first choice of campus really helped. If it weren't for the campus placement though, I'm not sure it would have been worth it.

Anyways, this was my two cents. Hope I can help guide someone in the right direction.

I would do it again, at least to IU. Anyone else care to chime in? Did you apply EDP? I would especially like to hear from people (if there are any) who applied EDP and got rejected. Would you do it again? Why or why not?

I'm really really glad you posted this. I've had so many questions about the EDP program and whether or not to do it. Coincidentally, specifically about the IU EDP program! lol... I'm at Purdue (as you can see from the avatar) and I've been questioning whether or not it's worth it to apply EDP or just go the normal route. What I've been hearing from people who've applied EDP is that they've all gotten in - on the other hand, all the advisors I've talked to say they don't recommend it. I'm starting to think the advisors don't know what they are talking about. I really want to go to IU and the EDP just seems perfect for me so I think I'm going to end up going that route, pending my MCAT score (May 18th score release). It seems like it will save a lot of stress, money, and time. Again, thanks for posting. 🙂

 

[catalase]

I think this question has a different answer for each applicant. I don't think applying EDP influences your chances of acceptance one bit. It does, however, speed up the process and give you first pick of campus assignment. So whether or not to do EDP depends on your weight of wanting to see what else is out there vs. your desire for a quick app cycle or a specific location.

I'll likely be attending IUSM in the fall. I considered EDP, but I wanted to see what else was out there. I'm happy I interviewed elsewhere, and having more than one acceptance makes me feel better about the process. I do think there is something to the argument that EDP might hurt your aid outlook. Many scholarships offered to accepted students are for recruitment purposes, and if you don't need to be recruited in order to attend then you're likely not going to see a money offer.

This question has too many variables to have one specific answer.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I'm glad that this route worked for you. And sure, for a lot of people, EDP works out well.

However, I generally advise against doing EDP, solely because if you DON'T get in you're so far behind in applying to any other schools. It's definitely attractive to get everything done and out of the way early and not have to worry about the stress of applying and interviewing at 15-20 schools, but realize that you risk the increased stress of having to do that a minimum of 2-3 months later than everyone else if EDP doesn't pan out for you. In light of that, applying regularly seems like the safest bet, in my opinion.

 

[organdonor]

so for a EDP you can only apply to only 1 M.D. med school (if you don't get in, you apply to the others in October). but, could I still apply early (june or July) to D.O. schools?

AMCAS says no other "U.S. medical schools." D.O. schools are American medical schools.

 

[siliso]

I think the calculus at IU might be different from other schools. I have also gotten the impression, supported by statements from admissions personnel, that if you meet the criteria and apply EDP to IU you are pretty much getting in, barring major disaster.

For me it made sense because I could not attend anywhere else, not even at a satellite campus of IU. My family and kids and husband's job and other pressing concerns are here, period. So I wouldn't have applied elsewhere even if I had gone with regular decision. It saved some stress and got everything squared away early, and locked in my campus preference.

I did receive some substantial merit aid. Will never know if it would have been more if I had applied regular decision. Oh well.

 

[pkowser]

I was wondering then if you can apply EDP to a US school and still apply to some Caribbean med schools as back up since they are not "US" schools?

 

[firewareagle]

Organdonor:
I'm really glad you posted this specifically about IUSM, as I am trying to make a decision whether to put myself through Early decision or through regular acceptance. If you would pardon my prudence, I was wondering if you can tell us specifics about your GPA and MCAT scores?

 

[PostHaste]

One thing to keep in mind is that some schools (for example, MCW) do not roll you into their regular applicant pool if you don't make it EDP.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Organdonor:
I'm really glad you posted this specifically about IUSM, as I am trying to make a decision whether to put myself through Early decision or through regular acceptance. If you would pardon my prudence, I was wondering if you can tell us specifics about your GPA and MCAT scores?

this word... i do not think it means what you think it means

 

[Suncrusher]

impudence?

holla

 

[WuMedic]

this word... i do not think it means what you think it means

Prudeness?

 

[Ursa]

 

[tkhan180]

So I heard that you're more likely to get into a school via EDP if that school is already a place you would get into through the normal process. I mean it sounds like common sense, but does this mean you shouldn't EDP to competitive med schools?

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

applying EDP is not very smart unless you have killer stats or crazy luck

 

[NickNaylor]

So I heard that you're more likely to get into a school via EDP if that school is already a place you would get into through the normal process. I mean it sounds like common sense, but does this mean you shouldn't EDP to competitive med schools?

Using EDP in an attempt to increase your chances at getting in to a school is a bad idea. It doesn't matter what the school is IMO.

 

[PostHaste]

Using EDP in an attempt to increase your chances at getting in to a school is a bad idea. It doesn't matter what the school is IMO.

I've heard this directly from program directors, as well. You shouldn't expect EDP to give you a leg up, and you shouldn't apply EDP unless you are already competitive for that school.

 

[235788]

I heard applying EDP doesn't significantly increases you chance of admission, or else I would have done it for cinci.