Early decision

[pharm6]

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I plan on applying this year for early decision to my top choice but I read on pharmcas that if you're applying for early decision you can only apply to one school unless you get rejected then you can apply to other schools... I know you can only do early decision at one school but I wanted to get my application in early to a few other schools as my back up plan (especially schools with rolling admissions). So do I really have to wait until October where I find out If I'm accepted or not to apply for regular decision at my backup schools? If anyone went through this process for 2012-2013 cycle please help!

Thank you! 🙂

 

[Member529]

I'd like to know this too

 

[jasscript]

Yes you really do have to wait until the school accepts,defers, or rejects you. I believe this is detailed under early decision on the pharmcas website. And I think pharmcas actually blocks you from sending out any other apps..at least through their service.
You can always just apply early without exercising early decision.

 

[Guitarmacy]

The whole point of early decision is to inform that school that you're serious about going there. If you we're allowed to apply to other places, that would defeat the purpose of early decision existing. You have two options.

1. Apply early decision and wait for an answer. If they accept you, you MUST go there because early decision is a binding agreement. If they wait list or deny you, then you can go ahead and apply elsewhere,

2. Apply regular decision everywhere and get your apps in EARLY, just like you've been planning to.

Here's my advice. If you hypothetically got accepted everywhere except for your top choice, would you go or wait another year for #1? If the answer is yes, I will wait another year, apply early decision. If the answer is no, I would go to any of those schools now, apply regular admission everywhere (IF you're worried about taking advantage of rolling admissions ASAP and ONLY IF you're getting all those apps in early). If you're gonna wait til October to apply anyway, there's no point in skipping out on an early decision opportunity.

One more thing to think about.. I've heard that schools tend to accept early decision candidates initially only when all their coursework is already done. If your pre-reqs are still in progress, I'd suggest doing regular decision apps early on. Hope that helps.

 

[Wallace12]

When is actually early in the application cycle? (Not early decision) I'm taking the PCATin July. Is it like 3+ months before the schools deadline or something?

 

[pharm6]

Thanks for the advice! If I were accepted into any school to be honest I would start right away. I don't want to wait and longer. I will be in school fall and spring to finish my pre reqs so now I'm kind of nervous about that. I just don't know if my chances will be better if I apply for early decision. I understand its binding and am completely okay with that since its my top choice but it's looking like regular decision may be the best route. I don't take the pcat until July So I hope that doesn't set me back too much. As you can tell I am panicking about the whole process already!

 

[frabu04]

I say apply regular decision, but turn in your apps early, which shouldn't be a problem since you were planning on doing so anyway. It will increase your chances for all schools that have rolling admissions and sometimes people who turn in their apps early would interview with early decision applicants anyway.

 

[pharm6]

I think that's what I'll do 🙂 thanks every one!

 

[PharmhopefulNC]

I think most schools have their supplemental applications ready sometime in August, so if you can have everything submitted as soon as the supplemental applications come out, that would be ideal. It's ok if you are still waiting on your PCAT scores, which you really shouldn't be if you take it in July. I had everything submitted and ready to go as soon as the supplementals opened in August, and took the PCAT that September, and still was called on first round of interviews and was accepted by Christmas at all three schools that I applied to - and I'm nothing spectacular... just diligent and took my time in writing good statements, while submitting them as close to the initial opening date as possible.

As far as early decision, I think the only one that benefits is the school. All it does is limit your options and delays your other applications.

 

[pharm6]

Thanks! I hope thinks work out the same way for me