Early Secondaries

[saucydave]

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On average what is considered an early time to be turning in secondaries? I have a dilemma. I will probably have all my secondaries in as early as possible, but they won't be complete because I won't have my committee letter completed by then. So I guess my real question is if I get my committee letter turned in to schools sometime in August, will I not be considered early? I'm concerned because I planned everything so that by applying early I would have a better chance, but now it seems as though all of that is for not. Will an admission committee even consider a secondary without all the LORs?

 

[trueBelief]

Same question. Also, is it considered 'bad' if you get an invite on Jun15 and submit them Aug 15?

 

[snitchseeker88]

Same question here too. Sent in primary early and started getting secondaries, but LOR issues are keeping me back.

 

[clifftacopter]

Don't worry about it. Just submit the secondaries as soon as possible so they will be ready to be completed once the letters come in. There's nothing you can do about your LORs if you're just waiting on your committee. I am sure your committee knows what it is doing and won't send them in late (assuming you gave them everything they needed on time).

 

[xcrunner01]

For the most part you should be fine. Just pay attention to the secondary invites from schools....unless I'm mistaken, I think I remember some friends who applied last year mentioning some schools that only give you a month or so to complete the secondary? Anyone heard of this or know of schools that do this? It was only a few schools, but I remember that some required you to submit the secondary within a certain amount of time after receiving it, even if it was still well before the final fall deadline for apps.

I could be wrong though. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

[PinkIvy08]

Yeah, I've heard that some schools give you a month, others only give you two weeks (Northwestern and possibly WashU). Just stay on top of your secondaries and don't let them pile up!

 

[trueBelief]

Wash U gives 4 weeks and Northwestern gives 2.

 

[Pills Of Soap]

Wash U gives 4 weeks and Northwestern gives 2.

Those dates from are when they offer you the secondary (through email) or when you make a log-in from their application?

 

[ensuii]

Obviously, you want to turn them in ASAP. The longer you wait, the more seats that are being filled. However, submitting secondaries in August isn't considered late. In fact, it's pretty average from what I remember (June/July being early). The whole "early/late" thing is a big spectrum that you shouldn't worry too much about. Just get everything done as quickly as possible while still being thorough. You should really only start to worry around late Sept/Oct imo.

 

[ensuii]

Those dates from are when they offer you the secondary (through email) or when you make a log-in from their application?

I'm virtually certain the time period is from when the secondary invite was given.

 

[ziggyd0c]

i'm in the same boat. although i asked my letter writers to shoot for the end of july.

is it true that there are some schools that will invite you for an interview before receiving your LORs? i think people were saying this in the Pitt thread

 

[BeardedRunner]

i'm in the same boat. although i asked my letter writers to shoot for the end of july.

is it true that there are some schools that will invite you for an interview before receiving your LORs? i think people were saying this in the Pitt thread

This is definitely true. Last year my buddy got a invited to Michigan for an interview after submitting his primary application! He got the secondary application and the interview invite in separate e-mails on the same day last Summer. (He had a 39S MCAT).
Many medical schools calculate a "score" or "rating" for their applicants based on MCAT score, GPA, PS, etc. So if your score is high enough, they will invite you for an interview.

And about the LORs, I wouldn't worry about, there can be countless complications that can occur with letters because they are not in your hands. Many times its your advisor or Interfolio or whatever. So the medical schools will understand if the letter arrives late, you should focus on what is directly in your control - the secondary essays!

 

[saucydave]

Thanks! I emailed the committee chair and they've put me at the head of the list (due to some pestering). I think I'm going to be able to get it in some time in July so no worries 🙂