Effect of Late Application

[EarthtoneJon]

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Obviously, the best advice is "the earlier the better." But I am wondering, how does the relationship between lateness of application and chances of getting in vary with competitiveness? This might be a very convoluted statistic, since there are so many other factors that play into an applicant's success.

Is it slightly more forgiving for Osteopathic medical school applicants? I ask because my AACOMAS application was not verified until November 7th, and despite all of my hard work, I am beginning to feel a pit in my stomach, as though my application was dead on arrival. For someone with a ballpark MCAT score (25) and good GPA (3.98), how bad does it hurt my chances?

Edit: I submitted secondaries within 2 days of receiving the invite to do so! Also, I realize this may belong in "what are my chances," but I was hoping for some broader-scoped insight on the significance of applying early / later in the cycle.

Thanks!

 

[Iliketoytles]

Obviously, the best advice is "the earlier the better." But I am wondering, how does the relationship between lateness of application and chances of getting in vary with competitiveness? This might be a very convoluted statistic, since there are so many other factors that play into an applicant's success.

Is it slightly more forgiving for Osteopathic medical school applicants? I ask because my AACOMAS application was not verified until November 7th, and despite all of my hard work, I am beginning to feel a pit in my stomach, as though my application was dead on arrival. For someone with a ballpark MCAT score (25) and good GPA (3.98), how bad does it hurt my chances?

Edit: I submitted secondaries within 2 days of receiving the invite to do so!

Thanks!

The real answer to this question is... it depends ; as if this issue isn't vague enough. 🙄

The more competitive you are, the later you can apply and still have a shot. Most schools (if not all), do rolling admissions... so this is a huge flag to APPLY EARLY, especially if your stats aren't that good. It's actually a HUGE advantage to applicants with stats. But obviously to understand the relationship between application earliness/competitiveness... one has to understand what makes an application "competitive".

Anyway... looking at you specifically, your GPA is fantastic, your MCAT is below average, but I think your GPA heavily compensates for it. It's good you submitted your secondaries quickly. Assuming your ECs are good, you may get some interviews.

 

[Jlaw]

Obviously, the best advice is "the earlier the better." But I am wondering, how does the relationship between lateness of application and chances of getting in vary with competitiveness? This might be a very convoluted statistic, since there are so many other factors that play into an applicant's success.

Is it slightly more forgiving for Osteopathic medical school applicants? I ask because my AACOMAS application was not verified until November 7th, and despite all of my hard work, I am beginning to feel a pit in my stomach, as though my application was dead on arrival. For someone with a ballpark MCAT score (25) and good GPA (3.98), how bad does it hurt my chances?

Edit: I submitted secondaries within 2 days of receiving the invite to do so! Also, I realize this may belong in "what are my chances," but I was hoping for some broader-scoped insight on the significance of applying early / later in the cycle.

Thanks!

I think it varies also...some years classes fill up faster, some years slower, stats vary, etc. I know what you mean about the feeling in the pit of your stomach though. I had a transcript screwup which delayed my verification. My stats are similar but a bit worse, 24 mcat, 3.98 sgpa and 3.2cgpa (i'm a non trad). Hopefully we make it this cycle but if not look at the good side, only 6 months til you can start working on the 2013 app😉

 

[dntke1518]

...Hopefully we make it this cycle but if not look at the good side, only 6 months til you can start working on the 2013 app😉

Now that's the spirit!! 👍

 

[drgioiadds]

Last year I took the Jan MCAT and was not complete until march--3.76/25 and was waitlisted at 2 schools and did not get in. I didn't retake the MCAT and applied June 1 and was offered 5 interviews, and accepted in september. There is still hope for this year, so if you get an interview invite, take advantage of it!

 

[DocGodfather]

I think you're still ok, just hold out a little hope like everyone else that are still waiting. Have you considered MCAT retake and apply to allopathic schools next June? Good luck!

 

[ManBroDude]

One of the adcoms explained it to me this way. Prior to some arbitrary date, let's say December, applicants are not really competing for seats (for all intents and purposes). If 40 interviewees show up and the admissions committee has to fill 200 seats, they could technically accept all 40 after interview day if they are all great applicants.

Now fast forward to January and later, when there's only 20 spots left and 3 months of interviewing to go. Suddenly, the 40 interviewers are basically fighting amongst each other for limited spots (which they might give 5 every couple of weeks to spread out those 20 through March). Your chances of getting in are significantly lower the later you wait.

Other professional schools, for the most part, operate on a non-rolling admission basis, where the deadline really is the deadline and they look at all applicants as one large pool. PA schools, nursing programs, and others work like this, where you have to wait till December for a decision, regardless of how early you apply. There's obviously good and bad points to each method.

 

[DocGodfather]

One of the adcoms explained it to me this way. Prior to some arbitrary date, let's say December, applicants are not really competing for seats (for all intents and purposes). If 40 interviewees show up and the admissions committee has to fill 200 seats, they could technically accept all 40 after interview day if they are all great applicants.

Now fast forward to January and later, when there's only 20 spots left and 3 months of interviewing to go. Suddenly, the 40 interviewers are basically fighting amongst each other for limited spots (which they might give 5 every couple of weeks to spread out those 20 through March). Your chances of getting in are significantly lower the later you wait.

Other professional schools, for the most part, operate on a non-rolling admission basis, where the deadline really is the deadline and they look at all applicants as one large pool. PA schools, nursing programs, and others work like this, where you have to wait till December for a decision, regardless of how early you apply. There's obviously good and bad points to each method.

I think this really shows that applying in June is the way to go for DO and MD schools. For this reason, even though I plan on taking the MCAT this summer, I will most likely take another year to improve my stats and app and apply for the 2014 cycle. I really don't want to wait another nearly three years, but it's more important to make sure things are done right, rather than rush things.

 

[AgDoc84]

Earthtone,
I understand the feeling. My AACOMAS was sent to schools much later than what I had hoped (around the same time as yours) due to the same community college sending the wrong transcript twice. I applied two years ago with a 24 MCAT and a 3.4 GPA and got interviews right and left (obviously no acceptances). This year I am applying with a 28 MCAT, two master's degrees, at least one better Rec letter if not two, and a 3.6 GPA. I sent away secondaries as fast as I could, sometimes the day I got them and thus far seem to have fallen on deaf ears. I know that earlier is better but I understand your frustration.

 

[redhaireddeamon]

honestly, it seems to be worse to submit later for DO schools. All of the DO schools were already interviewing and accepting applicants before many MD schools even started. Many MD schools are rolling, but on the average, I think most DO schools are not, so it is to your best advantage to be early. That's not to say you don't have a chance, but DO schools just seem to move alot faster.

 

[dbizzy]

One of the adcoms explained it to me this way. Prior to some arbitrary date, let's say December, applicants are not really competing for seats (for all intents and purposes). If 40 interviewees show up and the admissions committee has to fill 200 seats, they could technically accept all 40 after interview day if they are all great applicants.

Now fast forward to January and later, when there's only 20 spots left and 3 months of interviewing to go. Suddenly, the 40 interviewers are basically fighting amongst each other for limited spots (which they might give 5 every couple of weeks to spread out those 20 through March). Your chances of getting in are significantly lower the later you wait.

Speaking from experience as somebody who applied borderline late through this cycle, I can attest to this.

All the way til maybe October, your chances shouldn't change significantly. The only real difference is that you'll be getting interviewed/accepted/rejected a tad later. My secondaries were complete like mid Oct to early Nov, and here, you really begin to feel the effects between early/late, as well as the differences among the individual schools.

Some schools will get back to you within a month, and you be able to schedule some Nov/Dec/Jan interviews. After that first wave of schools, however, you'll begin to realize that winter break is looming right around the corner and that you will not be hearing back from many schools until after the break. Additionally, inteview spots fill up quick. From there on, it becomes less and less likely that you'll be getting too many January interviews, and more and more likely that you'll be fighting for waitlist spots, although it is not mission impossible.

This is especially true with certain schools who have small classes and a masters program to help fill the class (TouroCOM), or schools that fill the classes early (ATSU-SOMA).

So OP, it looks like your app isn't too far behind mine as far as the timeline goes, so at this point it really just depends on how your app will stand out to adcoms.