How important is it to apply first week of application?

[Progeny]

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How important is it to apply during the first week when applications open? I might be out of the country around that time so will it matter if I apply the week after?

 

[AppalachianDentalBoy]

Not that important. Just try and submit before mid mid July. Any time in June is ideal but I wouldn’t stress about it. There are posters on here who applied in October and got acceptances.

 

[Cthuluhoop]

How important is it to apply during the first week when applications open? I might be out of the country around that time so will it matter if I apply the week after?

First week is not that important, but do it ASAP. If anything all you need is an internet connection and your payment method to submit it. If you have everything completed (DAT, personal statement, transcripts uploaded, etc.) before you leave, all you'd have to do is login and submit it

 

[Rayner15]

I would definitely submit ASAP, but like the other posters, don’t sweat too much until end of June. I didn’t take my DAT until mid-July, but I still submitted first day. I think this helped me a lot, because with the school that eventually accepted me, the day my scores uploaded they offered me an interview. It is good to start “showing off” as early as you can.

 

[Blueshirts]

Also consider that lots of applications require secondaries, which may include additional essays; so even if you feel prepared to submit your application, you will more than likely be required additional work/time to complete the applications.

 

[princeafrica]

Applying as soon as possible is V important

 

[BasicG]

This is one thing you have control over in the app cycle, finish it ASAP. If I had waited until the end of June to submit mine, I definitely wouldn't have had 6 interview offers by the end of July

 

[Progeny]

Thanks everyone, I didn't think it would be important but i'm glad I asked. What's considered late?

 

[Rayner15]

Thanks everyone, I didn't think it would be important but i'm glad I asked. What's considered late?

My opinion, 2 weeks after opening, but your probably safe to July or so. As someone mentioned before, you can control if it is done or not. My “stats” aren’t anything to drool at, but I submitted early, and got sufficient interviews. A friend of mine from undergrad misunderstood that he could submit prior to taking the DAT submitted his end of July, and didn’t get an interview. His stats are a lot better than mine, and our ECs are almost identical, and we applied to several of he same schools. I think he’d be in this cycle if he submitted on time.
Moral of the story
Get your transcripts in ASAP
Fill out everything you need BEFORE it even opens-this means all you need to do is copy/paste once it opens. This lowered my stress level a TON. Personal statement, experiences, etc.
Submit even if you don’t have your letter of recs or DAT in. You can add these later.
Most schools don’t look at recs very closely until after the interviews (I was one short when I went to my first, and they ended up offering me!).
Control what you can, and that is when you submit. Props to BasicG on that.

 

[pma96]

I submitted the first day it opened and still received 3 of my invites in November (which for pre-december is late and there were very limited pre-december spots by that time). As an example, when Columbia sent their invitation in August the earliest available date was in Nov. And my friend who got the invite a few days before was able to schedule a month earlier. Meaning that they filled their spots quickly. I should mention that my committee letter wasn't submitted until mid July, but still a couple of schools invited me w/o it. So moral of the story, for some schools a few days may make a difference but it doesn't mean you won't get interviews if you apply later.

 

[princeafrica]

Thanks everyone, I didn't think it would be important but i'm glad I asked. What's considered late?

Just from observation applying in late july - august late in terms of getting early interviews but you can still get later interviews and even some early depending on when the school starts reviewing

 

[ab117]

The fact is this is one of the few things YOU have 100% control over and right now you have 4 whole months to make sure you have everything ready that first week. I received invitations in July and August for interviews in August and September and those three schools accepted me Dec. 1st. Yeah it’s not a huge deal to apply in July, but applying ~first week of June maximizes your chances. Why would you not do something easily within your control that clearly increases the probability that you get accepted to dental school?

 

[hungryhippo23]

Lol I applied in August, took the DAT in early September, and found out my committee letter hadn't been submitted properly in October. Were my interviews later? Yeah. But I got accepted to 4 schools on Dec 1st.

That said, do what you can to get it in ASAP. No need to procrastinate! You'll feel so much better after with it not hanging over your head. And like some have said, early can increase your odds. Certainly not going to hurt them.

 

[nightowl54]

I started writing my secondaries as soon as the portal opened (mid May I think), finalized my personal statement, ordered my final transcript, and submitted my letters in rec so I was able to submit my application around mid June. However, I was waiting to take the DAT in mid July; after a fire drill happened on my test day, I was able to retake the test for free two weeks later (beginning of August). When my DAT scores processed two weeks later, everything was sent out to schools.

I applied to 15 schools, got 5 pre-Dec interviews, 4 acceptances on December 3rd. Later on, I got 5 more interviews post-Dec but I only went to 2.

What I'm saying is that you don't NEED to submit everything on the first week. I was literally two and half months late and everything worked out.

 

[doc toothache]

Acceptances are less likely to be a function of the postmarked date and more a functions of the cards an applicant is holding.

 

[AEZDent]

Acceptances are less likely to be a function of the postmarked date and more a functions of the cards an applicant is holding.

I definitely agree with this! I would still aim for late July or Early August to get everything completed.

 

[SmileGoals]

SO IMPORTANT! Have everything in before the end of June.

Edit: Ya just apply the week after! But again, can't stress enough along with everyone else here, ASAP!