How screwed am I going to be regarding secondary applications?

[alphagojo]

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I am applying to schools this summer (I will graduate in May 2010). I plan to get my primary AMCAS app in as soon as possible and work on secondaries as much as possible for the first part of June.

However, I have Army training from 22JUN-14AUG. How badly is that going to affect my secondaries getting turned in and my subsequent interview dates? (When do secondaries normally get sent out?/When should you try to have them sent in by?) Any ideas on how to make the best of this?

Thanks for the input.

 

[thoffen]

Primary application date doesn't matter to the schools as far as determining who to interview. It does matter when your application is complete (primary, secondary, LORs, photo if needed). Still, August is by no means late, so you won't be screwed.

What I would do is make 100% sure that I have my LORs/committee letter 100% ready to go out and have passport-sized professional photos at your ready as well. As far as secondaries, most schools who don't pre-screen make them available on-line within a week or 2 of receiving the primary. If you have internet access that would be ideals. Schools with paper secondaries might be a little tougher to manage.

 

[alphagojo]

Primary application date doesn't matter to the schools as far as determining who to interview. It does matter when your application is complete (primary, secondary, LORs, photo if needed). Still, August is by no means late, so you won't be screwed.

What I would do is make 100% sure that I have my LORs/committee letter 100% ready to go out and have passport-sized professional photos at your ready as well. As far as secondaries, most schools who don't pre-screen make them available on-line within a week or 2 of receiving the primary. If you have internet access that would be ideals. Schools with paper secondaries might be a little tougher to manage.

Alright, planning on having all the LOR stuff ready by June 1.

Definitely won't have internet access for the first month and I *might* have limited internet access during the last three weeks.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Write the secondary essays now...and then get your SO or friend to send them in for you.

Theres a thread somewhere on here with the essays.

 

[CourageKid]

Last summer, I worked at a camp in a rural area with limited internet access. I did not submit my secondaries until I was home in mid-August. All were done by the beginning of September and it didn't affect my chances anywhere.

Pre-writing the secondary essays is a good suggestion, however I don't think it's necessary. Many of my secondaries contained essays about what I had done that summer (It was a special needs camp and I had some pretty crazy experiences). Knowing that I wanted to write about xyz at camp also influenced how I answered the other questions on a secondary so I could highlight another experience/quality.

If your army training could be a source of essays/insights, then I would recommend holding off on some of the advanced writing. You'll be fine if you get your secondaries submitted in August.

 

[alphagojo]

Write the secondary essays now...and then get your SO or friend to send them in for you.

Theres a thread somewhere on here with the essays.

They don't change them each year?

 

[AdmiralChz]

I wouldn't worry about it too much - if you submit early, you'll have many of your secondaries done by July 22. The other ones can wait - don't forget that MANY places don't even begin looking at their secondaries (or even primaries) until August, when they're done with this years waitlist 🙂

 

[alphagojo]

I wouldn't worry about it too much - if you submit early, you'll have many of your secondaries done by July 22. The other ones can wait - don't forget that MANY places don't even begin looking at their secondaries (or even primaries) until August, when they're done with this years waitlist 🙂

Wait, did you mean June 22?