Importance of Responding to Secondaries Quickly

[toros102]

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Hello all! How important is it to respond to secondaries quickly?

Here's my situation:

I received all of my secondaries about a week ago. I am currently working about 50 hours a week, and this will continue until July 25th. The way I see it, I have two options:

1. Focus on making sure I'm done with all my secondaries in about a week, so let's say around July 15th. I have heard a two week response time is optimal. However, I definitely will not be doing my "best job" on these, but it's doable.

2. Wait until July 25th, and then have my secondaries done by about August 1st. I will have literally nothing going on, and I will be able to focus.

So, the real question is, will sending those secondaries in two weeks late matter in the end? Will medical schools notice that it took me a month to respond?

Thanks, I appreciate your opinions!

 

[heebeejeebies]

Honestly, the timing of submission, verification yadda yadda is way over emphasized here. As long as you are complete (primary/secondary/MCAT/LORs ALL in) in early August you are no worse off than someone who was complete on July 7th.

 

[ndafife]

The importance of responding to secondaries quickly is the same as the importance of submitting your primary early. You will not be considered complete until you get them done.

Ill also add that submitting better, non-rushed secondaries >>>>>> submitting 2 weeks early

 

[starlite911]

While it is important to submit early, this website has a somewhat skewed perception of what early is, in my opinion. In all cases, I don't think 2 weeks is going to make a huge difference. Or, just to feel like you're making progress, tackle some of the easier ones while you're still working, maybe just 1-2 a week, and then do the more challenging ones when you have more attention to give to them.

 

[JPA178]

I was in the same situation as you last year. Earlier is definitely better and it counts more at some schools than it does at others. Put as much time as you can afford to into your secondaries now, finish the ones that you care about the most first, and get those files complete. If you're still turning in some secondaries in August, it's not a huge deal but obviously you will have to prioritize.

 

[Spector1]

Try to focus on common secondary questions first so you can use them for a lot of secondaries. Will save time and effort.

 

[ChrisMack390]

If I was you I would pick a couple of schools that I especially care about and work on them now. Then do the rest when your schedule opens up.

 

[toros102]

All the LOR's are in, and my MCAT is taken, so that's not a concern. I like the plan of focusing on a few key schools (I should have time for that) and then finishing the rest by August. Is it true that committees usually do not start meeting until mid August? If so, this should all work out perfectly. My understanding is that you should expect a yes/no/waitlist answer about two weeks after your interview. And, the earliest acceptances happen in October. So, having secondaries done by August should be fine?

 

[ChrisMack390]

If you can't handle a 50 hour work week + some essays, you can't handle med school. Think of it as a test.

 

[toros102]

If you can't handle a 50 hour work week + some essays, you can't handle med school. Think of it as a test.

I don't think I should compromise the quality of my secondaries in order to prove to myself I can make it in med school...

 

[Dr. Retractor]

All the LOR's are in, and my MCAT is taken, so that's not a concern. I like the plan of focusing on a few key schools (I should have time for that) and then finishing the rest by August. Is it true that committees usually do not start meeting until mid August? If so, this should all work out perfectly. My understanding is that you should expect a yes/no/waitlist answer about two weeks after your interview. And, the earliest acceptances happen in October. So, having secondaries done by August should be fine?

Unless I'm misunderstanding, this isn't always correct. At the earliest, schools send out decisions on Oct 15 or so, with some rolling admissions schools doing what you indicated after that date. non-rolling schools release all decision in March or thereabouts. Maybe @gonnif can confirm/deny.

 

[ChrisMack390]

You are compromising your acceptance to medical school because you can't put in long days or give up weekend free time...

 

[heebeejeebies]

If you can't handle a 50 hour work week + some essays, you can't handle med school. Think of it as a test.

... seriously?

 

[ChrisMack390]

... seriously?

Yes? 3rd rotations easily add up to 70-80 hour weeks. As does boards studying.

 

[Oranges2]

i think having your secondaries in by August 1 is totally fine......

 

[thegooddoctor2015]

Most people don't submit till mid-August so you're good if you would like to wait and put in 100% effort 🙂

 

[starlite911]

Most people don't submit till mid-August so you're good if you would like to wait and put in 100% effort 🙂

Yeah, the rule of thumb at my undergrad was have them all done before classes start in August