Late application...what to do?

[Jmac2173]

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Hey everyone!

I've been struggling for a while about what to do this admissions cycle.
Here's my situation:

I just finished my sophomore year in college and just turned 20. I'm going to graduate this May with a BS in Biology from Rutgers. I planned on submitting my application to medical schools earlier this summer, but I have run into some problems. I transferred to Rutgers from Vanderbilt(I'm from NJ) after my freshman year for personal reasons, so I haven't had much time to develop many relationships to obtain quality LORs. I spent most of the summer in Peru studying and volunteering at a children's clinic, so it was a little more difficult working on my application there. On top of this, the health professions office has some very time consuming procedures before they will send out your information to medical schools.

I'm just about finished with AMCAS and my personal statement, and everything with the health professions office should be sorted out within the next few weeks. Optimistically I'll have my applications sent out by mid-September.

I feel my qualifications are good: 36 MCAT (13V, 11PS, 12BS), as well as a fairly competitive GPA and ECs. However, I can't shake the feeling that applying so late will hurt my chances. I think it's likely I'll receive at least one acceptance this admissions cycle. It would be very hard for me to turn down an acceptance, but another part of me doesn't want to constantly be asking where I could've gone had I applied 3 months earlier. I would also like to spend some time working and traveling since I don't think I'll have much time for either in the foreseeable future.

I know I'm still pretty young and as far as problems are concerned, I'm pretty fortunate this is my biggest one. However, any help or advice you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

 

[breakdanceboa]

hey man...
you have pretty good e.c.'s and your MCAT score is good but the only problem is that it is pretty late applying around this time...the ideal time of applying is between june and july. I just finished applying first week of july and got secondaries and now just waiting. If I were you, I would still apply to a few and only a few, like 5 or six. if you did not get into any, consider this a learned lesson and next trial, just apply june 1st since you took the mcat's already and developed more e.c's on your resume to have a much better shot. best of luck man. peace

 

[Ilovewater]

Take that extra year off to travel, work, and relax! You're still so young and only a sophomore. There's no rush to get into med school.... Trust me, you'll need that extra time to relax, and you don't want to start med school all burnt out.

 

[avatarftw]

I would recommend submitting your application (s) as soon as possible and applying broadly (15-20 schools) and not just to your dream school.

Its definitely not too late to get in, especially since your MCAT is so great and you say your GPA is competitive.

However, I thought that you needed to complete at least 90 credit hours to be accepted. Do you have them? You're only a sophomore so I'm assuming no.

Hey everyone!

I've been struggling for a while about what to do this admissions cycle.
Here's my situation:

I just finished my sophomore year in college and just turned 20. I'm going to graduate this May with a BS in Biology from Rutgers. I planned on submitting my application to medical schools earlier this summer, but I have run into some problems. I transferred to Rutgers from Vanderbilt(I'm from NJ) after my freshman year for personal reasons, so I haven't had much time to develop many relationships to obtain quality LORs. I spent most of the summer in Peru studying and volunteering at a children's clinic, so it was a little more difficult working on my application there. On top of this, the health professions office has some very time consuming procedures before they will send out your information to medical schools.

I'm just about finished with AMCAS and my personal statement, and everything with the health professions office should be sorted out within the next few weeks. Optimistically I'll have my applications sent out by mid-September.

I feel my qualifications are good: 36 MCAT (13V, 11PS, 12BS), as well as a fairly competitive GPA and ECs. However, I can't shake the feeling that applying so late will hurt my chances. I think it's likely I'll receive at least one acceptance this admissions cycle. It would be very hard for me to turn down an acceptance, but another part of me doesn't want to constantly be asking where I could've gone had I applied 3 months earlier. I would also like to spend some time working and traveling since I don't think I'll have much time for either in the foreseeable future.

I know I'm still pretty young and as far as problems are concerned, I'm pretty fortunate this is my biggest one. However, any help or advice you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

 

[Jmac2173]

I wasn't aware there was a specific credit limit needed to apply, but I have 91 credits and have completed all my prereqs.

I was also wondering if there is a stigma attached to being a second time applicant?

 

[TarHeelEMT]

Hey everyone!

I've been struggling for a while about what to do this admissions cycle.
Here's my situation:

I just finished my sophomore year in college and just turned 20. I'm going to graduate this May with a BS in Biology from Rutgers. I planned on submitting my application to medical schools earlier this summer, but I have run into some problems. I transferred to Rutgers from Vanderbilt(I'm from NJ) after my freshman year for personal reasons, so I haven't had much time to develop many relationships to obtain quality LORs. I spent most of the summer in Peru studying and volunteering at a children's clinic, so it was a little more difficult working on my application there. On top of this, the health professions office has some very time consuming procedures before they will send out your information to medical schools.

I'm just about finished with AMCAS and my personal statement, and everything with the health professions office should be sorted out within the next few weeks. Optimistically I'll have my applications sent out by mid-September.

I feel my qualifications are good: 36 MCAT (13V, 11PS, 12BS), as well as a fairly competitive GPA and ECs. However, I can't shake the feeling that applying so late will hurt my chances. I think it's likely I'll receive at least one acceptance this admissions cycle. It would be very hard for me to turn down an acceptance, but another part of me doesn't want to constantly be asking where I could've gone had I applied 3 months earlier. I would also like to spend some time working and traveling since I don't think I'll have much time for either in the foreseeable future.

I know I'm still pretty young and as far as problems are concerned, I'm pretty fortunate this is my biggest one. However, any help or advice you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

On one hand, there's nothing wrong with taking a year off to do whatever it is that strikes your fancy, and the experience you get may improve your application.

That said, if you have a strong application, then you've still got a very good chance at getting in this year. I didn't get my primary submitted until early October during the year that I applied. I got secondaries almost everywhere I applied.

If your application really is as strong as it seems, then go for it.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Wait a year. You will not get in this cycle.

 

[Jmac2173]

Right now, I'm leaning towards taking the gap year. I think what would really sway my decision either way is knowledge of how medical schools view second time applicants.

Will my application look better next year if I had not applied this year?

 

[Keem]

Wait a year. You will not get in this cycle.

Don't make yourself seem so sure about something as uncertain as medical admissions...

 

[slowbutsteady]

Right now, I'm leaning towards taking the gap year. I think what would really sway my decision either way is knowledge of how medical schools view second time applicants.

Will my application look better next year if I had not applied this year?

Yes, especially if you spend the year wisely doing research or clinical work. You should never apply if you have ANY weakness that can be improved upon. Wait until you have maximized your situation in every conceivable way and then go for it.

When you are 80 and retire, so you will have been a doctor for one year fewer. Seems like a big deal now, but in the scheme of things, it's nothing!

The process is mind bogglingly brutal: do it once and do it right!!

 

[slowbutsteady]

Don't make yourself seem so sure about something as uncertain as medical admissions...

I don't "seem" sure, I am sure. Waiting a year and applying only once will produce better results for the OP. No question about it. Not even a close call. He will gain nothing by applying a year earlier, even if he gets in!!!

So.

 

[metallica81788]

Right now, I'm leaning towards taking the gap year. I think what would really sway my decision either way is knowledge of how medical schools view second time applicants.

Will my application look better next year if I had not applied this year?

You're young so a gap year would help you out so much with having fun and applications. Everyone I have talked to loved their gap year. You would have a much better chance next year at getting into a dream school and you'd hopefully have more life experiences to take with you.

 

[wanderer]

Yes, especially if you spend the year wisely doing research or clinical work. You should never apply if you have ANY weakness that can be improved upon. Wait until you have maximized your situation in every conceivable way and then go for it.

When you are 80 and retire, so you will have been a doctor for one year fewer. Seems like a big deal now, but in the scheme of things, it's nothing!

The process is mind bogglingly brutal: do it once and do it right!!

👍
This process can really wear you down a lot. If your ECs are as good as you say they are and you have good letters, your odds of getting in somewhere are definitely pretty good, but you don't want to be left wondering, "What if?" for the next few years. An early application will allow you to relax a lot more, and will result in a much higher yield. Also you will be able to hear back in October or November of the year you apply for at least some schools and won't have to wait till much later in the season (December if you're lucky, usually later) if you apply late. If you can't get quality LORs then you have no choice but to wait a year.

Trust me a year of waiting is much better than a year of anguish.

 

[AceXIII]

👍
This process can really wear you down a lot. If your ECs are as good as you say they are and you have good letters, your odds of getting in somewhere are definitely pretty good, but you don't want to be left wondering, "What if?" for the next few years. An early application will allow you to relax a lot more, and will result in a much higher yield. Also you will be able to hear back in October or November of the year you apply for at least some schools and won't have to wait till much later in the season (December if you're lucky, usually later) if you apply late. If you can't get quality LORs then you have no choice but to wait a year.

Trust me a year of waiting is much better than a year of anguish.

As a reapplicant this year, I approve of this message. 👍 Last year I submitted my primary app some time in the second half of August and was complete by late sept/early oct for most schools. I had late interviews (mostly state schools) and was left with only waitlists. This year, I applied the first week of July and already have more interviews than last year!

Definitely take an extra year.

 

[Reaction]

Hey everyone!

I've been struggling for a while about what to do this admissions cycle.
Here's my situation:

I just finished my sophomore year in college and just turned 20. I'm going to graduate this May with a BS in Biology from Rutgers. I planned on submitting my application to medical schools earlier this summer, but I have run into some problems. I transferred to Rutgers from Vanderbilt(I'm from NJ) after my freshman year for personal reasons, so I haven't had much time to develop many relationships to obtain quality LORs. I spent most of the summer in Peru studying and volunteering at a children's clinic, so it was a little more difficult working on my application there. On top of this, the health professions office has some very time consuming procedures before they will send out your information to medical schools.

I'm just about finished with AMCAS and my personal statement, and everything with the health professions office should be sorted out within the next few weeks. Optimistically I'll have my applications sent out by mid-September.

I feel my qualifications are good: 36 MCAT (13V, 11PS, 12BS), as well as a fairly competitive GPA and ECs. However, I can't shake the feeling that applying so late will hurt my chances. I think it's likely I'll receive at least one acceptance this admissions cycle. It would be very hard for me to turn down an acceptance, but another part of me doesn't want to constantly be asking where I could've gone had I applied 3 months earlier. I would also like to spend some time working and traveling since I don't think I'll have much time for either in the foreseeable future.

I know I'm still pretty young and as far as problems are concerned, I'm pretty fortunate this is my biggest one. However, any help or advice you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

It is kinda late for this years cycle as secondaries and interviews have already been started. I would wait till next year and get even better ecs, research, etc to boost my application more. Your MCAT score is really good so you should be fine as long as you get a good deal of ECs. Also from what I have heard from med school reps from Yale, U of M, and some others, they prefer students to stay a full 4 years. I don't understand why but they do lol