Late Cycle Applicants

[dr.brownfacebeauty]

Looking for feedback, updates, encouragement, or whatever you may have to offer if you applied late in the cycle (i.e, primary verified Aug/Sep, secondaries submitted Sep/Oct.) I know I'm not alone, but would love to see where everyone is.

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[Dom Dolla]

I wouldn't say august primary submission is necessarily late but my primary was submitted in early august and I submitted primaries from mid-august to mid september

2 IIs so far from my september submissions and 2 Rs 💀 managed to escape nearly all of last week's rejection waves but I fear my time is coming for those schools

 

[dr.brownfacebeauty]

I wouldn't say august primary submission is necessarily late but my primary was submitted in early august and I submitted primaries from mid-august to mid september

2 IIs so far from my september submissions and 2 Rs 💀 managed to escape nearly all of last week's rejection waves but I fear my time is coming for those schools

I hope not! Positive energy 🙏🏽

 

[pedneuro6894]

Being later in the cycle does make it more difficult for success, but that does not mean it's a death sentence. However, the people who are successful much later in the cycle typically have really good apps, have strong ties to the school(s), or get a little lucky. The best thing you can do right now is remain hopeful, but also begin planning for a second cycle/Plan B. Continue to do things to strengthen your app if reapplication is your plan.

 

[dr.brownfacebeauty]

Being later in the cycle does make it more difficult for success, but that does not mean it's a death sentence. However, the people who are successful much later in the cycle typically have really good apps, have strong ties to the school(s), or get a little lucky. The best thing you can do right now is remain hopeful, but also begin planning for a second cycle/Plan B. Continue to do things to strengthen your app if reapplication is your plan.

Good points. Thank you!

 

[skedaddleduck]

I submitted ~20 of my secondaries throughout September and about 10 in October. So far I have 4 IIs including Pitt and Georgetown (completed around 9/20ish) with an LM 73. No crazy story, though I did do Americorps for a year. I know my timing was unwise but I do think the fear of submitting late is a little overblown. It’s great for pushing applicants to submit early, but for those of us who submitted late, it can be very inhibitive and isolating. But you’re not alone!! We’re all here lurking lol. Several of my friends who applied last year and are now M1s attend the school they got interviews for post January.

I’ve also been on the other side—the first time I applied was on time in July a few years ago and I heard crickets. The reality is there is a web of factors involved in that II and app timing, though important, is only a part of it.

 

[eigen]

In my experience, strong applicants don't see much of a dip in their chances, but students with weaker applications (in some area) benefit more from an earlier application.

This is why the advice I tend to give is that a stronger later application is almost always better than an earlier weaker application, and that delaying for that stronger app is often worthwhile. Would it be better to be strong and at the start of a cycle? Sure, but that doesn't always happen.

 

[Backrub]

In my experience, strong applicants don't see much of a dip in their chances, but students with weaker applications (in some area) benefit more from an earlier application.

This is why the advice I tend to give is that a stronger later application is almost always better than an earlier weaker application, and that delaying for that stronger app is often worthwhile. Would it be better to be strong and at the start of a cycle? Sure, but that doesn't always happen.

This was the advice I received from my pre health advisors in mid may/early June. First secondary was sent out 9/3. I'm really glad I took the time to shore up my primary and secondary essays, especially with lowerish stats (513, 3.2 gpa) but a compelling story/reinvention.

There's a lot I didn't understand about the timeline of this application process going into it as a nontrad. In hindsight I wish I was in a position to submit about a month prior. The potential to forego some neuroticism by hearing back earlier is definitely something that shouldn't be taken for granted.

It was very stressful for a while seeing people having II's before I'd sent out a single secondary. The waiting is brutal, so I feel you. I'm fortunate to have heard back quickly from a couple of schools, but am still radio silent from almost 20 of them.

THAT BEING SAID it's a very long cycle and I dont think aug/sep is "late" by any means (with the exception of like mich and pitt). Outside of the big R waves it feels like it's been pretty quiet across the board. Now that we're entering the next phase, we should be hearing back soon!! (copium)

 

[skedaddleduck]

This was the advice I received from my pre health advisors in mid may/early June. First secondary was send out 9/3. I'm really glad I took the time to shore up my primary and secondary essays, especially with lowerish stats (513, 3.2 gpa) but a compelling story/reinvention.

There's a lot I didn't understand about the timeline of this application process going into it as a nontrad. In hindsight I wish I was in a position to submit about a month prior. The potential to forego some neuroticism by hearing back earlier is definitely something that shouldn't be taken for granted.

It was very stressful for a while seeing people having II's before I'd sent out a single secondary. The waiting is brutal, so I feel you. I'm fortunate to have heard back quickly from a couple of schools, but am still radio silent from almost 20 of them.

THAT BEING SAID it's a very long cycle and I dont think aug/sep is "late" by any means (with the exception of like mich and pitt). Outside of the big R waves it feels like it's been pretty quiet across the board. Now that we're entering the next phase, we should be hearing back soon!! (copium)

Same, it took forever to get my personal statement + secondaries to the quality I wanted. I def do regret not submitting earlier, unfortunately I’m not one of the strong applicant eigen mentions so I know it did hurt me. But I’m grateful for where I’m at now and I feel peace with the quality of my written materials regardless of which adcom reads them.

The anxiety is reallll though. I used to tell premeds to stop going on sdn/reddit constantly and now I’m on here every day🥴 time to get back to hobbies and life in general lol

 

[dr.brownfacebeauty]

Same, it took forever to get my personal statement + secondaries to the quality I wanted. I def do regret not submitting earlier, unfortunately I’m not one of the strong applicant eigen mentions so I know it did hurt me. But I’m grateful for where I’m at now and I feel peace with the quality of my written materials regardless of which adcom reads them.

The anxiety is reallll though. I used to tell premeds to stop going on sdn/reddit constantly and now I’m on here every day🥴 time to get back to hobbies and life in general lol

It’s so hard! I have started interventiewing for full time jobs at this point. I’m a non-traditional student with grown up bills, so I need to start being smart about the new year coming up and being financially stable. Especially if I have to pay for another MCAT and application cycle. Adulting is really real right now 😭