Next cycle: application timetable; how early?

[RoadRunner17]

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I've already been considering the application process for the coming cycle. However, I was wondering if anyone has an idea of how early is "early".

If I were to have the personal statement all written early on, all the activity descriptions written up and copies of transcripts in hand (ready to be typed up) with the transcripts already sent into AMCAS, I could conceivably submit the AMCAS within days of its initial release in June, be verified after several weeks and be ready to roll with secondaries.

I just spoke with my adviser, and she suggested taking another class in the first six weeks of the summer, and then sending in the transcript + AMCAS application shortly thereafter.. that would mean I click submit early July,
and get verified by late July.

The question is, does either option A) submitting early June offer any significant advantage relative to B) submitting early July? I don't know that taking the one summer class will affect my GPA that much. Assuming all goes well, I'd have a post-bac GPA of 4.0 in 27 credit hours instead of 24 credit hours, and change both my overall GPA and BCPM GPA by 0.01, which isn't a huge deal.

But the same adviser tells me that it doesn't matter how early I apply in the summer, since medical schools don't start looking at your application until mid-August. What's the deal with that? Which option would you think is better, option A or option B? What would you do?

 

[Shejeboshease]

I've already been considering the application process for the coming cycle. However, I was wondering if anyone has an idea of how early is "early".

If I were to have the personal statement all written early on, all the activity descriptions written up and copies of transcripts in hand (ready to be typed up) with the transcripts already sent into AMCAS, I could conceivably submit the AMCAS within days of its initial release in June, be verified after several weeks and be ready to roll with secondaries.

I just spoke with my adviser, and she suggested taking another class in the first six weeks of the summer, and then sending in the transcript + AMCAS application shortly thereafter.. that would mean I click submit early July,
and get verified by late July.

The question is, does either option A) submitting early June offer any significant advantage relative to B) submitting early July? I don't know that taking the one summer class will affect my GPA that much. Assuming all goes well, I'd have a post-bac GPA of 4.0 in 27 credit hours instead of 24 credit hours, and change both my overall GPA and BCPM GPA by 0.01, which isn't a huge deal.

But the same adviser tells me that it doesn't matter how early I apply in the summer, since medical schools don't start looking at your application until mid-August. What's the deal with that? Which option would you think is better, option A or option B? What would you do?

its ridiculous to wait for a month to include the gpa of one class. you don't have to listen to everything that your advisor says...use your head; apply the first available date of june (given that you have all the scores and activties ready) and then send the schools an update letter in sep./oct. with gpa of your summer courses.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

its ridiculous to wait for a month to include the gpa of one class. you don't have to listen to everything that your advisor says...use your head; apply the first available date of june (given that you have all the scores and activties ready) and then send the schools an update letter in sep./oct. with gpa of your summer courses.

I couldn't disagree more with this. If the extra class is upper level (especially grad) and is relevant to medicine, wait and apply afterwards. "Early" is typically considered anytime prior to the end of the first week of August. If you apply by mid-late July, you should be verified around the middle of August, still early, for sure.

 

[volley1]

definitely apply as early as possible!! you can put on your application that you are taking that class over the summer. The earlier the better! good luck!

 

[Phoenix.]

I agree with those who suggested submitting AMCAS early in June, indicating the class as in progress or future, and then sending an update later with the grade.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Submitting in early July will make NO difference in when you get secondaries and interviews. You will be right there with everyone else who submitted June 1st. I submitted around the end of June 2 years ago and it took less than 24 hours to go from "submitted" to "being verified" or whatever the terminology is. Then it would have come out and been done shortly thereafter if I hadn't been missing a transcript (long story -AMCAS lied to me). Even when I submitted early July it only took 5 working days to get verified and I still got early interviews, and an acceptance on 10/16.

Schools don't even get the applicants info until late June/early July, they won't send secondaries until July/August and they won't interview until September/October. Submitted the beginning of July will put you in the first pile to be reviewed and its nothing to worry about.

Is one class significant? Not really, but waiting won't have an effect so why not. My biggest concern will be when does your class end and how long would it take to post to your transcript and get that transcript to AMCAS - that might push you into late July or early August which would be sort of bad. But if the transcripts can actually be in at AMCAS by early July so when you click submit everything is already there then that should be fine.

Good luck.

 

[Phoenix.]

While I don't know how important it is, I found that I did get a bunch of secondaries in the end of June. AMCAS transmitted our information to schools on June 21st, and some schools like Tulane, GW, etc., sent their secondaries within a couple of days. While I doubt there's a real difference between submitting a secondary in the end of June and submitting it in early July, I do think that there's a difference between submitting secondaries in early July from early August. But perhaps my perspective is a little off.

 

[alwaysaangel]

While I don't know how important it is, I found that I did get a bunch of secondaries in the end of June. AMCAS transmitted our information to schools on June 21st, and some schools like Tulane, GW, etc., sent their secondaries within a couple of days. While I doubt there's a real difference between submitting a secondary in the end of June and submitting it in early July, I do think that there's a difference between submitting secondaries in early July from early August. But perhaps my perspective is a little off.

Yeah but if he submits early July he'll get those secondaries in early July (they send them to you almost immediately after you submit - in fact, GW sends theirs out before you're even verified, so that one won't matter), and he can submit then in earlyish July - so in the end he'll be in the same position as someone who submitted their primary on June 1st.

Really as long as his primary is in by early July - the determining factor is going to be how fast he can crank out secondaries.

 

[XerxesMD]

Apply early in June. It will be more advantageous to you overall.

 

[RoadRunner17]

That's what I thought. I figured that I might as well as get everything in early June, and anything else that needs to be added can be through update letters, which I have no problem sending. It's just the second part of what people have said - that med schools don't even look at your complete application until a certain date, citing things like having to welcome the new incoming class, etc. that make me wonder if it does anything to submit in June instead of July.

 

[neurofreak]

I couldn't disagree more with this. If the extra class is upper level (especially grad) and is relevant to medicine, wait and apply afterwards. "Early" is typically considered anytime prior to the end of the first week of August. If you apply by mid-late July, you should be verified around the middle of August, still early, for sure.

disagree with this....i think june/july would be considered early, but towards the end of july you are bordering the "average" timeline.

especially now with the 2341248797 MCAT test dates available

 

[alwaysaangel]

That's what I thought. I figured that I might as well as get everything in early June, and anything else that needs to be added can be through update letters, which I have no problem sending. It's just the second part of what people have said - that med schools don't even look at your complete application until a certain date, citing things like having to welcome the new incoming class, etc. that make me wonder if it does anything to submit in June instead of July.

It doesn't. Especially at schools that do auto screens or don't screen at all. And for the rare schools that do do a hand screen - the difference is negligible.

The whole "OMG I HAVE TO SUBMIT AT MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 1st" is simply the result of a bunch of really neurotic premeds on this site. Now I'm not saying time doesn't matter - but until late July/August it really doesn't.

 

[deuce924]

I don't see why you would wait for one class. You can submit your AMCAS early on (you don't have to send it within the first 24 hours) and then send the schools you apply to an updated transcript after the summer class is completed.

If I had any advice I would say to get your transcript in as soon as possible. I sent my transcript in at the end of may and when I submitted my AMCAS in the middle of June my transcripts still weren't received. So keep that in mind if you have to send out your first transcript in early July, you may not get verified for a few weeks. So in my eyes one class isn't worth it.