On applying really early...

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A lot of people on this board believe that applying early is some sort of magic bullet that makes subpar applicants suddenly competitive. It's not. Don't get me wrong, applying early is better than applying later but the important thing is to be invited for an interview before they draft the December 1st batch of acceptance letters. If you are a strong applicant, you will be accepted to dental school, done deal. If you are a mediocre applicant, getting your application out in the first batch won't change your GPA, DAT or alma mater.

So if you are stressing over GPA calculations and AADSAS mailings, relax

 

[DentalFlossie]

Applying early won't make a subpar applicant better, I agree. But I'm going to say that people should really try to get there stuff in asap. I was basically told by our admissions director that, had I applied a few months earlier, I would have been accepted and not waitlisted. Luckily, I did get in, but I could have had to wait for the next cycle.

It's well worth your time and effort to apply early in my opinion. Really, most of the application isn't that confusing, and you can send in your DAT scores and LORs later.

 

[lcinva]

Applying early won't make a subpar applicant better, I agree. But I'm going to say that people should really try to get there stuff in asap. I was basically told by our admissions director that, had I applied a few months earlier, I would have been accepted and not waitlisted. Luckily, I did get in, but I could have had to wait for the next cycle.

It's well worth your time and effort to apply early in my opinion. Really, most of the application isn't that confusing, and you can send in your DAT scores and LORs later.

I'm actually glad to hear all this....a lot of people on here made me think that when I sent my AADSAS in on July 1st I was way late! Heres my question...does anybody know if schools will still either 1. send you a secondary or 2. invite for an interview if the LOR's aren't in? I'm specifically thinking about Case...I know they actually do interview fairly early and I didn't know if they would do that without LOR's.

 

[Biogirl361]

but if you have subpar stats then you need to give yourself every advantage that you possibly can, and applying early is an easy advantage to give yourself if you take a little time to be prepared.
-there are definitly a lot of stories out there of people not getting in, while people with lower stats who applied earlier got interviewed early and got in.
-if you apply later there is a bigger chance of your application just being 'part of the pack' at the school rather than being given the attention that it might if it was one of only a few early ones.
-the longer you wait, the more bogged down aadsas and schools are and so the later your application will sit and wait before getting reviewed. so if you apply in may it will get there in june, but if you wait until late august it might not get looked at until late october or november, when schools have already filled many of their interview spots and are almost ready to start accepting people.

yes applying early isn't suddenly going to make you a highly desireable candidate, but if there is even a chance it could make a difference, that's enough to make it worth doing.

 

[pbure]

but if you have subpar stats then you need to give yourself every advantage that you possibly can, and applying early is an easy advantage to give yourself if you take a little time to be prepared.
-there are definitly a lot of stories out there of people not getting in, while people with lower stats who applied earlier got interviewed early and got in.
-if you apply later there is a bigger chance of your application just being 'part of the pack' at the school rather than being given the attention that it might if it was one of only a few early ones.
-the longer you wait, the more bogged down aadsas and schools are and so the later your application will sit and wait before getting reviewed. so if you apply in may it will get there in june, but if you wait until late august it might not get looked at until late october or november, when schools have already filled many of their interview spots and are almost ready to start accepting people.

yes applying early isn't suddenly going to make you a highly desireable candidate, but if there is even a chance it could make a difference, that's enough to make it worth doing.

exactly. i am sure all the sub 3.0 ppl who got accepted applied early. no way they would have made it in applying in october.

 

[jay228]

exactly. i am sure all the sub 3.0 ppl who got accepted applied early. no way they would have made it in applying in october.

applyign early can definitely help you get an interview if you're borderline stats wise. Also, many schools are full by Nov, so if you apply after that, you ain't getting in no matter how good you are.

however, just to 😛 the comment above, I was a sub 3.0 science GPA'er who applied late in December and got in 😛 but I remember for 3 schools right off the bat they were full... though they didn't tell me this until after they happily cashed in my apps fee.

 

[natroncb]

I disagree with the OP. It is true it wont change your GPA, etc. But rolling admissions means the later you apply the less open spots available.

 

[luder98]

Last Dec I was debating with some other members on why I was considered late when I submitted a few months before the deadline. Well, I had no idea what rolling admissions really meant. I wasted so much money for two waitlisted spots. Most schools didn't even bother to invite me in. Although it's not exactly the same, one way to look at this rolling admissions is to imagine when your flight got canceled or you are trying to get onto a flight at the last minute. Your chance of getting onto the next flight really depends on what is available there. If it's full, it's full. It doesn't matter if you got more bucks (higher GPA and DAT) than someone on that plane.

Another advantage of applying early is scholarship if one has on mind. If you are qualified, you don't want to wait for the last minute. You'll get much less or none compared to someone with your stats or a bit lower but applied much ealier than you.

The best part of applying early, as Biogirl mentioned, is to give you the most chance that the schools will review your app thoroughly, esp when you are at the borderline of the schools. If you apply late and are at the borderline, there is chance that your ps won't even be read.

The only downside from applying early is that you are running the risk of being put in a pool with over qualified applicants.
Just my thoughts.

 

[syn_apse]

I disagree with the OP. It is true it wont change your GPA, etc. But rolling admissions means the later you apply the less open spots available.

are you sure you disagree with me? i said that applying early is better than applying late; applying early doesn't make mediocre stats suddenly competitive; stressing over first batch mail dates is ridiculous

 

[Missserica]

Last Dec I was debating with some other members on why I was considered late when I submitted a few months before the deadline. Well, I had no idea what rolling admissions really meant. I wasted so much money for two waitlisted spots. Most schools didn't even bother to invite me in. Although it's not exactly the same, one way to look at this rolling admissions is to imagine when your flight got canceled or you are trying to get onto a flight at the last minute. Your chance of getting onto the next flight really depends on what is available there. If it's full, it's full. It doesn't matter if you got more bucks (higher GPA and DAT) than someone on that plane.

Another advantage of applying early is scholarship if one has on mind. If you are qualified, you don't want to wait for the last minute. You'll get much less or none compared to someone with your stats or a bit lower but applied much ealier than you.

The best part of applying early, as Biogirl mentioned, is to give you the most chance that the schools will review your app thoroughly, esp when you are at the borderline of the schools. If you apply late and are at the borderline, there is chance that your ps won't even be read.

The only downside from applying early is that you are running the risk of being put in a pool with over qualified applicants.
Just my thoughts.

Yeah, I feel like if you apply late(r), you'll be with those guys who are wicked smart (3.7+, 21+) but are kinda lazy and decided to apply to dental school just because. They will get in cuz they have the numbers and that is what's important. Just my opinion.

 

[tiny2533]

I'm actually glad to hear all this....a lot of people on here made me think that when I sent my AADSAS in on July 1st I was way late! Heres my question...does anybody know if schools will still either 1. send you a secondary or 2. invite for an interview if the LOR's aren't in? I'm specifically thinking about Case...I know they actually do interview fairly early and I didn't know if they would do that without LOR's.

Every school will send you a secondary app know matter when you apply becuase they want your money. As for your second question I dont think they will invite you for an interview without your LOR but I can be wrong. I would contact Case if you think your LOR's are going to be late.