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- Jan 2, 2005
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We need a "30+ Study Tips"-esque thread for overall application strategies...
I'm looking for tips from people who had a lot of success in terms of how they timed their primaries (fairly obvious, earlier = better), secondaries (here's where some strategy comes in), and interviewing. I'm using Excel to keep track of all this stuff, because with almost 30 schools, it gets pretty overwhelming.
My situation: 3.65/3.5 GPA w/ 34 MCAT, TX Resident. I'm applying to all the TX schools and 23 AMCAS schools, all with GPAs and MCAT averages that are hopefully within reach. I've collected all the secondary questions from last year (I've got a lot of writing to do), and figured out that secondary fees alone will run me $1,900+.
So here's what I'm thinking: Rank the 23 schools in order of my preference, and return secondaries ASAP (I'm aiming for a 48 hour turnaround, since I should have most essays written) for the top 15. Wait a month to see if I get interview invitations, and if I'm not getting any love, send secondaries by mid-August to the remaining schools. I figure doing this could save me $1,000 if I'm getting interviews... any thoughts on this strategy? Is the cost in terms of waiting (and possibility of lost interview slots) greater than the benefit in terms of financial savings?
My other question is regarding letters of interest/following up, and keeping track of such things. Did successful applicants write a letter to the admissions depts. at all the schools they're applying to, or to the top five, or anything like that? Are these only worthwhile when you're intending on committing to a school if you're accepted, or following an interview?
Also, to save money, have people had success e-mailing or calling schools in the same city as they're interviewing in to try to schedule interviews (even when none has been offered yet)?
Successful applicants of years past, please help!
I'm looking for tips from people who had a lot of success in terms of how they timed their primaries (fairly obvious, earlier = better), secondaries (here's where some strategy comes in), and interviewing. I'm using Excel to keep track of all this stuff, because with almost 30 schools, it gets pretty overwhelming.
My situation: 3.65/3.5 GPA w/ 34 MCAT, TX Resident. I'm applying to all the TX schools and 23 AMCAS schools, all with GPAs and MCAT averages that are hopefully within reach. I've collected all the secondary questions from last year (I've got a lot of writing to do), and figured out that secondary fees alone will run me $1,900+.
So here's what I'm thinking: Rank the 23 schools in order of my preference, and return secondaries ASAP (I'm aiming for a 48 hour turnaround, since I should have most essays written) for the top 15. Wait a month to see if I get interview invitations, and if I'm not getting any love, send secondaries by mid-August to the remaining schools. I figure doing this could save me $1,000 if I'm getting interviews... any thoughts on this strategy? Is the cost in terms of waiting (and possibility of lost interview slots) greater than the benefit in terms of financial savings?
My other question is regarding letters of interest/following up, and keeping track of such things. Did successful applicants write a letter to the admissions depts. at all the schools they're applying to, or to the top five, or anything like that? Are these only worthwhile when you're intending on committing to a school if you're accepted, or following an interview?
Also, to save money, have people had success e-mailing or calling schools in the same city as they're interviewing in to try to schedule interviews (even when none has been offered yet)?
Successful applicants of years past, please help!