primaries vs. secondaries- with respect to submitting LORs and more...

[biojunky]

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Very basic question, I know! But I really need someone to explain this to me please... 😕
I thought you submit the letters of recommendation with the primaries, but from what I'm hearing on these forums it sounds like they are to be sent out with the secondaries... I'm confused! The schools don't get to see the LORs for the first time around (aka selection or rejection among the primaries)?
Aren't the secondaries sent through each school's own system? Or do the different schools all have their own sections for secondaries on the AMCAS?
Can someone explain what goes in the primary application and what goes in the secondary???
How does updating the schools with any new information (more grades, more publications, more letters of recommendations, etc) work after you've submitted the primary?
I really should know more about this!

 

[biojunky]

Also, how much time is there usually between when you submit the primaries and when you get the secondaries? How long should it take you to finish the secondaries? Do people usually prepare personal statements and whatever else needed for every school they have applied to? Is it ok to send in the secondaries later?
Is it ok/appropriate to call specific schools to ask about things like who they send their secondaries to (if there is a screening or if everyone gets them) and other school-specific stuff?
Thank you all for your advice 😍

 

[mattng]

Alright first, calm down, take a deep breath and relax. Let me break it down for you.

AMCAS started this new thing (I believe last year) where they take your LoR for you and then submit them to each medical school (only the ones that subscribe to it though). So, the rest of the medical schools that don't use AMCAS' letter system will have to have letters sent to them directly for your recommenders.

Secondaries will be sent to you (if said medical school wants to) usually via email where you then fill it out and resubmit, along with LoR (if the school uses the AMCAS system, then you wouldn't have to send in LoR). On each secondary, are instructions as to what you need to do for it, if you need to send in any supplemental material and unfortunately, the application fee...

The primary application is what you fill out on AMCAS. This includes, personal information, extra-curriculars, jobs, experience, personal statement, grades and which schools you want to apply to.

Secondaries are school specific and will more than likely contain essay questions pertaining to that individual school. Each secondary, although they can be quite redundant, are unique to each school.

To update, you would have to send it to each school individually as once you submit your AMCAS, you can longer edit it, unless it is to apply to another school.

I hope this answers your questions. Best of luck!

 

[mattng]

After submitted primaries, you'll need to get verified, meaning AMCAS checks over your transcript to make sure everything is in order. This can take from a few days to a few weeks depending on how busy they are and when you submit your transcripts to them. Once you are verified, secondaries can come immediately or a few weeks or never, depending on the school.

Since most schools are on a rolling basis, it is ideal to finish each secondary as soon as possible, but it also must be good quality. This can be ignored if you have, say, a 45 MCAT and 4.0 GPA with all the bells and whistles...

Its okay to call the schools.

 

[Bernoull]

Very basic question, I know! But I really need someone to explain this to me please... 😕
I thought you submit the letters of recommendation with the primaries, but from what I'm hearing on these forums it sounds like they are to be sent out with the secondaries... I'm confused! The schools don't get to see the LORs for the first time around (aka selection or rejection among the primaries)?

1. For initial reject/consider further, school's don't need LORs. LORs are evaluated with secondary to render interview decision.
2. Most school now use AMCAS Letter Service, u submit ur LORs to AMCAS and u designate what schools u want to send which letters. The schools download the letters when they need them.

Aren't the secondaries sent through each school's own system? Or do the different schools all have their own sections for secondaries on the AMCAS?
Can someone explain what goes in the primary application and what goes in the secondary???

1. AMCAS doesn't handle secondaries, this u'll get directly from the school - thru school's website or email attachment.
Both apps have biographic, academic, ECs and essays..

How does updating the schools with any new information (more grades, more publications, more letters of recommendations, etc) work after you've submitted the primary?

1. Depends on the school. Some don't want to be bothered, some u can email, and some u use the same webpage that has the secondary to update..
I really should know more about this!

 

[biojunky]

Great! Thank you for the very comprehensive and quick response 😀