PTCAS Early Decision

[kcrat21]

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From the PTCAS newsletter I just received:

"Beginning in the 2011-12 cycle, PTCAS will introduce a new Early Decision process that will allow applicants to apply to their first choice program through a binding application process. Applicants who choose to apply through early decision must submit their applications and all required materials by August 15, 2011. Early decision applicants should also complete the GRE and have scores sent by July 31, 2011, if the exam is required by their designated program. If accepted, early decision applicants will not be able to apply to other programs in PTCAS. Check the PTCAS Web page in June for more details and a list of"

The last sentence wasn't finished, so I'm left wondering if there will be a list of schools participating? Idk...but I'm also wondering if anyone has opinions about if this is a good idea or not? I have a first choice school in mind, but I'm intersted in their dual-degree program so I'm not sure if it would apply...

anyway, just wondering what your thoughts are?!

 

[PT0331]

From the PTCAS newsletter I just received:

"Beginning in the 2011-12 cycle, PTCAS will introduce a new Early Decision process that will allow applicants to apply to their first choice program through a binding application process. Applicants who choose to apply through early decision must submit their applications and all required materials by August 15, 2011. Early decision applicants should also complete the GRE and have scores sent by July 31, 2011, if the exam is required by their designated program. If accepted, early decision applicants will not be able to apply to other programs in PTCAS. Check the PTCAS Web page in June for more details and a list of"

The last sentence wasn't finished, so I'm left wondering if there will be a list of schools participating? Idk...but I'm also wondering if anyone has opinions about if this is a good idea or not? I have a first choice school in mind, but I'm intersted in their dual-degree program so I'm not sure if it would apply...

anyway, just wondering what your thoughts are?!

I just spent some time looking over their website after receiving the same e-mail and there wasn't any more info on the matter. I think it might be a wait and see scenario. Most likely the incomplete sentence was a list of schools participating. My suggestion is call the school you are interested in and ask their opinion on it. Better yet they'll probably tell you so if they are participating in the PTCAS early decision program then you can plan accordingly. My only hang up on an early decision program is the amount of time it takes to find out if you didn't get in. If they are quick to contact you with a decision (and I think that is the point of the program) then it can be great. If they are not too quick (ie you find out a month or 2 later that you were rejected) then that is time waisted because you can't submit to other schools until you received their decision. Kind of a gamble but you have good stats so you probably have nothing to worry about.

 

[sunchariot]

The way I'm reading this, one would still be able to apply to non-early decision schools after having submitted an early decision application, so long as they have not been accepted to the early-decision school.

Once you have been accepted by an early-decision school, one would no longer be able to apply to more non-early decision schools.

Did anyone else read it this way? Seems the only logical way to me.

 

[CmichStudent]

The way I'm reading this, one would still be able to apply to non-early decision schools after having submitted an early decision application, so long as they have not been accepted to the early-decision school.

Once you have been accepted by an early-decision school, one would no longer be able to apply to more non-early decision schools.

Did anyone else read it this way? Seems the only logical way to me.

I talked to our admissions director and he brought up this early admission. What you said is pretty much what he said, you choose one early decision school and if you get accepted, the other schools don't even see your application.

 

[markelmarcel]

I talked to our admissions director and he brought up this early admission. What you said is pretty much what he said, you choose one early decision school and if you get accepted, the other schools don't even see your application.

Guess you better make sure you REALLY like that early decision school, then.

 

[CmichStudent]

Guess you better make sure you REALLY like that early decision school, then.

No kidding, huh. It's something I will probably end up taking advantage of though.

 

[okramango]

How did you receive this newsletter from them? I looked on their website and didn't see anything about a newsletter. I'd like to sign up for it if they have one.

 

[markelmarcel]

How did you receive this newsletter from them? I looked on their website and didn't see anything about a newsletter. I'd like to sign up for it if they have one.

I'm pretty sure if you have an active account with them you automatically get the "newsletter" emails... but, I may be wrong

 

[kcrat21]

I made an account just to poke around and look at everything which is why I get the newsletter...

 

[okramango]

Thanks for the great idea, kcrat21!

 

[ptresearcher]

Now that PTCAS has released their instructions for the upcoming cycle, I was interested in everyone's thoughts on the early decision issue. I'm not sure that it's beneficial to the candidates, but it sure seemed like a no-brainer for the schools, so I was surprised when most schools decided not to participate. If one of your top choice schools is participating, you will get an answer before the end of September and could save lots of money on app fees and interview expenses, not to mention potential deposit monies that you avoid putting down and then abandoning if your top choice accepts you after you have already accepted an earlier offer. The drawbacks are of course if you don't get accepted by that ED school. Since you aren't going to know until the end of September, PTCAS won't ship out your stuff to other schools until at least the beginning of October. You are likely to miss the first interview cycles for some schools, especially those that practice rolling admissions, and we all know applying early is better than late. Another thing to consider is how difficult it might be to get into the schools that are participating in ED if you don't go the ED route. I'm guessing that most of the inexpensive state schools that are participating could potentially fill their classes with the ED candidate pool, leaving few, if any, openings for the regular admissions pool. Some highly ranked private programs might not be much better. Duke got 500 apps (so says goyo1010) this year for 65 openings. What happens this upcoming cycle if they accept 50 people ED and 400 people apply regular admission chasing 15 openings? With no history of what these schools are going to do it's tough to figure out the best option.

 

[kcrat21]

Now that PTCAS has released their instructions for the upcoming cycle, I was interested in everyone’s thoughts on the early decision issue. I’m not sure that it’s beneficial to the candidates, but it sure seemed like a no-brainer for the schools, so I was surprised when most schools decided not to participate. If one of your top choice schools is participating, you will get an answer before the end of September and could save lots of money on app fees and interview expenses, not to mention potential deposit monies that you avoid putting down and then abandoning if your top choice accepts you after you have already accepted an earlier offer. The drawbacks are of course if you don’t get accepted by that ED school. Since you aren’t going to know until the end of September, PTCAS won’t ship out your stuff to other schools until at least the beginning of October. You are likely to miss the first interview cycles for some schools, especially those that practice rolling admissions, and we all know applying early is better than late. Another thing to consider is how difficult it might be to get into the schools that are participating in ED if you don’t go the ED route. I’m guessing that most of the inexpensive state schools that are participating could potentially fill their classes with the ED candidate pool, leaving few, if any, openings for the regular admissions pool. Some highly ranked private programs might not be much better. Duke got 500 apps (so says goyo1010) this year for 65 openings. What happens this upcoming cycle if they accept 50 people ED and 400 people apply regular admission chasing 15 openings? With no history of what these schools are going to do it’s tough to figure out the best option.

I don't think that September 27th is too late to apply if you don't get an early decision acceptance considering most schools have deadlines in December. Also, your application should already be complete and processed, so PTCAS would just take your money and send your stuff. The instructions say that they send out applications weekly. So worst case scenario: you find out September 27th, apply to a bunch of other schools and pay your fees September 27th, and by October 7th your application is sent. That is definitely not too late. And the deadline for ED schools is September 27th, that doesn't necessarily mean they will tell you on that exact day--could be earlier, of course.

Additionally, I do not think that the ED schools will fill up their classes with ED candidates. I'm sure they have a certain quota to meet. Plus, applicants only have a month to get all of their materials in. From what I understand, it takes a while to get it all together. Plus, I'm sure there are some people who are dead set on a specific school and willing to go if accepted, but a lot of PT applicants seem to not want to chance it on just one school.

In my opinion I think it is a win-win for both the school and the applicant assuming the applicant is picking the right school for them and the school is picking the right applicant. I've waffled a little bit about a few schools, but I've wanted to attend Duke since I was little. I'm attending their open house on July 18th and I believe that their school is for me, so I'm chancing it with an early decision application. And if it doesn't work out, I think I will still have a good shot at a number of other schools as well, so we'll see.

 

[Litlwarrior08]

I believe the early decision schools are tied into making their diecision by --I think-- Spt 27th. If you are not choosen then your app status changes and I believe you can then apply to the other schools. Your are then "a free agent" (my words). Also PTCAS does have a list of the schools accepting early adm. on their web site.

I was wondering if applying to each school after the first is just a matter of entering their name, and paying for it..... of does it also involve entering all the trans. and GRE info again>>>>

 

[kcrat21]

I believe the early decision schools are tied into making their diecision by --I think-- Spt 27th. If you are not choosen then your app status changes and I believe you can then apply to the other schools. Your are then "a free agent" (my words). Also PTCAS does have a list of the schools accepting early adm. on their web site.

I was wondering if applying to each school after the first is just a matter of entering their name, and paying for it..... of does it also involve entering all the trans. and GRE info again>>>>

You won't have to enter any info again. Just pay your money and they'll send your stuff. Thats how it reads in the ptcas instructions. It should be easy. That's why I'm taking my chances with early decision. It couldn't hurt.

 

[Litlwarrior08]

Kcrat21 I am also going after an ED school. Just seems to take a lot of pressure off if accepted. A couple other schools on my list have Oct 1 deadlilnes. But I think that is PTCAS submission deadlilne. So it seems it would be OK to pay up on Sept 28th. Still wondering how the prereqs. work if each school is a bit different. Anxious about the entire process but think once I get started there should be a bit of relief.

 

[cdpt15]

Can someone post the link to the schools accepting early decision applications? Also, how does the process work when applying to a PTCAS school but also those with separate applications? Is early decision binding if accepted? What is the penalty for choosing another school?

 

[okramango]

Can someone post the link to the schools accepting early decision applications? Also, how does the process work when applying to a PTCAS school but also those with separate applications? Is early decision binding if accepted? What is the penalty for choosing another school?

Yes, it is binding if you go the Early Decision route. All the info including participating schools is here:
http://www.ptcas.org/EarlyDecision.html

 

[kcrat21]

Kcrat21 I am also going after an ED school. Just seems to take a lot of pressure off if accepted. A couple other schools on my list have Oct 1 deadlilnes. But I think that is PTCAS submission deadlilne. So it seems it would be OK to pay up on Sept 28th. Still wondering how the prereqs. work if each school is a bit different. Anxious about the entire process but think once I get started there should be a bit of relief.

I am totally in your boat right now. I just made sure that I already had all of my "backup" schools picked out and I've made sure that my pre-reqs are met (I'll be done with all of my courses this summer I don't have to worry about school again until PT school). So if I don't get into Duke I'm ready to just post my money immediately and get it sent out!

 

[ptresearcher]

As okramango notes, it is binding. PTCAS will not release your application to any other PTCAS schools if you are accepted by the ED school, so there is no way that you could apply and be accepted at any other school that cycle if the school uses PTCAS. Now there is no way they can prevent you from applying to schools that do not use PTCAS, which is still about a quarter of all PT programs. So even if you are accepted ED it seems to me that you could apply and be accepted by non-PTCAS programs, so it not really as restrictive as it may initially appear.

 

[jblil]

PTCAS will not release your application to any other PTCAS schools if you are accepted by the ED school, so there is no way that you could apply and be accepted at any other school that cycle if the school uses PTCAS.

So what should I do if my second-choice school uses ED, while my first-choice does not? Can I apply to both at the same time through PTCAS, and somehow make a note that I want to be considered as a non-ED applicant?
What I would not want to happen is to be accepted by the second-choice school through ED, and then my application becomes invisible to my first-choice.

Thanks for any clarification, the process is confusing enough without this ED twist.

 

[ptresearcher]

jblil, you will have to decide whether you want to apply regular decision to both your first and second choice schools (as well as any others), or apply ED to your second choice school only, as PTCAS instructions that "you can apply to only one PTCAS program until a decision on your application has been made by your Early Decision program". If most of the programs ahd elected to do ED this program would have been really useful, but with most schools not using this program a lot of people are going to be in your situation.

 

[mizunorunner]

I have a question about ED schools who also have rolling admission.....does rolling admission also apply through the Aug 15 deadline or does it start for those who apply after the ED deadline???

 

[kcrat21]

I have a question about ED schools who also have rolling admission.....does rolling admission also apply through the Aug 15 deadline or does it start for those who apply after the ED deadline???

I was actually going to call and ask PTCAS this same question because I was wondering if I applied by the August 15th deadline to a school that does ED as well as rolling admissions, if I could be considered with the ED people but in a non-binding capacity...I'll let you guys know what they say when I call them tomorrow, although I'm sure I will be sitting on hold for at least a few hours considering the application opens tomorrow. eek!

 

[Corks]

I was actually going to call and ask PTCAS this same question because I was wondering if I applied by the August 15th deadline to a school that does ED as well as rolling admissions, if I could be considered with the ED people but in a non-binding capacity...I'll let you guys know what they say when I call them tomorrow, although I'm sure I will be sitting on hold for at least a few hours considering the application opens tomorrow. eek!

Anything yet?

Because if so, then I see no reason to apply just to get an ANSWER earlier. I'd rather get my name out to all of my schools earlier. I'm patient in that way ;]. As long as they don't take until APRIL to give an answer I'm fine.

 

[kcrat21]

Anything yet?

Because if so, then I see no reason to apply just to get an ANSWER earlier. I'd rather get my name out to all of my schools earlier. I'm patient in that way ;]. As long as they don't take until APRIL to give an answer I'm fine.

It is up to the individual school as to whether or not they will consider you with the ED applicants but in a non-binding capacity. So, call your school(s). I called Duke, but everytime I called, Anita (the admissions coordinator) was out...

 

[Corks]

It is up to the individual school as to whether or not they will consider you with the ED applicants but in a non-binding capacity. So, call your school(s). I called Duke, but everytime I called, Anita (the admissions coordinator) was out...

Ah thanks a lot! I actually never thought to contact them directly... 😛

 

[lllxndr1]

So I emailed one of the schools directly about this matter, just to see what they said. I'll copy & paste what I asked & the response I received:

My Question: "I have a question concerning the Early Decision option. I am NOT doing Early Decision but have already e-submitted my PTCAS application and should have everything completed & received by the schools around the same time as Early Decision deadline (early August). I want to know if applications are reviewed and considered as received...as in, if my application is received around the Early Decision deadline, do I get reviewed then as well or do you hold all regular applications (even if submitted early) until Early Decision applications have been reviewed?"

Their Response: "PTCAS will priority process all early decision applications then process the regular ones. We have to make decisions on the early decision applicants by September 27th, so I doubt we will look at other applications before then, but we might. I think it will depend on how many ED applications we get. We will make regular decision offers around Thanksgiving/ early December. If you have a very strong application, we might make an offer before then- it just depends on how many spaces we have after the early decision are processed."

I found this disheartening. I almost feel like the ED Option backs many of us "regular applicants" into a corner. It's a risk-risk situation....you either apply to an ED school & possibly get rejected & have to send your application to other schools at a really late date OR you decide against ED so you can send your app to several schools in a timely fashion but risk not even getting a spot because ED applicants may fill all of them up. Like someone pointed out to me, no schools would participate in this ED Option unless they gained something from it. So the questions is: what are the schools gaining from it and most importantly, do the majority of PT applicants truly gain anything from it?

 

[RunnerGirl30]

You find out early decision by September 27th...that is not by any means a 'late date'. In fact, it is pretty early for most programs.

 

[lllxndr1]

"Late" being that most programs (atleast the ones here in TN) require you to have everything completed, submitted & received by October 3rd. Finding out on September 27 gives you three business days to designate your other schools. It just cuts it pretty close.

 

[kcrat21]

"Late" being that most programs (atleast the ones here in TN) require you to have everything completed, submitted & received by October 3rd. Finding out on September 27 gives you three business days to designate your other schools. It just cuts it pretty close.

Yes but your application is already complete and that deadline is when all materials are due to PTCAS not the school, so you just need to designate your schools and pay. Not cutting it close at all. And a lot of schools don't even do rolling admissions, so they wait until the deadlines to review all the applications anyway. You'll be fine. Relax.

 

[MsLadyTherapist]

I thought about it....but from what I understand, it doesn't matter whether you are "early decision" or if you submit your application early...they still put you in the same pile (depending on the school) just as long as they receive your app by the early decision deadline.

 

[kcrat21]

I thought about it....but from what I understand, it doesn't matter whether you are "early decision" or if you submit your application early...they still put you in the same pile (depending on the school) just as long as they receive your app by the early decision deadline.

Actually, PTCAS processes applications differently for different designations. Early Decision applications are processed first, followed by just normal early applicants. So if you apply early but not early decision, your application will probably be delayed in processing until after the early decision deadline has passed.

 

[MsLadyTherapist]

I'm assuming this would only affect the early decision schools? not the other schools that don't have that option?

 

[kcrat21]

I'm assuming this would only affect the early decision schools? not the other schools that don't have that option?

That I don't know....

 

[ATwantingtobePT]

My top choice does not use PTCAS, but my second choice does. I am wanting some advice on if anyone knows what happens if you get accepted early decision and then you do not take it? It says it is binding, does anyone know what that means exactly? Or would it be just as beneficial to just apply regular admission as early as you can? Thanks in advance for any responses!

 

[okramango]

My top choice does not use PTCAS, but my second choice does. I am wanting some advice on if anyone knows what happens if you get accepted early decision and then you do not take it? It says it is binding, does anyone know what that means exactly? Or would it be just as beneficial to just apply regular admission as early as you can? Thanks in advance for any responses!

If you are accepted into your first-choice non-PTCAS program, I'm sure it would be fine to reject an admission to an early decision PTCAS program; you would just need to let them know so they could offer the spot to someone else. I believe the "binding" part means that you wouldn't be able to apply to any other PTCAS programs this cycle if you are accepted into your early decision choice.

 

[Kismet426]

I think "binding" means binding for all PT programs. Meaning if you apply to a school Early Decision and they accept you your options are to (1) Go to that school (2) wait for the next application cycle and reapply elsewhere.

Even if a school has an independent application process (meaning, they do not use PTCAS) I don't think you can just apply there and be accepted after receiving an admission to a school via the Early Decision process. It's not the fact that you are using PTCAS or not that matters. It's that submitting an application to a school via Early Decision is a legally binding contract and no other school can legally take you if you're accepted there and refuse.
so I disagree with okramango - i don't think it would be fine with them for you to reject an admission via ED and go elsewhere this cycle.

Also - if you are accepted Early Decision, bc it is legally binding, i'm afraid the school will really short the students as far as scholarships go? Because the student has to go to that school or sit out an entire year, so they really have no need to try and persuade you to chose their school because you have no other choice...