Question about applying late

[Paxton3fingers]

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Hello everyone,

I had my MCAT scores and transcript submitted to AMCAS, with LORs are ready to go, when I decided to take a year off to boost my research and clinical experience and investigate MD/PhD programs. However, a few days ago, I received a letter from WashU congratulating me on my MCAT and encouraging me to apply. This makes me want to finish up the application and just apply to WashU next year. Is this even possible at this point, and if so, is it a good idea? Do they send these kind of letters to a lot of people? Could I defer a year if I am accepted and maybe apply MD/PhD? If I defer, I am pretty much committed to WashU, correct?

(Stats: MCAT: 39Q, GPA: 3.98, majors: biology and Philosophy + chemistry minor)

Thanks for any advice!

 

[accidentprone]

Hello everyone,

I had my MCAT scores and transcript submitted to AMCAS, with LORs are ready to go, when I decided to take a year off to boost my research and clinical experience and investigate MD/PhD programs. However, a few days ago, I received a letter from WashU congratulating me on my MCAT and encouraging me to apply. This makes me want to finish up the application and just apply to WashU next year. Is this even possible at this point, and if so, is it a good idea? Do they send these kind of letters to a lot of people? Could I defer a year if I am accepted and maybe apply MD/PhD? If I defer, I am pretty much committed to WashU, correct?

(Stats: MCAT: 39Q, GPA: 3.98, majors: biology and Philosophy + chemistry minor)

Thanks for any advice!

They send that letter to lots of people. I don't know exactly why, but one popular theory on SDN is that applications = money. Figure about a dollar for that letter with color brochure compared to their secondary fee which will cost you much more. I've heard that WashU is particularly interested in getting people with high MCATs to apply there though (and yours seems pretty strong).

As for a deferred matriculation, if a school grants you one, you'll be obligated to attend that school.

I think you should do what you really want to and not get too sidetracked by a bulk mailing, unless of course what you really want to do is attend WashU.

 

[Astarael]

By next year, I'm assuming you mean during the current (2010-2011) application cycle. If that is the case, don't bother. You've missed almost all of the primary application deadlines (a few are still left that go out to Nov 15th I believe) and as a person who applied late last year, I can tell you from experience that it isn't worth it.

If you meant applying during the 2011-2012 application cycle, I'd say go for it. Unless your research and ECs are currently terrible (read: nonexistent) you would have a great chance, given your GPA and MCAT. There's still a fair amount of time to get some good experience in before that cycle.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Answer about applying late: Don't do it.

 

[Paxton3fingers]

Thanks for the advice. At this point, I will wait until the 2011-2012 cycle and find something productive in my year off after undergrad. It is a bit disappointing to not be going to med school next year, but also exciting to build a stronger application in a year off.