Question about the application process

[corporateflea]

---

Members don't see this ad.

As I understand from previous readings on this forum, applying early is crucial in the whole application process because admission is on a rolling cycle.

I'm a incoming junior and will now have to start considering when to apply and take MCAT. (i've been just focusing on my GPA and resume building so far..)

When does the application cycle start? What is the approx time-line to be considered as "applying early?"

 

[lovedocta07]

hey im also going to be a junior, applications open around early june, so you might want to take your mcat by april on may at the latest next year. it takesabout a month to get those scores back.

 

[corporateflea]

hey im also going to be a junior, applications open around early june, so you might want to take your mcat by april on may at the latest next year. it takesabout a month to get those scores back.

I see. Do I have to have LORs ready to go when I work on my primary?

 

[lovedocta07]

i would start trying to get them organized at the start of the school year, through your premed advising center, but i have heard some people ask for recommendations as late as a month before applying.

 

[mokamadness]

You don't have to have your LORs ready to go, but it's a good idea to have at least asked your LOR writters if they are a willing party to your getting into med school. Aka, already asked them to write your letters. The LORs don't really come into play until you start submitting secondaries; when the school receive ALL the information needed for the secondary (i.e. secondary and LORs) then it will be complete and they will review it. However, if you are using AMCAS, it typically takes a couple of weeks from the time the LOR writer sends the letter to AMCAS officially recognizing it. So, if you want your application process to go quickly, it would be good to have your LORs in by the time you start your secondaries.

 

[mvenus929]

The application opens to be filled out in early May... you have about a month to fill it out and get everything proofread and straight before you submit in early June. You should probably ask your LOR writers about writing the recommendations by April or May, depending on how reliable you think they are. Some tell you to get them together in November in the year before you apply, but I think that might be a little overkill unless you're at a huge undergrad.

It'll take about a month to get your MCAT scores back, so plan accordingly. I took my MCAT May 11th (right in the middle of finals week, no less) and submitted June 19th. But... things seem to be a little more held up now than when I initially applied two years ago; I got verified in 3 days, I think. This year, I submitted June 2nd (the first day) and it took me 3 days to be verified. Someone submitting on June 19th will likely be verified in a couple weeks.