question for aProgram Director re: med school transcript

[JayQuah]

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My school doesn't scan in transcripts til October. Some folks who submitted ERAS on 9/1 say that they had interviews in hand within the first few days. Would you offer an interview to someone based on Steps, personal statement and CAF alone that early before seeing grades?

 

[mcl]

My school doesn't scan in transcripts til October. Some folks who submitted ERAS on 9/1 say that they had interviews in hand within the first few days. Would you offer an interview to someone based on Steps, personal statement and CAF alone that early before seeing grades?

I'm not APG, but I can give you an administrator's perspective:

The bad news is that unless your letters address overall clerkship grades to give us an idea of your overall performance (which they generally wouldn't), I couldn't refer your application to the Selection Committee until the transcript downloads. The only exception would be election to AOA since that would indicate that you are in the top 20th percentile of your class.

The good news is that historically speaking, early October isn't really late or all that unusual for getting transcripts. My Selection Committee probably wont even start meeting until around Sept 18th to start assessing applicants, and at that point the meetings don't last too long since there isn't a lot ready to review.

I wouldn't start worrying about the number of interviews you're being offered for at least 4-5 weeks if you submit your CAF early in the game.

 

[harmnot]

what if you only have step 1 score and CAF but no lor, should I wait till all my lor are in or just apply on 9/1?

 

[JayQuah]

I'm not APG, but I can give you an administrator's perspective:

The bad news is that unless your letters address overall clerkship grades to give us an idea of your overall performance (which they generally wouldn't), I couldn't refer your application to the Selection Committee until the transcript downloads. The only exception would be election to AOA since that would indicate that you are in the top 20th percentile of your class.

The good news is that historically speaking, early October isn't really late or all that unusual for getting transcripts. My Selection Committee probably wont even start meeting until around Sept 18th to start assessing applicants, and at that point the meetings don't last too long since there isn't a lot ready to review.

I wouldn't start worrying about the number of interviews you're being offered for at least 4-5 weeks if you submit your CAF early in the game.

Thank you for the reply. My school is even LATER on AOA election than on automatic transcript release, so I think I'll try to get my transcript sent in early.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Agreed with mcl. Every program will be different, I expect most will wait for your transcript before offering an interview.

what if you only have step 1 score and CAF but no lor, should I wait till all my lor are in or just apply on 9/1?

People seem amazingly focused on applications submitted on 9/1. If you're an IMG, then it behooves you to get your app in early. Programs that take people outside the match tend to interview and try to fill earlier in the season, and getting your app in on time makes you look like you know what you are doing.

For AMG's, it really doesn't matter all that much. Programs/fields that are competitive will wait until later in the season so that applications are complete. Those that are not and hence might offer interviews earlier won't care if your app is in 9/1 or 10/15.

Bottom line:
1. IMG's are best served by having their apps in early. ECFMG isn't terribly speedy about scanning documents, so there are additional delays built into the system.
2. AMG's should probably have their apps in by 10/15 for most programs/fields, but honestly even apps in November would probably be fine.
3. If you know you want to apply to a program, then do so without worrying whether all of your information is available. Programs will wait on your application until it is "complete enough" to review (which each program can decide for themselves). Waiting until your application is complete does not really help.
4. The only exception to rule #3 I can think of is IMG's with an "important LOR" -- i.e. one from a US rotation. I would make sure that letter has been uploaded and is available before applying to programs, else you risk having your application reviewed without it (if, for example, you released 4 letters to a program, and 3 had been received, but not that "important" one).