School doesn't send letters until August 1st

[About28]

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The reason I'm not in medical school right now is that I applied late, so obviously I'm not going to make that mistake a second time. I'll have everything lined up to go the second I get each secondary, but now I found out my school won't even send my letters until August first, meaning the earliest I'll be complete is in August. How much is this going to hurt me? What can I do about this? This is really throwing a wrench into my plans.

 

[tantacles]

The reason I'm not in medical school right now is that I applied late, so obviously I'm not going to make that mistake a second time. I'll have everything lined up to go the second I get each secondary, but now I found out my school won't even send my letters until August first, meaning the earliest I'll be complete is in August. How much is this going to hurt me? What can I do about this? This is really throwing a wrench into my plans.

As long as you have your AMCAS verified (this means submit the first day you can) and all of your secondary applications in as soon as possible, you'll be absolutely fine. When we say apply early, we don't mean that everything has to be in as early as humanly possible. We mean that your AMCAS needs to go in early so that it can be verified in a timely fashion and that your secondaries, similarly, need to be submitted in a timely fashion as well, ideally BEFORE your letters are submitted. Your school is NOT putting you at a disadvantage, but YOU might put yourself at a disadvantage if you don't do your part.

 

[LostinLift]

Have you contacted your school directly and discussed this issue? Via email? In person? Try to discuss it in person if you can, explaining that as a re-applicant being complete asap is very important.

If they still send it Aug 1, you'll be fine - but as above, only if you have your primary verified and secondaries complete at that point as well. Good luck.

 

[About28]

Have you contacted your school directly and discussed this issue? Via email? In person? Try to discuss it in person if you can, explaining that as a re-applicant being complete asap is very important.

If they still send it Aug 1, you'll be fine - but as above, only if you have your primary verified and secondaries complete at that point as well. Good luck.

Regardless of when they send my letters my secondaries will be complete the day they are received, I do have reasons for wanting to apply on the first possible day though. Plus, an earlier acceptance will increase my quality of life quite a bit. I did email them though and I'm meeting with them next week about it. I do go to a pretty large institution so part of me doubts they'll make an exception. Fingers crossed.

 

[Slave to the Game]

As long as you have your AMCAS verified (this means submit the first day you can) and all of your secondary applications in as soon as possible, you'll be absolutely fine. When we say apply early, we don't mean that everything has to be in as early as humanly possible. We mean that your AMCAS needs to go in early so that it can be verified in a timely fashion and that your secondaries, similarly, need to be submitted in a timely fashion as well, ideally BEFORE your letters are submitted. Your school is NOT putting you at a disadvantage, but YOU might put yourself at a disadvantage if you don't do your part.

How does your application get viewed if not all of the LORs are in yet?

 

[tantacles]

How does your application get viewed if not all of the LORs are in yet?

It doesn't. But if everything is submitted early, including your secondaries, it gets viewed pretty much the second your letters are submitted, which puts you ahead of 90% of all other applicants assuming your letters are submitted on August 1st.

Edit: Also, most schools don't offer August interviews, and many don't start looking at applications until August, Late July at the earliest. In fact, many schools don't even start sending out their secondaries until mid-July.

 

[About28]

It doesn't. But if everything is submitted early, including your secondaries, it gets viewed pretty much the second your letters are submitted, which puts you ahead of 90% of all other applicants assuming your letters are submitted on August 1st.

Edit: Also, most schools don't offer August interviews, and many don't start looking at applications until August, Late July at the earliest. In fact, many schools don't even start sending out their secondaries until mid-July.

The thing that's killing me is that my number one school, the school I have huge connections to and the school that has the highest chance to accept me is sending out their earliest interview invites by mid to late july based on their school specific threads. I suppose it won't kill me to be complete august first but I'm technically out of state so timing is everything right now (at least I think it is haha).

 

[tantacles]

The thing that's killing me is that my number one school, the school I have huge connections to and the school that has the highest chance to accept me is sending out their earliest interview invites by mid to late july based on their school specific threads. I suppose it won't kill me to be complete august first but I'm technically out of state so timing is everything right now (at least I think it is haha).

It sounds like your neuroticism is getting the better of you. Reason through what I've said. Use logic to combat the panic. This process is difficult, and the advice I'm giving you isn't going to make it any easier. Take this as your Get Out of Needlessly Freaking Out Free card.

 

[About28]

It sounds like your neuroticism is getting the better of you. Reason through what I've said. Use logic to combat the panic. This process is difficult, and the advice I'm giving you isn't going to make it any easier. Take this as your Get Out of Needlessly Freaking Out Free card.

I'm sorry, you're totally right. I've already gotten great advice from this thread. 1) Talk to my school, 2) even if they don't budge, I'll be fine. Usually I keep the neuroticism to a minimum but 4 redbulls+finals+11:40 pm is a recipe for disaster.

 

[tantacles]

I'm sorry, you're totally right. I've already gotten great advice from this thread. 1) Talk to my school, 2) even if they don't budge, I'll be fine. Usually I keep the neuroticism to a minimum but 4 redbulls+finals+11:40 pm is a recipe for disaster.

You're golden. :-D

 

[NickNaylor]

If your app is otherwise complete and your letters are the only thing holding you up, you'll be fine. I was complete in early to mid August due to similar circumstances and it didn't matter one iota.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LizzyM]

Some of the top graduate institutions don't send letters until August. I don't start reading applications until August. I have read applications without letters and then set them aside for a quick review of the letters and, if okay, an interview invite. Don't get yourself in a lather over August letters.