Schools for late applicants?

[seahorsemuseum]

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Just curious. Got a friend wanting to apply this year now instead of next year.

 

[IAmNotaRobot]

I asked @Goro this question significantly earlier in the cycle. Keeping in mind that I'm just an applicant like you, this is a bad idea. Goro said in December that most of the schools you might apply to would only be filling waitlists. This is to directly say that applying right now would be hopeless.

I know you're burned out, and that it might be a rough call, but I don't think you have anything to gain by applying right now. I think a lot of people are going to tell you to apply broadly and early next time.

 

[seahorsemuseum]

Figured.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

You got pretty good stats but here's the thing, right now its mid Feb.

-AACOMAS will take a minimum of two weeks to verify your information which puts you at late feb/early march
-Secondary's might take another week or two to be sent out to you which will put you at mid march
-they'll take two-six-never getting back to you to process your application which puts you now in late march to mid April.
-Last interview dates are in mid April and those are mainly waitlist spots so maybe you'll get an interview

I say maybe, but you probably wouldn't get one at this point. I say this because I have interviews scheduled in mid-march/late april and I was complete with those schools in January. Just apply next cycle and save yourself an assload of money in the process.

 

[ERK123]

I know its a bad feeling taking off more time than you want. I certainly felt depressed taking an extra gap year than I had originally intended. With that being said, I would probably just hold out hope for the PCOM's this cycle and work hard now to make sure you are ready to submit on June 1st (i.e. rewrite your personal statement a bit just so its updated and not exactly the same as last year). Hopefully you can get some very early interviews this summer and have an acceptance early in the fall so you can mentally relax for close to a year before starting medical school. Apply to some lower ranked schools that you have a great show of being accepted at early. Your time will come.

 

[TheDarkNeuron]

What would be the harm in applying to a few schools this late? (aside from the cost)

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[TheDarkNeuron]

You are applying for the wait-list, if there is one at all (most classes are full, soon to be full). You don't get anywhere, then are considered a reapplicant next cycle, a significant disadvantage.

Thank you - forgive my ignorance, but I'm still not sure why being a reapplicant would put you at a disadvantage. I would think if you apply twice, with improvement (in some form) of your application, it would show determination for attending that particular school

 

[referee3]

You are applying for the wait-list, if there is one at all (most classes are full, soon to be full). You don't get anywhere, then are considered a reapplicant next cycle, a significant disadvantage.

It's not necessarily a disadvantage.

 

[user3]

I realize February is extremely late in the application cycle, but here's the deal. I applied only to PCOM and PCOM-GA this year, thinking I had a decent shot, but haven't heard back at all. Guess that's my fault for not applying more broadly.

This is a gap year for me and I've just been working. However, I'm getting tired of being out of school and just wanna get back on track. I don't know if I can do this and just wait around for another year.

Any schools I could have a decent shot at applying this late? I've got a 3.44 GPA / 3.32 sGPA / 31 MCAT. If it's hopeless at this point that's alright, I'd just like to have options if I'm still feeling this burnt out by summer.

I do want to go to a school with a good reputation, but I'd rather settle for one I favor a little less than end up getting burnt out on applying again and giving up.

Any of the Touro's, Marian, LMU, LECOM.

 

[YourMD]

If you have the money go ahead and apply. Word on the school specific threads are that classes are only half full at a number of schools. Good luck!

 

[Goro]

By the time your app is considered and if you actually interview, it's so late in the cycle that schools get VERY pciky. So onto the wait list you go.

Does one really want to interview knowing that accept is really not an option, only wait list?

If one says yes, then one is not realistic..

What would be the harm in applying to a few schools this late? (aside from the cost)

 

[TheDarkNeuron]

By the time your app is considered and if you actually interview, it's so late in the cycle that schools get VERY pciky. So onto the wait list you go.

Does one really want to interview knowing that accept is really not an option, only wait list?

If one says yes, then one is not realistic..

I see the point there - but I don't understand how this scenario would negatively affect someones chances for getting in the following year

 

[Goro]

Ahh, I see. Then all it would affect would be chances for the same school (s). The reapplicant would get hit with the inevitable "so how has your app improved since you last applied"?

I see the point there - but I don't understand how this scenario would negatively affect someones chances for getting in the following year

 

[seahorsemuseum]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

 

[Komorebi2]

hopefully I can make it another long year without throwing in the towel

Really? One more year is enough to break you? You might have some bigger issues to work out than just a late application.

 

[ortnakas]

Ahh, I see. Then all it would affect would be chances for the same school (s). The reapplicant would get hit with the inevitable "so how has your app improved since you last applied"?

This. Your application as-is might get you in-- or at least get you an interview-- August next year on your first try. But if it's your second try, you'll have to have a really good answer to that question, other than "this time I applied in June instead of February."

 

[user3]

Ahh, I see. Then all it would affect would be chances for the same school (s). The reapplicant would get hit with the inevitable "so how has your app improved since you last applied"?

I am curious why schools do this. Competitive is competitive, why should it matter whether that person has submitted an application in the past? Seems like an inconsequential matter to me.

 

[Goro]

If one has just sat on one's ass in the intervening year, we wonder about the commitment to Medicine. One shouldn't rest on laurels. On the whole, it's only borderline applicants who get dinged by doing nothing in the concurrent year.

I am curious why schools do this. Competitive is competitive, why should it matter whether that person has submitted an application in the past? Seems like an inconsequential matter to me.