Submitting app in June

[MrLahey]

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How much of a benefit is it to submit your application in the first week of June, assuming the quality of the app is of the same quality if submitted later?
If your number stats are slightly below the ave (3.5 30p) but EC's are excellent, does that give the adcoms greater exposure to your file? Any and Everything about turning in apps early is what I'm interested in!
Thanks guys!

 

[chrisoc13]

I personally feel like it was huge to apply early. Maybe not in the long run for some candidates, but I prefer to be secure earlier than later. For example a friend of mine with a slightly lower MCAT and slightly higher GPA applied in August (I applied as soon as possible) is only now on his first interview while I am already holding a couple of acceptances. In the long run we will probably both get in, but in the short run it sure is nice to be able to carefully choose schools I want to accept interviews from instead of having to take every one still.

Also the longer you wait to submit your primary the longer it takes to get it verified. For instance: my friend I spoke of was really probably closer to 3 months behind me even though he applied a month and a half to two months later because my verification took around a week, his took nearly two months. Something to think about.

 

[rhesuspieces]

I honestly think the rush to get your app in on June 1 is kind of silly when you consider that many schools don't even release their secondaries until late July. Some schools seriously value early applicants (U Mich comes to mind) but unless one of those schools is your top choice there's no reason to rush.

That being said, if you don't have a good reason for waiting to submit, don't wait. Submit on the 1st if possible, definitely submit in June or July.

 

[Barcu]

I wish I could remember where these stats I saw came from (and exactly what they were). My premed adviser showed them to us in a presentation.

Applying late has a noticeably negative statistical effect.

Now, you don't have to rush in and submit at 12:01am on June 1st (or whenever it opens), but get it done as soon as you can.

I do not understand sometimes why people take so long. I understand being busy and such, but the application is open in May, so you have a few weeks (plus you know exactly what it will be, so you can start sooner).

JUST TURN IN THE APP EARLY!!!!! It will just make your life so much simpler. With so many factors affecting which schools you get into (if any) then why would you make timing of the application one of them.

Now, there are secondary issues, and people have to wait on letters sometimes (like I did). But still, the AMCAS is completely in your power, just turn it in.

 

[MrLahey]

Ya, I think I will apply in the first week, for the verification time alone I think it's worth it. It would be nice to know you've been accepted before 2nd semester.

But what about the long run. If you were right on the cusp of being accepted or rejected everywhere you applied, would being one of the first people to apply and interview work in your favor, pushing the scale towards acceptance. Or would interviewing in September hurt you if you were right between waitlist and acceptance because it's been so long since you have interviewed?

I am going to apply in the first couple days of June, because my instate has rolling admission and want to continually be considered.

Do most schools ask for LOR with the Primary App?

 

[Barcu]

Do most schools ask for LOR with the Primary App?

No, LORs are not required to submit and verify your primary. Submit it as soon as you can, then work on getting your letters in. As advice, get working on LORs early, and make sure writers get them in promptly Try to find ways to ensure that they are turned in on time. For my committee letter, all my letters had to be turned in by a specific date. I told all my letter writers that the deadline was a month earlier than it really was. It worked.

However, LORs are required for you to be considered "complete" at a school (primary+secondary+LORs).

 

[gravitywave]

just do it.

think of it this way: the first AMCAS submissions to schools happens in late June. These people are only a handful of the total volume, but they have a shot at every single interview seat that will ever be available during the cycle. compare this to the applicant who submits at the end of August and isn't verified for another month. then they plod through their secondaries. this file joins a large pool of other and (i hate to say it) very similar applications, that are now competing for fewer interview slots, as many have already gone out. why deny yourself the broadest possible range of targets?

that said, i submitted in late July because i just couldn't let go of my PS, and then wasn't the quickest on returning secondaries. I think a good rule of thumb is to be complete everywhere by Labor Day. Being earlier doesn't help much, i don't think. But I'd very surprised if anyone could ever show that being early might hurt, as some people around here always seem to wonder.

 

[rhesuspieces]

I think a good rule of thumb is to be complete everywhere by Labor Day.

This

 

[kiwifruit487]

I have average stats with pretty good ECs and PS. I submitted primaries in June and secondaries throughout July/August as they came. Early interviews and acceptances were really good for a peace of the mind.

I definitely think it helped. But just remember that early secondary submissions are actually more important than primaries, because a lot of schools don't look at your app before it's complete.

Applying early won't make a weak app strong, but it will help those average folks who got a slight shine...

 

[wanderer]

just do it.

think of it this way: the first AMCAS submissions to schools happens in late June. These people are only a handful of the total volume, but they have a shot at every single interview seat that will ever be available during the cycle. compare this to the applicant who submits at the end of August and isn't verified for another month. then they plod through their secondaries. this file joins a large pool of other and (i hate to say it) very similar applications, that are now competing for fewer interview slots, as many have already gone out. why deny yourself the broadest possible range of targets?

I fully agree. Also you will want to be in the first day(s) of acceptances, which next year will likely be either the 16th or the 17th of October, so when you see everyone else on SDN getting acceptances you won't be a nervous wreck. I felt so relaxed after all my initial interviews because I knew that there was nothing to wait for after completion of the interviews. This is in contrast to what I would have been like if I had interviewed at a school that would've given me a decision any time from 3-6 weeks after the interview.

 

[MrLahey]

So, if your planning on applying early...and the app doesn't change from year to year...why dont people start writing their PS early and getting all of the activities together prior to May?

If I'm going to apply in June, should I start writing my PS over Christmas break, have a nice draft and slowly edit and make changes through the end of may?

 

[slowbutsteady]

There are very few simple things you can do to improve your chances of interview and acceptance. Applying early is one of them. The earlier the better.

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NickNaylor]

I definitely think it makes a difference, especially at schools (e.g., Michigan) that really plunge face-first into the rolling admissions game. It really just depends on where you're specifically applying. Regardless, though, if you have no reason to be waiting, just get the app done. Submitting early certainly won't hurt you.