The Hype of Sept 1st

[humabot]

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it seems like a good thing to do, but then it seems like it does not matter when (amg) submit as long as it comes in before the deans letter.

what is with all the hoopla surrounding sept 1st--it seems more of a push by school administrators nervous about trying to get their class matched. most residency directors both my girlfriend and I have spoken too say that as long as we get are apps in before nov 1st or a week before it reallly does not affect the number of interviews one gets.

I'd be curious to see a study tracking when applicants submit vs matching rate.

any thoughts from any of the magic wizards behind the curtain?

 

[Shadowboricua]

Interview invites are being sent out as we speak. So you tell me, do you think applying late is good given this? I am not saying that it has to be Sept 1st, but I would not recommend waiting until October 1st nevertheless November 1st.

 

[atsai3]

it seems like a good thing to do, but then it seems like it does not matter when (amg) submit as long as it comes in before the deans letter.

what is with all the hoopla surrounding sept 1st--it seems more of a push by school administrators nervous about trying to get their class matched. most residency directors both my girlfriend and I have spoken too say that as long as we get are apps in before nov 1st or a week before it reallly does not affect the number of interviews one gets.

I'd be curious to see a study tracking when applicants submit vs matching rate.

any thoughts from any of the magic wizards behind the curtain?

The question is not whether or not you match. The question is whether you can obtain interviews at places where you want to interview at, and whether you can obtain interviews at places where you want to interview at during the times that are convenient for you.

Some residency programs wait until the Dean's Letter is released before issuing interview invitations. At those programs, early submissions likely will not make any difference with regards to any of the above outcomes.

Some residency programs begin issuing interview invitations in September the week after applications are open for submission. If you wait until the week of November 1 to submit your application, it is very unlikely that you will be able to schedule an interview for November. Even if November interview slots are available, you will not have the luxury of waiting for an opportune time to purchase your airplane ticket (that is, if you need to travel by air to reach the prospective residency programs). Therefore you are probably looking at early December interviews -- at the earliest -- if not January interviews.

A caveat to the above is that this advice likely only applies to applicants who are applying to programs that are at least evenly matched in terms of quality: low quality applicants who are applying to low quality programs, or high quality applicants applying to high quality programs. Low quality applicants who are applying to high quality programs will get passed up initially irrespective of whether they apply early or late; if they are offered interviews at all, they will likely be offered interviews late in the season after more desirable candidates have canceled theirs. High quality applicants who are applying to low quality programs will have a reasonable chance of matching to the program irrespective of whether they apply early or late.

-AT.

 

[coup de chance]

So what approximate dates (e.g. mid-October, late-November) is an interview offer considered "early" or "late"?

Can applicants gauge how much a residency wants them based on whether the offer was made early or late?