Hello, I was originally planning to apply next year because I felt like my stats weren't strong enough, but I recently got an unexpectedly high MCAT score and just decided to give it a shot this year. Is this a really late start? Because I know people are submitting their apps already. If it is still doable, could anybody suggest a reasonable timeline for finishing my primaries, getting my lors(I have to start asking this week), etc? Thanks a lot,
Too late to start applying?
- Thread starter chahn85
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it depends on ur rec letters
if you could get them fully done by early August then you should be fine
but since you werent able to predict ur mcat score, i dont think u will be able to predict when you will be able to get ur rec letters in by 😛
do u have to send them to ur schools office for them to review it?
is there a composite letter involved?
if yes to any of these then it might be too late
if you want some false hope, i got my apps complete by mid-late september and the app process wasnt too terrible
if you could get them fully done by early August then you should be fine
but since you werent able to predict ur mcat score, i dont think u will be able to predict when you will be able to get ur rec letters in by 😛
do u have to send them to ur schools office for them to review it?
is there a composite letter involved?
if yes to any of these then it might be too late
if you want some false hope, i got my apps complete by mid-late september and the app process wasnt too terrible
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No it isn't too late. The earlier, the better, but it isn't too late. I didn't submit my primary until mid sept and I got in (I would not recommend this strategy, however). Just know that you have to fight harder when you are that late. If you work hard, you could probably get it done in a week and then get letters sent while it is being verified. Just hurry!
i'd check with your LOR writers first. ask them if they are able to write the letters within the next few weeks. if not, you have your answer. if so, then you can totally bang out the primary in 1-2 weeks and get a jump on the secondaries since the prompts are posted here.
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Does your school have a committee? I just know from personal experience that the committee at my school won't write you a letter if you start this late (they require interviews and an application by mid-February of the year you want to apply) and upload all the committee letters on June 30th so the office can take a month vacation in July. Most of the committee members are professors and many of them travel in the summer, so they don't even have an opportunity to meet and discuss a new applicant.
def a good point, and another reason to let the LOR writers effectively make the decision for you. (btw, an extra year is not a bad thing! time off = awesome.)
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Yeah, it all depends on your LOR writers and your school's committee. The problem is that everyone is probably swamped right now with LOR requests, and as it's been suggested, your committee might not even allow you to apply this late. However, if the option is available and you can really get your LORs all in by mid-August or so, then go for it!
However, strongly consider the possibility of doing a year off. You'll get to apply with (presumably) a higher GPA, get a job to save some money for med school, and just get a chance to take a break from being a student for a while. In retrospect, I really kinda wish I'd done that route, and I don't think I've ever run into anyone who regreted taking a year off.
However, strongly consider the possibility of doing a year off. You'll get to apply with (presumably) a higher GPA, get a job to save some money for med school, and just get a chance to take a break from being a student for a while. In retrospect, I really kinda wish I'd done that route, and I don't think I've ever run into anyone who regreted taking a year off.
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It's not a really late start, especially if you can get the LOR's within a few weeks.
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I think it depends on lots of factors including how strong your grades and ECs are, as well as the timing for submitting your PS and getting your LORs.
If you can be finalized with your primaries by the end of the July-mid August and complete the secondaries as soon as they come, your timing shouldnt hurt you that much.
