What do secondaries really mean?

[kkosp2451]

I know some schools give secondaries out to almost all their applicants, but I'm wondering on what basis a school will give out a secondary. I was verified early October, took my MCAT last week, so I wont be receiving scores for a while, but I already got a secondary request from Rowan today. However, on the Rowan thread, it looks like there's some applicants who've sent their primaries in even before me who haven't gotten a secondary request yet...

I'm not complaining, I'm just wondering on what basis schools will give out secondaries. I assumed it was a minimum GPA/MCAT, but in my case, I haven't even gotten my MCAT score back yet...

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[AlteredScale]

I know some schools give secondaries out to almost all their applicants, but I'm wondering on what basis a school will give out a secondary. I was verified early October, took my MCAT last week, so I wont be receiving scores for a while, but I already got a secondary request from Rowan today. However, on the Rowan thread, it looks like there's some applicants who've sent their primaries in even before me who haven't gotten a secondary request yet...

I'm not complaining, I'm just wondering on what basis schools will give out secondaries. I assumed it was a minimum GPA/MCAT, but in my case, I haven't even gotten my MCAT score back yet...

Each school has different criteria on which to send a secondary to an applicant, many do not share this info. So just be glad you got one as it does show an expressed interest in your all.


As an idea: if a school sees that you have a strong academic record and GPA, they may send you a secondary based on just that.

 

[baxt1412]

secondaries typically mean that you meet their bare minimum requirements. some schools it may mean more (if they are super heavy mission based, etc possibly), but as a broad statement it just means that you are > the bare minimum


or they just want your (impersonal use of your.. not necessarily YOUR money) money lol.


in your case, who knows. i got an interview while having an MCAT below the 10th percentile for a school (but it's my state school, i have done research there, shadowing there, and i have a letter from the asst. dean) so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

I have gotten secondaries from all schools I applied to. So I believe they do this for the money. Some do screen pre-secondary but I cannot accept that all school do. Once you submit everything then your application is reviewed and they weed people out. So if you ask me I would say secondaries are money gimmicks from colleges but do add to the application when it is finally reviewed. I hate schools that have no essays on their secondaries.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

It's a specialized term for "Please give me money now"