What does it take to get in early?

[About28]

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So I would really like to get in as early as possible, so I was wondering, what does it take to get an acceptance on october 15th? Do you have to be an awesome applicant along with submitting your stuff on the first possible day? Do I stand a chance at getting accepted that early? (FYI this is not the early decision program, and check the mdapp for stats). Thanks guys!

 

[lmn]

If you turn your stuff in early, have good LOR's, you should be able to get an early interview at some schools, then just knock the interview out of the park if you want the secured first day acceptance, if for whatever reason that is what you absolutely want/need...

 

[About28]

So getting in really early isn't just for the highly competitive students?

 

[gyngyn]

So getting in really early isn't just for the highly competitive students?

You have to be very competitive for the schools to which you applied and have an early submission date to enough schools with rolling admission that interview early and give acceptances on the first possible day. In other words, don't count on it.

 

[Brownshorts]

I got in first day of November, and I'm in no way a superstar applicant (definitely an underdog in several ways). I got everything turned in as early as possible, and turned around my secondaries as fast as possible (and applied to a lot of schools ~30). 10/10 would highly recommend, having an acceptance that early in the process vastly improved my QOL. YMMV

 

[moop]

I got in first day of November, and I'm in no way a superstar applicant (definitely an underdog in several ways). I got everything turned in as early as possible, and turned around my secondaries as fast as possible (and applied to a lot of schools ~30). 10/10 would highly recommend, having an acceptance that early in the process vastly improved my QOL. YMMV

What would you estimate to be the QALY of an early acceptance like that then?

 

[CyberMaxx]

You have to be very competitive for the schools to which you applied and have an early submission date to enough schools with rolling admission that interview early and give acceptances on the first possible day. In other words, don't count on it.

I believe the bolded portion above is especially true. I applied to a broad range of schools this past year, and ended up being complete at most schools from early to mid-september. The school for which I was most competitive invited me for an interview, interviewed me, and accepted me within a month (first day of acceptances). On the other hand, some of the more competitive schools on my list that ended up interviewing me waited months before sending me an interview invitation. Fittingly, the most competitive school that I interviewed at sent me my last interview invitation...in February 😱! All that is to say OP, the less competitive you are for a school the longer you should expect to wait for admissions decisions.