What Next?

[toxin]

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For everyone applying this year, whats ur tenative timetable? ..Is it always better to apply early or someimtes theres a benefit to be in with "crowd"

 

[JM.]

You have to apply early.

 

[el piel]

DEFINITELY apply early. Apply as soon as you can. Apply sooner!

When I was going through the process, I was told by the pre-med adviser and by other folks who had applied in previous years (not on SDN - didn't discover this until it was pretty much too late) that applying early gives a SLIGHT advantage. I didn't turn my AMCAS application in until October, counting on pretty good numbers to catch some eyes at the schools I applied to. Didn't work! Out of 11 completed applications, I got 4 interviews, 2 of which were in April and were only for "wait-list" spots. One of the 4 rejected, 2 have put me on a wait list, and the fourth hasn't responded yet. I fear having to apply again, because I missed the "slight" advantage of applying early.

Learn from my mistake, PLEASE! I've had a little flavor of hell as I've endured not having any idea where my life is going in the next year.

On the other hand, a classmate of mine whose qualifications were similar applied two or three months before I did and got 4 acceptances in addition to wait list spots. Applying early makes a difference and can be a KEY to success in this grueling process.

Good Luck.

P.S. Thanks for enduring the length of my post!

 

[camstah]

ditto for me. seems even if your numbers are pretty great, applying early is a pretty big advantage....

 

[toxin]

I guess you do have a point .... I am shooting for late july early august? what do u think , is that early enough?

 

[Louweezel]

you're looking at a June submission of your AMCAS (preferably early-mid June). it takes a couple weeks to verify the AMCAS and to have schools send you back your secondaries. that would put you submitting secondaries by July/early August. In all reality, as early as you possibly can is the best. check out pocwana's site (the sticky thread at the top of the list). I think there are some secondary questions for some schools on there that you can start working on. it gets to be quite difficult when you have 7 secondaries all at once that you're working on, which might all require new essays.

 

[rebaj]

I think august is a good goal. Word of caution - make sure that is when your whole application file is complete, including anything you need to get from your premed offices, letters of rec., and anything additional the school requests. I was done with my AMCAS in July, and had most of my secondaries in by mid-August and thought I was in good shape, until I got a letter from NYU Sept. 26th telling me that my file was incomplete with no letters of reccomendation. Turns out my a$$h0le of a pre-med advisor had left my folder (with all of my stamped and addressed envelopes inside!)sitting on his desk for a month after our meeting instead of giving my packet of recomendations to his secretary to copy and send out. My file wasn't complete ANYWHERE until mid October. I'm pretty sure this screwed me out of at least a couple of interviews.

Moral of the story: No one cares about your application as much as you do, so don't count on anyone blindly - constantly check up - don't be afraid to pester. Good luck!

 

[toxin]

damn man that sucks ...I bet you were pissed off. Well hopefully I wont have those problems since my undergrad school was small (600 students) and I still have contacts with my science professors. How did you guys go about writting your personal statements.....any webistes, advice you can dispense.

later....