What should I do about delayed committee letter packets?

[FutureDoctorGoose]

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My pre-health advising office has informed us that the *earliest* they will submit our letter packet is July 18th. I have a few questions about how I should go about things given how late this is:
1. I should still submit secondaries before July 18th, even if they will not be 'complete', right? Does doing so put me in 'line' for review even without letters?
2. With schools that have sections in their supplementals for anything else we'd like them to know, would it be worth writing a sentence or two about the situation so that they know that the delay is not on my end?
3. Any other comments or suggestions? I know that other schools' pre health advising offices are also behind, so I'm not overly concerned (yet).

Thank you!

 

[wysdoc]

Do the work that is within your control - your secondary essays.

Med schools know that some committee letters are sent in July or even August.

 

[maybefuturedoctor7]

My school's packet is coming in August 15 so I feel you. If you have any questions, ask your school directly.

1. Yes. Many schools will read your application without the letters and make final decisions about an interview after receiving them. In fact, UT San Antonio will invite you for an interview before rec letters reach them.

2. You shouldn't need to do this; your college should be in communication with medical schools about how they operate. Many many schools have delayed committee letter packets including the top undergrad institutions. Adcoms really value committee letter packets so they are willing to wait. Still check with your school to verify though because not sure if every college notifies med schools of their plans (but they all should be doing so).

3. You're fine! Breathe and write those secondaries 🙂

 

[eigen]

July 18th is very much not a "late" letter. September 18th would be a "late" letter.

Going by the holiday forum suggestions, you want to be complete (primary, secondary, letters, MCAT) by Labor Day. Even for schools that want letters before secondaries (which in my anecdotal experience doesn't seem to be a lot) should be fine with even a mid-August set of letters.