When do schools read the primary essays?

[eyebrowdoc]

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for both MD and DO do they read them and then send you the secondaries or read them along with secondaries?

 

[eyebrowdoc]

anyone?

 

[LizzyM]

I suspect that most schools ask for the secondary and then read the whole thing. Many schools send secondaries without screening, others may screen by gpa or MCAT with a very low bar for secondaries. Schools make money on secondaries so there is an incentive to have applicants send the secondary.

 

[MadRadLad]

I suspect that most schools ask for the secondary and then read the whole thing. Many schools send secondaries without screening, others may screen by gpa or MCAT with a very low bar for secondaries. Schools make money on secondaries so there is an incentive to have applicants send the secondary.

Would schools read your primary and secondary essays if you don't have a complete app yet? For example, if you have your secondary essays in and have submitted payment, but are missing rec letters. Will they read your essays, but defer on offering you an interview invite until they get the letters? Or will you be in a purgatory queue until the letters are in, and then your app moves to the "active" queue?

 

[LizzyM]

Would schools read your primary and secondary essays if you don't have a complete app yet? For example, if you have your secondary essays in and have submitted payment, but are missing rec letters. Will they read your essays, but defer on offering you an interview invite until they get the letters? Or will you be in a purgatory queue until the letters are in, and then your app moves to the "active" queue?

I have seen applications held waiting for letters and I've seen strong applications moved ahead in the queue with a note to check LORs before granting an interview. So it can go either way.

 

[MadRadLad]

I have seen applications held waiting for letters and I've seen strong applications moved ahead in the queue with a note to check LORs before granting an interview. So it can go either way.

Oh okay. So I guess it can't hurt to send it secondaries even if letters aren't in yet.