When is it REALLY too late to apply?

[altitude]

I know that applying late decreases your chances. My MCAT is in August, so there's no way around it, and I've come to accept it. Because of the time I need to devote towards studying for the MCAT, I may not finish my primary app for another while. By what date will not having your primary app sent in decrease your chances by a significant amount (i.e. when is the last somewhat acceptable date to send in the primary app beyond which it is pushing it too far)?

I'm thinking of having it done for September 1st (which is still a month and a half until most deadlines). If I devote some extra time towards it during my MCAT prep, I could probably have it done for maybe 2 weeks before that date.

Please provide some opinions.

(Again, I do understand that sending it in near August will somewhat decrease my chances, but by what date are my chances really hurt?

Also: do you think that it is mostly SDNers that are the extremely keen ones who are sending in their apps super early or does this represent a majority of the entire pre-med population that will be sending their apps in before August? Because I have a feeling that a large percentage will be sending in their apps in October)

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[plumhill]

Is there any chance of you getting it in during early August?

Another option: devote a little bit of time every day starting now to get your primary app done and sent it in early July; that way it's out of your hair for a month or so before your MCAT.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Is there any chance of you getting it in during early August?

Another option: devote a little bit of time every day starting now to get your primary app done and sent it in early July; that way it's out of your hair for a month or so before your MCAT.

+1. The primary isn't really that bad in terms of amount of work imo. Doing a little bit each day shouldn't detract from your studying. The worst part for me was the personal statement, which I don't know if you have started/completed yet. Also, how much applying late could hurt you may depend on how competitive your application is.

Also, to try to answer your other question, I don't think the general pre-med population is as on top of getting things in early as those on SDN.

 

[Jamie561]

I know that applying late decreases your chances. My MCAT is in August, so there's no way around it, and I've come to accept it. Because of the time I need to devote towards studying for the MCAT, I may not finish my primary app for another while. By what date will not having your primary app sent in decrease your chances by a significant amount (i.e. when is the last somewhat acceptable date to send in the primary app beyond which it is pushing it too far)?

I'm thinking of having it done for September 1st (which is still a month and a half until most deadlines). If I devote some extra time towards it during my MCAT prep, I could probably have it done for maybe 2 weeks before that date.

Please provide some opinions.

(Again, I do understand that sending it in near August will somewhat decrease my chances, but by what date are my chances really hurt?

Also: do you think that it is mostly SDNers that are the extremely keen ones who are sending in their apps super early or does this represent a majority of the entire pre-med population that will be sending their apps in before August? Because I have a feeling that a large percentage will be sending in their apps in October)

I wouldn't send your primary past July. Also there is no way we can answer the question you posed. Depends on your tolerance for risk.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[jokerman55]

There are too many factors to pin this on a specific date.

For example, stronger applicants probably have a later 'too late to apply' cutoff date (if such a theoretical cutoff exists).

Likewise, it would depend on which schools you are applying to.

It is more of a distribution.

June - Great
July - OK
August - Not so good.
Sept - Think about applying following yr?

 

[BABSstudent]

I think the dates listed should be clarified. Are you submitting a verified application, or are you submitting the AMCAS to be verified? Because the later and you add up to another 6 weeks on to the date.

Why can't you finish the application now and the study all summer? I would burn out if I studied all summer. In fact, I have studied for 7 weeks and I am starting to burn out. Good thing the test is next week. I can't wait for it to be over with!

 

[altitude]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I will probably try to get it done way before my MCAT so that it could then be out of my mind. A question though:
Will schools only send out secondaries after they receive the MCAT score?
-If they do send out secondaries before receiving the MCAT, dont you have a limited amount of time to complete it (i.e. is it possible that submitting my primary app before my MCAT may mean that I will need to complete all the secondaries by a date that is very near to my MCAT- or is there no date limit for secondary app submission from the time you receive it)?

 

[kehlsh]

I applied in september last year and it was disastrous.

 

[yellowjellybean]

Were you complete in september or you submitted in september?

 

[yellowjellybean]

I applied in september last year and it was disastrous.

Were you complete in september or you submitted in september?

 

[kehlsh]

submitted right after my sept 8 mcat administration... completed a few weeks after..

results were ugly : accepted nowhere but state meds

 

[kpcrew]

submitted right after my sept 8 mcat administration... completed a few weeks after..

results were ugly : accepted nowhere but state meds

how disappointing for you

 

[1289]

submitted right after my sept 8 mcat administration... completed a few weeks after..

results were ugly : accepted nowhere but state meds

seriously? this qualifies as "disastrous?" you got accepted to medical school. shut it.

 

[1289]

OP it really depends on your stats, Yes your app is going to be looked at first at a point when some of the interview slots have already been filled. however, if you have stellar numbers your app can shoot to the top of the pile. if you are average, you might have a problem. don't sweat it for now, focus on the mcat and do well

 

[Ismet]

OP it really depends on your stats, Yes your app is going to be looked at first at a point when some of the interview slots have already been filled. however, if you have stellar numbers your app can shoot to the top of the pile. if you are average, you might have a problem. don't sweat it for now, focus on the mcat and do well

^This. You should submit your primary as soon as it's ready with just one school so that it can get verified. Then take the MCAT and you will be complete as soon as the score comes in September. When you see your score, you can add more schools. I was complete at my schools in late September/early October and I had a good cycle, but ymmv depending on the rest of your stats/ECs and the schools you are applying to.

Will schools only send out secondaries after they receive the MCAT score?
-If they do send out secondaries before receiving the MCAT, dont you have a limited amount of time to complete it (i.e. is it possible that submitting my primary app before my MCAT may mean that I will need to complete all the secondaries by a date that is very near to my MCAT- or is there no date limit for secondary app submission from the time you receive it)?

They wait for the MCAT score. There are a few secondaries that have a time limit, but I don't think it's common. Only 1 of my schools had a 2-week window for submission, but I only applied to 11 so I don't know what's up with the rest of the secondaries.

 

[DOCTAfoHIRE]

submitted right after my sept 8 mcat administration... completed a few weeks after..

results were ugly : accepted nowhere but state meds

Although I see where you are coming from, just be happy you got accepted anywhere. If you were gunning for 'better' schools you should have waited a year and submitted on june 1st. Calling your results 'ugly' and 'disastrous' is an insult to 95% of people applying to med school.

(I would say deal with it, but in your case dealing with it involved attending a US MD school, which isnt really a 'deal with it' situation)

 

[altitude]

So I assume that one of the main reasons to submit your application earlier is so that it doesn't take forever for it to get verified. Since MCAT scores get sent almost immediately to the schools (once they're released), how would this same question be answered in regard to the last possible date to take the MCAT (without your chances being significantly decreased). In other words, say I submit my app in mid July, it should be verified latest by the end of August; so once my MCAT scores are received, the schools could consider my application. So by what day do should your app be complete (I.e. MCAT scores received by schools) without your chances being exceedingly decreased (as the above responses take into account that the fact that the later dates require more time for verification).
The Aug 17 MCAT release scores Sept 18.
The Aug 23 MCAT release scores Sept 25.
The Sept 1 MCAT release scores Oct 2.
So would having your app complete on any of these (release) dates still be okay or are all these dates too late to have a good shot?

 

[mybubbles627]

You want to suburban in the "J" months. Aka June/July or else it is considered late. You should find out if schools will still send you a secondary without your mcat score
Then if you submit mid-late July you get verified in early September. Then you receive your secondaries and have them completed/sent by the time your mcat score arrives in September. The reason it is considered late is because many schools start interviewing in September or even August. That is why you want it in early to get as early of interview invite as possible since most schools are on a rolling admission. Therefore the later you apply the more likely you will only interview for a wait list spot rather than an actual spot in the class.

 

[altitude]

Thanks for the response.
I may be wrong but I would assume that most schools won't send the secondaries until the MCAT score is received because the application is not considered complete and not looked at until then (I think). So assuming the school doesn't send secondaries to every single applicant, and may have a 25 MCAT score cutoff for example, they would likely want a complete application before making any decisions at all like sending the secondary application (this is entirely an assumption though).

 

[mybubbles627]

Thanks for the response.
I may be wrong but I would assume that most schools won't send the secondaries until the MCAT score is received because the application is not considered complete and not looked at until then (I think). So assuming the school doesn't send secondaries to every single applicant, and may have a 25 MCAT score cutoff for example, they would likely want a complete application before making any decisions at all like sending the secondary application (this is entirely an assumption though).

They will send secondaries before all the letters of a rec are received so I don't know. I may be wrong but I think they will send the secondaries without the score they just won't REVIEW the application until everything is received. Some schools screen secondaries but honestly very few do. You can also pre-write secondaries once the prompts are posted on SDN and then they will be ready to submit the same day you do receive them.

 

[darkjedi]

I submitted my primary early July and felt pretty good about everything. I think once you're into August, it's starting to become late

 

[altitude]

I submitted my primary early July and felt pretty good about everything. I think once you're into August, it's starting to become late

Yes but now I'm wondering about this same question in regard to the MCAT (when would be the last date to take it without significantly decreasing your chances). The reason that this is an entirely new question is because the MCAT scores, unlike the primary app, don't need to go through a lengthy verification process but do need a month for their release.

 

[gettheleadout]

seriously? this qualifies as "disastrous?" you got accepted to medical school. shut it.

Chill.

 

[WorldChanger36]

Yes but now I'm wondering about this same question in regard to the MCAT (when would be the last date to take it without significantly decreasing your chances). The reason that this is an entirely new question is because the MCAT scores, unlike the primary app, don't need to go through a lengthy verification process but do need a month for their release.

OP If you can wait out a cycle you should do that.... If you apply late you may be disappointed and just end up being a reapp next year anyways... Wait until you are fully ready to apply MCAT, EC, GPA and everything.

 

[von Matterhorn]

My friend wasn't verified/MCAT scores in until late September. Mediocre MCAT (27), good GPA (3.7-3.8), cookie-cutter ECs, 3 acceptances.

So, you can apply pretty darn late with an average app and still get into places. Or, you could apply in June and not get in anywhere with great stats. Too many variables come into play to really give a true answer. You could literally write ONE off-putting thing that an ADCOM reads and doesn't like that just kills you in the water.

 

[gettheleadout]

My friend wasn't verified/MCAT scores in until late September. Mediocre MCAT (27), good GPA (3.7-3.8), cookie-cutter ECs, 3 acceptances.

So, you can apply pretty darn late with an average app and still get into places.

Yeah, but where are these acceptances? I'd bet non-rolling schools (could be wrong obviously) but most people who apply to my in-state school apply super late by SDN standards but it doesn't matter since it's non-rolling and the way they do their interview scheduling mitigates the timing factor even more.

 

[von Matterhorn]

Univ of MN (home state), Drexel, UW-Madison (I believe)

 

[gettheleadout]

Univ of MN (home state), Drexel, UW-Madison (I believe)

Interesting because the last two are rolling (I don't know about UMinn), but how many schools did he/she apply to? Three acceptances out of 30 schools is more reasonable than three out of eight or whatever. I'm just curious now, I'm not trying to make a point about a general trend based on the experience of one applicant. I absolutely agree with what you said about other factors, but I would still stress that in general, applying earlier is the "safer" route.

 

[von Matterhorn]

No idea on how many schools she applied to, I doubt anywhere near 30 because she didn't seem very concerned about her app. I definitely agree that applying early is a good idea, but I also dislike how SDN continues to perpetuate the very need of having super high stats and/or applying super early to get accepted. Too many factors to really ever predict someone's success

 

[gettheleadout]

No idea on how many schools she applied to, I doubt anywhere near 30 because she didn't seem very concerned about her app. I definitely agree that applying early is a good idea, but I also dislike how SDN continues to perpetuate the very need of having super high stats and/or applying super early to get accepted. Too many factors to really ever predict someone's success

I don't think SDN necessarily blows the need for competitive stats out of proportion. WAMC threads are often honest with applicants with ~30 MCAT's and ~3.7 GPA's that they can likely get accepted if the rest of their application is in order and they apply broadly and smartly. Part of the "smart" application is applying reasonably earlier.

I think when discussion centers on acceptance to top 10/20/40 schools, because it gets harder and harder to gauge chances at more competitive schools, the only sure things that can be said are that higher stats and being an impressive applicant seen early on can only help. Maybe there is a vocal presence of high stat, high aiming achievers on SDN, but I still think the community is relatively realistic in chancing people who don't have legendary numbers.

 

[xBODOMx]

.

 

[MiracleforMD]

My friend wasn't verified/MCAT scores in until late September. Mediocre MCAT (27), good GPA (3.7-3.8), cookie-cutter ECs, 3 acceptances.

So, you can apply pretty darn late with an average app and still get into places. Or, you could apply in June and not get in anywhere with great stats. Too many variables come into play to really give a true answer. You could literally write ONE off-putting thing that an ADCOM reads and doesn't like that just kills you in the water.

Is your friend URM?

 

[chillaxbro]

Submit primary = when you send in AMCAS or when it's verified?

 

[ahha3289]

.

 

[von Matterhorn]

Is your friend URM?

White, upper middle class family. So, no 😀