When should I complete my secondaries?

[B-wildered]

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Hey

I am a re-applicant and I applied for 37 schools this cycle .

I am wondering if I should start completing the secondaries for schools that will send me them automatically? The only problem is that I only have the prompts from last year, so I don't want to waste my time. Any suggestions?

 

[Banco]

Most of the prompts remain the same. You should pre-write as many as you can because 37 is a lot of schools.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

Even if half the schools changed their prompts, I don't see how it could be a waste of time. It's no where near that, btw. Do you want to get in or not? Waste of time?!?!

 

[wegotthis14]

The vast majority of schools don't change their prompts. That being said, I recommend that you at least pre-write essays for the main secondary themes (diversity, time you experienced adversity, etc.).

 

[B-wildered]

Maybe I used the wrong expression "waste of time". I am just afraid to write a bunch of essays and have to toss 'em and re-write them again. I guess I'll just bite the bullet and start writing them now. I just dislike writing with a passion. However, I wrote essays for a few schools that seemed to have similar/same prompts.

 

[Cytokine2014]

Maybe I used the wrong expression "waste of time". I am just afraid to write a bunch of essays and have to toss 'em and re-write them again. I guess I'll just bite the bullet and start writing them now. I just dislike writing with a passion. However, I wrote essays for a few schools that seemed to have similar/same prompts.

You really should return all your secondaries within two weeks after receiving them so pre-writing seems like a good call to me!

 

[Dr.TonySoprano]

I got a secondary today that actually requires it to be sent back within 3 weeks. Do other schools just prefer the two week turn around or is that just a quick tip for pre-meds? Can it be 3 weeks?

 

[gyngyn]

I got a secondary today that actually requires it to be sent back within 3 weeks. Do other schools just prefer the two week turn around or is that just a quick tip for pre-meds? Can it be 3 weeks?

It won't matter if your MCAT isn't available.

 

[Dr.TonySoprano]

It won't matter if your MCAT isn't available.

Ok what if I already have an MCAT score but I am retaking the exam?

 

[gyngyn]

Ok what if I already have an MCAT score but I am retaking the exam?

They may choose to evaluate you before the second score becomes available.

 

[DJ2MD]

It won't matter if your MCAT isn't available.

Would you say it also doesn't matter if my committee letter won't be in for another month or so? I am verified with AMCAS but I know my advisor won't have my committee letter ready for at least a month.

 

[gyngyn]

Would you say it also doesn't matter if my committee letter won't be in for another month or so? I am verified with AMCAS but I know my advisor won't have my committee letter ready for at least a month.

It is highly unlikely that you will be considered for an interview before your letter is in, even if you turn in your secondary immediately.

 

[Dr.TonySoprano]

ok so there is no hard deadline unless otherwise stated. just get it in as soon as possible is my understanding.

 

[WedgeDawg]

ok so there is no hard deadline unless otherwise stated. just get it in as soon as possible is my understanding.

Agree with this. The two week "rule" isn't really a rule. Just put a list of what you have to do together and start slogging through it. Do the easiest ones first so that you'll be considered for interviews by more schools faster.

 

[mw18]

Last year I had a teacher who was taking a long time with a letter, so I paced myself with my secondaries and didn't submit them until all letters were in (except schools with deadlines). I knew I wouldn't be marked complete without them. If you trust all of the posts I was reading last year, every adcom would have looked at the date I was given access to the secondary and then the date I submitted it and immediately dismissed me as undisciplined or disinterested. But I did ok.

 

[deleted393595]

But I did ok.

"Ok" 😛

 

[mw18]

"Ok" 😛

haha forgot about the signature