When to apply

[Ryomagoku]

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Hey guys,

I hope all is well and hope you guys are having a great winter so far!

Previously, I asked people when I should apply, etc.
A lot of people had given me some great opinions and encouragements that I should not give up although my dad had cancer.

Fortunately, he has been doing better after surgery, but cannot say much about it just yet.

And, I have been able to retake some classes at a community college and have a good faith that I can bring my gpa up to what Goro once told me.

My question is I want to take summer courses to increase my GPA 3.2 or higher.

But, the summer intercession doesn't end until the end of July.

Will it be too late?

I have pretty good ECs, LORs, DO letter (soon)

pretty decent MCAT >30

Thank you!

 

[adrian710]

If I take summer sessions I can get sGPA to above 3.2 and cGPA to just shy of a 3.4 so I am debating just like you are.

I think the general consensus is do whatever it takes to get the best app so if you have to apply 1 month later with a full .1 increase in GPA, it is well worth it.

I wanted to submit first day of app cycle but am leaning towards taking those summer courses and increasing my GPA's.

 

[brotherbanjo]

I'm sorry to hear about your dad! I hope for the best for you guys!

As far as the application, I don't think it's too late to apply after your class in August. It may not be at the beginning of the cycle, but August is by no means too late. November/December is where it starts to get too late, but even then, people are still able to get in who submit applications then.

 

[mathnerd88]

You won't be late, but keep in mind that you're going to have to be patient when those who applied in June/July get first dibs at interview and get accepted by end of August.

It really relieves a lot of stress knowing that you are accepted into medical school early. If you have time, start preparing your AACOMAS application asap. It will be difficult to handle classes AND write out primaries/secondaries, etc. It took me weeks of constantly revising/editing/waiting for my peers to read, etc. Do the easy stuff right when the application process starts, like submitting your transcripts to AACOMAS the day it is released, or asking your LoR writers to upload their letters. All of this stuff handled early will make your application process MUCH easier. Don't wait until after your classes end to start your AACOMAS app. Some things depend on other people, so best to get those parts done early. The main part of the application (primary essays) is all up to you, so the time would be within your control at that point after your summer classes end.

Good luck next cycle!

 

[adrian710]

You won't be late, but keep in mind that you're going to have to be patient when those who applied in June/July get first dibs at interview and get accepted by end of August.

It really relieves a lot of stress knowing that you are accepted into medical school early. If you have time, start preparing your AACOMAS application asap. It will be difficult to handle classes AND write out primaries/secondaries, etc. It took me weeks of constantly revising/editing/waiting for my peers to read, etc. Do the easy stuff right when the application process starts, like submitting your transcripts to AACOMAS the day it is released, or asking your LoR writers to upload their letters. All of this stuff handled early will make your application process MUCH easier. Don't wait until after your classes end to start your AACOMAS app. Some things depend on other people, so best to get those parts done early. The main part of the application (primary essays) is all up to you, so the time would be within your control at that point after your summer classes end.

Good luck next cycle!

If LoR is in Interfolio, do you, from Interfolio, send it to the AACOMAS address?

 

[mathnerd88]

If LoR is in Interfolio, do you, from Interfolio, send it to the AACOMAS address?

I am not sure. I went through my health professions committee, which uses VirtualEval to send all LoR's. Maybe someone else who has used Interfolio has some comment?

 

[68PGunner]

If LoR is in Interfolio, do you, from Interfolio, send it to the AACOMAS address?

Interfolio is a ripoff. AACOMAS and AMCAS have their own lettering services that are free of charge. Use them and save about $200 for booze or other legal substances.

 

[Ryomagoku]

Interfolio is a ripoff. AACOMAS and AMCAS have their own lettering services that are free of charge. Use them and save about $200 for booze or other legal substances.

But do they let you save LORs for next cycle? I purchased interfolio already 🙁

 

[68PGunner]

But do they let you save LORs for next cycle? I purchased interfolio already 🙁

So??? But do you realize that it will cost $1.50 to send an individual LOR to a school. Assuming 5-6 letters being send to 20 schools, that will save you about $200. I too subscribe to Interfolio and pay the annual fee. That's a sunk cost for not being fully informed.

 

[Ryomagoku]

So??? But do you realize that it will cost $1.50 to send an individual LOR to a school. Assuming 5-6 letters being send to 20 schools, that will save you about $200. I too subscribe to Interfolio and pay the annual fee. That's a sunk cost for not being fully informed.

The reason why I didn't save LOR through AACOMAS was that I don't know if it will be saved for the next cycle. If I knew, I guess I should've done that.

 

[adrian710]

I think's there's a way to send LoR's from Interfolio into AACOMAS so you pay a fraction of the cost.

I will try and get letter writers to upload directly into AACOMAS but it's been a year since they wrote the letter.

Otherwise I will try to send them into AACOMAS myself or bite the bullet and pay all that $.

 

[Goro]

That will not be too late. That wouldn't even be late for the MD app cycle.

Hey guys,

I hope all is well and hope you guys are having a great winter so far!

Previously, I asked people when I should apply, etc.
A lot of people had given me some great opinions and encouragements that I should not give up although my dad had cancer.

Fortunately, he has been doing better after surgery, but cannot say much about it just yet.

And, I have been able to retake some classes at a community college and have a good faith that I can bring my gpa up to what Goro once told me.

My question is I want to take summer courses to increase my GPA 3.2 or higher.

But, the summer intercession doesn't end until the end of July.

Will it be too late?

I have pretty good ECs, LORs, DO letter (soon)

pretty decent MCAT >30

Thank you!

 

[Ryomagoku]

That will not be too late. That wouldn't even be late for the MD app cycle.

Hey @Goro early August won't be considered late? Thank you!

 

[Goro]

Nope.

The DO cycle is much longer than MD, BTW. As late as Nove/Dec can still be OK.

Hey @Goro early August won't be considered late? Thank you!

 

[Ryomagoku]

Nope.

The DO cycle is much longer than MD, BTW. As late as Nove/Dec can still be OK.

Do you suggest any ECs that I should do at the moment?

As of now,

I have:
700 hours of Hospital volunteering (of which, 2 years of ED volunteer work)

1 year of Shadowing DO (ED director)

Secretary of pre-health organization 1 year

Hospital volunteering leadership team 300 hours

Conversation partner with foreign exchanged students 60 hours

Research 2 years


Right now, I'm just retaking a few courses, studying for MCAT again, and shadowing a doctor. Worked at a restaurant for a bit.

Thank you for your input! And, I really appreciate everything.

 

[Goro]

Your clinica bonafides are outstanding. I suggest getting off-campus, out of your comfort zone and focus on non-clinical ECs, especially those in service to others less fortunate than yourself.

Do you suggest any ECs that I should do at the moment?

As of now,

I have:
700 hours of Hospital volunteering (of which, 2 years of ED volunteer work)

1 year of Shadowing DO (ED director)

Secretary of pre-health organization 1 year

Hospital volunteering leadership team 300 hours

Conversation partner with foreign exchanged students 60 hours

Research 2 years


Right now, I'm just retaking a few courses, studying for MCAT again, and shadowing a doctor. Worked at a restaurant for a bit.

Thank you for your input! And, I really appreciate everything.

 

[argle_bargle]

But do they let you save LORs for next cycle? I purchased interfolio already 🙁

Interfolio is the way to go. AACOMAS totally clears your app at the end of the cycle, but interfolio keeps them indefinitely. Trust me, I'm still using that science LOR from 2014

 

[DNC127]

I don't think that is late. I was complete the last day of November and have had 8 interview invites! Just make sure you have the best app possible when you apply. Good luck!

 

[Ryomagoku]

Your clinica bonafides are outstanding. I suggest getting off-campus, out of your comfort zone and focus on non-clinical ECs, especially those in service to others less fortunate than yourself.

If I do paid tutoring job, that won't be counted as non clinical EC but rather work experience right?

Interfolio is the way to go. AACOMAS totally clears your app at the end of the cycle, but interfolio keeps them indefinitely. Trust me, I'm still using that science LOR from 2014

haha okay thank you!!

 

[Goro]

Yes, and this is all well and good, but we really like to see evidence if your altruism, hence the service stuff.

If I do paid tutoring job, that won't be counted as non clinical EC but rather work experience right?

haha okay thank you!!