When's too late to add new schools?

[g'irish]

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I'm sure someone already asked this, but whats the last date its worth applying to new schools? Just finishing up secondaries and might apply to a couple more. I'm thinking of adding more competitive schools, incase that makes a difference. Thanks!

 

[friendly_premed]

same question for me!

 

[Arturiase]

End of September or early October ?

 

[Catalystik]

I'm sure someone already asked this, but whats the last date its worth applying to new schools? Just finishing up secondaries and might apply to a couple more. I'm thinking of adding more competitive schools, incase that makes a difference. Thanks!

What's "worth" it to you? A 10% decrease in chance? A 50% decrease? What if you have only a 5% chance of being considered? If your stats are well above the new school's, you might be fine adding them into October. If it's a small niche school with a defined service area or mission (which you match), you can probably go right up to the deadline. If you want to add schools more competitive than your stats, I suggest adding them and returning the Secondary before Labor Day. Keep in mind that if schools screen, though, it could be weeks before you get a Secondary invitation. SDN's School-Specific thread can clue you into when to expect Secondaries relative to the day you add a new school.

 

[g'irish]

What's "worth" it to you? A 10% decrease in chance? A 50% decrease? What if you have only a 5% chance of being considered? If your stats are well above the new school's, you might be fine adding them into October. If it's a small niche school with a defined service area or mission (which you match), you can probably go right up to the deadline. If you want to add schools more competitive than your stats, I suggest adding them and returning the Secondary before Labor Day. Keep in mind that if schools screen, though, it could be weeks before you get a Secondary invitation. SDN's School-Specific thread can clue you into when to expect Secondaries relative to the day you add a new school.

This is very helpful thanks! I wouldn't be adding anything later than labor day. I was more thinking like if adding top 10 schools within the next two weeks would put me at too great a disadvantage. What's "early" vs. "on-time" can get really convoluted on here.

 

[DrRiker]

My opinion is applicants do not understand that planning is the most important part of this process. Therefore the research for the schools should be done prior to ever having submitted an application. No applicant, no applicant, should ever be in a position to be first thinking about adding un-researched, unplanned, new schools as a frantic, last minute idea.

Now how about adding safety schools just for extra padding? If one has already planned for and applied to 20 schools, then why would there be any harm in adding a few more?

 

[Catalystik]

This is very helpful thanks! I wouldn't be adding anything later than labor day. I was more thinking like if adding top 10 schools within the next two weeks would put me at too great a disadvantage. What's "early" vs. "on-time" can get really convoluted on here.

How close are your stats to "top-ten" worthy? Do you have the research, leadership, or other outstanding achievement in some area of endeavor such schools are looking for? If you haven't researched these schools and are just using the "spray and pray" approach to adding med schools, don't do it unless you you enjoy making Secondary fee donations to schools (which are not tax deductible, BTW).

 

[Catalystik]

Now how about adding safety schools just for extra padding? If one has already planned for and applied to 20 schools, then why would there be any harm in adding a few more?

I'd be more in favor of this than of adding more-competitive schools than your stats suggest you'd fit. But same deal applies, that you need to have researched whether you are a fit for the mission or service area of the given school, unless donating Secondary fees is not a problem financially for you.

 

[DrRiker]

I'd be more in favor of this than of adding more-competitive schools than your stats suggest you'd fit. But same deal applies, that you need to have researched whether you are a fit for the mission or service area of the given school, unless donating Secondary fees is not a problem financially for you.

I've been playing conservative as a reapp. But the app is also very much improved so maybe this would be worth the extra effort.

 

[Catalystik]

I've been playing conservative as a reapp. But the app is also very much improved so maybe this would be worth the extra effort.

You've also had plenty of time to do the research (even if just reading these forums), so I agree.

 

[Goro]

Instead of the rational, logical manner in which your question is asked, I find most people start adding schools in much more frantic, panicked and general haphazard manner. They start flailing away. The whole concept of "safety schools" is frankly a myth that most people want to believe in. Having a well thought out and targeted school list is vital in this process. Part of the puzzle of success is really knowing and judging your application and researching school beyond a simplistic GPA/MCAT selection metric. Applicants barely research schools at all to start with, relying solely on the brief MSAR info. As I said in my original post, its my opinion

What's particularly galling to me is that many of these people have hundreds, if not even thousands of research experience, yet they can't lift a finger to research their future career by look at med school admissions pages, or MSAR.

 

[g'irish]

How close are your stats to "top-ten" worthy? Do you have the research, leadership, or other outstanding achievement in some area of endeavor such schools are looking for? If you haven't researched these schools and are just using the "spray and pray" approach to adding med schools, don't do it unless you you enjoy making Secondary fee donations to schools (which are not tax deductible, BTW).

My stats are probably good enough (LM 81) but my extracurriculars are good, not stellar, more service oriented than research based. Therefore I wanted to add an additional top school that values service or stats highly. I've already applied to 22 schools to which I devoted a lot of research, meeting with advisors etc. Just looking to give myself a shot of getting into a top school by maybe broadening where I'm applying.

On the other hand, I would not be opposed to applying to schools where I have a better chance of getting in. That neurotic fear of getting denied everywhere is real as ever. Im just finding it hard to determine schools like that, given there are no "safety-schools." To be honest, I will probably just stop applying and get off the internet for a while.

Thanks again for all your help everyone.

 

[Catalystik]

My stats are probably good enough (LM 81) but my extracurriculars are good, not stellar, more service oriented than research based. Therefore I wanted to add an additional top school that values service or stats highly.

I've seen folks get into Northwestern with an application like what you've described (bolded). And WashU seems particularly stats-focused.