Why can't it be April 15 rather than May 15?

[ahumdinger]

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All other graduate programs have April 15 (or is it April1 ) as a deadline for deciding where to go. Why can't medical school be like that?! I understand that currently it's restrained by the august MCAT release (which, I still don't understand how it can take so long to grade), but next cycle, when Computer Based Testing will begin, can't the application deadline be a month earlier so that everything can be shifted up a month?!

 

[SailCrazy]

Financial aid may be another reason. April 15 is less than 2 weeks away and many/most of us haven't heard a word about what our financial aid offers will be! 🙁

 

[Saluki]

Well, Cleveland Clinic is out to make the OP happy- they have a decision date of April 15....

 

[eram]

Financial aid may be another reason. April 15 is less than 2 weeks away and many/most of us haven't heard a word about what our financial aid offers will be! 🙁

financial aid offers based on current year's taxes...plus some schools are still interviewing

patience 😛

 

[shortyganoush]

For as many people as there are you would like the April 15th deadline, there are probably an equal amount that would be stressed by it. I have an April 15th deadline at one school because of the Md/Phd, and it's a little scary that I have about a week to hear from anyone else and then make a decision.

 

[redorkulated]

For as many people as there are you would like the April 15th deadline, there are probably an equal amount that would be stressed by it. I have an April 15th deadline at one school because of the Md/Phd, and it's a little scary that I have about a week to hear from anyone else and then make a decision.

I'm in the same boat as you shorty, and I'm also scared!

 

[NapeSpikes]

... but next cycle, when Computer Based Testing will begin, can't the application deadline be a month earlier so that everything can be shifted up a month?!

If it happens, it'll have to be the 2008 cycle because 2007 MCATs will be the first all-computer ones. Then again, they'll probably add another testing administration after August, and we'll be stuck with May 15th forever!

 

[jbrice1639]

as long as the tax deadline stays april 15, the med school deadline will stay may 15 because people need to be able to use financial aid packages to make a decision...and financial aid is based on taxes which aren't due til april 15. that gives schools a month process the financial aid after everyone's tax returns must be filed.