The Role of Timing in the Application Process

Here at UCS, the health professions advisors often discuss the importance of taking your entrance exam by the end of April the year that you are applying, and to submit your centralized application as close to the opening of the system as you can. For many application processes this can mean having your entire primary application submitted to your schools by the first week in June, and your secondary applications done soon after. However, as you continue to research programs you may start seeing that many schools don’t have deadlines until October. 

You may be wondering, “Wow, this seems ridiculous. You want me to submit something four months before the deadline? Please explain.” 

Okay, here we go... many of you are aware that application deadlines are rolling and thus the sooner your application is reviewed the more interview spots are available at the time it is read. What you may not have known is how big of a difference submitting earlier in the cycle can really make. The University of Michigan Medical School reported that in the last 6 years only 13% of their admission offers were made to applicants who submitted their applications in September or October. 

You then may ask, “Well if my chances are so low, why would they even extend their deadline to that late in the process?” 

First, schools’ need to keep interview spots available in case an incredibly competitive candidate does submit an application late in the process. This doesn’t necessarily mean someone with a perfect entrance exam score, but usually the candidates who are successful late in the process have very strong candidacies overall. Also, if you were part of an admissions program that received approximately 2,000 applications each year, wouldn’t you like the extra time to review all of those files? In the end, the long duration in which applications are accepted is a benefit for the professional school, not you. 

So what can you do? People’s applications tend to be late for a few reasons:

1. Taking their entrance exam too late. Remember- you should add in the time it takes to score the exam, and the possibility that you may need to retake it. You also would like to have your scores BEFORE the application is able to be submitted so that you have a full perspective of your candidacy. 

2. Waiting too long to ask for letters of recommendations. People need an appropriate amount of time to write your letter. You shouldn’t expect to ask for a letter in May and have it by June 1st! Also, remember that faculty members often have other commitments over the summer and they can be tough to get in touch with. 

3. Not requesting your official transcript to be sent in a timely manner. It can take up to three weeks for the centralized application service to process and validate your transcript.

 4. Trying to write the PERFECT personal statement. First- there will never be a perfect personal statement, and secondly this is something you could work on for months before the application is submitted.
 
5. Time Management and preparation. It takes a lot of time to gather all the materials you need sent, as well as writing about all of your preparation for professional school in an application. This is why we stress that you should apply when the time is right for you and when  you feel good about your candidacy.