<p>I think part of the problem is: A) the letters are enormously long–often in 6+ page range—and this is for letters that do not include excerpts from other LORs (packet letters are even longer); b) the process is inefficent and requires multiple meetings: first to rank and evaluate the students, then assign a writer for the letter, then any revisions (which the entire committe has to approve) and finally the whole committee has to sign off on it. Now multiply by 100 or more. (Remember too this is summer and committee members have other duties/obligations and in some cases aren’t even on campus)</p>
<p>^ This is all true, but it doesn’t explain why some schools manage to get the letters out on time (late June, early July) while others take much longer?</p>
<p>^probably because those early schools have more efficient processes, fewer letters, or earlier interviews. My school was on the late side. My committee interview, one of the earliest available!, was in mid-August. </p>
<p>I’m also not convinced every committee sees the value in completing the letters early. I know the entire CC crowd wants to get things done ASAP, but you have to remember–there are lots of applicants who are completing applications at various times. And while it’s shocking to think of it, there are plenty of people in my class who submitted AMCAS in mid September, interviewed in January, were accepted in March, and are currently classmates. Put yourself in the committee’s shoes: you have 10 premeds barking at your door to get this letter out yesterday, and you have another 80 who are just letting you go at your own pace…you may not let the opinions of those 10 change your work.</p>
<p>Trust me, I know how frustrating it is to follow along this board and see “everyone else” completing applications and secondaries and getting IIs and prematching in Texas or whatever. It makes you feel like you are so behind! But it’s the first week of August. You’re not behind at all! There are PLENTY of interview spaces left for you because I imagine only a very small percentage of them have already gone out. Just by virtue of being here and following along with these applicants, you are ahead of the ball and on a very good timeline. </p>
<p>The pre-health committee at my son’s school (JHU) has to process 350+ MD applications. Add all the dental and other applicants to that - we are talking ~500 committee packets. </p>
<p>When I am sane (as in not stricken with anxiety :D), I do understand their predicament. They are not staffed adequately and to their credit they work as efficiently as they can without compromising the quality. I also understand that the committee folks also have families with children and want to take vacation at this time. The JHU committee is one of the oldest in the country and those folks know what they are doing. </p>
<p>Several of my son’s classmates go to Cornell. Apparently Cornell’s situation is even worse. They send the letters based on the AMCAS submission dates. One of my son’s friends was told that they process around 25 packets each week and its going to take them another 3 weeks just to get through the June 10th applicants! I ran across a post at SDN forums, by a Cornell Committee member in response to some accusations leveled about their delays by a Cornell kid. He/she opined that most schools are considerate of the pre-med committees and their processes.</p>
<p>My kid is a competitive applicant at pretty much every school he applied to. As, Kristin said, it might just be alright in the end.</p>
<p>Congratulations to all those with interview invites!</p>
<p>From what I heard from a dental school professor who is on an admit committee, JHU is ridiculously profuse in their praise of their students which makes it almost impossible to turn them down despite lower GPAs.</p>
<p>^ I guess once they decide to back an applicant, they go all in. However, I am told that there are several gradations to their recommendations. Applicants are scored on scale of 1-5 on multiple aspects and the quality of the recommendations given is based on the composite score.</p>
<p>I am coping with this stuff a bit better because of the start of the college football. </p>
<p>Texaspg, </p>
<p>You folks need to keep that Manziel kid eligible some how. We don’t want any excuses when my beloved Crimson Tide puts the hurt on the Aggies on Sept. 14th ;)</p>
<p>Don’t you worry Kal, he will be around to beat your school again! NCAA knows doing something before the game will be detrimental to them and so they will drag their feet. </p>
<p>^^ Definitely glad that I’m already verified. I guess delays were just inevitable this year. Opening of AMCAS, first day of submission, and now verification.</p>
<p>Patience is a virtue. Of course, I can say that since I’m already verified, have my school’s committee letter in, and am working on secondaries.</p>
<p>At any rate, I agree with kristin. I’m sure we’ll all end up okay in the end.</p>
<p>For me, now comes the next step. I just bought my tickets to Texas for my first interview. I sure hope it’s cooled down a bit before I get there. :eek:</p>
<p>So my son’s application was stamped “ready for review” on July 10. What does this mean if the timeframe is eight weeks – September 10 before he is considered by schools?</p>
<p>I’m ambivalent about him even doing medical school but want to understand the terrain.</p>
<p>Yes, that appears to be what’s happening. Right it’s taking about 8 weeks to get validated once a file is placed in the review queue (marked “ready for review”).</p>
<p>If he was place in the queue on July 10, then at the current pace, his file ought to get sent out to schools around the second week of Sept.</p>
<p>Having a validated file sent to school does not mean that the school will instantly consider him. The school has to also receive his secondaries, secondary fee payment and LORs in order for his file to be marked “complete” by the individual medical school. Even if all materials have received, it may take a school as long as 2 weeks to mark a file as complete.</p>
<p>Once complete, his file will be computer screened and, if it passes the screening, is sent to the adcomm. The adcomm will review and rank his application. Possible outcomes include: rejection; interview invitation; placed on hold. Files placed on hold may or may not get reviewed again by the adcomm. Some med schools hold on to files without taking any action on them for months.</p>
<p>Well, my tardy boy had his letters, mcat, transcripts all in place (July 1). The ready for review stamp came July 10. He’s had 9 secondary requests from schools, and submitted all of those. So far I’m thinking – what a complex and expensive process!</p>
However, I am told that there are several gradations to their recommendations. Applicants are scored on scale of 1-5 on multiple aspects and the quality of the recommendations given is based on the composite score.</p>