Secondaries and Acceptance Time Limits

<p>with secondaries well on their way, I had a question about when they should be submitted/is there a strategy for which secondaries to submit and when.
i saw on the MSAR that most schools have the earliest release dates around November and December, while some have theirs in January of next year. However, they also have between 2-3 weeks limit on whether you accept their offer or not. seeing as how many students still have interviews in February, should you apply to the schools you really want earlier off and sit on your "safety's" secondaries so you dont end up making a mistake?
im just so confused about the time limit on the acceptances...it doesnt seem to promote early submissions
thanks all for your help</p>

<p>You should apply to all schools as early as possible.</p>

<p>The deposit you have to send in within 2-3 weeks of an acceptance is simply to hold your acceptance. It is not a definitive declaration that you will attend their school. In fact, you have until mid-May to make your decision.</p>

<p>perfect. thank you very much.</p>

<p>Like NCG said, your deposit isn’t a binding statement of intent. You can hold as many acceptances as you want until May 15th, at which point you have to drop all but one.</p>

<p>Do you forfeit deposits at schools you send them to if you ultimately decide on an different school?</p>

<p>I haven’t heard that to be the case at any MD schools. With DO schools, you do lose the deposit (and they tend to be much higher).</p>

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<p>The deposit is refundable up until that May 15th deadline. I can’t speak for DO schools, but I would hope they would have a similar policy since like Steeler said, their deposits are massive! (seriously - my deposit was $100, my friend’s DO deposit was >$1,000 :eek:)</p>

<p>In fact, many MD schools do not require a deposit at all. You only have to return the acceptance form.</p>