OK so here goes. The dreaded rejection thread. Here is a previous thread which I liked as the support was awesome and very civil.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=233040&highlight=rejection

Based on the silent abyss that is my ERAS e-mail account I know I am in for a world of hurt pretty soon. Good luck to everyone and remember the golden rule with rejections .."It's not me, it's your program".

....

university of washington... i don't think i would have even gone to the interview anyways. if i go to the west coast, i'm going to LA.

1) Downtown Hospital New York today!!!

2) Mayo - This is one I thought I would get for sure and also planned to rank highly. This one hurt the most. What the heck are they looking for? Its frieking rochester minnesota. I've got half a mind to e-mail them and tell them to consider me as people start cancelling their interviews with them in January.
.

I heard Mayo only take those whose step 2 >235, not sure about step 1 score. I have a feeling they care about the scores first, before care about looking at the application as a whole. Too bad. Plus who wants to wear suits every day to see patients anyway?

are you saying you have to take step 2 to get an invite? i don't think that's the case. also i think they're looking at applicants as a whole rather than individual parts.

as for the suit thing, i completely agree. can't imagine doing a physical exam on a hobo with a suit on.

1) Downtown Hospital New York today!!!

I currently have 21 interviews (including some BIG names) and this is my FIRST rejection. THis program is a community hospital, with mostly FMG's! why wouldn't they invite a US grad with AOA and a step I score of 240?!?! am I overqualified?!? LOL... no loss wouldn't have gone there anyways...

And there you have it. Why would they waste their time interviewing someone they know wouldn't even rank it. There are a lot of similar community programs in NYC. Methodist and LICH in Brooklyn basically offer every US med student who rotates through there (Cornell and Downstate students rotate there) a spot even w/o an interview but, in general, don't actually interview any US grads b/c they know that the vast majority (approaching 100%) wouldn't go there if they doubled the salary and halved the hours.

And there you have it. Why would they waste their time interviewing someone they know wouldn't even rank it.

exactly, good point.

1) Downtown Hospital New York today!!!

I currently have 21 interviews (including some BIG names) and this is my FIRST rejection. THis program is a community hospital, with mostly FMG's! why wouldn't they invite a US grad with AOA and a step I score of 240?!?! am I overqualified?!? LOL... no loss wouldn't have gone there anyways...
maybe they picked up on your personality..:(

are you saying you have to take step 2 to get an invite? i don't think that's the case. also i think they're looking at applicants as a whole rather than individual parts.

as for the suit thing, i completely agree. can't imagine doing a physical exam on a hobo with a suit on.
Pretty sure Mayo (Rochester) doesn't require Step 2 - I certainly didn't have my Step 2 score available when I applied, nor interviewed - I doubt I even had my Step 2 scores reported when rank order lists were due.

Some of us prefer wearing a suit. Don't knock it 'till you try it, or at least see it.

maybe they picked up on your personality..:(

There is nothing wrong with my personality! at least the other 21 programs that I was invited to didn't think so :laugh:

I also got rejected by NY Downtown today. Funny thing was I thought it was the teaching hospital of NYU-- so it was a mistake to apply there. DOH! When I saw the e-mail I almost had a heart attack thinking it was from MGH or BWH-- I was frantically looking to see which it was from.

I also got rejected by NY Downtown today. Funny thing was I thought it was the teaching hospital of NYU-- so it was a mistake to apply there. DOH! When I saw the e-mail I almost had a heart attack thinking it was from MGH or BWH-- I was frantically looking to see which it was from.


Yeah I did the same thing! I saw 'Weill Cornell' and figured it was Cornell...

Yeah I did the same thing! I saw 'Weill Cornell' and figured it was Cornell... silly me.... I should have noticed it was a community program loosely affiliated with the university. Anyways, it is mostly an FMG run hospital, with very little chance of fellowships so no loss there! its just hilarious.... you get some big interviews from Yale and JHU etc.... and then get rejected by some bottom FMG run program! I had a good laugh!

The situation is resolved. This thread is about support for eachother and Ocean11 always gives that. Good luck with the rest of interviews, lets move on. Oh yea, and lets just leave her alon about the avatar, does it really matter?

these are the future physicians of this country? One's that when rejected make fun of others? wow, if you got a rejection from a program that you didnt like just dont talk about it. Be glad you have 21 invites in other places, better or not thats subjective.

The problem with your personality that the person was alluding to is best illustrated by "then get rejected by some bottom FMG run program". That's a pretty pompous remark. Just because there are FMG's at a program, or even largely run by them, does not make it a bottom program. They recieved the same education we did, just in a different country, and have the same clinical skills. Interviewing at Yale and Hopkins does not entitle you to talk down to anyone. There are plenty of people out there who would be perfectly happy at your "bottom FMG run program".

Ditto. If you can't see the arrogance and snideness of your remarks then...nuff said. Go "have a good laugh" at someone else's expense.

OK let's keep things back to being civil. I am also going to use my psychic gift to predict a UW rejection on Tuesday. I've heard nothing from them inspite of doing an away rotation there. D'oh!

The problem with your personality that the person was alluding to is best illustrated by "then get rejected by some bottom FMG run program". That's a pretty pompous remark. Just because there are FMG's at a program, or even largely run by them, does not make it a bottom program. They recieved the same education we did, just in a different country, and have the same clinical skills. Interviewing at Yale and Hopkins does not entitle you to talk down to anyone. There are plenty of people out there who would be perfectly happy at your "bottom FMG run program".
:D, That was exactly what i meant about her personality, not very humble at all is she? And you are totally correct normansatx, i am an FMG with 5 years experience under my belt and like every med school you can find, there are some people that you trained with that you wouldn't even let treat your dog and it doesn't matter if you a FMG or a AMG, first, you have to have humilty. Isn't that what medicine is all about? it doesn't matter what your step 1 score is because in the end, a 99 on step 1 does not a good doctor make.....:thumbdown

Every program is looking for a good fit. Elite snobbery is just not high on the list positive qualities at many programs. Some of us WANT to work in the trenches - we WANT those programs will will train us to deal with anything that comes in through the door without all of the other bulls**t - often that means community based.

Then there are those who are merely looking for the stepping stone to Cards or GI. You know . . . whatever. Anyone who thinks they will actually get better training in handling MOST of your common chief complaints at a Hopkins or a Brigham or a UCLA is just being asinine. Those programs are "tops" only in respect of reputation and research money. Therefore, the connections will help with fellowship placement.

are you saying you have to take step 2 to get an invite? i don't think that's the case. also i think they're looking at applicants as a whole rather than individual parts.

as for the suit thing, i completely agree. can't imagine doing a physical exam on a hobo with a suit on.

No, I'm not saying you have to take step 2 to get an invite. All I'm saying is to get matched there, they prefer your step 2 >235. I did a rotation over there and talked directly to the PD and he's saying all IM residents have step 2 >235. Since not everyone has their step 2 score right now, you still can get an invite depending on whatever your step1 score is. I'm assuming later on after the interview, they would select more based on your step2 score then rank you.

yeah you are right my comments came off as arrogant and I appologize if I offended anyone. Sometimes when one is angry, they say things they don't mean and they are not thinking straight. Anyhow, putting a comment up about my personality though is rude and uncalled for and very provocative. Why would you say something like that? you don't know me and neither does the program, how can you tell one's personality from an application or forum!?!?

anyhow, if I offended anyone I'm sorry.... lets move on people!

good luck

ocean11

:laugh::laugh::laugh:


I don't understand the animosity towards you. So what if you have an elitist attitude? You have good scores and landed competitive interviews. Good for you. You are a good candidate for residency.

The problem arises when someone wrongly assumes that being a good candidate for residency means he is a better person. Besides being quite provincial in thinking, it also means she associates her core personality with what you do and that is just plain sad.

who is ur avatar ocean?

yeah you are right my comments came off as arrogant and I appologize if I offended anyone. Sometimes when one is angry, they say things they don't mean and they are not thinking straight. Anyhow, putting a comment up about my personality though is rude and uncalled for and very provocative. Why would you say something like that? you don't know me and neither does the program, how can you tell one's personality from an application or forum!?!?

anyhow, if I offended anyone I'm sorry.... lets move on people!

good luck

ocean11agreed, lets just all move on now, good luck on those interviews ocean11:luck:

who is ur avatar ocean?

me, myself and I

and thanks dpkwalker..... you too!:luck:

me, myself and I

and thanks dpkwalker..... you too!:luck:


:laugh::laugh::laugh:

:laugh::meanie::laugh::meanie::laugh:

nice

is that really you on the picture? if yes then I take everything back i said about you!! LOL.

Oh gawd . . . she's pretty. I guess she gets a pass then? Hell NO!

She was talking crazy, we called her on it, she owned her stuff. Turns out ocean didn't mean to sound the way she did . . . end of story. Being attractive had nothing to do with this. I mean seriously, if she was pretty and did mean it, does she get a pass?

Oh gawd . . . she's pretty. I guess she gets a pass then? Hell NO!



These guys must be new to the Internet because that is OBVIOUSLY not her picture. Forget for a second about the black & white picture taken with a professional camera with model posing. What about the fact that oceans11 is posting about Brittney's snatch (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=345504)?

These guys must be new to the Internet because that is OBVIOUSLY not her picture. Forget for a second about the black & white picture taken with a professional camera with model posing. What about the fact that oceans11 is posting about Brittney's snatch (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=345504)?

Maybe. I've got no dog in that fight.

Based on her posting prior to this she's always seemed pretty sweet. We called her out here for what seemed like an *****hatish attitude - happens to the best of us - she owned it, placed her comments in context. Seemed like a pretty decent exchange to me.

My point was and still is that it shouldn't matter if she's pretty. You know, God bless the gorgeous women of this world - it's a better place because of them, but looks do not equal liscence for boorish behavior. It's amazing what people allow the attractive to get away with . . .

My point was and still is that it shouldn't matter if she's pretty. You know, God bless the gorgeous women of this world - it's a better place because of them, but looks do not equal liscence for boorish behavior. It's amazing what people allow the attractive to get away with . . .

I agree with you there. But if you have a minute, look up ocean11's threads that (s)he started. The titles will give you a glimpse into what type of personality (s)he has developed.

To the OP: I apologize for the haijack.

...

Back to the point .... Hopkins today ....

JHU internal medicine ... not that i was holding my breath for it .. now only if the rest of the schools could also kindly tell me my fate early

that makes it JHU undergrad, med school, and internal medicine

JHU internal medicine ... not that i was holding my breath for it .. now only if the rest of the schools could also kindly tell me my fate early

that makes it JHU undergrad, med school, and internal medicine


PLEASE tell me you kept all of the letters and will one day frame them in your office.:meanie:

...

enjoying the sarcasm
but please, i'm going into private practice
have zero intention of being an 'osler marine' or some academic hotshot in my life


I wasn't kidding. I would do it just to remind me of my past while doing well in the future.

JHU internal medicine ... not that i was holding my breath for it .. now only if the rest of the schools could also kindly tell me my fate early

that makes it JHU undergrad, med school, and internal medicine


There's no need to stop a pattern, I'll even join you.

Me: Well what about it Hopkins do I have a chance?
JHU: Err..no.
Me: Damnit!
JHU: Oh one more thing...
Me: [turning away from the door starting to smile] ..yes?
JHU: Yeah we really don't won't you
[Wah-Wah plays in background]

Yeah I got two rejections from them which is awesome. I figured it was a rejection as the titles of the e-mail (and the e-mail) had a ton of spelling mistakes. They were probably typing it as fast as my application was being shredded

I wasn't kidding. I would do it just to remind me of my past while doing well in the future.

As an undergrad, I worked in the lab of a GI guy who went to U Chicago for med school/residency/fellowship. At the time that I worked for him, he was a Dept Chair, Asst Dean of the Med School and had 4 (count 'em 4) R01 grants at another midwest university name you know. The only thing he had on his office wall, besides pictures of/by his kids, was his rejection letter from the med school he was currently a dean of. It made me feel better when I got my rejection letter from there.

As an undergrad, I worked in the lab of a GI guy who went to U Chicago for med school/residency/fellowship. At the time that I worked for him, he was a Dept Chair, Asst Dean of the Med School and had 4 (count 'em 4) R01 grants at another midwest university name you know. The only thing he had on his office wall, besides pictures of/by his kids, was his rejection letter from the med school he was currently a dean of. It made me feel better when I got my rejection letter from there.

Haha. That is hilarious. :D

I love these types of stories.

Rejections from:
JHU/Sinai
JHU
UNC-Chapel Hill
VCU (this one was a surprise)

As an undergrad, I worked in the lab of a GI guy who went to U Chicago for med school/residency/fellowship. At the time that I worked for him, he was a Dept Chair, Asst Dean of the Med School and had 4 (count 'em 4) R01 grants at another midwest university name you know. The only thing he had on his office wall, besides pictures of/by his kids, was his rejection letter from the med school he was currently a dean of. It made me feel better when I got my rejection letter from there.

lol...that's great!

JHU and UW - doh! Would have LOVED UW...not so much JHU.

University of Wisconsin

What percentage of programs have you guys heard from so far, for both invites and rejects?
I've only heard from about 40% of my programs...still waiting for the other 60% out there...coming to realize that it might not be a good thing if I haven't heard anything yet--it is the 2nd week of november and I pretty sure invites are fulled???????????????

Anyone get any rejections from Uof Chicago or do they just keep silent. I've been waiting on this one for a while and was horrified to find that all their interview dates are blacked out.

denied for stanford itnership

that's right, itnership

denied for stanford itnership

that's right, itnership

Nice!! I think that's the best way to spot a rejection. I got on that said Johns Hopkins Hsopital, the other rejection letter from that was even worse. Guess we are not worth the effort :laugh:

Always makes you feel good to know they're in such a hurry to reject you they can't even spell check it. :(

shiznit, stanford's on the prowl...great, time to duck and run.

Hey Linus --
How did you find out U Chicago dates were blacked out?? That's such a bummer. I tried to contact them so many times to see whether they required Step 2 (which is kind of what their website says) and heard nothing.

... and it looks like I will continue to hear nothing from them. so sad.

University of Maryland today :(

Hey Linus --
How did you find out U Chicago dates were blacked out?? That's such a bummer. I tried to contact them so many times to see whether they required Step 2 (which is kind of what their website says) and heard nothing.

... and it looks like I will continue to hear nothing from them. so sad.

Was bored so I played around their website and one link takes you to the interview dates for medicine and med-peds. All the dates for medicine from November to Janueary had a cross through them. On the bright side meds-peds is all open :rolleyes:

Was bored so I played around their website and one link takes you to the interview dates for medicine and med-peds. All the dates for medicine from November to Janueary had a cross through them. On the bright side meds-peds is all open :rolleyes:


Looks like I'm getting a rejection too.... I havn't heard ANYTHING from U of C OR Northwestern.... its coming I know it :(

Thanks Linus -- it's definitely good to know so that I can stop thinking about it!!
I think I would love U of C, and maybe if someone cancels... but overall I'm happy w/ what I've got!

Sigh, moving on...

Hey guys

So, the calendar that you're talking about on UChicago's website - all the medicine dates have crosses through them to differentiate them from med-peds dates, which are underlined (i know it's real confusing, but the symbol key shows it). Maybe they do a double-key thing for people who are color-blind?

U of C *does* require Step 2 for interviews though.

Hey guys

So, the calendar that you're talking about on UChicago's website - all the medicine dates have crosses through them to differentiate them from med-peds dates, which are underlined (i know it's real confusing, but the symbol key shows it). Maybe they do a double-key thing for people who are color-blind?

U of C *does* require Step 2 for interviews though.

Aah BaylorLion you're killing me :D. I had moved on. My bad for getting everyone excited. Have to admit I only saw the colours with the key. Talk about confusing eh? I'm sure they could have chosen something else for it. They require Step 2 even for AMGs to interview? Had no idea...:eek:

Was bored so I played around their website and one link takes you to the interview dates for medicine and med-peds. All the dates for medicine from November to Janueary had a cross through them. On the bright side meds-peds is all open :rolleyes:

Hey guys, I'm not definite, but I don't think the "crossed out" means the dates are taken. I think the "yellow" and "cross through" = medicine and "blue" and "underline" = med-peds.

I say this only because when I was sent an invite, this is exactly what the calender looked like. The day I chose was crossed through yet I received my first choice date.

I may be wrong, but the dates "crossed out" were still available to me

They require Step 2 even for AMGs to interview? Had no idea...:eek:

I was shocked by this as well but I checked it out and he's not lying. This was not the case 2 years ago when I applied. It's too bad too. I'm not sure it's really all that helpful as anything other than a way to get their total # of apps down to a manageable number.

Hey guys

So, the calendar that you're talking about on UChicago's website - all the medicine dates have crosses through them to differentiate them from med-peds dates, which are underlined (i know it's real confusing, but the symbol key shows it). Maybe they do a double-key thing for people who are color-blind?

U of C *does* require Step 2 for interviews though.
I have an interview w/ University of Chicago and have not taken step II CS or CK.

My bad (about the Step II) - I guess I misread the website.

My bad (about the Step II) - I guess I misread the website.

No, you read the website correctly. Perhaps it's just there to scare people away. Or they phrased it incorrectly and meant that they won't rank people who haven't taken it. Or perhaps somebody just screwed up. In any event, I'm glad to hear that people don't really need Step 2 to get an interview @ U of C.

I got U of C and I didn't take step II yet either when I got the invite. You just need to take it to be considered for ranking I believe. Take it by December 31, and you're golden.

The word from Boston is no ... BWH today ...

a big no from BWH and UCal San Diego. Doh! However, a yes from Johns hopkins bayview. That makes 3 rejections so far. Also, no word yet on Northwestern, yale, U of chicago and Duke. I hate the silence. I think I´m gonna have an ulcer by the end of this month.

a big no from BWH and UCal San Diego. Doh! However, a yes from Johns hopkins bayview. That makes 3 rejections so far. Also, no word yet on Northwestern, yale, U of chicago and Duke. I hate the silence. I think I´m gonna have an ulcer by the end of this month.


A big no from BWH too :( I'm super sad, I think the big thing hurting my application was the fact that my PS was focused on primary care and I have no publications (although I do have research). :( :( :( oh well.... still two more in the running, but I don't have a good feeling about these either :(

I blame it on one my letter of rec writers who took freakin ages to turn it in. does anyone know if programs only send interview offers only after an application is complete. maybe that´s what screwed me over

I think BWH is sending out mass rejection emails today, sigh.

For monoloco, places send out invites without all your letters in... but if they're not in before the deadline, that is probably a problem.

i don't understand why some of ya'll are surprised. isn't bwh supposed to be the single most selective program in the country? you probably need something standout to get in.

not surprised. but of course people who applied would probably rather get an interview than not, and thus are a bit disappointed...

BWH and JHU in two days. yeah!!! :)
I know I don't deserve it anyway. What a relief!

BWH and JHU in two days. yeah!!! :)
I know I don't deserve it anyway. What a relief!

Me too woohoo!! Didn't feel that bad as those were super super out of reach programs. BWH is super selective with interviews. They gave 100 interviews last year for 70 positions, I guarentee the other 30 went to either MGH, BID or UCSF.

BWH today...

UCSF and BWH in one day, and its only 4:00

i also got rejected from NYU downstate- twice. just in case the first time didn't hurt enough!:laugh:

UCSF rejection today too. 3 rejections in a row. :(

First rejection today, U of Maryland...kind of random...oh well

4 for me...jhu, stanford, bwh, ucsf

my feeling tells me that stanford rejection is "on the way". will check my email at 6:00 to see if it is there.

Ucsf :(

God I love this forum..I just got UCSF too hahahaha. BWH and UCSF in one day. Expecting Stanford pretty soon too. All I'm waiting for is BID, UChicago and Duke, rejections from them would be dissapointing.

Got the MGH rejection email today! Strange, cuz I got a BWH interview, and i definitely thought if anything it'd be the opposite!

Got the MGH rejection email today!

same for me! no surprise. it was a super stretch for me. i thought maybe they'd fall in love with my personal statement ;)

MGH today too

UCSF, BWH, and VCU-Physician Scientist program (I didn't even apply to this program and am not interested in research)

After getting 4 e-mail rejections I got home to get one snail mail - nice!! UCLA. JHU appears to have opened up a flood gate. Thus far the only programs that I really wanted have yet to reply to me but signs are not good. It'll be exciting apparently my PD thought I would definitely get invites from the remaining three.

WTF is up with Oregan by the way? Anyone hear from them?

my PD is great. but if i listened to her list of where i should apply, i'd only have 5 interviews!

what are the 3 you're waiting for linus?

my PD is great. but if i listened to her list of where i should apply, i'd only have 5 interviews!

what are the 3 you're waiting for linus?

Stanford, Duke and BID. I wasn't going to apply to them but my PD said I would have a great chance. Particularly Stanford and BID as they like students from my school (we've had a few students go there).

No kidding... I had a similar situation, except I'd have 3 interviews.


Oddly enough, I've gotten interviews I didn't think I would get, and places i thought I was a shoo-in for have either outright rejected or left me hanging. This process is weird.

[quote=WTF is up with Oregan by the way? Anyone hear from them?[/quote]


Yeah, really...WTF is up with Oregon...I need to schedule flights to coincide with UW for a northwest tour and they are holding out on the love...come on!

Yeah, really...WTF is up with Oregon...I need to schedule flights to coincide with UW for a northwest tour and they are holding out on the love...come on!


I'm right there with you Scutmonkey08, I was planning to schedule both UW and Oregon together so I could rent a car and take a nice drive...but no. Plus I've already scheduled my UW interview and I doubt it is the same time as Orgeon (if I ever hear from them).

I applied to all the UCSF programs - SGH, PRIME and the UCSF Internal Medicine program. I received the famed "thank you" yesterday that talked about the "UCSF Internal Medicine" program. Does anyone know if this applies to all 3 programs or just the Internal Medicine Program? Thanks...

Nice!! I think that's the best way to spot a rejection. I got on that said Johns Hopkins Hsopital, the other rejection letter from that was even worse. Guess we are not worth the effort :laugh:

ha, i got the same email.... TWICE. :laugh:

Rejected from MGH, and UCSF today. Sounds like we are all on the same rejection schedule. haha. any votes on which university will be next. I´m placing my bet on Stanford.

UCLA by "snail mail" today. Was a little surprised as I didn't expect them to be so selective. Maybe it's regional bias. Either way, didn't really want to live in L.A. and probably wouldn't have flown out there as my finances are dwindling as I type this:scared:

Anyone received any rejections from Duke or UofChicago yet? Have a feeling these programs are stringing a few of us along. Looking at last year's program it seems as if rejection letters only got sent out basically end of November and December. :(

mount sinai in new york today. phooey. :(

mount sinai in new york today. phooey. :(

Thats sucks, I'm sorry! I'm still waiting to hear from them too. *braces self*

UCSD today... :( no love for someone who graduated from UCSD undergrad?!?! ;(

University of Washington today. Doh! Who wants to live in a rainy city anyway. :mad:

Thats sucks, I'm sorry! I'm still waiting to hear from them too. *braces self*


thanks. hang in there! you never know!

Man I hate this crap of waiting and not hearing anything, c'mon send me rejections now please. Then again the 4 in one day stung a bit hehehe. I'm guessing that silence from Duke is a solid no as it doesn't seem as if anyone has got rejections from them...

if you guys don't mind me asking - what kind of stats did everyone have who got interviews/no interviews at bwh, mgh, ucsf, univ of chicago, etc, etc? just a third year here trying to figure out where the heck i should be looking?

good luck everyone!

The theme appears to be AOA, honors in 3rd year clerkship, away rotation, Step 1 > 230/90...in that order.

i'd have to say the single most important factor in determining the granting of interviews at such programs is the quality of your medical school. of course this is not controllable to anyone. the controllable factors are what blackndecker has said.

i'd have to say the single most important factor in determining the granting of interviews at such programs is the quality of your medical school. of course this is not controllable to anyone. the controllable factors are what blackndecker has said.

At the risk of sounding cynical; which I am definitely not, just realistic, I will give you my take on it. Its not what you know, but who you know. At places like UCSF, Harvard you have to have something that really stands out. Being from a top 10 med school, published research in a major medical journal, or most importantly... connections. I did everything I could (AOA, top 10 in my class, medicine honors, step one > 250, step 2ck > 270, unpublished research, loads of EC's and volunteering) and I got the triple rejection hammer dropped on me from the above named schools. I am convinced its one of two things... my med school just isn't that well known and we have never sent students to those programs in the past or my research experiance didn't cut it. I'm more inclined to believe the former.
I am not being ungrateful b/c I definitely have ten interviews right now at some really great programs and I am really happy about about them. Its just frustrating to think that I could have made straight A's and probably even published something, and still would not have gotten an interview b/c my med school isn't in the top tier, something completely out of my hands.
One way I look at it is that Internal Medicine must be having a resurgence of popularity with all these extremely qualified applicants this year, and that is a really good thing for the future of our field!
Try hard, make good grades, study for your step exams, try to publish something, and most of all learn to be satisfied if you dont get your Harvard/UCSF/JHU interviews. You will still get X fellowship from another good program.
PS.. I want to echo the thought of BlacknDecker, those who are holding on to twenty interviews "just in case", start cancelling some. You may be holding a spot for someone who's dream is to go to that program.

People arrive at this conclusion every year around this time. I completely agree with your thoughts and would like to suggest the following. Remember this experience when you give others advice. If you have not already you will be asked by friends, family members, or alumni from your undergrad about going to big name schools vs smaller, less expensive schools. If they have aspirations to go to Johns Hopkins or Harvard then they may have to go for the bigger name school. It seems arbitrary, and it may be crazy, but both medical school and residencies trust the bigger name schools than the smaller more unknown schools. Thus, as you are learning, if you have your heart set on big names, then it helps to have a big name pedigree. It is the same for fellowships. I am at the Brigham for medicine, and to get a cards fellowship here, you basically have to come from the top 10 IM residencies to even be considered. To be honest it seems that BWH and MGH really only take people from the top 5. Again, I do not condone this bias, but I observe it each year with very few exceptions. So if your goals are lofty, then you may have to pick the biggest names from the start. Take the opportunities when they come.

Any rejections from BID yet?

Just wondering if anyone has gotten a no-go from Columbia or UPenn? Also wondering about BID. Thanks!

ucla yesterday via snail mail.

ucla yesterday via snail mail.

ditto on that.

should we just assume at this point that silence from Stanford=rejection?

It is amazing that a person with your stats still gets a rejection. I am sure that it does not help to have everyone and their mother apply to these programs 'just-in-case' and flood their system. Causing them to use arbitrary filters to computer-weed-out people without human intervention.

As a Carib student, I won't feel as badly when I get the rejection knowing that a stellar applicant such as you was also passed by.




At the risk of sounding cynical; which I am definitely not, just realistic, I will give you my take on it. Its not what you know, but who you know. At places like UCSF, Harvard you have to have something that really stands out. Being from a top 10 med school, published research in a major medical journal, or most importantly... connections. I did everything I could (AOA, top 10 in my class, medicine honors, step one > 250, step 2ck > 270, unpublished research, loads of EC's and volunteering) and I got the triple rejection hammer dropped on me from the above named schools. I am convinced its one of two things... my med school just isn't that well known and we have never sent students to those programs in the past or my research experiance didn't cut it. I'm more inclined to believe the former.
I am not being ungrateful b/c I definitely have ten interviews right now at some really great programs and I am really happy about about them. Its just frustrating to think that I could have made straight A's and probably even published something, and still would not have gotten an interview b/c my med school isn't in the top tier, something completely out of my hands.
One way I look at it is that Internal Medicine must be having a resurgence of popularity with all these extremely qualified applicants this year, and that is a really good thing for the future of our field!
Try hard, make good grades, study for your step exams, try to publish something, and most of all learn to be satisfied if you dont get your Harvard/UCSF/JHU interviews. You will still get X fellowship from another good program.
PS.. I want to echo the thought of BlacknDecker, those who are holding on to twenty interviews "just in case", start cancelling some. You may be holding a spot for someone who's dream is to go to that program.

Columbia about 20 min ago. Just when I thought it was safe to check email at 6:15. Had no idea rejections go out past 7!

That makes 4 in total (nyu downstate, mgh, mt sinai ny)

Columbia about 20 min ago. Just when I thought it was safe to check email at 6:15. Had no idea rejections go out past 7!

That makes 4 in total (nyu downstate, mgh, mt sinai ny)

me too buddy! Columbia just now! I didn't think I'd get one this late either

4 total as well.... oh well I can't complain got BID and MGH, so I'm not going to shed too many tears.... still though my cousin goes to Columbia it would have been cool..... oh well :)

me too buddy! Columbia just now! I didn't think I'd get one this late either

4 total as well.... oh well I can't complain got BID and MGH, so I'm not going to shed too many tears.... still though my cousin goes to Columbia it would have been cool..... oh well :)

just heard from them too. oh well...what can you do.

Columbia rejection today :(

so far...

ucsf
stanford
ucla
ucsd
northwestern

... you guys think they're gonna be nice and hold off on rejections tomorrow???

:confused: :scared:

me too buddy! Columbia just now! I didn't think I'd get one this late either

4 total as well.... oh well I can't complain got BID and MGH, so I'm not going to shed too many tears.... still though my cousin goes to Columbia it would have been cool..... oh well :)

by the way, is that the real "you" in that avatar? if so, i'd definitely like to run into you on the interview trail. ;)

This is the week of rejections for me. Columbia University and Stanford, both today! grrrr.

Rejected at Columbia today too, but got BID so that definitely makes me feel better....Still waiting on UPENN and Duke at the moment to complete my interview scheduling.

Got my long awaited rejection from stanford this morning at midnight. That really completes my app process.
Applied 19 in total (14 originally, 4 in late october, 1 early this week)
4 rejections
11 interviews
4 interviews turned down (I really wish I could go to all of them)
Well, now its time for the "interview impressions" thread and eventually the match thread. Good luck everyone, looking forward to meeting some of you on the interview trail.

Swift kick in the crotch from Stanford this morning!

Final tally:
-accepted 11 interviews
-rejected from 3 places
-turned down 10 programs

Good luck everyone and I'll see you guys on the trail.

Why wont these idiots just reject me already and stop prolonging the inevitable. Anyone have an idea when final rejections are sent (or are they just never sent?).

Why wont these idiots just reject me already and stop prolonging the inevitable. Anyone have an idea when final rejections are sent (or are they just never sent?).

depends on the program, I've read posts where people say some programs just never let you know or let you know at the end of January or something.

OHSU rejection today...Got UW but not OHSU...something isn't adding up?

UVA today, called em and found out. Still waiting on Wash U, Duke, Emory, MUSC

UCLA by snail mail today... and i did an away rotation there! thanks... appreciate it.

anyone here no-go's from tufts or nyu yet

still kind of curious though slowly losing hope as the days go by :D

UCLA by snail mail today... and i did an away rotation there! thanks... appreciate it.

That's major B$:meanie: Makes you wonder...who do these programs think they are??? <forgive the grammar> Please tell me they didn't write you a (crappy) LOR...:scared:

Sorry to hear that man, I got the letter myself.

Looks like it's an IM renaissance this year. We're in good company though...I'm proud to be a part of this year's crop of internists.:thumbup:

anyone here no-go's from tufts or nyu yet

still kind of curious though slowly losing hope as the days go by :D

Rejected by Tufts on 11/19 via email

Looking at this thread, it seems that everybody applies to the big names no matter how little of a chance they may have.

It must suck for those places every year.

Looking at this thread, it seems that everybody applies to the big names no matter how little of a chance they may have.

It must suck for those places every year.


ucla

fucla!!!

ucla

fucla!!!

did u get the letter from ucla saying "our committee has determined that you are unlikely to be ranked by us"

kind of rude...

did u get the letter from ucla saying "our committee has determined that you are unlikely to be ranked by us"

kind of rude...


Wait...is that their rejection letter or did they send you an invite first and then sent you a letter saying the above?

If its the latter...that is F'd up!!!

Wait...is that their rejection letter or did they send you an invite first and then sent you a letter saying the above?

If its the latter...that is F'd up!!!

that was their rejection letter. i never got an interview even tho i did an away there (through ucla but at cedars).

that was their rejection letter. i never got an interview even tho i did an away there (through ucla but at cedars).

Nonetheless, rejection letters do suck...especially when they word it like that!!!

Good luck with the rest of your interviews!!

Well, I made some phone calls today and...

Emory says I'm in the "not been offerred an interview but I haven't been rejected either" pile...I don't want to be in that pile because even if I were offered an interview, I think it'd be a waste of my money this late in the game.

UPenn said that they still have "last minute" interviews to give, and I don't want to be in that group either.

So...
REJECTED at MGH, BWH, Columbia
NOT HEARD FROM BUT GIVING UP on Emory, UPenn, BID
CANCELLED MY INTERVIEW at Wake Forest, UI-Chicago, Hopkins-Bayview

Good luck!

mt.sinai's main program in NYC today. my application is on "hold" but thats pretty much a rejection at this point in the season, at least it was the last one i was waiting to hear back from. good luck everyone!

denied yale

so there go my top two choices..yale and mt. sinai

called duke, said, they're still reviewing. will have final answers by the end of this wk.

yale: "your application's being interviewed as we speak", whatever the heck that means.

uwash: couldn't get a hold of the lady. she only works tue, thurs, and fri, or something.

denied penn

denied penn

Me too.

Rejected by UPENN.. and placed on the "hold", "waiting list at Mt. Sinai.

List of rejections so far.

UNC
MGH
BWH
Columbia
Univ Washington
Stanford
Johns Hopkins
UCSF
Northwestern

Plenty of rejections for me. I got a 230 on step 1, decent med school (I would say mid-tier), and pretty middle of the road in everything else (not superstar, but not bottom of the pack either). I figured I would at least make the cut-off for a lot of these programs. Oh well, their loss because I am going to be one kick-ass resident:

UNC
MGH
BWH
Mt. Sinai
Northwestern
Columbia
Yale
UPenn

I'm still expecting rejections from BU, Cornell, BID, and UVA.

Better to be a big fish in a small pond.

Yep, UPenn for me today as well

I got the axe today from Northwestern. It was suprising, not because it isn't a competitive program, but I went to undergrad there and have also gotten invites at several "top" programs (MGH, Penn, Stanford, Cornell etc...). Just wanted to highlight for all those people who post their stats and ask for their chances at places that this is all very random/arbitrary. However, if you work hard, you will end up some place great. It really is a "match" process.

I got the axe today from Northwestern. It was suprising, not because it isn't a competitive program, but I went to undergrad there and have also gotten invites at several "top" programs (MGH, Penn, Stanford, Cornell etc...). Just wanted to highlight for all those people who post their stats and ask for their chances at places that this is all very random/arbitrary. However, if you work hard, you will end up some place great. It really is a "match" process.
.
Sorry double post.
Congrats on those really great interviews. Plus, you bring up a great point. This isn't a competition but a match. We should all be happy that IM is seing this huge resurgence in popularity, I think its great for our field.

Denied at UPenn. I erroneously assumed I would be a shoo in for most of the state/public schools.

UPenn is a private, Ivy league school. Penn St is a state/public school.

I think what this thread shows and I certainly came to understand last year during the application process is that while IM as a field is easy to get a spot, if you want to go to a top tier IM program particularly if you want to name the school or the city, it can be very very challenging. each year incredible applicants with credentials that would allow them to match in ANY field in medicine get passed over for interviews or being ranked to match at the top IM programs. In some ways, I think that it is not helpful to those entering the IM match in the future to be told that it is an "easy" match. The truth is that the top programs are packed full with people that had they chosen to match at say Harvard Derm rather than BWH medicine or JHU radiology rather than JHU medicine they could have just as easily done so. I think the advice that should be passed on to those choosing IM in the future is that there are a ton of great programs but if you have your heart set on a particular program and it happens to fall in the "top" 5-10 medicine programs you better have something better than great board scores and good grades and people should plan their medical school time accordingly if that is important to them. all of this is of course keeping in mind that it is likely you will come out just as strong a resident at the end of one of the many great training programs that simply don't have quite as shiny a name attached to them.

denied yale as well

so i got an invite from cornell about a week ago. i emailed them my dates and she replied saying my dates were full and that i'm on some sort of waiting list for those preferred dates. and if those dates don't open they'll offer me an "off-day interview." is this the same as a rejection/hold?

Doesn't sound like a rejection/hold to me. Instead, it sounds like they're interviewing you regardless. You're just waiting to see if one of the dates you wanted opens up, and if it doesn't, they'll get you another day.

denied yale as well

so i got an invite from cornell about a week ago. i emailed them my dates and she replied saying my dates were full and that i'm on some sort of waiting list for those preferred dates. and if those dates don't open they'll offer me an "off-day interview." is this the same as a rejection/hold?

off day interviews are usually just an interview. ie no tour, no time set aside to talk to residents, no residents report, etc... some programs offer off day saturday interviews for example and the interview is all you have that day.

UPenn is a private, Ivy league school. Penn St is a state/public school.

Ahh, thanks. I noticed on the news today (UPenn professor who bludgeoned his wife) the reporter kept referring to him as an Ivy league professor.

denied uwash

Actually what I've learned is that the old school Northeast programs care only about 1 thing: medical school name... you might have good grades, good letters, and even a Step1 25 points higher and go to a same tier school (as far as research budget), but if you dont have the "name" you won't get an interview.

Ah well, who needs the cold anyway?

I think what this thread shows and I certainly came to understand last year during the application process is that while IM as a field is easy to get a spot, if you want to go to a top tier IM program particularly if you want to name the school or the city, it can be very very challenging. each year incredible applicants with credentials that would allow them to match in ANY field in medicine get passed over for interviews or being ranked to match at the top IM programs. In some ways, I think that it is not helpful to those entering the IM match in the future to be told that it is an "easy" match. The truth is that the top programs are packed full with people that had they chosen to match at say Harvard Derm rather than BWH medicine or JHU radiology rather than JHU medicine they could have just as easily done so. I think the advice that should be passed on to those choosing IM in the future is that there are a ton of great programs but if you have your heart set on a particular program and it happens to fall in the "top" 5-10 medicine programs you better have something better than great board scores and good grades and people should plan their medical school time accordingly if that is important to them. all of this is of course keeping in mind that it is likely you will come out just as strong a resident at the end of one of the many great training programs that simply don't have quite as shiny a name attached to them.

I don't know about that. I came from a med. school without a huge name and a bunch of us interviewed/were ranked to match/matched at many of the oldest of old school northeast programs.

Rejection today from Columbia...

WTF??? Got rejected from Oregon.

Granted I am fully booked on interviews and didn't plan on accepting if an invite was given but that was pretty much a trout slap from nowhere. Not sure why this rejection rocked me the most, maybe I thought since I got invites from some other places I would get one there.

Not a great confidence booster for the beginning of interviews next week.

rejection nyu

really out of left field for me too

w/e, happy with my interviews nonetheless

rejection nyu

really out of left field for me too

w/e, happy with my interviews nonetheless

Same here.

My program director told me I would be very competitive at programs like NYU. I've gotten a bunch of rejections that I wasn't quite expecting.

Oh well. I still have some great interviews that I am excited about. I have no intention of going into academic medicine, so as long as I get my fellowship, it really doesn't matter where I go.

Maybe it's because in my essay I said that my main motivation to go into medicine was for the cash and to impress the babes :cool:

GI, right?

Holler

GI, right?

Holler


Is there any other specialty?

Anyone else here waiting for their Duke rejection tomorrow? :hardy:

can we please not complain about programs that reject you before you reject them? beat them 2 the punch next time then

Anyone hear from Duke in the end?

Is there any other specialty?

Y'all better quit whining about not getting a certain IM interview...BrockDoc wait till you apply for GI when you have 350+ applicants for 2-3 spots.

Y'all better quit whining about not getting a certain IM interview...BrockDoc wait till you apply for GI when you have 350+ applicants for 2-3 spots.

All due respect to an attending, but what gives you the right to come onto a forum started for med student applicants to internal medicine residencies and blast us like that! If you think you we are whiny and don't approve, don't read the thread.
BrockDoc, I, for one, am happy we have folks so enthusiastic about the field they are interested in, don't let a bitter attending spoil it for you.
This thread was created to express our frustration and disappointment when we get a rejection to a program we really wanted to interview at. We have every right to whine here, it's one of the only venues we have to do so in an anonymous and supportive setting, well sometimes supportive. Keep posting folks, sometimes its therapeutic.

[quote=BrockDoc;5894278]Same here.



Oh well. I still have some great interviews that I am excited about. I have no intention of going into academic medicine, so as long as I get my fellowship, it really doesn't matter where I go.


Fair enough. I'm here out of boredom as I'm moonlighting for a group this weekend. And I'll leave Brockdoc and anyone else interested in GI with a bit of advice re: the above quote...never ever tell them you even might have an incling to go into private practice. When you interview for fellowship sell them about how you like academics! Every program wants people who will stay in academics! In five years after your GI fellowship you see yourself as a junior faculty!! (even if you just wanna get out and scope for dollars) This probably goes for any competitive specialty!

Gida....what a loser...first you give people a hard time in here and now you are telling people to lie for fellowship...get a life :scared:

...

Scutmonkey, ....sorry for giving you folks a hard time--I myself got my 3rd choice for IM... but, my recommendation regarding fellowship is a FACT. You need to tell them what they wanna hear! Why do you think they want you to do research to get a fellowship spot!! They want you to do research as a fellow for them, and STAY IN ACADEMICS AND BRING THEM GRANT MONEY! Your screenname itself says it all SCUTMONKEY.
A GI fellowship got moved from 2 to 3 years in the late 90s why?
They told you it was for ERCP...but that is an additional 4th year now at almost all programs!! GI in Canada is still a 2 year fellowship (ercp is a 3rd year).
The 3rd year of GI is now a year of free labor for them! You do their research, take their call, scope their patients, do their clinics etc. for one more year.
Trust me, after 1.5 years of fellowship you will be able to do egds/colons in your sleep!
Also they need you to stay in academics! Think about it...starting GI private practice is now over 250K, PLUS 4-12 week per year vacation. NO JOKE. (I get 8 weeks off per year starting)
Academic GI is starting at 200K if you're lucky and only 4 weeks of vacation! Thus, no one is staying in academics except for the lazy people, J1s and true academicians. Props to the true academicians.
BUT IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION WHERE ARE YOU IN 5 YEARS- IF YOU EVEN SAY "I DON'T KNOW, EITHER PP OR ACADEMICS, WE'LL SEE." YOU CAN KISS THAT PROGRAM GOODBYE. Sorry to burst your bubble but for better or worse it's a game. Play the game well and you'll be doing this...:laugh:

UCLA by snail mail today... and i did an away rotation there! thanks... appreciate it.

Don't feel bad. UCLA has been rejecting their OWN medical students. :rolleyes: Got nice evals on all my medicine rotations, so it couldn't have been bad word of mouth or something, and still got rejected. I don't know anyone from another school turned down by their own program.

I mean, what the heck, UCLA?! Can't you at least offer courtesy invites to your own med students? I managed to get invites from U. of Chicago and Cornell so I can't be that awful. Geez...

And I'll leave Brockdoc and anyone else interested in GI with a bit of advice re: the above quote...never ever tell them you even might have an incling to go into private practice. When you interview for fellowship sell them about how you like academics! Every program wants people who will stay in academics! In five years after your GI fellowship you see yourself as a junior faculty!! (even if you just wanna get out and scope for dollars) This probably goes for any competitive specialty!

Isn't it something like 80% of all medical school grads go into private practice? If you feed them lines that you are going into academic medicine then they will know you are lying. There is nothing wrong with going into private practice. That's how the vast majority of the people in this country receive health care. Just because someone is in private practice doesn't mean they can't stay sharp with all the latest research. My career focus is on patient care and not necessarily having my name printed on some sweet papers while I'm scrambling around for more grant dollars to do research.

Oh, and I know how tough GI is...I'm willing to live in Podunkville, Nowheresland to do my fellowship if that's what it takes. Hopefully it won't come to that and I will be able to get some sort of decent academic fellowship.

GI is still the sweetest specialty out there, and you all know it. :cool:

duke rejection today.

Don't feel bad. UCLA has been rejecting their OWN medical students. :rolleyes: Got nice evals on all my medicine rotations, so it couldn't have been bad word of mouth or something, and still got rejected. I don't know anyone from another school turned down by their own program.

I mean, what the heck, UCLA?! Can't you at least offer courtesy invites to your own med students? I managed to get invites from U. of Chicago and Cornell so I can't be that awful. Geez...

that's pretty screwed up...

Duke today as well. Anything this late in the game cannot be good news. Done with wishful waiting, and happy with my invites...

Any of you guys contacting programs you have not heard from yet? Perhaps to express your interest in the program and eagerness to visit their hospital, with the hopes that such words may turn an impending rejection into an offer?

Also, do I call the office, or email the PD directly?

I got a Cleveland CLinic and Beth Israel invite today, so I am hopeful that interview invites are still being sent out. :luck: :luck:

Also, do I call the office, or email the PD directly?

I've been wondering the same thing. A couple times, I emailed the general contact email given on the residency websites to express interest. (Like with Harbor for example, but got no reply) I wonder if these emails get forwarded to the PD? I wasn't sure if PDs would get annoyed if we emailed them directly...

My experience with contacting programs:

Upenn: Called the ERAS supplied #, secretary answered, asked me for my name, then went and talked to the PD for a second...came back and said final notices would be sent out ASAP. Got rejection email the next day.

Columbia: called the ERAS supplied phone #, it rang about 12 times, then someone picked up the phone and immediately hung it up. Got rejected several days later

BID: called the ERAS supplied phone #, but no answer. Still have yet to hear from them.

In my experience, it seems like they either forgot to reject me or just haven't gotten around to it yet. I need to call U of C so they can hurry up and reject me as well.

In my experience, it seems like they either forgot to reject me or just haven't gotten around to it yet. I need to call U of C so they can hurry up and reject me as well.

I've contacted a few programs...mostly via email...and got rejections either the next day or a few days later. I guess I should contact Cornell so they can send me my rejection. I've been waiting so patiently to be rejected by them. I also haven't gotten my rejection from BID yet. The other Harvards were kind enough to tell me that I suck, so I figured BID would provide the same courtesy.

Maybe I should beat them to the punch and send them a rejection letter of my own:

Dear Program Director:

After extensively reading through the profiles of many programs I regret to inform you that I will be unable to offer you the pleasure of meeting me on an interview day. It's a difficult decision because many of the programs are competitive and highly qualified. Unfortunately I will not able to grace you with my presence in the upcoming intern class. I wish you the best of luck in matching a sweet group of interns.

Sincerely,
BrockDoc
I Drink Too Much During Fourth Year Medical School
Class of 2008

:laugh:Yeah, I was actually thinking of the same thing for the programs I've had to cancel interviews at.

Isn't it something like 80% of all medical school grads go into private practice? If you feed them lines that you are going into academic medicine then they will know you are lying. There is nothing wrong with going into private practice. That's how the vast majority of the people in this country receive health care. Just because someone is in private practice doesn't mean they can't stay sharp with all the latest research. My career focus is on patient care and not necessarily having my name printed on some sweet papers while I'm scrambling around for more grant dollars to do research.

Oh, and I know how tough GI is...I'm willing to live in Podunkville, Nowheresland to do my fellowship if that's what it takes. Hopefully it won't come to that and I will be able to get some sort of decent academic fellowship.

GI is still the sweetest specialty out there, and you all know it. :cool:

Not that hard if you go to a good residency program that has great matches - which are probably those top ones. Plus ur an AMG so not too bad. Good luck!

Those are the last two i'm waiting on as well...BIDC + Columbia

Called BIDC q day this week...keep getting voicemail that was set up pre-thanksgiving..."ie: we will be out of the office starting nov 21 and will return nov 26, etc." does anyone actually work in that office?

Called columbia as well and get the same...phone rings and rings and rings and no one picks up.

Whats the point of giving out phone numbers if no one is going to answer them?

Arrgh....i agree with everyone else on this thread...just send me my rejection allready and put me out of my misery!!

On the other hand, getting an invite would be sweet as well. :D

My experience with contacting programs:

Upenn: Called the ERAS supplied #, secretary answered, asked me for my name, then went and talked to the PD for a second...came back and said final notices would be sent out ASAP. Got rejection email the next day.

Columbia: called the ERAS supplied phone #, it rang about 12 times, then someone picked up the phone and immediately hung it up. Got rejected several days later

BID: called the ERAS supplied phone #, but no answer. Still have yet to hear from them.

In my experience, it seems like they either forgot to reject me or just haven't gotten around to it yet. I need to call U of C so they can hurry up and reject me as well.

Canned by BID, so if you still haven't heard, good luck to ya.

BID also trashed my app today as well.

Maybe I should beat them to the punch and send them a rejection letter of my own:

Dear Program Director:

After extensively reading through the profiles of many programs I regret to inform you that I will be unable to offer you the pleasure of meeting me on an interview day. It's a difficult decision because many of the programs are competitive and highly qualified. Unfortunately I will not able to grace you with my presence in the upcoming intern class. I wish you the best of luck in matching a sweet group of interns.

Sincerely,
BrockDoc
I Drink Too Much During Fourth Year Medical School
Class of 2008

this is the funniest thing i have ever read on these boards! i am still waiting too on a few. at this point i'm assuming i am on the "hold" or "TBR" pile. most likely the latter. :laugh: is it sad am laughing about that?

Scutmonkey, ....sorry for giving you folks a hard time--I myself got my 3rd choice for IM... but, my recommendation regarding fellowship is a FACT. You need to tell them what they wanna hear! Why do you think they want you to do research to get a fellowship spot!! They want you to do research as a fellow for them, and STAY IN ACADEMICS AND BRING THEM GRANT MONEY! Your screenname itself says it all SCUTMONKEY.
A GI fellowship got moved from 2 to 3 years in the late 90s why?
They told you it was for ERCP...but that is an additional 4th year now at almost all programs!! GI in Canada is still a 2 year fellowship (ercp is a 3rd year).
The 3rd year of GI is now a year of free labor for them! You do their research, take their call, scope their patients, do their clinics etc. for one more year.
Trust me, after 1.5 years of fellowship you will be able to do egds/colons in your sleep!
Also they need you to stay in academics! Think about it...starting GI private practice is now over 250K, PLUS 4-12 week per year vacation. NO JOKE. (I get 8 weeks off per year starting)
Academic GI is starting at 200K if you're lucky and only 4 weeks of vacation! Thus, no one is staying in academics except for the lazy people, J1s and true academicians. Props to the true academicians.
BUT IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION WHERE ARE YOU IN 5 YEARS- IF YOU EVEN SAY "I DON'T KNOW, EITHER PP OR ACADEMICS, WE'LL SEE." YOU CAN KISS THAT PROGRAM GOODBYE. Sorry to burst your bubble but for better or worse it's a game. Play the game well and you'll be doing this...:laugh:

He speaks the truth about what you have to say to get a fellowship in GI or Cards.

He speaks the truth about what you have to say to get a fellowship in GI or Cards.

Or pretty much anything these days.

I'll cite my favorite personal example from the Onc interview trail last year. There's a program in a very large East Coast city (rhymes w/ Hen I Knew) that I think probably has the best training available for somebody who wants to be a solid, multi-faceted community/PP hem/onc doc. 1 full year hematology and 1 full year of onc w/ a 3rd research year. Their research track (which is what I was applying for) just tacks on a 2nd year of research and there's no option to do heme or onc only. Every single person I spoke to that day swore up and down that the only reason their dept even existed was to train academic oncologists and they had no idea how any of them had escaped into the wild. They wanted people to leave there ready to start their own research labs and be writing K23 and K08 grants during their 2nd year. Now, how they expect someone to put together a coherent K-award proposal and have prelim data to back it up in <1y of lab work is beyond my understanding. As a result, they seem to have a lot of junior faculty, still trying to get that K award while spending 50+% of their time on service in order to justify their salary.

Anyway, the moral of the story is that, w/ the exception of community based programs, which are few and far between outside of the northeast, it will be expected that you pay homage to the research beast at your interviews. Clinical or basic, it doesn't matter. If you don't, it's a big red flag and your likelihood of matching drops considerably.

Once you're done w/ your training, there's nothing they can do to get you back in the fold so don't worry about it. And maybe you'll change your mind.

Hi, I'm a 3rd year medicine resident at a big program in the southeast. If you haven't heard from a program at this point: I wouldn't count on hearing from them. Programs do mysteriously lose applications and sometimes there are issues with ERAS which result in your application essentially going to no-man's land. Calling/E-mailing to ask why you haven't heard is actually quite annoying not only to the PD but to the administrative staff as well. It makes you look needy & desperate. Don't do it. If you haven't heard from someone and you really care about the place, then take the chance. Otherwise, just consider the fact that someone losing your application is probably a pretty good reflection of the way the program is run.
Also, for my program, we do use a certain board score as an initial screen for choosing applicants. Just because you're from a big name school doesn't guarantee a thing. From there, looking at class rank, AOA, research, community work, blah blah etc are factored in. It is almost more important how you will fit in as a person than how good you look on paper.

It is almost more important how you will fit in as a person than how good you look on paper.

So how is this fit determined? Is it simply how you present yourself on interview day? How much input do the residents have (via impressions from the pre-interview dinner) at your institution?

I smell troll.

I smell troll.


Agreed:thumbup:

So how is this fit determined? Is it simply how you present yourself on interview day? How much input do the residents have (via impressions from the pre-interview dinner) at your institution?

The interview day is really important. At my program, residents do have some pull as far as what goes on at dinner. A common scenario would be this:
Let's say you spend a lot of time with a resident & that resident likes you a lot and thinks you'd be great. If that resident e-mails the PD and lets them know--> good points for you. Now if an interviewee asked me to put in a good word, it would be weird and seem a little too self-promoting.
Basically, as you go around on your day, talk to everyone. Be really nice, and smiling, and ask lots of questions, be truly gracious to everyone you meet, and be on time.
I know it's messed up because there is no right answer, and there is a fine-line between being standoffish and coming on too strong and being fake.
The interviewee who really stands out: someone who KNOWS about our program and asks questions that indicate this. Look for a monthly newsletter online that is published by the program, that's a good way to sort of get an idea of what is new & what that program is proud of. If you have family in the area that is also a plus, because you can mention that as part of your reason for wanting to be there.
Basically, the worst thing possible for a residency program is to lose a resident mid- or end-year and have to find an replacement. It looks bad (by the way, this is something to look for and/or ask programs about...) and it is really hard to train someone in a new, likely complex system.
And is the troll reference for moi? Paranoid, are we? Aahhh... I remember the days when I had petty things to worry about too.....

I just want to make a comment about UCLA rejections...

as a ucla undergrad, i got an interview at UCLA med school, but didn't get in...then for residency i didn't even get an interview...so in stead of getting pissed (which I already did), i've made it my life's mission to make a whole lot of money and buy the school of medicine, and change the name from David Geffen to my name, and I will only let in people that had scores like mine, cause i know they would have been great residents and students!

lol

Has anyone gotten or heard of someone getting rejections from University of Chicago, Cornell, or Brown? If not, then why are these programs taking so long to send out rejections? :confused:

I just want to make a comment about UCLA rejections...

as a ucla undergrad, i got an interview at UCLA med school, but didn't get in...then for residency i didn't even get an interview...so in stead of getting pissed (which I already did), i've made it my life's mission to make a whole lot of money and buy the school of medicine, and change the name from David Geffen to my name, and I will only let in people that had scores like mine, cause i know they would have been great residents and students!

lol

haha, reminds me of the story i read on here once where a student said that one of their med school deans had hung on the wall of his office the rejection letters he had received from undergrad, med school and residency of the very school he was now one of the deans of. :laugh:

Calling/E-mailing to ask why you haven't heard is actually quite annoying not only to the PD but to the administrative staff as well. It makes you look needy & desperate. Don't do it.

Screw that, If I pay the app fee I for darn sure want a rejection letter. Plus, who cares about annoying a PD that isn't going to interview you. Heck, I'd suggest it is a great way of giving them the one finger salute.

It may take 2 seconds to send that rejection email, but that is two seconds of that PD's life they will never get back because of ME ... and I'm ok with that ...

Good luck everyone, I'm excited about applying next year but just seeing all the rejections has been really stressful.

Still haven't received my rejections from BID and Cornell. I harassed Cornell about 2 weeks ago and they told me they haven't reviewed my file and that they would let me know when a final decision was made. I just assumed my BID rejection was on it's way and I never harassed them. I might call them and beg for a rejection...that way I can take my trusty ol' sharpie and officially cross them off the list.

I just want to make a comment about UCLA rejections...

as a ucla undergrad, i got an interview at UCLA med school, but didn't get in...then for residency i didn't even get an interview...so in stead of getting pissed (which I already did), i've made it my life's mission to make a whole lot of money and buy the school of medicine, and change the name from David Geffen to my name, and I will only let in people that had scores like mine, cause i know they would have been great residents and students!

lol

:laugh::laugh::laugh:
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Has anyone gotten or heard of someone getting rejections from University of Chicago, Cornell, or Brown? If not, then why are these programs taking so long to send out rejections? :confused:

I was wondering the same thing. Does anyone know if U of Chicago has started sending out rejections? How about Brown or Emory?

I was wondering the same thing. Does anyone know if U of Chicago has started sending out rejections? How about Brown or Emory?

i actually called UChi and they said that they were doing their 'last review' this past friday and that rejections or offers would be sent out soon after. made it sound like beginning of this week...which didnt happen...

thats alls i knows

JW

i'm still waiting on NYU and Tufts. i didn't think it would take this long. i'm guessing they lost my file. i called tufts the other day when i realized everyone around me (we have pretty similar application profiles) had gotten invites and they said the committee would look next tuesday then they'll let me know. haven't gotten to the point of calling nyu though. not sure what to do.

I just want to make a comment about UCLA rejections...

as a ucla undergrad, i got an interview at UCLA med school, but didn't get in...then for residency i didn't even get an interview...so in stead of getting pissed (which I already did), i've made it my life's mission to make a whole lot of money and buy the school of medicine, and change the name from David Geffen to my name, and I will only let in people that had scores like mine, cause i know they would have been great residents and students!

lol

If you can make more money than David Geffen who put Guns n' Roses on the charts, you DESERVE to have the school named after you! =)

But yeah I was told UCLA only interviewed shy of 300 students this year. Definitely a rough year for IM...things are swinging up. Can we say hospitalist movement?

I got emory recently. That hurt as I would have at least liked to interview there...oh well.

Got rejected by Uni of Chicago- so they are finally sending out the rejects

Got rejected by Uni of Chicago- so they are finally sending out the rejects

I'm trying to find mine. Did they send it by ERAS email, or just regular email?

?

Did you send in any applications to programs that are actually reasonable for an FMG?



FMG Step 99, Step 2CS Passed, Step 2ck taking soon

Not a single Interview so far,
4 yrs of research fellowship
30 abstracts/papers/presentations

My list of Thank You so Much!!:eek:

------------------------------
UAB, UCSD, U Chicago, JHU-Bayview, JHU, MGH, BWH, Mayo, Columbia, Duke, Cleveland, UPenn, UTSW, UT Huston....Thank You so Much!!

CSMC, UCLA, UCLA Harbor, Loma Linda, USC, Yale, U Conn, Emory, William Beaumont-MI, Cornell, CASE, UPMC,Vanderbilt, Baylor, UTah....Waiting to hear for Thank You so Much !! from these places.

Did you send in any applications to programs that are actually reasonable for an FMG?

haha... i was thinking the same thing.

and Brown sent me a reject today, finally
both Uchicago & Brown were ERAS mail

I still haven't heard from UChicago, so I emailed them to ask the status of my application and this is the response I recieved (including the typo). Good luck to all waiting to hear from them.

>>>Thank you for your response,

>>>Applications are being re-reviewed by the Intern Selection Committee
>>>because of the over whelming number of applications their final
>>>decisions will be mad by Thursday, January 3, 2008.

>>>If you are granted an interview you will be notified through the ERAS
>>>email system.

>>>Interviews for the Internal Medicine Residency Programs @ the University
>>>of Chicago, Medical Center began on Tuesday, November 13th through
>>>Friday, January 25, 2008.

I still haven't heard from UChicago, so I emailed them to ask the status of my application and this is the response I recieved (including the typo). Good luck to all waiting to hear from them.

>>>Thank you for your response,

>>>Applications are being re-reviewed by the Intern Selection Committee
>>>because of the over whelming number of applications their final
>>>decisions will be mad by Thursday, January 3, 2008.

>>>If you are granted an interview you will be notified through the ERAS
>>>email system.

>>>Interviews for the Internal Medicine Residency Programs @ the University
>>>of Chicago, Medical Center began on Tuesday, November 13th through
>>>Friday, January 25, 2008.

I called UofC today, and they told me the same thing. Good luck to everyone!

Did anyone still waiting to hear from the U of Chicago receive anything in the last few days? They were supposed to make all of their decisions by yesterday.

I received an invitation from UChicago today, but it is for the waitlist as all of the dates are currently full. There are 7 dates remaining on their schedule. Hope this helps.

Queens Univ, Kinston Ontario rejection (at least I got 3/4 IM program invites from Ontario)

Goodluck guys....

ocean11 why are u applying to canadian progs? it seems like u got great interviews at US programs. I don't get it.

you ask an excellent question, you see I am Canadian and my immidiate (sp?) family is all in Toronto. When I started med school in the US I wanted to go do residency back home. HOWEVER, I never dreamt I would receive such solid interviews here and there are WAY more opportunities in the US. so right now I am really torn about what to do.... I might only rank University of Toronto and let the rest fall into ERAS (Canadian match goes first). Or I might pull out of the Canadian match all together, I'm not sure yet, but I'll interview at a few programs there at least.

Yeah I don't know what I'm going to do, obviously I would much rather go to MGH or Cornell than some program in rural Ontario, but I think U of Toronto is still at the top of my list.... so I might only rank them... we'll see.

I'll keep you guys updated though.

Rejected from combined IM/ER at ECU two weeks ago. :thumbup:

Ok, so I can accept rejection. I applied to a lot of programs which were likely beyond my reach, but I'm fine with wasting money for slim chances. However, this one really chaps my ass. So I was interested in the BI-Deaconess, so I discuss it with my adviser. She reviews my file and says that my scores and grades and stuff were in line with the people they typically interview, and my program has been successful in matching people there. I set up an away rotation there I think I did a good job. I had two attendings during my rotation. They were pretty nice and gave good feedback. One attending said that he was on the selection committee and that he would plug me during selection. The other attending agreed to write a letter for me supporting my application. Additionally, three residents said they wrote E-Mails to the program director on my behalf. I understood that while matching would require some luck, I figured that I was good for an interview at least. I did the requisite things like writing thank you letters to the attendings and PD and etc etc. 2 weeks after my rotation ends, rejected. On top of that, the attending who was going to write a letter for me never did. Overall, so full of hate :mad:

after doing an away rotation and getting rejected from the program that i was at for a month :confused:, i'm a firm believer that doing internal medicine away rotations is a complete waste of time if you come from a solid US medical school. you have a better shot at getting an interview if you just apply like everyone else.

futhermore, none of my friends who graduated last year or the year before and did away rotations at IM programs matched at those programs.

It's a mixed bag. It's like interviewing for a whole month. If you really impress people, it can push you up the list quite a bit. You need to be on your best game at all times.

Problem is this: If you hadn't done a rotation, and then gotten rejected, you'd probably be beating yourself for not trying.

Agreeing to write a letter and then never doing it is completely unacceptable.