10 interviews, 1 acceptance, a whole bunch of waitlists

[docforsure]

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Hey guys,

So i've had the good fortune of getting 10 interviews. I have 1 acceptance, 3 waitlists. 5 have yet to get back to me post interview and I have my last scheduled interview in a week.

Do you guys think i'm doing something wrong at the interview seeing how I have 1 acceptance and 3 waitlists? I hope more of those 5 that are supposed to get back to me by end of March turn into acceptances but I want to really nail my last interview because it's at a big school.

 

[Sammich117]

You've got one. That's all you need. Any others would be icing on the cake

 

[docforsure]

True, I am really thankful for that one acceptance and I really loved the school. I don't know why though I still feel like I have the icing, but not the cake. I want my cake!

 

[Morsetlis]

You suck at interviewing and interpersonal skills, duh.

Work on it during the next 3 years or you'll have troubles applying to residencies.

 

[Slowpoke]

after the dust settles, if you want to figure out what went wrong I believe you can call the admission's office of the schools and get the gruely details.

 

[docforsure]

is 3/4 waitlists significant? Why waitlist? If I suck at it, why not just reject me?

But yea i don't suck at interpersonal skills 🙄 I'm kind of a non-gay social butterfly

 

[Morsetlis]

A lot of schools waitlist all people who were interviewed and didn't get accepted. Example: UCSD.

 

[docforsure]

Now that I think about it, the one school I have an offer from at the moment was probably my worst interview. I said "no" when my interviewer asked me if religion plays a big part in my life. My phone also rang twice (i failed to turn of the ringer the first time) and buzzed several times (voicemail buzzes, can't turn it off) and my interviewer said "if you need to answer that, we can wait" and i was extremely embarrassed 😳 But hey, it worked out! I think if the next 5 turn into waitlists, then I need serious coaching of some sort but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[tsefour]

I'm in nearly the exact same situation as you and I know how you feel. The way I see it, there's a fine line between simply answering the questions well during the interview vs. completely impressing the interviewer with what you have to say. It's a difficult threshold to cross, and I think most people fall into the first category, which is why schools hand out so many waitlists. So try not to fret too much, since it means you are on the right track and you already have one acceptance. I know what I've said isn't going to really help you ace your last interview, but I'd thought it'd give some perspective. Good luck 👍

 

[docforsure]

I'm in nearly the exact same situation as you and I know how you feel. The way I see it, there's a fine line between simply answering the questions well during the interview vs. completely impressing the interviewer with what you have to say. It's a difficult threshold to cross, and I think most people fall into the first category, which is why schools hand out so many waitlists. So try not to fret too much, since it means you are on the right track and you already have one acceptance. I know what I've said isn't going to really help you ace your last interview, but I'd thought it'd give some perspective. Good luck 👍

I will make my interviewer cry out tears of joy this time! Watch me

 

[JJMrK]

Hey guys,

So i've had the good fortune of getting 10 interviews. I have 1 acceptance, 3 waitlists. 5 have yet to get back to me post interview and I have my last scheduled interview in a week.

Do you guys think i'm doing something wrong at the interview seeing how I have 1 acceptance and 3 waitlists? I hope more of those 5 that are supposed to get back to me by end of March turn into acceptances but I want to really nail my last interview because it's at a big school.

Nah, nothing's wrong. You're 25%. That may be a little below average, but it's still not bad. If you end up 1 for 10, that would be kind of strange, but I doubt that will happen. Also, if you really wanted to you could probably turn some of those WLs into acceptances by writing letters of intent.

 

[SpaceDementia]

Also, if you really wanted to you could probably turn some of those WLs into acceptances by writing letters of intent.

Do you mean more than one letter of intent?

 

[JJMrK]

Do you mean more than one letter of intent?

When I wrote that, I was thinking of one letter to each school the OP is WLed at. But I know some people have used multiple letters effectively.

 

[docforsure]

When I wrote that, I was thinking of one letter to each school the OP is WLed at. But I know some people have used multiple letters effectively.

any pointers on content and format? im not entirely sure what one would say in such a letter

 

[SpaceDementia]

When I wrote that, I was thinking of one letter to each school the OP is WLed at. But I know some people have used multiple letters effectively.

No, I understand. But are you referring to multiple letters of intent, i.e. sending a letter of intent to multiple schools?

 

[slowbutsteady]

When I wrote that, I was thinking of one letter to each school the OP is WLed at. But I know some people have used multiple letters effectively.

As an SDN moderator you have an obligation NOT to put unethical advice out there in the forums.

You can only express your INTENT to matriculate, if accepted, to ONE school.

Otherwise, you are entering your new profession based on a lie. Not cool.

 

[Catalystik]

Also, if you really wanted to you could probably turn some of those WLs into acceptances by writing letters of intent.

Did you mean to say letter of interest?

 

[boaz]

Now that I think about it, the one school I have an offer from at the moment was probably my worst interview. I said "no" when my interviewer asked me if religion plays a big part in my life. My phone also rang twice (i failed to turn of the ringer the first time) and buzzed several times (voicemail buzzes, can't turn it off) and my interviewer said "if you need to answer that, we can wait" and i was extremely embarrassed 😳 But hey, it worked out! I think if the next 5 turn into waitlists, then I need serious coaching of some sort but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

😱 That's a big, big no-no. When I walk into the building in the beginning of interview, I just power off my phone for the day.

The phone ringing is one reason why this scene is outrageously funny.

 

[BlueElmo]

True, I am really thankful for that one acceptance and I really loved the school. I don't know why though I still feel like I have the icing, but not the cake. I want my cake!

But icing tastes sweeter. I have had 6 interviews, and 1 acceptance. And I'm perfectly happy.

 

[JC2]

I would wait till the end of the application season before judging this. You obviously aren't "pro" at interviewing, but it doesn't mean you are atrocious.

To put things in perspective, I'm sitting on 12 interviews (3 to go), 0 acceptances, 2 rejections and a waitlist (have yet to hear back from 6/9) yet I'm not worried at all and I have had the same thoughts go through my head that you have. Waitlists aren't rejections for a reason; at many many schools, people get off them 🙂

 

[z31]

Regarding mailing multiple letters of intent --

Don't do it! Admissions officers talk to each other. At two schools I've been to, the dean has explicitly mentioned some degree of discussion about applicants.

Also, it's lying, damn it.

 

[Infinitydrop]

Personally, i think you are pretty lucky and you have succeeded into getting into med school. What exactly are you complaining about? that your not 100% for post interview acceptance? imagine having 10 interviewss and no acceptances and count your blessings.

For the record, I have 9 interviews and no acceptances so far and I would absoultely jump for joy if I got even one acceptance.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

😱 That's a big, big no-no. When I walk into the building in the beginning of interview, I just power off my phone for the day.

The phone ringing is one reason why this scene is outrageously funny.

I opted to leave my phone in the hotel or rental car.

...One applicant was texting during a presentation from the dean. I couldn't help but stare.

 

[CarlATHF]

I think it depends on the schools you interviewed at, when you interviewed, the mood the interviewer(s) was (were) in that day, and how well you interviewed. All four of those interplay to determine the ultimate result (Reject, WL, Accept).

None of it makes sense to me (or to anyone else for that matter).

 

[JJMrK]

I was not advocating telling each school they are your top choice.

As an SDN moderator you have an obligation NOT to put unethical advice out there in the forums.

You can only express your INTENT to matriculate, if accepted, to ONE school.

Otherwise, you are entering your new profession based on a lie. Not cool.

"Your school is one of my top choices. If I am accepted, it is my intent to consider my options very carefully."

Yeah, I was basically using letter of interest and letter of intent interchangeably.