.

Online Graduate Programs in Medical Human Anatomy
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
hey OP, I’m in the same boat so thanks for posting these q’s. If you’d like a partner in the potential reapplication process, feel free to pm. Best of luck to you as this cycle is not over yet!
 
mdphd789 said:
I'm starting to give up on this cycle after 8II and 7WL, no acceptances. I applied to 33 MD/PhD programs, 19 were T30 and 14 were below. All of the IIs I received were across T5, 10, 20, and 30 schools, but nearly all of them ended up waitlisting me (with one rejection). I didn't receive any interviews from the lower-tier programs. I personally think that my interview skills were mediocre at best, but not awful. I tend to get nervous, but I still left most interviews feeling happy with how they went.

I want to reapply, but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do differently, and I'm really scared that applying this cycle won't give me much better results. Stats from my application this cycle:

GPA: 3.97
MCAT: 519

Research: 1500 hours in 3 labs. A couple of regional/state level poster presentations. One first-author national poster.

Clinical experience: >250 hours volunteering in clinics and hospitals; ~100 shadowing hours
Non-clinical volunteering: ~200 hours as a mentor for K-12 students

Things that have changed over the past year, which would be new to my application if I reapply:
Research: One co-author publication in a low-impact journal (this was recent, and I updated my waitlist schools), +800 research hours over the past year
Clinical experience: +100 hours

I'm concerned that this isn't going to be enough to drastically affect my chances. Also, because I would have to take a gap year, I would have to go home and start fresh in a new lab (was going to look for a job as a lab technician near home, but I'd only start late May after graduation), and I really feel like I'm taking a step backwards. By the time I submit my primary, I wouldn't really have been in this new lab long enough to write significantly about it, same concerns about LOR for this lab.

Here are the questions/concerns I have about reapplying next cycle:
1. Any thoughts on what went wrong aside from interviewing skills?
2. Is being a reapplicant going to hurt my chances? I also really liked the schools I interviewed at, but will they invite me back to interview if they waitlisted me this cycle?
3. Is the publication + new job going to be enough to change anything, or what else do I need to do differently?
4. Do I have to significantly change my personal statement and other essays, other than slight revisions to update them?
5. Do I have to significantly change my secondaries?

Thank ya'll in advance for your help!
Click to expand...
I'm going to GUESS it might have something to do with how you stated things in your PS and activities. It may have come across from more of a scientific standpoint than medical so they deferred you to "why don't they just do a PhD?" Just a guess, mind you.
 
mdphd789 said:
I'm starting to give up on this cycle after 8II and 7WL, no acceptances. I applied to 33 MD/PhD programs, 19 were T30 and 14 were below. All of the IIs I received were across T5, 10, 20, and 30 schools, but nearly all of them ended up waitlisting me (with one rejection). I didn't receive any interviews from the lower-tier programs. I personally think that my interview skills were mediocre at best, but not awful. I tend to get nervous, but I still left most interviews feeling happy with how they went.

I want to reapply, but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do differently, and I'm really scared that applying this cycle won't give me much better results. Stats from my application this cycle:

GPA: 3.97
MCAT: 519

Research: 1500 hours in 3 labs. A couple of regional/state level poster presentations. One first-author national poster.

Clinical experience: >250 hours volunteering in clinics and hospitals; ~100 shadowing hours
Non-clinical volunteering: ~200 hours as a mentor for K-12 students

Things that have changed over the past year, which would be new to my application if I reapply:
Research: One co-author publication in a low-impact journal (this was recent, and I updated my waitlist schools), +800 research hours over the past year
Clinical experience: +100 hours

I'm concerned that this isn't going to be enough to drastically affect my chances. Also, because I would have to take a gap year, I would have to go home and start fresh in a new lab (was going to look for a job as a lab technician near home, but I'd only start late May after graduation), and I really feel like I'm taking a step backwards. By the time I submit my primary, I wouldn't really have been in this new lab long enough to write significantly about it, same concerns about LOR for this lab.

Here are the questions/concerns I have about reapplying next cycle:
1. Any thoughts on what went wrong aside from interviewing skills?
2. Is being a reapplicant going to hurt my chances? I also really liked the schools I interviewed at, but will they invite me back to interview if they waitlisted me this cycle?
3. Is the publication + new job going to be enough to change anything, or what else do I need to do differently?
4. Do I have to significantly change my personal statement and other essays, other than slight revisions to update them?
5. Do I have to significantly change my secondaries?

Thank ya'll in advance for your help!
Click to expand...
I'm wondering if applicants are holding more offers than normal this year because of more total virtual interviews and no second looks. Since you have 11 waitlists and 1 rejection, you are still in the running to make it into the class. I would reach out directly to the each of the programs and state that you will attend if made an offer. No good will come from re-applying. Also, are any of these places your home institution? If so, ask your PI to reach out to the MSTP director.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tr
ValentinNarcisse said:
I'm wondering if applicants are holding more offers than normal this year because of more total virtual interviews and no second looks. Since you have 11 waitlists and 1 rejection, you are still in the running to make it into the class. I would reach out directly to the each of the programs and state that you will attend if made an offer. No good will come from re-applying. Also, are any of these places your home institution? If so, ask your PI to reach out to the MSTP director.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice!! I sent one letter of intent, but I would feel kind of bad about sending one to multiple schools. I’ve been communicating with most of the schools, though, and sending updates and stating my strong continued interest in their programs. Some PD’s have stopped responding to my emails in the past couple of weeks, which makes me wary of if they’re still considering me (I’ve only sent updates less than once a month so as to not pester them too much, and they initially responded very positively).
None of these programs are my home institution.

If, worst case scenario, I do have to reapply, is it unlikely to receive this many interview invites again, especially from the same schools?
 
mdphd789 said:
Thank you for the advice!! I sent one letter of intent, but I would feel kind of bad about sending one to multiple schools. I’ve been communicating with most of the schools, though, and sending updates and stating my strong continued interest in their programs. Some PD’s have stopped responding to my emails in the past couple of weeks, which makes me wary of if they’re still considering me (I’ve only sent updates less than once a month so as to not pester them too much, and they initially responded very positively).
None of these programs are my home institution.

If, worst case scenario, I do have to reapply, is it unlikely to receive this many interview invites again, especially from the same schools?
Click to expand...
YOLO, you have everything to lose in this situation, and the programs do not. I would do everything possible not to have to reapply. The fact you were interviewed and waitlisted means you are of the caliber of student that they would take - it is simply a matter of securing a spot. Alternatively, if any of these schools have de-facto offered you an MD-only admission, I would take that rather than reapplying.
 
If I have to reapply, would it be appropriate to reach out to the PDs of the programs I interviewed at (even the one that rejected me), to explain that I’m reapplying this cycle and really liked their school, and to ask for feedback on my application? Or is this inappropriate and would annoy them?
 
mdphd789 said:
Thank you for the advice!! I sent one letter of intent, but I would feel kind of bad about sending one to multiple schools. I’ve been communicating with most of the schools, though, and sending updates and stating my strong continued interest in their programs. Some PD’s have stopped responding to my emails in the past couple of weeks, which makes me wary of if they’re still considering me (I’ve only sent updates less than once a month so as to not pester them too much, and they initially responded very positively).
None of these programs are my home institution.

If, worst case scenario, I do have to reapply, is it unlikely to receive this many interview invites again, especially from the same schools?
Click to expand...
Absolutely do not send multiple letters of intent. That would be the definition of unethical.
 
wondervisions said:
Absolutely do not send multiple letters of intent. That would be the definition of unethical.
Click to expand...
You can phrase it so you don't paint yourself into a corner. You don't need to say "If you give me an acceptance today, I will matriculate to your program this fall." Saying something positive but not 100% committal is fine.
 
I am in almost the same position as you and really dreading having to reapply. I thought about waiting until early May when people start moving off waitlists in larger quantities but I can't quite shake the feeling that there is more I should be doing in the meantime :/
 
Socc said:
I am in almost the same position as you and really dreading having to reapply. I thought about waiting until early May when people start moving off waitlists in larger quantities but I can't quite shake the feeling that there is more I should be doing in the meantime :/
Click to expand...
I know how you feel!! Yesterday I started looking for and applying to jobs and that made me feel better. I feel like what’s been making me so stressed is just not knowing where I’m going to be a couple weeks from now, but planning for the worst case and having a solid back up plan to rely on has made me feel a little better (for the last <24 hours at least).

I’m still not sure if being a reapplicant next cycle is going to hurt, but at the very least I’m trying to have something that will make my application stronger. I still have my fingers crossed that the both of us will hear back from waitlists soon though!!!
 
I started doing Anking on my days off to feel productive while I wait for early May.
 
mdphd789 said:
If I have to reapply, would it be appropriate to reach out to the PDs of the programs I interviewed at (even the one that rejected me), to explain that I’m reapplying this cycle and really liked their school, and to ask for feedback on my application? Or is this inappropriate and would annoy them?
Click to expand...
I feel like this would be fine! I was told to do this for one of the schools I am going to reapply to after being waitlisted and setup something with the PD for after this cycle is over and everything is finalized. I think especially since you were waitlisted, that means they saw potential in you and therefore I can't imagine any harm in asking.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top