Hey guys,
orientation is underway here so I don't know how free the admission office is, but I'll cross my fingers with you that you hear something soon!
As for "fit", Cole said it pretty well. It's sort of frustrating because you don't know how to "make yourself" into what we're looking for, but there really isn't a clear number of traits that everyone shares, except that we're all really pretty friendly and outgoing. Shy, super-studious science nerds are really in the minority, which I have found to be really unlike most other med schools. Everyone in my class is really easy to talk to and just a little quirky. Social events are super popular. There is a huge focus on "wellness", both physical (I don't think there is even one member of my class who doesn't work out regularly or semi-regularly) and I guess spiritual. They try like hell to make sure we're happy, healthy, and working at our fullest potential.
So I think the best way to emphasize that you'd fit in here is to be as chill as possible on your interview. Obviously be a professional- they're really strict when it comes to professionalism- but being open, sunny and smiling will take you a lot farther than sitting there stiff as a board and muttering something about your research and how much you love science. They like really passionate people- although we're each passionate about something different- so that's another thing you want to emphasize. If cooking, or knitting, or surfing just gets you super excited and you could talk for hours about it, mention it in your application and in your interview. Be memorable for your uniqueness, there's nothing memorable about perfect grades and scores. A little spice goes a long way.
Of course there are more subdued members in my class but even they're incredibly sweet and nice once you talk to them and they have their own "quirks", I guess. So I think that's what "fits" here. If you don't fit that's perfectly fine- there are tons of other schools that work if you're more of a subdued, studious academic (wash u comes to mind) who just prefers to be left alone to study instead of getting uber-involved. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it probably wouldn't work here as well as it does elsewhere. So you might not get in here if you're like that.
In general, I really think you have to view rejections as a good thing. It's the admissions office's way of telling you that you wouldn't be happy there cause you don't fit exactly right. They know more about how to make up a class than you do, so trust their judgment. I know it stinks to be rejected- I certainly received my share- but don't get super bogged down because it's pointless.
