2012-2013 Panic Thread

[Irish Football]

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It has been 160 days since my last (and only) interview invite...

 

[williamiv4]

It has been 160 days since my last (and only) interview invite...

Same boat

 

[sinombre]

It has been 160 days since my last (and only) interview invite...

On the bright side, you're batting 1000 right now 🙂

 

[drscholls]

Anyone ever notice how this process makes you feel like you are a toddler throwing a temper tantrum in toys R us? That's how I feel today, and I am not taking another breath until someone tells me they like me.

😡 🙂

 

[Doo]

Anyone ever notice how this process makes you feel like you are a toddler throwing a temper tantrum in toys R us? That's how I feel today, and I am not taking another breath until someone tells me they like me.

😡 🙂

Same boat. But have you tried changing your portrait to his partner? Just for good luck, might work. 🙂

 

[drscholls]

Same boat. But have you tried changing your portrait to his partner? Just for good luck, might work. 🙂

Here's hoping man.

 

[Irish Football]

I hear the following from schools a lot; "we have so many more applicants this year." But doesn't more applicants = more money, and more money = ability to hire more people to go through apps?! I just feel that the process shouldn't be this slow, especially if we are shelling out $100+ to apply. Either be faster, or at least a little more transparent!

I mean just think about it, if a school got 1000 more applications this year, that's around 100k more $$$ that they can use to hire a few more people to look through apps for a few months.

Okay, rant over.

 

[113]

I hear the following from schools a lot; "we have so many more applicants this year." But doesn't more applicants = more money, and more money = ability to hire more people to go through apps?! I just feel that the process shouldn't be this slow, especially if we are shelling out $100+ to apply. Either be faster, or at least a little more transparent!

Okay, rant over.

You sound too bitter for a pre-med with an acceptance. You've worked hard, and you got exactly what you were working towards all those years. Loosen up bro. Don't be that guy.

 

[Irish Football]

You sound too bitter for a pre-med with an acceptance. You've worked hard, and you got exactly what you were working towards all those years. Loosen up bro. Don't be that guy.

I have not gotten "exactly what I was working for all those years." Sorry, but you don't know me.

 

[113]

I have not gotten "exactly what I was working for all those years." Sorry, but you don't know me.

So you didn't go to undergrad and take all those med school prereqs to get into med school? Okay. Joke's on me I guess. Good luck.

 

[gyngyn]

I hear the following from schools a lot; "we have so many more applicants this year." But doesn't more applicants = more money, and more money = ability to hire more people to go through apps?! I just feel that the process shouldn't be this slow, especially if we are shelling out $100+ to apply. Either be faster, or at least a little more transparent!


The fees for secondaries are not returned to the office of admissions where I work. The office staff has been reduced to one person. The workload and expectations of applicants has increased. There is stress all around, though I agree that it's harder on the applicants.

 

[Irish Football]

So you didn't go to undergrad and take all those med school prereqs to get into med school? Okay. Joke's on me I guess. Good luck.

I went to undergrad and took all those prereqs and retook and studied for my MCAT so I could have the opportunity to choose to attend a medical school that fulfills certain criteria relating to my personal life and certain things that are important to me.

 

[Jas1360]

Only one week left and we should know exactly where we stand. Very few schools send out invites past January so I can be fairly confident that any school I do not hear from by next Friday is a rejection.

Then I can get back to my life.

@Irish - Make sure you remember how you feel right now, so when you are a school admin or somehow involved in recruiting you will know exactly how you want to do things to make it easier on students. Even if we don't all admit it, waiting and questioning where we stand is hard on all of us.

 

[BiologyNerd]

You sound too bitter for a pre-med with an acceptance. You've worked hard, and you got exactly what you were working towards all those years. Loosen up bro. Don't be that guy.

Last time I made a comment like this, bearstronaut came at me and said that this is a place where everyone in every stage of the process can come to vent.

That said, if I had an acceptance I would leave this thread forever.

 

[LaughingMan]

I went to undergrad and took all those prereqs and retook and studied for my MCAT so I could have the opportunity to choose to attend a medical school that fulfills certain criteria relating to my personal life and certain things that are important to me.

Irish--you got in with your 29 MCAT right?


Best of luck to everyone again. Keep your heads up!

 

[113]

Last time I made a comment like this, bearstronaut came at me and said that this is a place where everyone in every stage of the process can come to vent.

That said, if I had an acceptance I would leave this thread forever.

I know enough pre-med crazies IRL, so I don't go out of my way to fight with online ones. Too much work really.🙂

I hope you get an acceptance soon. Waiting for the first one is the worst!

 

[SOMBound13]

I went to undergrad and took all those prereqs and retook and studied for my MCAT so I could have the opportunity to choose to attend a medical school that fulfills certain criteria relating to my personal life and certain things that are important to me.

So, you pretty much did what everyone else did?

Please, be happy with what you got. You'll be attending a very good MD SOM. There are posts in the panic thread from students with higher stats (who presumably worked just as hard as everyone else did), and they don't have any acceptances.


/realitycheck 😛

 

[Irish Football]

So, you pretty much did what everyone else did?

Please, be happy with what you got. You'll be attending a very good MD SOM. There are posts in the panic thread from students with higher stats (who presumably worked just as hard as everyone else did), and they don't have any acceptances.


/realitycheck 😛

Okay, I'll pretend to be happy to appease strangers on SDN.

Not trying to be snarky, it's just so hard to change the way I feel inside. I can't just be happy with something because someone tells me to be. Just because somebody else would be happy to get ANY acceptance to an MD school, doesn't mean that I have to be.

I do appreciate those of you who are genuinely trying to cheer me up though.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Okay, I'll pretend to be happy to appease strangers on SDN.

Not trying to be snarky, it's just so hard to change the way I feel inside. I can't just be happy with something because someone tells me to be. Just because somebody else would be happy to get ANY acceptance to an MD school, doesn't mean that I have to be.

It'd probably just be best to avoid this thread if you don't want that unwanted attention. There are people with both higher GPAs and MCATs that have worked hard for just as long, if not longer, who still aren't accepted yet. Part of being a physician is also being tactful. Another part is being extremely appreciative for everything you get. If you dread what 'could have been better' you whole life, you're going to have a hard time.

You worked for this. IU is a great school. You're going to be a doctor. If I don't get into Harvard, hey I'll be bummed, but guess what, who cares? I'm going to be a physician. I worked my ass off to get to this point, but that doesn't mean I deserve to go to Harvard any more than anyone else. And if I don't get in? Who cares, their loss, not mine.

TL;DR - Don't be a pretentious dbag. Enjoy the little (or in this case, big!!) things.

 

[matanpucla]

Okay, I'll pretend to be happy to appease strangers on SDN.

Not trying to be snarky, it's just so hard to change the way I feel inside. I can't just be happy with something because someone tells me to be. Just because somebody else would be happy to get ANY acceptance to an MD school, doesn't mean that I have to be.

I do appreciate those of you who are genuinely trying to cheer me up and not just trying to argue with me.

I agree with Irish. He feels what he feels, not what we tell him to feel. Sure his acceptance is great, and I'm sure he was excited to get it, but what's wrong with wanting something better.

Take a college athlete. Sure, a high school senior bball player would love to play D1, he would be happy to go to a school like Santa Clara, but would he do everything he can to play ball at a place like North Carolina or Kentucky? Probably.

 

[type12]

It'd probably just be best to avoid this thread if you don't want that unwanted attention. There are people with both higher GPAs and MCATs that have worked hard for just as long, if not longer, who still aren't accepted yet. Part of being a physician is also being tactful. Another part is being extremely appreciative for everything you get. If you dread what 'could have been better' you whole life, you're going to have a hard time.

Agreed. I think his heart's in the right place, but he's in the wrong thread. I know what he means, though: when people get accepted, then they look onwards towards the next stress of residency or whatever.

But... just sayin': Zero interviews here... Just silence with 3 rejections. I don't know what's going on...

 

[Irish Football]

It'd probably just be best to avoid this thread if you don't want that unwanted attention. There are people with both higher GPAs and MCATs that have worked hard for just as long, if not longer, who still aren't accepted yet. Part of being a physician is also being tactful.

As others such as Bearstronaut have mentioned, this thread should really be for anyone that wants to vent. People have had many varying levels of success this application cycle and this thread shouldn't be a place of "one type of panic," i.e. anyone who hasn't gotten an acceptance.

I agree with Irish. He feels what he feels, not what we tell him to feel. Sure his acceptance is great, and I'm sure he was excited to get it, but what's wrong with wanting something better.

Take a college athlete. Sure, a high school senior bball player would love to play D1, he would be happy to go to a school like Santa Clara, but would he do everything he can to play ball at a place like North Carolina or Kentucky? Probably.

Exactly.

 

[drscholls]

it'd probably just be best to avoid this thread if you don't want that unwanted attention. There are people with both higher gpas and mcats that have worked hard for just as long, if not longer, who still aren't accepted yet. part of being a physician is also being tactful. Another part is being extremely appreciative for everything you get. if you dread what 'could have been better' you whole life, you're going to have a hard time.

You worked for this. Iu is a great school. You're going to be a doctor. If i don't get into harvard, hey i'll be bummed, but guess what, who cares? I'm going to be a physician. I worked my ass off to get to this point, but that doesn't mean i deserve to go to harvard any more than anyone else. And if i don't get in? Who cares, their loss, not mine.

Tl;dr - don't be a pretentious dbag. Enjoy the little (or in this case, big!!) things.

+1

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I agree with Irish. He feels what he feels, not what we tell him to feel. Sure his acceptance is great, and I'm sure he was excited to get it, but what's wrong with wanting something better.

Take a college athlete. Sure, a high school senior bball player would love to play D1, he would be happy to go to a school like Santa Clara, but would he do everything he can to play ball at a place like North Carolina or Kentucky? Probably.

Terrible comparison. An MD is an MD. If you get an MD anywhere in a US accredited institution you are not going to be inhibited from pursuing your professional dream. Your school is of minimal impact. Whereas if you Santa Clara instead of NC/KT you're basically screwed out of professional hopes because no one is going to recruit/scout you unless you absolutely kill it, and a lot of this depends on the team you play for and the players you play with.

As others such as Bearstronaut have mentioned, this thread should really be for anyone that wants to vent. People have had many varying levels of success this application cycle and this thread shouldn't be a place of "one type of panic," i.e. anyone who hasn't gotten an acceptance.

I didn't say you couldn't post here, but don't post expecting not to get spiteful comments because you have an acceptance. Much more important things should be on your mind, like why you aren't drinking a beer and watching TV right now. Chill out, man. You should be relaxing as much as you can before medical school starts or you're going to have an aneurysm.

 

[Irish Football]

Terrible comparison. An MD is an MD. If you get an MD anywhere in a US accredited institution you are not going to be inhibited from pursuing your professional dream. Your school is of minimal impact. Whereas if you Santa Clara instead of NC/KT you're basically screwed out of professional hopes because no one is going to recruit/scout you unless you absolutely kill it, and a lot of this depends on the team you play for.

To you, all MD's are the same. To me, it's not just the degree that matters - there are other things associated with a school that are obviously much more important to me than they are to you, and I'm not talking about ranking either.

I didn't say you couldn't post here, but don't post expecting not to get spiteful comments because you have an acceptance. Much more important things should be on your mind, like why you aren't drinking a beer and watching TV right now.

I am watching TV right now. No beer though. 😳

 

[SOMBound13]

Okay, I'll pretend to be happy to appease strangers on SDN.

Not trying to be snarky, it's just so hard to change the way I feel inside. I can't just be happy with something because someone tells me to be. Just because somebody else would be happy to get ANY acceptance to an MD school, doesn't mean that I have to be.

I do appreciate those of you who are genuinely trying to cheer me up though.

Keep it up and we'll take up a collection for some cheese to along with that whine. 😀

We all get it. You have a right to be disappointed. But really what are you disappointed with? That your GPA wasn't that great? That you applied to too many reach schools? Just focusing on the fact that your retake of the MCAT didn't open more doors is overlooking the first two issues that probably sunk your chances. Those reach schools get enough apps from white guys with 35+ MCATs with higher GPAs. That's what likely sunk you.

 

[Irish Football]

Keep it up and we'll take up a collection for some cheese to along with that whine. 😀

We all get it. You have a right to be disappointed. But really what are you disappointed with? That your GPA wasn't that great? That you applied to too many reach schools? Just focusing on the fact that your retake of the MCAT didn't open more doors is overlooking the first two issues that probably sunk your chances. Those reach schools get enough apps from white guys with 35+ MCATs with higher GPAs. That's what likely sunk you.

Just disappointed with my situation. Not trying to blame anyone or anything.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

To you, all MD's are the same. To me, it's not just the degree that matters - there are other things associated with a school that are obviously much more important to me than they are to you, and I'm not talking about ranking either.

I read your story elsewhere about your family in Chicago. Unfortunately very, very few of us have the luxury of "choosing" our medical school. There is an exceptional amount of competition and many, many incredible applicants are thrown out every year because of the shortage of seats for qualified applicants.

If your desire to go to a certain place is so high, this needs to be illustrated in a letter of interest. If it's compelling enough, you might just get lucky. However, it may be too late now. And by no means is being above a school's averages give any indication of whether they should accept your or even want you in any way. I see this mentioned a lot, and that's not how admissions work.

I am watching TV right now. No beer though. 😳

I expect you to brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack tonight.

 

[slothster]

Just disappointed with my situation. Not trying to blame anyone or anything.

Irish, I hate to be another random person from cyberspace to lecture you, but...

On one hand I can totally sympathize with your situation. I've been accepted to a DO and while interviewed at a handful of MDs, just waitlists and rejections... I, too, care more about the med school experience than the degree and I realize that, at the DO program, I'm not going to have the incredible clinical and research opportunities that I would at the MD programs.

That being said, if you go to IU (or if I go to the DO school) being disappointed with the outcome, we might end up miserable there---a self-fulfilling prophesy of disliking where we're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and four tough years of our lives. Plus, going in disliking the place, you might be setting yourself up for failure. One of the vicious cycles...

Do your best to be positive, man. I know full well that it's tough and I am lecturing to you just as much as I'm lecturing to myself. But do you best to stay positive and work hard to make the best of what might seem now as not the ideal situation.

 

[deleted127837]

Well, you all invoked my name three times since I last posted, so I suppose I have to say something.

Edit: I wrote a long post, but after thinking about it more, I think things are working out. 🙂 We'll all be in a bad place sometimes, and, so long as we treat each other like human beings and not anonymous bears on the internet, we'll be alright.

 

[113]

Empathy.

That's all it is. You're entitled to your opinion, and I respect that. But show some empathy towards your fellow pre-meds.

For example, I'm not rich by any measure. But I definitely don't go to my local homeless shelter and say, "I only have a crappy studio and 1 car. I wish I had more." around people that have no home.

Have some respect for other people's feelings.

 

[Irish Football]

Well, you all invoked my name three times since I last posted, so I suppose I have to say something.

Edit: I wrote a long post, but after thinking about it more, I think things are working out. 🙂 We'll all be in a bad place sometimes, and, so long as we treat each other like human beings and not anonymous bears on the internet, we'll be alright.

I read your post before you deleted it. You're an alright person, you know that?

Empathy.

That's all it is. You're entitled to your opinion, and I respect that. But show some empathy towards your fellow pre-meds.

For example, I'm not rich by any measure. But I definitely don't go to my local homeless shelter and say, "I only have a crappy studio and 1 car. I wish I had more." around people that have no home.

Have some respect for other people's feelings.

I don't believe I was being disrespectful of anyone's feelings in any way, but I guess we can agree to disagree.

 

[deleted127837]

Alright kids. Enough. Lecturing Irish isn't going to change what was essentially an emotional outburst, and isn't productive, either.

Re:Empathy - the same can be said in reverse. He has a right to feel what he does. Trying to make him feel bad about it doesn't make us better people. And that's what that was doing - trying to make him feel bad about being in a better situation than others.

It's easy to judge and deride people, especially those in better positions than some of us are in. It's utterly unproductive, especially when they show otherwise they're capable of understanding the situation.

This process is hard enough without this thread being people bickering at each other instead of the awful situations this application system results in sometimes - for everyone.

 

[type12]

I have a unique semester that doesn't end until end of Feb/early March (flexible grad program). Could schools be waiting for an update, and if so, should I send them an LOI stating as such? I won't have grades until then...

 

[113]

Edit: I wrote a long post, but after thinking about it more, I think things are working out. 🙂 We'll all be in a bad place sometimes, and, so long as we treat each other like human beings and not anonymous bears on the internet, we'll be alright.

Ha! I read it before you deleted it. Just so you know, I'm judging you.

 

[deleted127837]

Ha! I read it before you deleted it. Just so you know, I'm judging you.

I've been a bad bear 🙁

 

[deleted127837]

I have a unique semester that doesn't end until end of Feb/early March (flexible grad program). Could schools be waiting for an update, and if so, should I send them an LOI stating as such? I won't have grades until then...

The update would be fine, but schools don't wait on updates from applicants. It's unfair to wait and see if an applicant will send in additional materials without soliciting them.

 

[drscholls]

I've been a bad bear 🙁

This made me smile.

 

[SilverCat]

Irish, I hate to be another random person from cyberspace to lecture you, but...

On one hand I can totally sympathize with your situation. I've been accepted to a DO and while interviewed at a handful of MDs, just waitlists and rejections... I, too, care more about the med school experience than the degree and I realize that, at the DO program, I'm not going to have the incredible clinical and research opportunities that I would at the MD programs.

That being said, if you go to IU (or if I go to the DO school) being disappointed with the outcome, we might end up miserable there---a self-fulfilling prophesy of disliking where we're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and four tough years of our lives. Plus, going in disliking the place, you might be setting yourself up for failure. One of the vicious cycles...

Do your best to be positive, man. I know full well that it's tough and I am lecturing to you just as much as I'm lecturing to myself. But do you best to stay positive and work hard to make the best of what might seem now as not the ideal situation.

Excellent advice--I definitely need to take it.

 

[chunkyfunkymonk]

I read your post before you deleted it. You're an alright person, you know that?

I don't believe I was being disrespectful of anyone's feelings in any way, but I guess we can agree to disagree.

She-kunt-e-le sir, She-kunt-ele.

 

[type12]

The update would be fine, but schools don't wait on updates from applicants. It's unfair to wait and see if an applicant will send in additional materials without soliciting them.

So you think my app just sucks/not competitive? Not offended, but just asking for real. I was a late Oct/Nov applicant, but people from that time frame and afterwards have heard back. I know it's a complicated process, etc etc, but I'm just wondering why all but VCU, EVMS, and Cooper (my state school) have sent me nothing. There has to be something all the schools are wary of...

 

[deleted127837]

So you think my app just sucks/not competitive? Not offended, but just asking for real. I was a late Oct/Nov applicant, but people from that time frame and afterwards have heard back. I know it's a complicated process, etc etc, but I'm just wondering why all but VCU, EVMS, and Cooper (my state school) have sent me nothing. There has to be something all the schools are wary of...

I'd have to read it. PM me if you want me to read through it. Reasons vary from your scores aren't high enough, you applied late, your personal statement was weak...for most people here, though, it's the late thing.

 

[Irish Football]

She-kunt-e-le sir, She-kunt-ele.

Bubb-e-le

 

[chunkyfunkymonk]

I hear "Rudy" was secretly a transvestite. Confirm or deny?

 

[Irish Football]

I hear "Rudy" was secretly a transvestite. Confirm or deny?

I can neither confirm nor deny, only speculate that he was not.

 

[r1d1]

So you think my app just sucks/not competitive? Not offended, but just asking for real. I was a late Oct/Nov applicant, but people from that time frame and afterwards have heard back. I know it's a complicated process, etc etc, but I'm just wondering why all but VCU, EVMS, and Cooper (my state school) have sent me nothing. There has to be something all the schools are wary of...

The interview selection is pretty random and chaotic. Sometimes it's not you but bad luck.

 

[jlescher]

So you think my app just sucks/not competitive? Not offended, but just asking for real. I was a late Oct/Nov applicant, but people from that time frame and afterwards have heard back. I know it's a complicated process, etc etc, but I'm just wondering why all but VCU, EVMS, and Cooper (my state school) have sent me nothing. There has to be something all the schools are wary of...

My immediate thought is, why take a chance on someone who isn't done with school when they can accept people with grades set in stone. I know this is a small factor, but I think non trades or those that have worked have an upper hand in this regard.

I have good stats, double major, some shadowing, awesome letters, 5 years of research (2 of which at the NIH), and I applied the first day. 3 II, 2 wait lists, no acceptance. We would all love more interviews but I would say you are doing pretty good with 3. I applied to 15 schools and expected to get about 5 interviews. It seems like we are all ending up with a few less than we expected.

 

[Irish Football]

Another (probable) rejection from a Chicago-area school for me today (status change from UIllinois).

 

[reece05]

still panicking
😱
silenceeeee from 13 schools, come on please invite me for an interview, I'd say I'm a pretty cool person.

 

[type12]

My immediate thought is, why take a chance on someone who isn't done with school when they can accept people with grades set in stone. I know this is a small factor, but I think non trades or those that have worked have an upper hand in this regard.

I have good stats, double major, some shadowing, awesome letters, 5 years of research (2 of which at the NIH), and I applied the first day. 3 II, 2 wait lists, no acceptance. We would all love more interviews but I would say you are doing pretty good with 3. I applied to 15 schools and expected to get about 5 interviews. It seems like we are all ending up with a few less than we expected.

To clarify, those 3 schools rejected me, lol. But thanks! 🙂