2012-2013 Panic Thread

[colin601c]

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Finally have an acceptance after 2 years and 40+ rejections. Good luck to everyone else. I know how much the process sucks. Taking a break from SDN until maybe Step 1 for studying tips.

Peace.

It's always nice to read about a happy ending like this. That is awesome, Congratulations!

 

[lpp06]

Tell me is this neroticism or justified logic:

According to the school specific page of my recent interview, a couple people who interviewed a week before me recieved acceptances one week ago. Well, one week later and no phone call, I'm assuming waitlist or rejection.

Neuortic or Logic?

 

[SilverCat]

Tell me is this neroticism or justified logic:

According to the school specific page of my recent interview, a couple people who interviewed a week before me recieved acceptances one week ago. Well, one week later and no phone call, I'm assuming waitlist or rejection.

Neuortic or Logic?

Depends on which school it is.

 

[DrNoo]

I'm in exactly the same boat as you right now. It's nice to know I'm not alone. Sometimes being on SDN too much can disillusion you into thinking that post-interview rejections don't exist.

it has to do with the psychology: people are not as enthusiastic about posting their rejections as with their acceptances. also people with lower-than-school-average stats are more happy to post their acceptances. i'm certainly not gonna say "OMG!!! got rejected from all my MD interviews and got in DO with 36 mcat!!! so pumped!!!"

 

[Jas1360]

it has to do with the psychology: people are not as enthusiastic about posting their rejections as with their acceptances. also people with lower-than-school-average stats are more happy to post their acceptances. i'm certainly not gonna say "OMG!!! got rejected from all my MD interviews and got in DO with 36 mcat!!! so pumped!!!"

Very true!

That is exactly why I choose to post my information knowing I'm not a high stat applicant. I think it helps show a little more perspective for the more average applicants.

 

[cinamin]

it has to do with the psychology: people are not as enthusiastic about posting their rejections as with their acceptances. also people with lower-than-school-average stats are more happy to post their acceptances. i'm certainly not gonna say "OMG!!! got rejected from all my MD interviews and got in DO with 36 mcat!!! so pumped!!!"

lol

 

[physiologist]

Very true!

That is exactly why I choose to post my information knowing I'm not a high stat applicant. I think it helps show a little more perspective for the more average applicants.

This is why I like your contribution to this forum. You seem like a nice person, so your MDApps does kind of reassure me that stats are still super-important in the grand scheme of things even post interview.

Guess I'm gonna go rock that Masters/SMP/whatever I end up doing.

 

[Jas1360]

This is why I like your contribution to this forum. You seem like a nice person, so your MDApps does kind of reassure me that stats are still super-important in the grand scheme of things even post interview.

Guess I'm gonna go rock that Masters/SMP/whatever I end up doing.

Yes, stats will always matter and my undergrad GPA clearly held me back, as expected. Fortunately, once we get into med school we can let it be the past and move on with a clean slate.

Fortunately, I have done much better with my DO apps, so hopefully I will have at least one school to attend this fall. The other reason I know my DO app looks better is the very significant difference in GPA calculation for courses that were retaken.

 

[DrNoo]

Yes, stats will always matter and my undergrad GPA clearly held me back, as expected. Fortunately, once we get into med school we can let it be the past and move on with a clean slate.

Fortunately, I have done much better with my DO apps, so hopefully I will have at least one school to attend this fall. The other reason I know my DO app looks better is the very significant difference in GPA calculation for courses that were retaken.

yes, DO schools are more lenient on "blemishes." it seems to me that the MD schools scrutinize applications looking for reasons to reject people. my MD interviews were much more stressful than the DO ones, where there were less gunners and more nontrad interviewees. maybe i sent the wrong vibes to my MD interviewers: for sure i'm not as charming as all american boy philip markoff.
i think more average applicants should realize the riskiness of the process and apply for established DO schools, unless they are willing to spend tons of money/time to improve their apps and apply again, and again. many premeds on sdn think a 3.3/26 would secure a DO acceptance, because people with lower stats are thrilled to post about their DO acceptances. nobody is too good to be a DO. please don't think you're too good to go DO with 3.6/32. nobody is too good to be a doctor. save yourself a year or two.

 

[Jas1360]

I'm surely not too good to go to any medical school. I will be very happy at any of the schools I have interviewed at.

The funny thing is that my favorite schools changed from going to the interviews. I'm glad I did not get an acceptance right away at a school I would have called my top choice or I may have tried to save money by not attending all the other interviews. Now I see many things I did not even know I would appreciate and if I get more than one acceptance I will have a very difficult choice on my hands.

 

[TheShaker]

I think I'm getting 2 post interview decisions next week or next next week. I just can't shake the butterflies feeling. It's perpetual.

 

[Member 331305]

I think I'm getting 2 post interview decisions next week or next next week. I just can't shake the butterflies feeling. It's perpetual.

I'm expecting a post-interview decision sometime within the coming weeks too, and the anxiousness is unbearable. It doesn't help that I keep checking the school-specific threads and see people who interviewed after me get acceptances while I sit here with an empty inbox. The committee keeps deferring my file meeting after meeting...this can only mean one thing...

 

[TheShaker]

I'm expecting a post-interview decision sometime within the coming weeks too, and the anxiousness is unbearable. It doesn't help that I keep checking the school-specific threads and see people who interviewed after me get acceptances while I sit here with an empty inbox. The committee keeps deferring my file meeting after meeting...this can only mean one thing...

Oh wow, I'm glad none of my schools do deferrals. I can't imagine how it would feel to be waiting in limbo over and over again. But hey, at least this means that they can't bear to let go of you! 🙂

 

[ericksonj15]

.

 

[physiologist]

Officially checking in for the panic thread madness:

25 schools on primary
25 secondaries completed
6 pre-interview rejections
15 silence/small pool/pre-interview hold status
4 ii (1 wait list, awaiting 2 decisions, and 1 interview scheduled for next week)

Really hoping for some good news in the next few weeks...

Good luck!!

 

[TheShaker]

Received my third waitlist today on my strongest interview. I don't even understand what the hell is even wrong with my application.

 

[VisceralFlame]

Received my third waitlist today on my strongest interview. I don't even understand what the hell is even wrong with my application.

Three waitlists isn't the worst though! You may get in one when people have to commit. I know the feeling though 🙁

 

[SilverCat]

Received my third waitlist today on my strongest interview. I don't even understand what the hell is even wrong with my application.

Was it EVMS? If you're placed in the top 1/3, you have a good shot at an acceptance.

 

[TheShaker]

Three waitlists isn't the worst though! You may get in one when people have to commit. I know the feeling though 🙁

Sigh, I just wish I can just get one and get this thing over with. I don't want to hang in waitlist limbo, I just want to be finished. 🙁

Was it EVMS? If you're placed in the top 1/3, you have a good shot at an acceptance.

It was NYMC. EVMS went...poorly to say the least and nobody got accepted after Feb last year so I won't be putting my hopes on this one. Can we have a moment of solidarity for the people in waitlist limbo? 😳

Seriously, I don't want to sound entitled and I know numbers aren't everything but if I can't get into a school where my GPA/MCAT are both in their 90th percentile then I don't even know what to do with myself anymore. 🙁

 

[VisceralFlame]

Sigh, I just wish I can just get one and get this thing over with. I don't want to hang in waitlist limbo, I just want to be finished. 🙁



It was NYMC. EVMS went...poorly to say the least and nobody got accepted after Feb last year so I won't be putting my hopes on this one. Can we have a moment of solidarity for the people in waitlist limbo? 😳

Seriously, I don't want to sound entitled and I know numbers aren't everything but if I can't get into a school where my GPA/MCAT are both in their 90th percentile then I don't even know what to do with myself anymore. 🙁

Sucks. It really does. I've got one waitlist and a post-interview decision coming up on Monday or Tuesday next week. I feel both interviews went really well, but that's good for nothing it seems

 

[lcck]

Sucks. It really does. I've got one waitlist and a post-interview decision coming up on Monday or Tuesday next week. I feel both interviews went really well, but that's good for nothing it seems

I agree, I've come to the conclusion that you can't trust your feelings about how your interviews went. I think this all relates to the idea that the interview is only one part of the application process-- it can play a huge role at some schools and not so much at other schools.

Some personal anecdotal references. At one school, I received overwhelming positive feedback from the interviewer but I got waitlisted. The school that gave me a barrage of awful questions (and I struggled to answer them) accepted me.

 

[VisceralFlame]

I agree, I've come to the conclusion that you can't trust your feelings about how your interviews went. I think this all relates to the idea that the interview is only one part of the application process-- it can play a huge role at some schools and not so much at other schools.

Some personal anecdotal references. At one school, I received overwhelming positive feedback from the interviewer but I got waitlisted. The school that gave me a barrage of awful questions (and I struggled to answer them) accepted me.

I guess it sort of makes sense in a way. The really nice people are really nice to everyone. You can impress the people who drill you more and stand out if you hold your ground. That is, if the interview holds more weight

 

[matanpucla]

Sigh, I just wish I can just get one and get this thing over with. I don't want to hang in waitlist limbo, I just want to be finished. 🙁



It was NYMC. EVMS went...poorly to say the least and nobody got accepted after Feb last year so I won't be putting my hopes on this one. Can we have a moment of solidarity for the people in waitlist limbo? 😳

Seriously, I don't want to sound entitled and I know numbers aren't everything but if I can't get into a school where my GPA/MCAT are both in their 90th percentile then I don't even know what to do with myself anymore. 🙁

i know your feeling man. i'm on 2 waitlists right now as well, and almost for sure no more interviews coming. at this point im starting to look at jobs/ other opportunities for next year and a reapplication next June, unless someone looks favorably upon me and takes me off of the waitlist. good luck everybody, i hope our panic will subside in a few months!

 

[lpp06]

Question, do you think ADCOMS are gonna be slow with decisions and late, if any, II's this week due to Match Day being Friday? Or have they already put in the work and are getting back on the normal reviwe schedule this week?

 

[doctorwho101]

Question, do you think ADCOMS are gonna be slow with decisions and late, if any, II's this week due to Match Day being Friday? Or have they already put in the work and are getting back on the normal reviwe schedule this week?

I really hope not, but probably. I didn't even consider that at all...

 

[jorgediaz]

I agree, I've come to the conclusion that you can't trust your feelings about how your interviews went. I think this all relates to the idea that the interview is only one part of the application process-- it can play a huge role at some schools and not so much at other schools.

Some personal anecdotal references. At one school, I received overwhelming positive feedback from the interviewer but I got waitlisted. The school that gave me a barrage of awful questions (and I struggled to answer them) accepted me.

Same here.

 

[chillaxbro]

So in all my interviews, I took SDN's advice and didn't say helping people was the reason I'm pursuing medicine because it was cliche. I talked about all the reason why medicine was a good fit for me, how I enjoy science and the human body etc. Finally one of my interviewers basically told me that I should have a more humanistic reasons and not have it all revolve around me. Was I duped? Could this be a reason why I've been rejected 100% post interview?

 

[Jas1360]

So in all my interviews, I took SDN's advice and didn't say helping people was the reason I'm pursuing medicine because it was cliche. I talked about all the reason why medicine was a good fit for me, how I enjoy science and the human body etc. Finally one of my interviewers basically told me that I should have a more humanistic reasons and not have it all revolve around me. Was I duped? Could this be a reason why I've been rejected 100% post interview?

I think you misunderstood the advise. It's not that you cannot say helping people is part of the reason for medicine. It's just that you need to be able to explain why, considering there are many other ways that you can help people other than medicine.

 

[jeffreylei]

I think that it is definitely your way of interpretation. It is cliche but it really depends on how you spin this topic.

 

[lpp06]

I always thought it best to recognize that helping others is the core of wanting to practice medicine, but that wanting to commit your life to the practice ecompasses much more. The former is cliche, but true, and the latter is where you can individualize your response.

 

[BiologyNerd]

Recently accepted. I feel so fortunate and excited. This thread has been a great support to me and I hope you guys get good news.

Keep yourself busy doing something productive. I went to the gym.

 

[smallone]

Recently accepted. I feel so fortunate and excited. This thread has been a great support to me and I hope you guys get good news.

Keep yourself busy doing something productive. I went to the gym.

Congratulations, BiologyNerd!

Still waiting for post-interview news.

 

[jlescher]

So in all my interviews, I took SDN's advice and didn't say helping people was the reason I'm pursuing medicine because it was cliche. I talked about all the reason why medicine was a good fit for me, how I enjoy science and the human body etc. Finally one of my interviewers basically told me that I should have a more humanistic reasons and not have it all revolve around me. Was I duped? Could this be a reason why I've been rejected 100% post interview?

Highly doubt it unless you came across as indifferent to patient care and service. I took the same stance as you. I've done a lot of research and I want to go into translational medicine and clinical trials. My motivation stems from curiosity and the desire to improve the treatment of patients. I wasn't rejected but I was wait listed at 2 schools and waiting on my state school for a decision. I'm sure you have heard this before, but how you say it is a lot more important that what you talked about.

Do you have any shortcomings in your application?

 

[physiologist]

So in all my interviews, I took SDN's advice and didn't say helping people was the reason I'm pursuing medicine because it was cliche. I talked about all the reason why medicine was a good fit for me, how I enjoy science and the human body etc. Finally one of my interviewers basically told me that I should have a more humanistic reasons and not have it all revolve around me. Was I duped? Could this be a reason why I've been rejected 100% post interview?

I took the same stance as you for the same reason, although I did make my interests in helping the underserved clear elsewhere in the interview. I also got solid rejections. Silly SDN.

I think they mean that you have to balance humanistic intentions with scientific curiosity/interest instead of ONLY say you want to help people. Oops.

 

[Lys Ile Glu Leu]

My answer to the "why medicine?" question was pretty well covered in my PS. I talked a lot about my experiences in my hospital's ED including my curiosity for the various aspects of the diagnostic process, diagnostic thinking, significance of certain tests, and my dislike of seeing people in pain and dying. My answer, in a nutshell, "I like this scene and I wanna do something about all this isht." I tried to make sure my story granted some legitimacy to why I chose to chase a career in medicine, i.e., this is what interests me about medicine and these are the types of people I want to help, in this way, and this is why. Sorry if I've been ambiguous at all. Hope this helps you guys in some way.

 

[SOMBound13]

My fiancé and I plan to have our wedding sooner if I don't get into MD to speed up the process of me becoming a PR

That will be your tix!

 

[Amphoterism]

Guys, I feel like I'm living in an Abilify commercial.

 

[jlescher]

Guys, I feel like I'm living in an Abilify commercial.

At least you have an awesome cloud to follow you around. That's pretty unique. You should send schools an update about that.

 

[doctorwho101]

Just found out the school I'm waiting to hear back from will likely be another month or so, on top of the 7 weeks I've already waited. /headdesk

 

[BienPremonition]

3 decisions, 3 waitlists. im beginning to think im the perfect mediocre applicant; good enough to be competitive, not good enough to get in anywhere..

 

[SandsOfTime]

3 decisions, 3 waitlists. im beginning to think im the perfect mediocre applicant; good enough to be competitive, not good enough to get in anywhere..

Story of my life br0...except my numbers weren't good enough to get me any interviews, apparently.

 

[impermanence]

So in all my interviews, I took SDN's advice and didn't say helping people was the reason I'm pursuing medicine because it was cliche. I talked about all the reason why medicine was a good fit for me, how I enjoy science and the human body etc. Finally one of my interviewers basically told me that I should have a more humanistic reasons and not have it all revolve around me. Was I duped? Could this be a reason why I've been rejected 100% post interview?

Hmmm I hope that was not the main reason for the rejections. I mainly focused on 1)I want to make a positive difference in ppl's lives and 2)Reasons why medicine was the best avenue to make that difference. I talked about skills, curiosity & specific aspects of being a physician and that I could not get anywhere else. I think interviewers want to make sure you are in it for the right reasons and that you will have enough passion & motivation to make it through. I do not know if you are still waiting to hear back from more schools but good luck with everything!

 

[bearintraining]

3 decisions, 3 waitlists. im beginning to think im the perfect mediocre applicant; good enough to be competitive, not good enough to get in anywhere..

Sigh. 2 waitlists here. Feel the same way.

 

[pepperthelaunch]

I dread waking up everyday, but the existence of this thread (and people with similar fate) helps me cope.

But I still have this annoying habit of chatting up anyone, everyone about my unsuccessful cycle so far.

 

[SandsOfTime]

I dread waking up everyday, but the existence of this thread (and people with similar fate) helps me cope.

But I still have this annoying habit of chatting up anyone, everyone about my unsuccessful cycle so far.

Let it rip br0. That's what I did in grueling detail a few pages ago...at least I think it was this thread. Might have been the UVM thread.

 

[ioto826]

Guys, I feel like I'm living in an Abilify commercial.

+10 (because +1 just isn't enough)

this is the best thing i've heard in a long time. i'm totally with you!

 

[chillaxbro]

At least you guys have multiple waitlists. I have only 1. And it isn't even high priority. This cycle is over for me guys, time to look for a job

 

[Frazier]

All hope is not yet lost for this cycle -- historically, there have been II's extended in late march.

While it is certainly wise to consider the likelihood of reapplication, it is also important [for those that still have some cards in play] to maintain a glimmer of hope.

 

[Ochempwnsme]

You guys know that feeling when you check a thread to see that a given school has sent out some decisions, then you check your email and your stomach drops six inches. You realize at this point that you haven't received anything but spam in your email box, and so you feel relief. Good times.

 

[prado]

You guys know that feeling when you check a thread to see that a given school has sent out some decisions, then you check your email and your stomach drops six inches. You realize at this point that you haven't received anything but spam in your email box, and so you feel relief. Good times.

No longer panicking, but still know that feel...🙁