2012-2013 Panic Thread

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bearintraining said:
It's kind of an odd and complex game.

In Canada, there is a better applicants:spots ratio.. However, less schools overall. Also, less schools applied to per applicant, because nearly all schools have a huge in province (state) bias.

However, I saw/read/something a statistic once that said something like: In Canada, ~33% acceptance rate on a first try, and in the US ~66% (I'm making up these numbers but they are somewhere near that).

So.. I guess if an US school is Canadian-friendly, and the applicant is well within their GPA and MCAT range.. they probably have a bit of a better chance than at a Canadian school.

I know that the school that rejected me does not have a focus on research for their MD students and by-and-large their primary mandate is to get GPs out there...but this also meant that my PhD-in-progress actually counts against me (less time for volunteering, no 'extra points' for graduate work, etc.).
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Canadian here. I heard there are less spots than US schools. Out-of-province competition is insane, like many provinces out of classes of 100 only accept around 1-5 out-of-province people because healthcare is provincially controlled. Also the stats you cited are probably old because the ones I read were 50% for US students applying to US schools and 25% for Canadians applying to Canadian schools. And yes, a Canadian has a greater chance of getting into a US school that is Canadian-friendly than getting into a Canadian school that is outside their province. Also, Canadian schools are more numbers-centric; I know for a fact that the French schools in my province literally ONLY interview based on GPA, and that the English school in my province doesn't look at people under a certain GPA unless they are legacy, URM (i.e. aboriginal) or have an advanced degree. Someone like me whose major strength are my ECs has a snowball's chance in hell at getting into a Canadian school (but 2 interviews at US schools). I still applied in-province though - figured, why not?
 
bearintraining said:
It's kind of an odd and complex game.

In Canada, there is a better applicants:spots ratio.. However, less schools overall. Also, less schools applied to per applicant, because nearly all schools have a huge in province (state) bias.

However, I saw/read/something a statistic once that said something like: In Canada, ~33% acceptance rate on a first try, and in the US ~66% (I'm making up these numbers but they are somewhere near that).

So.. I guess if an US school is Canadian-friendly, and the applicant is well within their GPA and MCAT range.. they probably have a bit of a better chance than at a Canadian school.

I know that the school that rejected me does not have a focus on research for their MD students and by-and-large their primary mandate is to get GPs out there...but this also meant that my PhD-in-progress actually counts against me (less time for volunteering, no 'extra points' for graduate work, etc.).
Click to expand...

I've always thought that Canadian schools were harder to get into also. Thanks for that answer bearintraining.

You also have some encouragement right there in your answer. The school you applied to doesn't care about your PhD much. Hopefully some of the US schools you applied to like that research side and your advanced degree. Best of luck!
 
Tulkas said:
Thought I would jump in.

Attended 3 interviews so far. CAPed at 1, and silence from the other two.

And still haven't heard back from 14 schools.

Argh. The waiting just blows.
Click to expand...

Pretty much sums up the app cycle.
 
medicalapp12 said:
I've always thought that Canadian schools were harder to get into also. Thanks for that answer bearintraining.

You also have some encouragement right there in your answer. The school you applied to doesn't care about your PhD much. Hopefully some of the US schools you applied to like that research side and your advanced degree. Best of luck!
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Thanks very much! 🙂 👍
 
physiologist said:
Canadian here. I heard there are less spots than US schools. Out-of-province competition is insane, like many provinces out of classes of 100 only accept around 1-5 out-of-province people because healthcare is provincially controlled. Also the stats you cited are probably old because the ones I read were 50% for US students applying to US schools and 25% for Canadians applying to Canadian schools. And yes, a Canadian has a greater chance of getting into a US school that is Canadian-friendly than getting into a Canadian school that is outside their province. Also, Canadian schools are more numbers-centric; I know for a fact that the French schools in my province literally ONLY interview based on GPA, and that the English school in my province doesn't look at people under a certain GPA unless they are legacy, URM (i.e. aboriginal) or have an advanced degree. Someone like me whose major strength are my ECs has a snowball's chance in hell at getting into a Canadian school (but 2 interviews at US schools). I still applied in-province though - figured, why not?
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good luck with your apps physiologist.. hope we both get good news.
 
FIRST II to Hofstra!!! Yayyy!!!!!!!!!!!! Submitted secondary 10/16ish (when i freaked out)
 
This is rough- no interviews 5 rejections. 1 pre- interview hold and 1 small pool
Complete August- September.

No bueno for me.
 
reece05 said:
This is rough- no interviews 5 rejections. 1 pre- interview hold and 1 small pool
Complete August- September.

No bueno for me.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, I was complete late sep/early oct and received my first II today, not out of the running yet!
 
nabilesmail said:
FIRST II to Hofstra!!! Yayyy!!!!!!!!!!!! Submitted secondary 10/16ish (when i freaked out)
Click to expand...

Congrats! That was a longtime coming.

physiologist said:
Canadian here. I heard there are less spots than US schools. Out-of-province competition is insane, like many provinces out of classes of 100 only accept around 1-5 out-of-province people because healthcare is provincially controlled. Also the stats you cited are probably old because the ones I read were 50% for US students applying to US schools and 25% for Canadians applying to Canadian schools. And yes, a Canadian has a greater chance of getting into a US school that is Canadian-friendly than getting into a Canadian school that is outside their province. Also, Canadian schools are more numbers-centric; I know for a fact that the French schools in my province literally ONLY interview based on GPA, and that the English school in my province doesn't look at people under a certain GPA unless they are legacy, URM (i.e. aboriginal) or have an advanced degree. Someone like me whose major strength are my ECs has a snowball's chance in hell at getting into a Canadian school (but 2 interviews at US schools). I still applied in-province though - figured, why not?
Click to expand...

bearintraining said:
It's kind of an odd and complex game.

In Canada, there is a better applicants:spots ratio.. However, less schools overall. Also, less schools applied to per applicant, because nearly all schools have a huge in province (state) bias.

However, I saw/read/something a statistic once that said something like: In Canada, ~33% acceptance rate on a first try, and in the US ~66% (I'm making up these numbers but they are somewhere near that).

So.. I guess if an US school is Canadian-friendly, and the applicant is well within their GPA and MCAT range.. they probably have a bit of a better chance than at a Canadian school.

I know that the school that rejected me does not have a focus on research for their MD students and by-and-large their primary mandate is to get GPs out there...but this also meant that my PhD-in-progress actually counts against me (less time for volunteering, no 'extra points' for graduate work, etc.).
Click to expand...

Yikes. 😱
 
TheShaker said:
Nice! I was getting a little worried for you there! 😀
Click to expand...

hahaha, yeah, I was going crazy everyday!

I hope this means my application has no red flags- Though I'm really not sure, I doubt my LOR are good as I wasn't particularly close to any of my LOR writers

one was from my P.I. was 3-4 pages long but I really didn't do anything in the lab lol

one was from a G.E. Marine Bio teacher at community college lol- 1 page

one was from a arts and letters teacher at my univ. - 2 pages, nothing special either
 
nabilesmail said:
hahaha, yeah, I was going crazy everyday!

I hope this means my application has no red flags- Though I'm really not sure, I doubt my LOR are good as I wasn't particularly close to any of my LOR writers

one was from my P.I. was 3-4 pages long but I really didn't do anything in the lab lol

one was from a G.E. Marine Bio teacher at community college lol- 1 page

one was from a arts and letters teacher at my univ. - 2 pages, nothing special either
Click to expand...

Hey, don't focus on the negatives now that you've got an II. Congrats and blow them away!
 
so today, I got really bored and read my PS again. I literally facepalmed
 
tennischamp822 said:
90% sure that TX schools are done giving out interview invites for this cycle.

1 interview invite for the year ahhhhhhh
Click to expand...

All you need is one acceptance; I hope that interview is the one! I have an interview this week at one of my Texas favorites. Hopefully, all goes well!
 
So my situation is 1 rejection and 9 MIA's. At what point should I consider MIA's a rejection? Should I be worried that I haven't heard about any interviews yet? Trying my best not to freak the F out at this point. Namaste.
 
Uhh 3 interviews so far (but still to great back from them), like10 rejections, and silence from 8 schools. The anticipation for my interview results is killing me, and the fear that I don't have much lined up if all 3 end up in rejections. Just need 1 acceptance to take the pressure off!

Sent from my Galaxy S2
 
Ok, it's December and I'm getting even more worried that my application is going to tank...

Here's my stats:
Undergrad at small in-state university, graduating next week with BA in Biomedical Science, minor in Chemistry
GPA: 4.00

MCAT: 28N
BS: 10
PS: 8
VR: 10

ECs: pharmacy volunteer for 1 yr during high school, emergency department volunteer for 1.5 yrs during college, nurse assistant at a summer camp for one summer, two summer jobs during high school, shadowed two physicians and a diabetes education program this past summer, currently working as a biology, chemistry, and statistics tutor at my university.

Applied to 13 Schools: 2 In State, 11 Out of State
AMCAS submitted 7/11/12
AMCAS sent to schools 8/16/12
Completed secondaries at all schools by 9/24/12

Results so far:
2 Rejections
1 Waitlist (from my main IS school)
0 Interviews
10 MIA

Why???? I feel like all of the schools I applied to are just passing over my application. It especially worries me that my in-state school waitlisted me pre-interview... Feedback, PLEASE!!!!
 
jly616 said:
Ok, it's December and I'm getting even more worried that my application is going to tank...

Here's my stats:
Undergrad at small in-state university, graduating next week with BA in Biomedical Science, minor in Chemistry
GPA: 4.00

MCAT: 28N
BS: 10
PS: 8
VR: 10

ECs: pharmacy volunteer for 1 yr during high school, emergency department volunteer for 1.5 yrs during college, nurse assistant at a summer camp for one summer, two summer jobs during high school, shadowed two physicians and a diabetes education program this past summer, currently working as a biology, chemistry, and statistics tutor at my university.

Applied to 13 Schools: 2 In State, 11 Out of State
AMCAS submitted 7/11/12
AMCAS sent to schools 8/16/12
Completed secondaries at all schools by 9/24/12

Results so far:
2 Rejections
1 Waitlist (from my main IS school)
0 Interviews
10 MIA

Why???? I feel like all of the schools I applied to are just passing over my application. It especially worries me that my in-state school waitlisted me pre-interview... Feedback, PLEASE!!!!
Click to expand...

Woah! Everything sounds fantastic, I'm honestly shocked. Think about your LORs. Could they have been form letters? Was your personal statement too generic? Do you ooze obnoxious gunner-ness? Those are the only things I could think of at the moment. I can't speculate too much because I'm just an applicant like you but do you think the adcoms were scratching their heads a bit about your super-huge GPA/MCAT discrepancy? I heard they don't like crazy divides like that. I'd be surprised if no fish bite at all this cycle, but if that is the case, I suggest you study like crazy for your MCAT and redo it. Score over 30, keep up those ECs, make sure you have a zillion people edit your PS, and you should be golden.

Source: Me, with my crappy GPA, meh, MCAT, and 2 interviews in spite of that.
 
jly616 said:
Ok, it's December and I'm getting even more worried that my application is going to tank...

Here's my stats:
Undergrad at small in-state university, graduating next week with BA in Biomedical Science, minor in Chemistry
GPA: 4.00

MCAT: 28N
BS: 10
PS: 8
VR: 10

ECs: pharmacy volunteer for 1 yr during high school, emergency department volunteer for 1.5 yrs during college, nurse assistant at a summer camp for one summer, two summer jobs during high school, shadowed two physicians and a diabetes education program this past summer, currently working as a biology, chemistry, and statistics tutor at my university.

Applied to 13 Schools: 2 In State, 11 Out of State
AMCAS submitted 7/11/12
AMCAS sent to schools 8/16/12
Completed secondaries at all schools by 9/24/12

Results so far:
2 Rejections
1 Waitlist (from my main IS school)
0 Interviews
10 MIA

Why???? I feel like all of the schools I applied to are just passing over my application. It especially worries me that my in-state school waitlisted me pre-interview... Feedback, PLEASE!!!!
Click to expand...

I think September compeltion date is why you haven't heard back yet, expect to hear more answers between this month and January, also what kind of ranking for schools did you apply too? I'm sure you'll be fine, as mentioned, the only downside of your application is your MCAT, but plenty of people still get in with it :]
 
jly616 said:
Ok, it's December and I'm getting even more worried that my application is going to tank...

Here's my stats:
Undergrad at small in-state university, graduating next week with BA in Biomedical Science, minor in Chemistry
GPA: 4.00

MCAT: 28N
BS: 10
PS: 8
VR: 10

ECs: pharmacy volunteer for 1 yr during high school, emergency department volunteer for 1.5 yrs during college, nurse assistant at a summer camp for one summer, two summer jobs during high school, shadowed two physicians and a diabetes education program this past summer, currently working as a biology, chemistry, and statistics tutor at my university.

Applied to 13 Schools: 2 In State, 11 Out of State
AMCAS submitted 7/11/12
AMCAS sent to schools 8/16/12
Completed secondaries at all schools by 9/24/12

Results so far:
2 Rejections
1 Waitlist (from my main IS school)
0 Interviews
10 MIA

Why???? I feel like all of the schools I applied to are just passing over my application. It especially worries me that my in-state school waitlisted me pre-interview... Feedback, PLEASE!!!!
Click to expand...
my guess is lack of sustained recent clinical experience + late completion + average mcat, start building up your application NOW in case you have to re apply! (this is what I did around this time last year when I had only 2 interviews) good luck! hope you don't have to end up reapplying 🙂
 
How can you be waitlisted pre-interview? I thought most schools would put you 'on hold' pre-interview? Or is it the same thing?
 
1289 said:
my guess is lack of sustained recent clinical experience + late completion + average mcat, start building up your application NOW in case you have to re apply! (this is what I did around this time last year when I had only 2 interviews) good luck! hope you don't have to end up reapplying 🙂
Click to expand...

Average MCAT for matriculants these days is about 31. The weakness is pretty clearly the MCAT. You have to be better than your competition, or at least equal, and nothing about the app is especially unique or noteworthy (unless there's something in the PS or they're URM, and even then), which means s/he's competing on scores alone. A 28 doesn't cut it.

Sorry, but people shouldn't sugarcoat it. S/he's competitive to DO schools, sortof, but only the lowest end MD schools. Boost the MCAT; may get lucky this year, but don't be surprised if you don't. Scores matter much more than most think.
 
I woke up this morning feeling really happy because I thought I had an II from my state school. And then I checked my email and realized it was just a dream...:bullcrap:

**there should be a smilie that cries**
 
sbuxaddict said:
I woke up this morning feeling really happy because I thought I had an II from my state school. And then I checked my email and realized it was just a dream...:bullcrap:

**there should be a smilie that cries**
Click to expand...

:cry: Look closely!
 
TheShaker said:
:cry: Look closely!
Click to expand...

Ah I must have missed it thanks!

To make things worse, not only is my dream not true but I also just got rejected (pre-interview) from one of my top choices.

Now I need a smilie that's drowning in its tears :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
Bearstronaut said:
Average MCAT for matriculants these days is about 31. The weakness is pretty clearly the MCAT. You have to be better than your competition, or at least equal, and nothing about the app is especially unique or noteworthy (unless there's something in the PS or they're URM, and even then), which means s/he's competing on scores alone. A 28 doesn't cut it.

Sorry, but people shouldn't sugarcoat it. S/he's competitive to DO schools, sortof, but only the lowest end MD schools. Boost the MCAT; may get lucky this year, but don't be surprised if you don't. Scores matter much more than most think.
Click to expand...

The GPA is good and look at the graph publoished on this site, http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=606875, he/she has an 80%+ chance of acceptance according to it, also his/her LizzyM score is 68 which isn't terrible either
 
Statistics are misleading (many with a competitive application and sub-30 score self select out, taking a year off), and the MCAT is the most obvious element that would give adcom members pause. I'm not saying abandon all hope, but it's the most obvious improvable area of the application.

I say this not to be mean, but because the tone of the post as I read it was that they should have gotten into med school by now, when its obvious at a glance why they may not have. Sometimes direct honesty is better than potentially false hope, especially if that honesty gives them the chance to start working on improving their scores for next year.
 
another rejection today...that makes 8 II, 2 R, 2 WL. still have to hear back from 4 schools that I interviewed at
 
Another rejection as well from Cornell, 1 II, 6 rejections, 26 schools left to hear from (8 are super reaches and will definitely be rejections) so more like 18 schools left to hear from
 
Bearstronaut said:
Average MCAT for matriculants these days is about 31. The weakness is pretty clearly the MCAT. You have to be better than your competition, or at least equal, and nothing about the app is especially unique or noteworthy (unless there's something in the PS or they're URM, and even then), which means s/he's competing on scores alone. A 28 doesn't cut it.

Sorry, but people shouldn't sugarcoat it. S/he's competitive to DO schools, sortof, but only the lowest end MD schools. Boost the MCAT; may get lucky this year, but don't be surprised if you don't. Scores matter much more than most think.
Click to expand...
While you're definitely right I chose not to retake my 29 and have been fairly successful thus far this cycle. W an earlier submission and some meaningful clinical experiences it CAN be done w a sub 30 mcat

Edit: just saw your next post and I see where you were coming from
 
SourD21 said:
Thanks! I have six more chances so hopefully one school will take me...
Click to expand...

Those are pretty good odds, fingers are crossed from you :xf:

nabilesmail said:
Another rejection as well from Cornell, 1 II, 6 rejections, 26 schools left to hear from (8 are super reaches and will definitely be rejections) so more like 18 schools left to hear from
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that. The waiting game sucks 🙁
 
Bearstronaut said:
Statistics are misleading (many with a competitive application and sub-30 score self select out, taking a year off), and the MCAT is the most obvious element that would give adcom members pause. I'm not saying abandon all hope, but it's the most obvious improvable area of the application.

I say this not to be mean, but because the tone of the post as I read it was that they should have gotten into med school by now, when its obvious at a glance why they may not have. Sometimes direct honesty is better than potentially false hope, especially if that honesty gives them the chance to start working on improving their scores for next year.
Click to expand...

While I doubt he/she has an 80% acceptance chance the graph states, I'm sure their chances arent terrible either (with an early date) maybe 50-60% or so, which is pretty decent. I don't think hope is lost at all, w/ an early app he/she could have had multiple interviews by now
 
Post- interview rejection from Georgetown. I think I'm through for this cycle.
 
I realize that my MCAT score is more than likely my weak link. I only studied from mid-October, through winter break, and took the first available date at the end of January. It's definitely going to be the first thing I change if I have to re-apply next year.

My PS was actually pretty good. Everyone in my committee letter interview said that it was one of the better ones they had read, and it was just my first draft at that point. I have a lot of personal medical experiences which are the main reason why I want to be a physician, and those are clearly shown in my PS.

Up until now, I hadn't really worried about my ECs, but I'll take it into consideration for a re-application.

I would have had a much earlier application completion, but waited through all of June and half of July for a physician LOR that never came through. The rest of my LORs are: my college's pre-med committee, my boss at the tutoring center on campus, my biochemistry professor, and my human anatomy/physiology lab instructor. All of these letter writers had my personal statement, CV, and a one-on-one chat with me prior to writing the letter.

Thanks for all of the great feedback. I'm not all that surprised that I haven't been accepted anywhere, but I am very worried that I haven't received a single II yet. Hopefully I'll hear back from some schools in the next few weeks.
 
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