2012-2013 Panic Thread

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Irish Football said:
I've actually become quite cynical towards the whole application process and towards medical schools in general (except for one school). I see so many qualified people here on SDN who haven't gotten interviews (or only a few), and then I see all of these top applicants who have a dozen interviews. To me, it kind of seems like a waste of time and resources for schools on a select few applicants who can only choose one school in the end. I feel like the system could be a lot better somehow. Even some sort of ranking system like for residency applications. I'm just annoyed at the whole thing.
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Agreed, I feel I did everything right. I worked hard and got a strong gpa, I did well on my MCAT, I did ec's (though they were all in the last year aside from hobbies and hospital volunteering, woops 😛) and I have 1 ii from a new school and 13 rejections, 8 more on the way (they are top top schools hehe) and 11 or so mid tier/low tiers to hear from.

I hate my life lol
 
appleman123 said:
given my post history, I beg to differ.

Think about it, its 1/7 today, and most schools stop interviewing by 3/5. Are you telling me that schools haven't booked their interview schedules out already for the coming 2 months?
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sorry, i wasn't thinking much when i posted that. but yeah like the person after you posted, it's true that some schools have filled up their interview slots, but looking at many past school specific threads it seems as if there are lots of schools that haven't.

but again, another monday, another empty inbox for me...so it doesn't really matter.
 
nabilesmail said:
Another rejection from Drexel haha :/

actually I think its a hold-donno

"Thank you for your application. Your file has been reviewed by a member of our Admissions Committee. While we have decided not invite you for an interview at this time, we would like to re-evaluate your application again in the spring should interview spots remain. We have many completed applications to review and wish to hold on a final decision on your application until later in the cycle. Again, thank you for your interest in Drexel College of Medicine. "
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I'm sorry to hear. I haven't heard from Drexel post-interview for 15+ weeks. Just cruising at this point. whatever.
 
just sent LOIs to mt sinai and NYU. probably won't do too much, but can't hurt.
 
Irish Football said:
I've actually become quite cynical towards the whole application process and towards medical schools in general (except for one school). I see so many qualified people here on SDN who haven't gotten interviews (or only a few), and then I see all of these top applicants who have a dozen interviews. To me, it kind of seems like a waste of time and resources for schools on a select few applicants who can only choose one school in the end. I feel like the system could be a lot better somehow. Even some sort of ranking system like for residency applications. I'm just annoyed at the whole thing.
Click to expand...

nabilesmail said:
Agreed, I feel I did everything right. I worked hard and got a strong gpa, I did well on my MCAT, I did ec's (though they were all in the last year aside from hobbies and hospital volunteering, woops 😛) and I have 1 ii from a new school and 13 rejections, 8 more on the way (they are top top schools hehe) and 11 or so mid tier/low tiers to hear from.

I hate my life lol
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I have a friend who has already gotten over a dozen interviews, mostly at top 20 schools, who just got an interview from a top 20 school that I KNOW he has 0% chance of actually attending, yet the school (unknown to them) is wasting their interview slot on him. Now, no one respond, "who knows, he may end up liking it and going there." Trust me, he's a very good friend of mine and I know he won't end up going there (unless he really doesn't get any additional acceptances). Am I jealous? Probably, but I'm kind of annoyed mostly. Why does anyone need 15 interviews?? I mean if they can earn it, why not, I don't have a problem with them. I have a problem with the schools and the system that leaves so many qualified applicants hanging for so long in the season just to ensure that the top applicants have 10 or so schools to choose from. I understand the concept of "a buyer's market," but I still feel that something's not right.
 
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Irish Football said:
I have a friend who has already gotten over a dozen interviews, mostly at top 20 schools, who just got an interview from a top 20 school that I KNOW he has 0% chance of actually attending, yet the school (unknown to them) is wasting their interview slot on him. Now, no one respond, "who knows, he may end up liking it and going there." Trust me, he's a very good friend of mine and I know he won't end up going there (unless he really doesn't get any additional acceptances). Am I jealous? Probably, but I'm kind of annoyed mostly. Why does anyone need 15 interviews?? I mean if they can earn it, why not, I don't have a problem with them. I have a problem with the schools and the system that leaves so many qualified applicants hanging for so long in the season just to ensure that the top applicants have 10 or so schools to choose from. I understand the concept of "a buyer's market," but I still feel that something's not right.
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yeah i know what you mean, i also have a friend with about 10 interviews to schools like chicago, UCLA, pitt, etc. i also understand it, they want the best of the best, and most of them don't really care what we applicants go through. it sucks.
 
matanpucla said:
yeah i know what you mean, i also have a friend with about 10 interviews to schools like chicago, UCLA, pitt, etc. i also understand it, they want the best of the best, and most of them don't really care what we applicants go through. it sucks.
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i really believe they care about their applicants, nearly all adcoms that i haven spoken to on the phone have been very friendly (especially GW which gets 14k apps). however, they dont care to change the system, because it favors them. i sort of had similar rants like IrishFootball earlier in the cycle (see my posts with LizzyM): that schools should provide feedback and a reason why a candidate was rejected. I mean you pay $100+ just for them to look at it (for a max of maybe 15 minutes?) with no feedback? In nearly every other job application or ugrad app, if you go high enough, someone will give you some insight on why your app may not be as qualified as the next guy (or girl). However, with med schools its literally a shot in the dark, with the only clues coming from the MSAR (which itself paints a very blurry picture, they should just list stats at the median plus or minus two points. dont provide false hope that being in the 25% ranges in both GPA and MCAT will give you a good shot at the school).. thats why SDN is so useful. Power to the applicants!

I guess the only answer is... deal with it (insert that .gif here, i dunno how to do that yet, im a noob)

i can only assume that once you do get in, the "unfairness" of the app cycle will pale in comparison to life and its funny way of being a B. haha
 
bigbird23 said:
i really believe they care about their applicants, nearly all adcoms that i haven spoken to on the phone have been very friendly (especially GW which gets 14k apps). however, they dont care to change the system, because it favors them. i sort of had similar rants like IrishFootball earlier in the cycle (see my posts with LizzyM): that schools should provide feedback and a reason why a candidate was rejected. I mean you pay $100+ just for them to look at it (for a max of maybe 15 minutes?) with no feedback? In nearly every other job application or ugrad app, if you go high enough, someone will give you some insight on why your app may not be as qualified as the next guy (or girl). However, with med schools its literally a shot in the dark, with the only clues coming from the MSAR (which itself paints a very blurry picture, they should just list stats at the median plus or minus two points. dont provide false hope that being in the 25% ranges in both GPA and MCAT will give you a good shot at the school).. thats why SDN is so useful. Power to the applicants!

I guess the only answer is... deal with it (insert that .gif here, i dunno how to do that yet, im a noob)

i can only assume that once you do get in, the "unfairness" of the app cycle will pale in comparison to life and its funny way of being a B. haha
Click to expand...

i agree, trying to reason through the process and meanwhile getting angry or depressed about it is natural, but it won't really help. we really do just have to deal with it. and send a bunch of LOIs.

and here you go:
tumblr_l6ouy08TEp1qz9muno1_r1_400.gif
 
3 MD interviews so far - 1 post-interview rejection (I had thought the interview went wonderfully), 1 interview that went horribly because my interviewer grilled me and didn't appear to take me seriously as a candidate at all, and the third interview is at a top-tier school that would be the most ideal school to go to out of all to which I applied...

My entire future rests on that one interview. I really hope I'll get more interview invites because so far I have heard from 13 schools and have 13 more to hear from.
 
physiologist said:
3 MD interviews so far - 1 post-interview rejection (I had thought the interview went wonderfully), 1 interview that went horribly because my interviewer grilled me and didn't appear to take me seriously as a candidate at all, and the third interview is at a top-tier school that would be the most ideal school to go to out of all to which I applied...

My entire future rests on that one interview. I really hope I'll get more interview invites because so far I have heard from 13 schools and have 13 more to hear from.
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i wish you the best! i've had 2 interviews, one was a waitlist to a pretty decent CA school, another i'm still waiting to hear back from, an Israeli school. i've also got 13 schools that have been silent this cycle. January better be kind to us.
 
University of California, Irvine
University of California, San Francisco
UC Irvine
Jefferson Medical College
University of Southern California
Tufts University
Saint Louis University
University of California, Davis
New York Medical College
Wake Forest University
Medical College of Wisconsin - "small pooled 10/27/2012"
Albert Einstein of Yeshiva University

These are the schools that I'm still waiting to hear from that I would have a chance for. I had a couple of questions, should I consider myself rejected if I sent an In the area email to Einstein, NYMC, and Albany for January 16th in early December? NY schools are known for accomodating in the area requests and it has been a month and I have not been invited. :/

Which of these schools are responsive to LOInterest.

Thanks!

PANIC COMMENSING!
 
nabilesmail said:
University of California, Irvine
University of California, San Francisco
UC Irvine
Jefferson Medical College
University of Southern California
Tufts University
Saint Louis University
University of California, Davis
New York Medical College
Wake Forest University
Medical College of Wisconsin - "small pooled 10/27/2012"
Albert Einstein of Yeshiva University

These are the schools that I'm still waiting to hear from that I would have a chance for. I had a couple of questions, should I consider myself rejected if I sent an In the area email to Einstein, NYMC, and Albany for January 16th in early December? NY schools are known for accomodating in the area requests and it has been a month and I have not been invited. :/

Which of these schools are responsive to LOInterest.

Thanks!

PANIC COMMENSING!
Click to expand...

I sent a LOI to Einstein today, i'll let you know how it goes.
 
Einstein interviews until april
We still got a chance
 
physiologist said:
3 MD interviews so far - 1 post-interview rejection (I had thought the interview went wonderfully), 1 interview that went horribly because my interviewer grilled me and didn't appear to take me seriously as a candidate at all, and the third interview is at a top-tier school that would be the most ideal school to go to out of all to which I applied...

My entire future rests on that one interview. I really hope I'll get more interview invites because so far I have heard from 13 schools and have 13 more to hear from.
Click to expand...

I also had an interviewer that grilled me pretty hard, so I can totally understand your concern. My interviewer had a list of questions prepared, and it was just a rapid fire question-and-answer session. The interview also went 20mins overtime (there was another student waiting to be interviewed after me). I was ****ting bricks, but dear god, I hope I smiled enough to hide it well.

Keep your spirits up, and kill your next interview!
 
Is it weird that at this point the primary thing that's keeping me from going crazy is the prospect of trolling all the SDNers that swear applicants like me won't make it into med school?

I need to stick to only reading this thread. Ever. You guys are more compassionate and encouraging than any other thread here. You all deserve multiple acceptances. Tomorrow.
 
nabilesmail said:
Agreed, I feel I did everything right. I worked hard and got a strong gpa, I did well on my MCAT, I did ec's (though they were all in the last year aside from hobbies and hospital volunteering, woops 😛) and I have 1 ii from a new school and 13 rejections, 8 more on the way (they are top top schools hehe) and 11 or so mid tier/low tiers to hear from.

I hate my life lol
Click to expand...

I have similar stats but got rejected by the 1 school you received ii from. 😳 Cheer up! :laugh:
 
Claudin said:
+ 9000 But I feel like if I can make it through this, I can make it through anything ....
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ditto. but then i wonder what will happen if i don't make it through. i will be crushed 🙁 i can't even think about possibly filling out amcas in a few short months 🙁
 
I have a ridonculously low cGPA because of about 32 straight credit hours of F/D and even if I get straight A's from now until the end of my bachelor's I will only have a 3.4 cGPA.
 
sieg5 said:
I have a ridonculously low cGPA because of about 32 straight credit hours of F/D and even if I get straight A's from now until the end of my bachelor's I will only have a 3.4 cGPA.
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have you applied or are you going to apply in June?
 
matanpucla said:
have you applied or are you going to apply in June?
Click to expand...

I haven't even started my bachelors yet, I have 52 credits right now at a 2.717, would be a 3.5 if not for those 2 semesters of straight F's/D's if I get straight A's for the next 128, I'll have a 3.4 by MD standards, I'm hoping they'll break it down by semester and realize those F's were an isolated incident. :scared:
 
.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Rejected nymc... 🙁

I'm giving myself 2 weeks of hope... Then will plan on reapplying
 
reece05 said:
Rejected nymc... 🙁

I'm giving myself 2 weeks of hope... Then will plan on reapplying
Click to expand...

Are you waitlisted anywhere? Have any post interview decisions still pending? Give yourself a bit more time for hope. Once mid Feb hits, I think its time.
 
NCMED101 said:
Are you waitlisted anywhere? Have any post interview decisions still pending? Give yourself a bit more time for hope. Once mid Feb hits, I think its time.
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Haha no interviews at all-- 3.79/ 30 mcat.... Not the best score, but I feel I should have at least 1 interview by now!
No interviews at all... I'm still waiting on at least 12 schools though.
 
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reece05 said:
Haha no interviews at all-- 3.79/ 30 mcat.... Not the best score, but I feel I should have at least 1 interview by now!
No interviews at all... I'm still waiting on at least 12 schools though.
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I don't have any interviews either. Completed in September.... high five?
 
I can only imagine what some of you guys are feeling like. Did you guys apply really late or something? If you don't get in this cycle, will you apply DO next time?

Good luck
 
Mavii said:
I can only imagine what some of you guys are feeling like. Did you guys apply really late or something? If you don't get in this cycle, will you apply DO next time?

Good luck
Click to expand...

Thanks,

complete mostly in august and a few in september...everything was turned in beginning of august so who knows.

I really do not want to go to DO route...i really haven't wrapped my brain around reapplying again although I should...I have been doing the same work/ internship I did last cycle so its rather discouraging to reapply again, especially with nothing really to add to my application from this year.
 
Man this process sucks. I did a post-bac to take the pre-reqs and did OK, I got a 3.55 in all science classes. I think I needed a 3.8+ to convince schools, because it is apparent that my 35 MCAT didn't convince anybody. My cGPA is 3.21 though, and I did understand I was fighting an uphill battle as a "career changer." I applied late, and that may also be a factor, but I still blame my GPA.

Still 13 schools to hear back from, but now I'm telling myself I've gotta become the best DO I can be (If I can get an acceptance from one of my 4 interviews). Still bummed about MD schools though. Just felt like whining a bit.
 
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Spikebd said:
Man this process sucks. I did a post-bac to take the pre-reqs and did OK, I got a 3.55 in all science classes. I think I needed a 3.8+ to convince schools, because it is apparent that my 35 MCAT didn't convince anybody. My cGPA is 3.21 though, and I did understand I was fighting an uphill battle as a "career changer." I applied late, and that may also be a factor, but I still blame my GPA.

Still 13 schools to hear back from, but now I'm telling myself I've gotta become the best DO I can be (If I can get an acceptance from one of my 4 interviews). Still bummed about MD schools though. Just felt like whining a bit.
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I hear you...i think one thing that killed me is i didn't do a formal post bad... (did an international business degree) and i have very little research experience.
then again who knows.
 
reece05 said:
I hear you...i think one thing that killed me is i didn't do a formal post bad... (did an international business degree) and i have very little research experience.
then again who knows.
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i also have an MCAT >34, but my gpa < 3.4. 2 IIs so far, one ended up with a waitlist and the other im waiting to hear back from but its a foreign school. if i get one or two more ill be optimistic that i can get one acceptance. but i need those IIs!!!!
 
matanpucla said:
i also have an MCAT >34, but my gpa < 3.4. 2 IIs so far, one ended up with a waitlist and the other im waiting to hear back from but its a foreign school. if i get one or two more ill be optimistic that i can get one acceptance. but i need those IIs!!!!
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Well, at least you got interviews and have hope, Good luck with the outcome of those.
I have a mcat >37, gpa <3.4 , wasn't that late as some others , great ECs, .. ZERO interviews , 1 rejection rest silence..... from 15 schools !! I wish they would say something...anything... Not leave me hanging on like this. ... This process truely sucks.. Don't know if i can handle another year of this.. Worst is, nothing clinical to add for next yr app . Is there even a point to apply again..... Any suggestions anyone?
 
Vidpur said:
Well, at least you got interviews and have hope, Good luck with the outcome of those.
I have a mcat >37, gpa <3.4 , wasn't that late as some others , great ECs, .. ZERO interviews , 1 rejection rest silence..... from 15 schools !! I wish they would say something...anything... Not leave me hanging on like this. ... This process truely sucks.. Don't know if i can handle another year of this.. Worst is, nothing clinical to add for next yr app . Is there even a point to apply again..... Any suggestions anyone?
Click to expand...

Did you apply top heavy or something? You have a great MCAT to make up for the GPA ...
 
Vidpur said:
Well, at least you got interviews and have hope, Good luck with the outcome of those.
I have a mcat >37, gpa <3.4 , wasn't that late as some others , great ECs, .. ZERO interviews , 1 rejection rest silence..... from 15 schools !! I wish they would say something...anything... Not leave me hanging on like this. ... This process truely sucks.. Don't know if i can handle another year of this.. Worst is, nothing clinical to add for next yr app . Is there even a point to apply again..... Any suggestions anyone?
Click to expand...

What are your subsection scores on the MCAT?
 
Any tips on writing update letters preinterview?
How to format? Should I just list them in an email? write it in an essay form? formal like a letter?
 
Just a heads-up-- not all schools have come close to filling all interview slots. I found out that one school today has only interviewed half of the people it plans to interview (300/600). Definitely still more IIs to come. 🙂
 
Claudin said:
Did you apply top heavy or something? You have a great MCAT to make up for the GPA ...
Click to expand...


No not top heavy at all . I am so stunned and bummed.. Dont know what to make of any of this. My advisor and prof. all said at least your score will make someone look . And I was positive if they look, they will at least want to talk to me and that's what i have been hoping for. I did get a little late but not terribly. My main question is .. what does this silence mean? Why not give a frank rejection if they don't want to look, if not give me a shot at an interview?. On the other hand i feel most interviews are done by feb -march. Most schools seem to give a month between i and ii. Does it mean it is all over or what?
 
Vidpur said:
No not top heavy at all . I am so stunned and bummed.. Dont know what to make of any of this. My advisor and prof. all said at least your score will make someone look . And I was positive if they look, they will at least want to talk to me and that's what i have been hoping for. I did get a little late but not terribly. My main question is .. what does this silence mean? Why not give a frank rejection if they don't want to look, if not give me a shot at an interview?. On the other hand i feel most interviews are done by feb -march. Most schools seem to give a month between i and ii. Does it mean it is all over or what?
Click to expand...

i think the general consensus is that for the silent schools, we still have a shot at some of them. however if by end of feb. we don't hear back, i think that's when it is most likely a no go. good luck to you. and to me. and to the rest of the panickers
 
matanpucla said:
i think the general consensus is that for the silent schools, we still have a shot at some of them. however if by end of feb. we don't hear back, i think that's when it is most likely a no go. good luck to you. and to me. and to the rest of the panickers
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Absolutely, Good luck to All of us. .
 
Vidpur said:
Well, at least you got interviews and have hope, Good luck with the outcome of those.
I have a mcat >37, gpa <3.4 , wasn't that late as some others , great ECs, .. ZERO interviews , 1 rejection rest silence..... from 15 schools !! I wish they would say something...anything... Not leave me hanging on like this. ... This process truely sucks.. Don't know if i can handle another year of this.. Worst is, nothing clinical to add for next yr app . Is there even a point to apply again..... Any suggestions anyone?
Click to expand...

MCATs don't compensate for low GPAs the way people think. Do a post-bacc program for a year to upgrade your GPA and get some quality connections.
 
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