2012-2013 Panic Thread

[Diocletian]

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30 schools applied to.
23 rejections.
1 interview.

No decision yet from that interview. I probably have a worse batting average than anyone else here.

 

[Wifey1985]

I am in such panic mode that I've thrown my nervous energy into work-out overdrive and have lost 5 pounds.

Awesome! (Unless you didn't have 5 pounds to lose...). Silver lining, you will be fit as a fiddle when you start med school this fall 😀

 

[VisceralFlame]

1 post-interview waitlist
2 decisions coming in the next 2 weeks
1 decision coming whenever it feels like it
6 silences

I am in such panic mode that I've thrown my nervous energy into work-out overdrive and have lost 5 pounds.

I like those odds though! I'm at two IIs. One waitlist (CCOM) and one interview on Monday (CMS)

 

[VisceralFlame]

30 schools applied to.
23 rejections.
1 interview.

No decision yet from that interview. I probably have a worse batting average than anyone else here.

Ugh. Sorry to hear that. How'd the interview go?

 

[smallone]

Awesome! (Unless you didn't have 5 pounds to lose...). Silver lining, you will be fit as a fiddle when you start med school this fall 😀

Oh, those 5 pounds totally had to go. True! I'm going to keep it going!

I like those odds though! I'm at two IIs. One waitlist (CCOM) and one interview on Monday (CMS)

I'm praaayyyiiinnng for some happy news.
Good luck with your interview on Monday!

 

[SandsOfTime]

Not worse than me. 12 apps, 7 rejections, 5 still silent...no interviews and interview season almost over.

 

[SandsOfTime]

As I said...

12 applications:
- 7 rejections
- 5 silent.

No interviews. The last possible interview date for the 5 still-silent schools is April 18th. Am I totally screwed? Someone shed some light...

 

[type12]

Not worse than me. 12 apps, 7 rejections, 5 still silent...no interviews and interview season almost over.

n00b, GTFO: 21 apps, 7 rejections, rest silent, no interviews. 😎

Haha, kidding aside, yeah, this sucked. I'm in the What are my Chances forum now and people are saying give up on MD. Not saying it's not sound advice, but it is still disappointing. 🙁

 

[SandsOfTime]

n00b, GTFO: 21 apps, 7 rejections, rest silent, no interviews. 😎

Haha, kidding aside, yeah, this sucked. I'm in the What are my Chances forum now and people are saying give up on MD. Not saying it's not sound advice, but it is still disappointing. 🙁

Haha very funny...

But, in all seriousness, I feel for you...really. Disappointing, yes, but I'm sick of waiting when I already know what the answer is most likely going to be. Best of luck to you going forward (truly and sincerely), and if it doesn't work out, just keep truckin' in whatever direction makes you happiest! Forgive me for sounding cheesy, but I figured I'd add a little levity to this bummer of a thread...

 

[bluestreaks]

I really hope things work out for all of you who are waiting and on edge right now. I know that doesn't mean much and I don't know any of you, but yeah haha as a fellow pre-med, I really want you all to succeed.

 

[physiologist]

n00b, GTFO: 21 apps, 7 rejections, rest silent, no interviews. 😎

Haha, kidding aside, yeah, this sucked. I'm in the What are my Chances forum now and people are saying give up on MD. Not saying it's not sound advice, but it is still disappointing. 🙁

Dude, one thing worse than not having any interviews is having had 3, with 3 post-II rejections.

It means there is something colossally wrong with how I carry myself, yet nobody is kind enough / has enough chutzpah to tell me exactly what it is.

I have one more. This is my last hope. I really want this. I've never wanted anything more than this.

 

[NCMED101]

Dude, one thing worse than not having any interviews is having had 3, with 3 post-II rejections.

It means there is something colossally wrong with how I carry myself, yet nobody is kind enough / has enough chutzpah to tell me exactly what it is.

I have one more. This is my last hope. I really want this. I've never wanted anything more than this.

Damn I'm sorry, kill this next one. I am hardly one to give interview advice, but maybe talk to career center at your university or some professional to give you advice.

On a personal note, got an interview invite today from one of my top choices. Maybe 7th time is the charm lol...🙁

 

[physiologist]

Damn I'm sorry, kill this next one. I am hardly one to give interview advice, but maybe talk to career center at your university or some professional to give you advice.

On a personal note, got an interview invite today from one of my top choices. Maybe 7th time is the charm lol...🙁

7 interviews? :O

I could only dream of having that much!!!

I've paid 250$ for 3h with an interview coach after my first post-interview rejection. Still went on to receive 2 more.

My next II is at a state school near where I have a lot of family. (It's not my state school though). Hopefully they'll give me the moral support/extra boost I need before the interview. My niece is a ball of fire, if anyone can pump me up, she definitely can!

 

[VictorAlpha]

n00b, GTFO: 21 apps, 7 rejections, rest silent, no interviews. 😎

Haha, kidding aside, yeah, this sucked. I'm in the What are my Chances forum now and people are saying give up on MD. Not saying it's not sound advice, but it is still disappointing. 🙁

Haha very funny...

But, in all seriousness, I feel for you...really. Disappointing, yes, but I'm sick of waiting when I already know what the answer is most likely going to be. Best of luck to you going forward (truly and sincerely), and if it doesn't work out, just keep truckin' in whatever direction makes you happiest! Forgive me for sounding cheesy, but I figured I'd add a little levity to this bummer of a thread...

two both of you guys... When people say you have 2 give up on MD; you don't have to listen to that. It might mean you have more work to put in b4 you get it. But it's not like it's over. If you really want something and are willing to put in the work, you'll get it.

the odds are not in your favor at all for this cycle and they may be stacked against you in general but that doesn't mean it is impossible. Best of Luck for the rest of this cycle and moving forward!!

 

[NCMED101]

7 interviews? :O

I could only dream of having that much!!!

I've paid 250$ for 3h with an interview coach after my first post-interview rejection. Still went on to receive 2 more.

My next II is at a state school near where I have a lot of family. (It's not my state school though). Hopefully they'll give me the moral support/extra boost I need before the interview. My niece is a ball of fire, if anyone can pump me up, she definitely can!

Haha, yea unfortunately the result is 4 waitlists and 2 rejections. Since you already tried an interview coach, maybe your problem is just confidence. I know that for my first three interviews I was absolutely lacking in confidence. Didn't feel like I belonged with the rest of the applicants and that definitely affected my performance. Family will be a great boost. Get good rest and relax before interview and I'm sure you will rock it.

 

[physiologist]

Haha, yea unfortunately the result is 4 waitlists and 2 rejections. Since you already tried an interview coach, maybe your problem is just confidence. I know that for my first three interviews I was absolutely lacking in confidence. Didn't feel like I belonged with the rest of the applicants and that definitely affected my performance. Family will be a great boost. Get good rest and relax before interview and I'm sure you will rock it.

I totally rested. Got a nice hotel room, had a bubble bath.... etc.

Maybe it WAS lack of confidence. I'm very outgoing, but maybe I did appear nervous? Hmm.... I really hope last time's the charm!

At least you have waitlists. I just have rejections. I don't understand how I was so bad. Like, if you're going to reject me for my GPA anyway, why invite me for interview? ARG.

 

[VictorAlpha]

I totally rested. Got a nice hotel room, had a bubble bath.... etc.

Maybe it WAS lack of confidence. I'm very outgoing, but maybe I did appear nervous? Hmm.... I really hope last time's the charm!

At least you have waitlists. I just have rejections. I don't understand how I was so bad. Like, if you're going to reject me for my GPA anyway, why invite me for interview? ARG.

I wish I had something really good to tell you. But I don't have any advice that you would not have already heard from your coach. All I can say is this, and it probably doesn't help a ton, but after 3 cycles, I can say that unless you are like perfect in every way...the odds are against anyone. The odds are against everyone. If you keep at it, you'll be fine. Stay strong and good luck!

 

[SilverCat]

For interview help, don't go to 'coaches' and 'career counselors.' They may be great for regular job interviews, but they don't really understand med school admissions.

They key here is to figure out who interviews you: med students, professors, and medical doctors. Find samples of these people around you, and use them as a resource, getting many opinions as to where you're going wrong.

 

[premed2000]

X

 

[ReptarBar]

spending the night in dallas fort worth airport -_-

 

[SandsOfTime]

two both of you guys... When people say you have 2 give up on MD; you don't have to listen to that. It might mean you have more work to put in b4 you get it. But it's not like it's over. If you really want something and are willing to put in the work, you'll get it.

the odds are not in your favor at all for this cycle and they may be stacked against you in general but that doesn't mean it is impossible. Best of Luck for the rest of this cycle and moving forward!!

Thanks. It's more about ending the waiting so I can move on with my life than being overly disappointed...in my case, anyway!

 

[physiologist]

For interview help, don't go to 'coaches' and 'career counselors.' They may be great for regular job interviews, but they don't really understand med school admissions.

They key here is to figure out who interviews you: med students, professors, and medical doctors. Find samples of these people around you, and use them as a resource, getting many opinions as to where you're going wrong.

My coach was a medical student, part of an actual legit med school app help service. (I didn't hire him for the rest of my app - I'm a great writer so that was the least of my worries).

Good luck everyone! Hope y'all don't end up screwed like me! Also, Premed2000 - remember: it only takes one! Good luck!

 

[physiologist]

thanks. It's more about ending the waiting so i can move on with my life than being overly disappointed...in my case, anyway!

+1

 

[smallone]

+1

You guys! I just got an interview invitation from a great northeast school. Looks like they're still tumbling out. Don't give up.

 

[WompyWomperton]

MCAT above the average for every school I applied at except for one. Entered the process optimistically. Waitlisted at 4 of my 6 interviewed schools of the 22 that I applied to and either explicit or implicit rejections from the rest. >$2,000 in application/traveling costs later and 5-6 months of waiting and pushing it to the back of my mind only to have either further limbo or impersonal "all the best, but no thanks" emails thrown at me, I'm getting tired of everybody's "hang in there".

/vent

Honestly, where did you get that kind of money bro? I could barely afford applying to 2 schools (one IS and another OOS) and had to turn down a few secondaries because I was strapped for cash.

 

[smallone]

MCAT above the average for every school I applied at except for one. Entered the process optimistically. Waitlisted at 4 of my 6 interviewed schools of the 22 that I applied to and either explicit or implicit rejections from the rest. >$2,000 in application/traveling costs later and 5-6 months of waiting and pushing it to the back of my mind only to have either further limbo or impersonal "all the best, but no thanks" emails thrown at me, I'm getting tired of everybody's "hang in there".

/vent

Or don't hang in there, whatever you'd like. I'm just saying - I have had 6 silences for a long looooong time that I thought were "implicit rejections" and I just found out today that that's not the case.

 

[AtlasCarraway]

Congrats on that, by the way.

 

[sinombre]

Honestly, where did you get that kind of money bro? I could barely afford applying to 2 schools (one IS and another OOS) and had to turn down a few secondaries because I was strapped for cash.

Credit cards. I had no extra money either, and spent about $5000 - $6000 on applying. I'm going to pay all of it off with student loan money once school starts.

 

[4587hey]

Officially freaking out.

applied to 6 schools
6 interviews
2 waitlists so far

my mistake: all six schools are top 20 schools. Should have applied more broadly. I don't know how I'm going to get through the next month... hope to get good news in March, but i'm so scared...

 

[smallone]

Congrats on that, by the way.

Hey, thanks!

You're going to get in off one of those waitlists. You will. Keep in super-close contact with those schools. Those are good odds. 👍

 

[hallowmann]

Officially freaking out.

applied to 6 schools
6 interviews
2 waitlists so far

my mistake: all six schools are top 20 schools. Should have applied more broadly. I don't know how I'm going to get through the next month... hope to get good news in March, but i'm so scared...

You interviewed at all the schools you applied to. That's pretty good. Obviously you should have applied to mid-tiers and safeties (why didn't you?), but you're in good shape, you still have 4 schools to hear from.

 

[SandsOfTime]

You guys! I just got an interview invitation from a great northeast school. Looks like they're still tumbling out. Don't give up.

I don't want to get my hopes up for the ones I know are totally done, is all. I'm ready to be done with this waiting.

I applied to 12 schools. Prior life-long NH resident, but currently a MA resident, and only for 2 years (so I kind of get screwed with the whole state status thing). Anyway, I got outright rejections from 7 of those 12...1 of those 7, Harvard, was implied, but obvious (they e-mailed and said they were done interviewing). After those 7, of course I thought I had 5 left, but through SDN I found out that both Yale and UConn are done interviewing, so that brings me down to 3: SUNY Upstate, Tufts, and UVM.

SUNY Upstate: Last interview will be 3/6
Tufts: Three interview dates left in March as of two days ago
UVM: Last interview is April 18th, according to what their website says.

And, I have no IIs at all throughout this whole process. I'll hold out some hope, but I'm have no problem realizing that it doesn't look good at all for me at this point.

 

[Tadaaa]

Honestly, where did you get that kind of money bro? I could barely afford applying to 2 schools (one IS and another OOS) and had to turn down a few secondaries because I was strapped for cash.

I couldn't even apply a year ago because I had to apply so broadly due to my transgressions (uGPA). I had to get a job and save up for a year. It was tre expensive... no parental support, but I did it. So taking a year off to strengthen your app/save up money for apps is probably a good idea, unless you're already a stellar candidate with awesome GPA/MCAT/EC and can apply as ED or to a very small number of schools.

 

[SilverCat]

Another deferral. Why am I not surprised?

 

[NCMED101]

Another deferral. Why am I not surprised?

Sigh, sorry to hear that. I like your location status on the side 🙂 I am sure one of these waitlists pans out for you.

 

[bearintraining]

I don't want to get my hopes up for the ones I know are totally done, is all. I'm ready to be done with this waiting.

I applied to 12 schools. Prior life-long NH resident, but currently a MA resident, and only for 2 years (so I kind of get screwed with the whole state status thing). Anyway, I got outright rejections from 7 of those 12...1 of those 7, Harvard, was implied, but obvious (they e-mailed and said they were done interviewing). After those 7, of course I thought I had 5 left, but through SDN I found out that both Yale and UConn are done interviewing, so that brings me down to 3: SUNY Upstate, Tufts, and UVM.

SUNY Upstate: Last interview will be 3/6
Tufts: Three interview dates left in March as of two days ago
UVM: Last interview is April 18th, according to what their website says.

And, I have no IIs at all throughout this whole process. I'll hold out some hope, but I'm have no problem realizing that it doesn't look good at all for me at this point.

You got an email from Harvard saying they were done? I haven't heard a peep from them since my secondary invite.

 

[chillaxbro]

another post interview rejection 🙁

 

[SandsOfTime]

You got an email from Harvard saying they were done? I haven't heard a peep from them since my secondary invite.

Yeah...sorry to burst the Harvard bubble but...here's the e-mail:

"Thank you for your email and your continued interest in Harvard Medical School.

Currently, we are no longer extending invitations for interviews for this admission season. While no admissions decisions are final until decisions are sent out, we do not expect to interview any more candidates for the MD programs in this application cycle. The next correspondence you will receive from us will be notice of our decision which should come in early to mid-March. No further information regarding your application status is available at this time.

We wish you the best in the remainder of the admissions season.

Sincerely,

Colin Janson

On behalf of The Office of the Committee on Admissions"


Again...sorry...but that sounded pretty clear to me, and that was on 2/11/13

 

[EgyptFlower]

I do not know how many months/years this application cycle/ lurking on this thread has taken off of my life..but I can officially say it is now over! FIRST acceptance yesterday to UF College of Medicine. The day before I received a last minute interview with FSU COM.

The best advice I can give (this is how I got all 3 of my interviews) 1. email to show interest - and don't just email the regular admissions..email the COORDINATOR. 2. make the email awesome -specific reseasons why you are best fit there (maybe they have an awesome research/community outreach/student pipeline program) 4 to 5 sentences top. 3. Call and inquire on your application. With luck they will write down your name.

By the way I am a reapplicant after not completing my secondaries last year due to DENTAL illness! Damn those dentists taking all my mula, but it's all worth it and that much "sweeter" 🙂

 

[bearintraining]

Yeah...sorry to burst the Harvard bubble but...here's the e-mail:

"Thank you for your email and your continued interest in Harvard Medical School.

Currently, we are no longer extending invitations for interviews for this admission season. While no admissions decisions are final until decisions are sent out, we do not expect to interview any more candidates for the MD programs in this application cycle. The next correspondence you will receive from us will be notice of our decision which should come in early to mid-March. No further information regarding your application status is available at this time.

We wish you the best in the remainder of the admissions season.

Sincerely,

Colin Janson

On behalf of The Office of the Committee on Admissions"


Again...sorry...but that sounded pretty clear to me, and that was on 2/11/13

so did they send this to you out of a request for info or was this just sent out randomly? surprised I didn't receive one if it was the latter case.

 

[lcck]

so did they send this to you out of a request for info or was this just sent out randomly? surprised I didn't receive one if it was the latter case.

Doesn't the first line say "thank you for your email..."? That suggests there was initially an email sent to Harvard.

 

[burbbs]

Another deferral. Why am I not surprised?

That means through that they deferred your entrance to next year in august of 2014 right? So does that mean you are accepted to start in 2014??

My friend got a deferred acceptance and was so happy he just traveled the world and did random stuff on that extra year until he started

 

[SilverCat]

That means through that they deferred your entrance to next year in august of 2014 right? So does that mean you are accepted to start in 2014??

My friend got a deferred acceptance and was so happy he just traveled the world and did random stuff on that extra year until he started

Nope. It just means they haven't reviewed your app, and that it was deferred for review until the next meeting. Basically, your app wasn't good enough for a fast acceptance, but isn't ready for the rejection pile just yet. Most likely you'll wind up on the waitlist, which, for this school, doesn't move at all. For most people, it means a slow rejection.

 

[hallowmann]

That means through that they deferred your entrance to next year in august of 2014 right? So does that mean you are accepted to start in 2014??

My friend got a deferred acceptance and was so happy he just traveled the world and did random stuff on that extra year until he started

Deferral at some places is the same as post-interview hold/waitlist. They are deferring the decision on your app until later. I feel like a deferred acceptance would have had a different tone.

 

[3rdarmageddon]

Two wait lists, a completed interview at a school with very few seats left, and my state school that's non-rolling. It's safe to say that I'm worried at this point.

 

[jorgediaz]

Accepted a few days ago. No more worrying! Best of luck to those still waiting it out! 😀

 

[jorgediaz]

Two wait lists, a completed interview at a school with very few seats left, and my state school that's non-rolling. It's safe to say that I'm worried at this point.

Wow that sucks. Looked at your MD apps and can't believe I've been accepted and you haven't. Red Flag Letter?

 

[pepperthelaunch]

Haven't heard a peep from the only one school I interviewed at, and judging from previous cycles, I am pretty confident that my rejection letter is currently sitting somewhere on the desk of a postal office in Hong Kong.

This suuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks. I'm already rewriting my PS.

 

[SilverCat]

Wow that sucks. Looked at your MD apps and can't believe I've been accepted and you haven't. Red Flag Letter?

He also has a lot of reaches on his list. Even with those stats, that's taking a risk.

 

[physiologist]

Last interview of the cycle tomorrow! My last shot!!! Wish me luck!!!!