When were you complete?
I was complete at 30ish schools between 9/23 and 10/21 and just twiddling my thumbs.
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2013-2014 Panic Thread
Started by SilverCat
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When were you complete?
I was complete at 30ish schools between 9/23 and 10/21 and just twiddling my thumbs.
I got a 3.0 during my senior year down from a 3.8 my junior year. And my overall gpa is .14 lower than when iapplied last cycle. Though this time I was much earlier, I think I wrote better essays etc
Depressing to see plenty of people getting acceptances at schools I interviewed at earlier than they did. Pretty much feels like a rejection. Oh, we reviewed your application and your interview from last month, but we're going to take this guy we just interviewed last week. It's cool, we'll review your application again at a later date. Just kidding, we won't tell you anything until May when we send you a nice rejection letter.
I'm very lucky to have even had interviews, so I apologize for the pretentious tone of this post.
I'm very lucky to have even had interviews, so I apologize for the pretentious tone of this post.
I completely agree and in the same boat...it's pretty depressing, I almost wish they would just reject me now so I don't have false hope. Same for all the other schools I have been complete at since Aug and just the silence....
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This time last year, I heard nothing
This year? 5 rejections. I think I ****ed up
This year? 5 rejections. I think I ****ed up
why do you think uou effed up? iis last time? it really baffles me how so many qualified applicants dont even get iis. really confusing. makes me respect yhose who withdraw after their first 10/15 all the more. they def deserve them but still
You realize a few people get strung along on the wait list until the week before school starts, right?
Haha, this. I would be ecstatic to know where I stand by February! ... at least I'll know where my backup plan stands then. 😛
Just curious...what is a hold? Is that post secondary but before an interview?
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I am sorry to hear that you are going through this. Unfortunately, I think your GPA in senior year may have caused your slow start this year. Last cycle, I had like 1 II and 26R with identical stats as you (3.74 and 34Q). Even identical MCAT breakdown. We both applied late. Since last cycle thou, I raised my GPA and I am applying with a 3.8/34Q this cycle. Submitted on Day 1, and wrote better PS and secondaries. Had 10+ IIs this cycle with 5 acceptances.
I really think the only diff between us this cycle is probably our GPA and perhaps me submitting on Day 1 within an hour after the application opened. I really hope you get in somewhere this cycle thou!!"
I know, we were homies last cycle 😛 I'm so glad you applied man, I remember when you were thinking about waiting another year. Glad it worked out! We'll see, maybe when I update schools in December with my grades, a couple schools might bite.
I'm really hoping to get into that Temple Post-Bacc as I'll have an automatic MD acceptance (given I meet the GPA) for the following Fall.
Its not over yet though!
I am sorry to hear that you are going through this. Unfortunately, I think your GPA in senior year may have caused your slow start this year. Last cycle, I had like 1 II and 26R with identical stats as you (3.74 and 34Q). Even identical MCAT breakdown. We both applied late. Since last cycle thou, I raised my GPA and I am applying with a 3.8/34Q this cycle. Submitted on Day 1, and wrote better PS and secondaries. Had 10+ IIs this cycle with 5 acceptances.
I really think the only diff between us this cycle is probably our GPA and perhaps me submitting on Day 1 within an hour after the application opened. I really hope you get in somewhere this cycle thou!!"
I know, we were homies last cycle 😛 I'm so glad you applied man, I remember when you were thinking about waiting another year. Glad it worked out! We'll see, maybe when I update schools in December with my grades, a couple schools might bite.
I'm really hoping to get into that Temple Post-Bacc as I'll have an automatic MD acceptance (given I meet the GPA) for the following Fall.
Its not over yet though!
That means its been 2 weeks or tops a month that your application was fully accessible. Many schools do not process applications that fast at this point in time. Your stats are beyond decent as I presume you know, but the overall application as a whole is what is evaluated. Your application may not have even been read yet. Give it time .
Yes you're right, they haven't had my application very long and probably won't get to it for a while yet. My concern isn't so much about not having interviews yet, but that if/when I get them the class will be almost full and the best I can hope for is a spot on the waitlist. I'm trying to find a balance between being hopeful and being realistic and starting to make a plan to strengthen my application for next cycle with research, more volunteering, etc.
It's hard to put into words how much I loathe this process. I only have two II's at the moment, and already interviewed at one of them. They are form my two top choices, too, so I should be happy, right? No. I have a very low MCAT of a 27 and a very high GPA (cum and science) of a 3.97 from a good school. Decent EC's, great LOR's, and am a URM. Regardless, I feel like I won't get any more II's, and will just end up being rejected/waitlisted and then rejected from the only 2 schools I've received interviews from all because of my crappy MCAT! I'd like to think that I wouldn't even have received an II if they didn't think me capable of success, but I feel like it is going to be my undoing nonetheless. Going back to what another member said, I feel so cheated that the 4 years of A's I worked hard to achieve will pale in comparison to the my lackluster results on a 3.5 hr test? Really? Cause it's just impossible that someone might not test well as others on standardized tests, right? Ugh, sorry for the rant, but I just feel so discouraged and am getting really upset by all this.
I have always wondered how it's possible for someone to have that high of a GPA from a good school and not break at least 30 on the MCAT. Is it the time pressure? The level of critical thinking? The misleading answer choices? Because it sure can't be the raw material. Was the GPA a result of just consuming material and regurgitating it back on exams? But who am I to question that, I have neither a high GPA or an MCAT. Just honestly wondering without judging.
In either case, if your lowest sub score is above an 8, I would bet on you getting in somewhere this cycle, granted you don't have red flags on the rest of your app. Don't worry too much, you are sitting at a much more comfortable place than most people. Also, you can always retake the MCAT, its exponentially more difficult to raise a beat GPA.
I have an 8PS/10VR/9BS. That was the second time I took it (with the flu and 1 month after the first exam, should have voided). The first time I got a 26 and was just not prepared. I found it very difficult to study for so long for one test, and was very lazy about it and studied maybe 5 hrs/week for a month the first time around. I know I'm fully capable of doing better, it was just challenging to study for, and to take without accommodations (I have ADHD and read slowly). And no, I studied about 1/3 as much as my best friend did in school and we got about the same grades (some variation of an A), and she is in vet school right now at OSU (ranked #5). I also only applied to 11 schools (4 of which were mid-October), which was unwise. I was just very discouraged by my MCAT. My practice scores were much better, avg 31, and then I got sick 4 days before the exam. Idk. I just hated preparing for that exam and hate the waiting involved in this process and would hate to have to do it all over again. I'd do it if I needed to, but yeah.
See I knew it. I refused to believe that a person with a 3.9something gpa is not intellectually capable to break 30. Something must have gone terribly wrong. And if I can doubt your MCAT scores hopefully some adcoms will also and appreciate your GPA instead. Plus that 10 verbal score might just save your MCAT score from being considered too low.
Good luck my friend!
Thanks! I am very surprised by the verbal score too. I usually got a 12. Everything about that score depresses me and was a surprise. :/ Hopefully they will view me the way you do! I'll be sure to keep you guys updated if I'm miraculously accepted somewhere lol
Hang in there, I totally understand how you're feeling. I have similar stats 3.9+ both cGPA and sGPA and a 27 (11,6,10). I now have 9 interviews (3 CA) also URM so I'm sure you'll get more.
Oh my God, your post has brought me so much hope. I was complete pretty late so I'm unsure if I'll be as lucky as you, but that's amazing! 9 interviews! You'll definitely be accepted to at least one! My goal is to get 4 and get accepted to at least 1. Thank you!! Also, what is CA? California? Conditional acceptance?
I have one OOS acceptance so that's cool. I meant out of the 9 interviews, 3 are California interviews . So yes, just have patience! You'll be fine!
EDIT: and I WISH I had your breakdown!!
Wow that's amazing, congratulations! When were you complete?
I was complete at most schools in late August to mid September
Okay I was complete at the two schools I've received II's from in late August and complete at 2 others at the same time. Then I was complete at the others from mid-September to mid-October. So I guess they're taking their time getting back to me 😛.
That is the best thing you can do and perhaps the smartest approach you can take aside from sending update letters. This may not be extremely helpful info , but my sister applied pretty late as in to say she was complete by the deadline at most schools Dec 15 or so. Her interviews were as you may expect late. She got into into one school right away and 2 off the wait list ( the only good thing was that she didn't have to wait so long from the time she was told she was being placed on the wait list till actually getting off ... b/c she was late). Just apply broadly. Believe it or not you are not you are not THAT late, there is hope. But you should certainly keep actively volunteering or continuing to do whatever EC's you have because they will be a topic of discussion in interviews and would be helpful to strengthen your app in the long term.
Yooo don't give up hope! I also only have two IIs (already interviewed @both) and 28 Mcat with a lower gpa (3.78), but was accepted to one just yesterday. I applied to maybe 18 schools, all considered reaches with my numbers. Also averaged 33-34 on AAMCs, lol. Mcat won't break you if everything else checks out, and you still have statistically favorable odds (it's barely november) 😀
Wow! Okay that gives me hope! I guess I'm just worried that with only two I will be a SOL because the odds aren't in my favor, but I've just got to keep waiting. I suppose it's still early on in the season?
Post-interview hold = Wait list (We kind of like you, but we'll see if other people are better. :/ )
Pre-interview hold = We got you secondary, but we're "holding" onto your file for now. We might send you an interview later.... (half-rejection)
Still...no...more...IIs...after...Oct 1...
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This process sucks, but don't give up hope! If you submitted in September and early October, like I did, schools are just getting to your applications. I've been lucky in that I did get a few IIs early on from schools I cared about, but only 3 weeks ago I hadn't heard anything from over 20 schools. My MCAT was fine (nothing stellar), but I was pretty insecure about my lower GPA. In the last 2-3 weeks, I've heard from 8. Don't get me wrong -- I'm not complaining in the least. But my experience shows that IIs are still going out at EVERY school, and there are no schools will full classes. It's not over till February, people! (and even then, it's not over till august...)
Keeping my fingers crossed for us all!
I'm also a fellow late applicant (sent primary in august) and so my apps were complete during the month of October. I've already received 2 II, so there is still hope for us fellow late applicants, we just have to be patient.
I graduated with honors from a top 15 school and had a 37 MCAT score, but have only had 2 II's in addition to 2 rejections (one pre-secondary, one pre-interview). I was thrilled when I got my MCAT score and the interviews, but my morale has definitely fallen pretty hard since then. With a relatively late completion date at most schools, I can't help but feel like I didn't give myself the best possible chance.
Umm okay bro... Relax. Deep breath. We have 5 months to go. Those stats are stellar. And your chances are still good if you didn't apply top heavy.
Five months? Good god, I am already losing it from the waiting. I don't know how I'll manage to wait for 5 more months, especially if I haven't heard anything back by then!
This may seem very superficial, but I even had to see my dermatologist because the stress has been giving me the worst breakouts of my life, and I generally have clear skin! And I recently graduated so I have nothing to distract me other than the two jobs I work. First world problems, I know, but they're mine and I hate them! haha
Do u remember when u finished secondary for those schools?
So I finished half of my secondary applications at like mid to late September and the other half at mid august. When do u think I would start getting some responses?
Finished early Aug for the acceptance, last day of August for 2nd interview. All exact dates/info in my mdapps 😀
All other schools were complete ~around the same time though
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I also got rejected from Hofstra so I know how you feel, but contrary to reports on this forum some people with low Mcats do get invites there . My friend had a 27 last year and got invited ( granted she had a high GPA and overcame significant life obstacles)
Thanks! I love your avatar by the way. And nice to see other biomedical engineers out there applying to med school. Hey one question though my major research experience involved more solution chemistry for the field of Microfluidics...not exactly bio related, do med schools expect research to be more bio related or is all research evenly weighed out?
Thanks! 😀. For sure, my heart still skips a beat when I get new emails. Hoping you hear good news in the not to distant future
Hahaha, I hope I don't get in trouble with the original artist, since I found this on some random page ages ago. Best pokemon in the history of ever, and Arcanine totally deserves a mega evolution form.
Anyway, I was actually Neurobio major in undergrad, but did research in a BME lab (because math is teh suck, and I just like sitting in on their awesome lectures)
-dishonor-I've met people who've done research in totally random things (science and non-science related). A few did some stuff that are more along the lines of working with plants, animals, etc., but people don't seem to particularly "care" what it was as long as you demonstrate that you learned a lot from your experience and can speak/explain/have a conversation about what you did (even if it was, as some people say "not as involved" or "medically related"). The stuff I've done isn't even close to being published but my interviewers still enjoyed talking about my plant bio lab experience as much as my BME one. 😛
Yeah arcanine is up there in my list, but to be honest Charizard will never be beat in my book, and his megaevolution looks sick. And thx for ur advice! Just out of curiosity seeing as u attended UC Davis did u apply there as well? Ive applied and I finished around August 10th but still nothing from them...Thanks! 😀. For sure, my heart still skips a beat when I get new emails. Hoping you hear good news in the not to distant future
Hahaha, I hope I don't get in trouble with the original artist, since I found this on some random page ages ago. Best pokemon in the history of ever, and Arcanine totally deserves a mega evolution form.
Anyway, I was actually Neurobio major in undergrad, but did research in a BME lab (because math is teh suck, and I just like sitting in on their awesome lectures) :LOL: -dishonor-
I've met people who've done research in totally random things (science and non-science related). A few did some stuff that are more along the lines of working with plants, animals, etc., but people don't seem to particularly "care" what it was as long as you demonstrate that you learned a lot from your experience and can speak/explain/have a conversation about what you did (even if it was, as some people say "not as involved" or "medically related"). The stuff I've done isn't even close to being published but my interviewers still enjoyed talking about my plant bio lab experience as much as my BME one. 😛
On a side note wouldn't it be cool if somehow the topic of pokemon came up in an interview and your interviewer turned out to be a major fan... interview gold! LOL
HAHAH, Charizard gets too much fan and game designer favoritism. The only starter with 2 mega forms? Whateverrrrrrr
I'm from California, so I applied to all the CA schools (except for Loma Linda, because my Buddhist parents would have none of that), also complete around Aug 3, no word from them. I've noticed on the thread that some people have actually been getting pre-secondary rejections, so I'm hoping that this is more of a "hold" and not a silent rejection, but oh well, more waiting either way~
@_@ And then the conversation escalates and we get into an intense poke-rap battle while interviewees outside stare inside looking like 😱😱😕???
!!
Just wanted to jump in here with experience, hopefully it helps. I am BME and have had really varied research experiences (animal behavior, pure cell work in the BME department, image processing). So far no one has cared that not all of my research experiences were in my field or typical wet lab work and they have valued my other experiences just as much (if not more since they were longer term experiences).
