Does anyone else feel like they totally messed up with how late they applied? (Grammar junkies ignore the pronoun abuse, this is informal talk here!) Sigh... I though I was doing something great going to Africa this past summer, but sure made applying a whole lot harder.
2013-2014 Panic Thread
- Thread starter SilverCat
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I sincerely hope you feel better man. Check it out: I'm spending my birthday (tomorrow) alone because I just moved to a new city. I think the most profound thing about this thread is that is shows we're totally not alone.
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Happy birthday!!
Every word of what you wrote has been what I've been killing myself with for the last few weeks. But still praying that I have SOMETHING in my applications that will come through.... Pleeeeeeeeeaaase!!!!
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The weekends here! I'm starting to not like weekends cause I know I won't be receiving any news from schools.
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Happy birthday apkbr! Rooting for you till your first acceptance this cycle 😀
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I have received news from VCU on a Sunday, granted it wasn't good news, lol.
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Haha. I used to feel the same as mdhopeeful wondering how I'd get through 2 days of silence but at 10 this morning Georgetown pre-interview rejected me.
No day is safe.
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LOL right? Sorry to hear about GTown, but man, it's like at least wait until the weekend is over to reject us hahahaa.
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Going to Africa doesn't sound regrettable... applying late, well, ... anyway, I personally believe "they" is the best gender-neutral and singular pronoun out there. Even though it's not singular, "he/she" is ugly compared to "they." As language evolves, its use feeds back into its definitions.
Got waitlisted at Meharry yesterday, which was a surprise, but whatever--not too bothered by that. However, I was also waitlisted at Temple this morning, and that really upset(s) me. I LOVED Temple and its mission and the students and everything about it. I only have 1 more interview and my prospects are not looking great. I guess I'll be reapplying next year. :/ sigh.
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Don't say that 🙁
It's true! Most waitlist movement won't be until after 5/15, and by then I'll already have studied for and taken the MCAT again, and will have began the process or reapplying most likely. :/ I know I'll have better luck the next time around, as there were significant updates to my application that were made shortly after I submitted my AMCAS application this cycle, and an improved MCAT score will certainly help my chances I think. It just sucks to have to wait another year. :/ Oh well, at least I had the opportunity to interview and gain experience from that...
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I'm sitting at one interview and it's almost December. I know not all hope is lost yet, but I've decided to start working on my PS and other application stuff for next cycle already. Anyone else thinking about doing the same? Talk about neurotic... I just want everything to be as perfect as possible for a June 1st AMCAS submission.
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Applying is like taking the MCAT. Do your best not to repeat. Do you really wanna go through this @!&" a second time?
You have one interview left. Make it happen.
Focus on being authentic, establish rapport, thinking critically, and speaking articulately. There's no objective right/wrong answers, and the interview is not an exam with righ answers. The interview is a subjective experience based on rapport, chemistry, authenticity.
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This attitude is not healthy going into an interview.
I was under the impression that I had established all of those things in my interviews. To this date I feel confident about how my interviews went. I honestly think that when it came down to it, it was probably due to my low MCAT and/or lack of experience (most of my experience was veterinary related, and the vast majority of experience I acquired in the medical field was after I submitted my application). I will try to prepare more for my upcoming interview, and will probably have more to talk about being that it is my top choice and dream school, so that's a positive!
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Oh I already went to my interview. I think it went pretty well, but I don't think it's a bad idea at this stage to start thinking about a plan B.
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Do your best, absolutely. Thinking negative about another cycle can only hurt you.
I know this sounds cheesy, but make an emotional connection.
Yeah, my mom has been saying the same thing to me. It's just I guess I felt like the underdog throughout this entire process, and still have a hard time imagining my getting accepted. I'm going to work on that though! Making an emotional connection to what, the school?
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With the interviewers. Heck, with everyone you talk to that day. Sell yourself as a person, not the guy with the lame MCAT score.
You want your interviewer leaving the room saying, "I like that kid a lot. Screw his MCAT score."
Easier said than done, of course.
I will definitely do my best to do that this next time. I feel like it's been harder to do that because they don't always ask me the right questions, or frankly, any GOOD questions in my opinion. My last interviewer was very stoic and was a psychiatrist, and he talked in that stereotypical "shrink" voice, if you know what I mean. I did the best I could regardless of the circumstances, but I will certainly strive to leave my next interview without regrets! Three is my lucky number, so hopefully the phrase, "third time's the charm," holds true for me!
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I just want a chance to do that. Not one interview yet! Im starting to really lose it, like wtf no school wants to give me a fckin chance. If its the end of November and I still haven't gotten an invite I am going to climb to the top of the mountains and start screaming my head off 
. Its also really hard to judge this particular cycle to previous years due to the damn AMCAS delay. Guess I should start getting ready for next years cycle.
. Its also really hard to judge this particular cycle to previous years due to the damn AMCAS delay. Guess I should start getting ready for next years cycle.- Joined
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+1 and this will be my third time
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I think the 'sell yourself' advice works for some and not for others. I was really anxious before my first interview and my mentor gave me some good advice. He said that I should be excited not nervous, I've worked so hard to get where I am and I shouldn't be worried about what the interviewer will ask because I have nothing to hide. The message, don't try to sell yourself just be yourself. I think this type of attitude really stands out because so many applicants are very obviously trying too hard at interviews. If you can just have a normal conversation with the interviewer I think you're already on the right track.
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WOOOORD! Guys, best of luck to you all!!!
I know this might be super frowned upon on this forum, but one of the schools that waitlisted me I really don't think I want to attend. I know that if I were accepted and decided to decline in favor of reapplying, schools I'd be a reapplicant at would know of what I did and would most likely look down on this. However, does anyone know if withdrawing myself from the waitlist at a school is a) super frowned upon, and/or b) something that other schools I applied to would find out about? I just don't want to take up a spot when I don't really want to go. It was extremely expensive and lacking in the kind of diversity that I am looking for in a school. Also, I don't think I'd mesh well with the school and its students. I'd rather reapply than potentially be in massive debt and unhappy somewhere for the next 4 years. There were a lot of things I did wrong this cycle (not studying for the MCAT, taking it sick, being complete in mid-October, not applying to many schools, etc.) and I think my chances will be much higher next year. What do you guys think?
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It's perfectly acceptable to decide you don't like a school after attending an interview since there's only so much you can research about it online. If you see it in person and decide you won't be a good fit, who can hold that against you? If you do decide to withdraw, just do the other applicants a favor and do it now rather than wait.
My main concern is whether or not it will hurt my chances of getting into other schools I'm waitlisted at or when I reapply.
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No I highly doubt that. No one expects you to go to a school you won't like.
But it would be much worse to get accepted and then turn it down in favor of reapplying, correct?
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17 schools complete (end August-early September)
5 pre-interview rejections
4 interviews
1 post-interview rejection
0 acceptances/waitlists
Should I be expecting any more interviews at this point? Am I behind the 8 ball with so few interviews? The first post-interview rejection really surprised me as I thought the interview went quite well and warranted at least a waitlist spot. I know, I know, the whole process can be somewhat random and impossible to figure out, but I'm starting to go through the whole "what if I don't get in?" ordeal.
5 pre-interview rejections
4 interviews
1 post-interview rejection
0 acceptances/waitlists
Should I be expecting any more interviews at this point? Am I behind the 8 ball with so few interviews? The first post-interview rejection really surprised me as I thought the interview went quite well and warranted at least a waitlist spot. I know, I know, the whole process can be somewhat random and impossible to figure out, but I'm starting to go through the whole "what if I don't get in?" ordeal.
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To answer your first question, it depends on the school. Some schools release legitimate II's late into the cycle (Rush, MCW off the top of my head) and others may be entering the latter end of their II's and you may just be vying for a waitlist spot. The answer to your second question is a resounding no. 4 interviews is a good amount at this point in the cycle and I believe the ratio is usually 1 acceptance/3 interviews. Be glad with the 4 you have and make sure to knock them out of the park if you haven't already.
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Too lazy to check if you already have, but you should make a thread on the main forum
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Well if you're accepted, the other schools that you've applied to will know that you've been accepted somewhere. It will be very bad for you to turn down an acceptance, especially since a lot of secondaries might also ask if you've been accepted before (and I think it shows up on the primary too, not sure). All in all, it'll be in your best interest to withdraw from the waitlist if you're not actually interested in the school.
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+1, though the school that rejected me was EVMS
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I was rejected there as soon as I submitted my primary hahahahaha
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Same situation.
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lol, same here. Don't know why I applied to EVMS to be honest.
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I applied there but no word yet. I dont know if they are actually considering me or have silently rejected me.....
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Last cycle, I called them, and they thanked me for showing interest. They said I had "slipped through the cracks" and they apologize and will "address" my application immediately. Same day rejection lol
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You are my twin, the only item different is I got 1 acceptance, not the 1 rejection (from my state school too). Luck of the draw that my state school turned around an acceptance in less than a month. You have 3 more post interview decisions to go, no worries yet, plenty of chances for an acceptance.
As for interviews, I think I am in perpetual hold land, waiting for the Feb/March final rejection. Interviews at this point are probably less likely, and will only happen as others withdraw their application (unless the school thread says they interview past early Feb). I'm waiting on University of Miami, which I've been complete since late August, and have stats above their averages. Really surprised at the silence. I think med schools are struggling with the 5-7% increase in the sheer number of applications. Even though they say they review each application "wholistically", I think the adcoms are just swimming in apps, and will run out of time/effort as all their interview slots are allocated. Too many of us applying to too many schools, as this is the largest pool EVER. Unlucky to be born in the 90s.
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I'm curious about this. Interesting. Do you have a URL link to the hard data?
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University of Michigan quoted in their twitter they had a record number of apps, a 5.1% increase over prior year (or something like that). They post an application tracker which they update monthly, last updated 11/15/13. Most apps ever!!
The number of folks applying last year was well over 43,000+ (from the AMCAS charts). This year is definitely more apps than last year, as a lot of the schools seem to be posting struggles with processing (Oregon went from 10 weeks to process OOS to 12 weeks just in the last week or so).
The rest is just my impression of the long waits just to get rejected/put on hold.
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I found the link. Indeed, a 6.1% increase in applicants from last year, and a 9.3% increase from two years ago. I'm sure the number of total applications is higher as more people add schools to compensate for the increased competition.
That's kind of insane, and doesn't bode well for future application cycles if these growth rates are sustained. It will be interesting to see how MCAT 2015 factors into all of this.
1996 seemed to be a difficult year as well.
https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/newsreleases/358410/20131024.html
"A record number of students applied to and enrolled in the nation’s medical schools in 2013, according to data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges).
The total number of applicants to medical school grew by 6.1 percent to 48,014, surpassing the previous record set in 1996 by 1,049 students. First-time applicants, another important indicator of interest in medicine, increased by 5.8 percent to 35,727. The number of students enrolled in their first year of medical school exceeded 20,000 for the first time (20,055), a 2.8 percent increase over 2012."
https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/newsreleases/2011/264074/111024.html
"First-time applicants to medical school reached an all-time high in 2011, increasing by 2.6 percent over last year to 32,654 students, according to new data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). Total applicants rose by 2.8 percent to 43,919, with gains across most major racial and ethnic groups for a second year in a row."
That's kind of insane, and doesn't bode well for future application cycles if these growth rates are sustained. It will be interesting to see how MCAT 2015 factors into all of this.
1996 seemed to be a difficult year as well.
https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/newsreleases/358410/20131024.html
"A record number of students applied to and enrolled in the nation’s medical schools in 2013, according to data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges).
The total number of applicants to medical school grew by 6.1 percent to 48,014, surpassing the previous record set in 1996 by 1,049 students. First-time applicants, another important indicator of interest in medicine, increased by 5.8 percent to 35,727. The number of students enrolled in their first year of medical school exceeded 20,000 for the first time (20,055), a 2.8 percent increase over 2012."
https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/newsreleases/2011/264074/111024.html
"First-time applicants to medical school reached an all-time high in 2011, increasing by 2.6 percent over last year to 32,654 students, according to new data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). Total applicants rose by 2.8 percent to 43,919, with gains across most major racial and ethnic groups for a second year in a row."
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Applicants who are "selling themselves" in the interview inevitably come off poorly. We're looking for authenticity.
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Thanks my friend for the accurate links and exact numbers. I remember reading this stuff somewhere, just couldn't put my finger on it. Again, my point is sucks to be a 1990s kid, as the competition is intense. Only law school admissions are down, and business school admissions have recovered from drop after the financial crisis. Law school anyone??
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