2013-2014 Panic Thread

[Wonton Soup]

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Keep in mind that a lot of schools are also being rather slow (perhaps even more than usual following the AMCAS delay) with doling out interviews, and also, did you gain any insight on what happened the first app cycle? Especially if you are re-applying to any of the schools it would make sense to bolster all those weaknesses in the first cycle and emphasize that when you submitted your second round of secondaries. Just a few thoughts..

 

[LostinLift]

Schools really need to send rejections out earlier for people they aren't considering, put us out of our misery. Silence from 28 schools is not pleasant.

 

[Valyria]

Schools really need to send rejections out earlier for people they aren't considering, put us out of our misery. Silence from 28 schools is not pleasant.

I totally agree with this. I keep telling myself to be patient and breathe, but I'm starting to really lose my patience .....

 

[kyamh]

I totally agree with this. I keep telling myself to be patient and breathe, but I'm starting to really lose my patience .....

I heard at a recent interview that the school specifically added two extra weeks of interviews to accommodate the AMCAS delay. It's nice that the school explicitly admits to changing its schedule based on the delay so other schools are hopefully also making similar extensions.

Best of luck everyone!

 

[milski]

I heard at a recent interview that the school specifically added two extra weeks of interviews to accommodate the AMCAS delay. It's nice that the school explicitly admits to changing its schedule based on the delay so other schools are hopefully also making similar extensions.

Best of luck everyone!

For what it's worth, Hopkins just extended their secondaries deadline by two weeks.

 

[DrCharlemagne]

I heard at a recent interview that the school specifically added two extra weeks of interviews to accommodate the AMCAS delay. It's nice that the school explicitly admits to changing its schedule based on the delay so other schools are hopefully also making similar extensions.

Best of luck everyone!

* looks longingly at NYU *

 

[winterchill]

* looks longingly at NYU *

Haha. I feel like that ship sailed away for me. Though Penn also extended their secondary deadline. *Looks south and a little west*

And I just got an II!!! Won't say where in case they monitor when they emailed but it's a non-SUNY, non-ivy, NY school. 🙂 Complete 10.16.13.

 

[rb121]

Keep in mind that a lot of schools are also being rather slow (perhaps even more than usual following the AMCAS delay) with doling out interviews, and also, did you gain any insight on what happened the first app cycle? Especially if you are re-applying to any of the schools it would make sense to bolster all those weaknesses in the first cycle and emphasize that when you submitted your second round of secondaries. Just a few thoughts..

Yes, I tried but most of them do not give out feedback. She could not tell me why I wasn't accepted outright but gave me feedback based on looking at my application.

 

[hopefloatsss]

Also, random, but I just stalked like every single of my friends/people that I graduated with who are currently in medical school. I shouldn't have done that, because remembering all of them in my biology classes and how we all used to dream about medical school and knowing that they are all there now, makes me really glum about my 1 interview invite/million silent rejections.

I'm waiting for hope to float up y'all. But if any of you are super dejected like me, well, you're not alone. Lets hang in there.

Happy early thanksgiving everyone! 🙂

 

[medschoolmyname]

anyone down to go on a calling spree asking about our situation? cause im tempted lol.

 

[gobigorgohome22]

anyone down to go on a calling spree asking about our situation? cause im tempted lol.

I tried a few weeks back but I couldn't get past the reception lady at any school! All they would tell me was that "You will get an email when your status changes"!!

Let me know your strategy if you have any luck!

 

[gobigorgohome22]

double post

 

[justAstudent]

Another day of silence here =\ Looks like i won't be hearing for the next few days as it's Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving all. Have a good one.

 

[TreadLightly]

1 rejection, 0 ii or anything else. Not even a small pool from a school where I'm average - above average???

 

[nemo123]

Another day of silence here =\ Looks like i won't be hearing for the next few days as it's Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving all. Have a good one.

Some schools are known to send IIs on Thanksgiving day, so you never know.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

From what I have been noticing, a good gpa isn't worth s***! MCAT seems to be a much bigger deciding factor in regards to getting an interview, of course there maybe some exceptions but, for the most part that's what have been noticing. Also, schools think a 30>>>>>>29. It's only one DAMN POINT!

I totally disagree. I think I have a great application/MCAT other than GPA... and have really struggled. I think a decent GPA and MCAT together is the best way to get considered, but that GPA means a lot more if one factor has to be lopsided.

 

[Wonton Soup]

I totally disagree. I think I have a great application/MCAT other than GPA... and have really struggled. I think a decent GPA and MCAT together is the best way to get considered, but that GPA means a lot more if one factor has to be lopsided.

+1 I feel like the med school admissions process is too shrouded in mystery and nuance to reduce it to one or two things- but as long as you have a GPA >3.5 and MCAT at least around 30 it really comes down to all the other stuff (LOR's, Personal statement, secondary essays, etc etc etc)

 

[gobigorgohome22]

From what I have been noticing, a good gpa isn't worth s***! MCAT seems to be a much bigger deciding factor in regards to getting an interview, of course there maybe some exceptions but, for the most part that's what have been noticing. Also, schools think a 30>>>>>>29. It's only one DAMN POINT!

I totally disagree. I think I have a great application/MCAT other than GPA... and have really struggled. I think a decent GPA and MCAT together is the best way to get considered, but that GPA means a lot more if one factor has to be lopsided.

+1 I feel like the med school admissions process is too shrouded in mystery and nuance to reduce it to one or two things- but as long as you have a GPA >3.5 and MCAT at least around 30 it really comes down to all the other stuff (LOR's, Personal statement, secondary essays, etc etc etc)

I don't think there is any method to the madness that is medical school applications!

 

[Great White Buffalo]

I don't think there is any method to the madness that is medical school applications!

Ditto, random stuff. I have been fortunate to have 2 interviews at top 20s school, but outright rejected at other "lesser ranked" schools where my stats were well above average, and ignored by one of my state schools. My one acceptance is at an unranked instate school, but really good at primary care. I'll take it, but seems pretty arbitrary at what looks good to one school is ignored at another. Good Luck and Good Karma!!

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Haha, thanks so much. I hope you have a great rest of your interview season, and that those interviews start rolling in! Good luck (and happy Thanksgiving)!

 

[winterchill]

Some schools are known to send IIs on Thanksgiving day, so you never know.

Wish they'd send an acceptance on Christmas.

 

[Jabbed]

Anyone else designating late-January as the time to start freaking out?

I'm having a tough time sticking to my plan; I caught myself inadvertently looking at MBA programs yesterday 🙁

 

[winterchill]

Anyone else designating late-January as the time to start freaking out?

I'm having a tough time sticking to my plan; I caught myself inadvertently looking at MBA programs yesterday 🙁

Aww, don't give up hope. It's not even December yet. I think I've internally set end of December as IFOD (interview freak out date) and end of January as INAJACD (if no acceptance join a convent date).

How has your cycle been going? I actually have quite a few interviews lined up so I don't think I can truly panic but everyone keeps saying interviews are just another piece of data for my entire application. I'm afraid when the adcoms meet again they will realize they misread my gpa. 🙁

 

[hopefloatsss]

Anyone else designating late-January as the time to start freaking out?

I'm having a tough time sticking to my plan; I caught myself inadvertently looking at MBA programs yesterday 🙁

That's close to my freak out time too. January 1st...if I don't have interviews by then... I'm going to be the least pleasant person to be around haha.

We'll keep praying. Happy Thanksgiving! Let's try to keep our minds away from such terrors/backup plans atleast for tonight..(says the person who is on the Panic Thread on Thanksgiving..) 🙂

 

[java64]

Aww, don't give up hope. It's not even December yet. I think I've internally set end of December as IFOD (interview freak out date) and end of January as INAJACD (if no acceptance join a convent date).

How has your cycle been going? I actually have quite a few interviews lined up so I don't think I can truly panic but everyone keeps saying interviews are just another piece of data for my entire application. I'm afraid when the adcoms meet again they will realize they misread my gpa. 🙁

This exactly! I just can't shake the feeling that I'm some afterthought that they decided to throw an interview at, maybe at the end of a long day of application reading, and post-interview they'll reread and think "What in the world were we thinking?! idk lol reject him"

 

[chillaxbro]

Last year, I received 5 II post January 1st
There's still hope boys

 

[Wonton Soup]

SDN'ers will not let Thanksgiving turkey and good family cheer stop them from ranting and raving on the forums

 

[gobigorgohome22]

Last year, I received 5 II post January 1st
There's still hope boys

You had 5 IIs but no acceptances last cycle!!! This is very worrisome

 

[java64]

You had 5 IIs but no acceptances last cycle!!! This is very worrisome

oh dear god

 

[Wonton Soup]

You had 5 IIs but no acceptances last cycle!!! This is very worrisome

Obviously that's not the norm. Usually it's an acceptance every 2 or 3 schools or so.

 

[winterchill]

This exactly! I just can't shake the feeling that I'm some afterthought that they decided to throw an interview at, maybe at the end of a long day of application reading, and post-interview they'll reread and think "What in the world were we thinking?! idk lol reject him"

Sucks that you understand my feelings through common experience but I must admit, it's nice to have company. My advisor tries to maintain my sanity by reminding me that they do not invite people to interview that they are mildly interested in. They do like you!

Hard to remember that though when you meet your fellow invitees and keep feeling like you're one head short of a totem pole.

But in keeping with the holiday spirit, I'm thankful that I have been invited to interview. At 12:01 am however, I'll be back to biting gnawing at the corners of my fingers. 🙂

 

[chillaxbro]

You had 5 IIs but no acceptances last cycle!!! This is very worrisome

I know... it just shows you GPA and MCAT only lets you put your foot in the door

 

[lalalapartay012]

I know... it just shows you GPA and MCAT only lets you put your foot in the door

What do you think contributed to this? Bad luck? 🙁

 

[chillaxbro]

What do you think contributed to this? Bad luck? 🙁

Many reasons... I was late, had weak ec's, poor interviewing skills, half-assed PS/secondaries... list goes on

 

[lalalapartay012]

Many reasons... I was late, had weak ec's, poor interviewing skills, half-assed PS/secondaries... list goes on

Awww I see. Best of luck to you and happy thanksgiving!

 

[java64]

Sucks that you understand my feelings through common experience but I must admit, it's nice to have company. My advisor tries to maintain my sanity by reminding me that they do not invite people to interview that they are mildly interested in. They do like you!

Hard to remember that though when you meet your fellow invitees and keep feeling like you're one head short of a totem pole.

But in keeping with the holiday spirit, I'm thankful that I have been invited to interview. At 12:01 am however, I'll be back to biting gnawing at the corners of my fingers. 🙂

Yep! At my first interview i really felt like a fish out of water and i definitely think it showed, everyone else was on their 4th or 5th and seemed so relaxed. Yeah I try to remind myself that schools do invite for a reason but I just wish it was traditional for post-interview acceptance rates to be higher. I don't know about y'all but even 40-45% is not comforting to me!

Also don't know if you were kidding about the fingers but my nail- and finger-biting habit has really spiraled out of control ever since this whole process started!

 

[LostinLift]

I have been grinding my teeth pretty badly at night since I began application season, trying to find ways to subconsciously destress.

5 interviews after January is very hopeful thank you (fitting name) chillaxbro.

 

[Chillywilly]

My panic mode: got 11 ii....
Stupidly declined 7 and only attended 4. Of those 4... 2 wait listed me and I have yet to hear the verdict of the other 2. Not looking good. Although I'm waiting to hear back from 8 more schools for an ii... I'm still freaking out.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

My panic mode: got 11 ii....
Stupidly declined 7 and only attended 4. Of those 4... 2 wait listed me and I have yet to hear the verdict of the other 2. Not looking good. Although I'm waiting to hear back from 8 more schools for an ii... I'm still freaking out.

I can see how this might make you panic, but I think that attending 4 interviews puts you in the "pretty likely success" category (assuming you interview well). I would say the "average" applicant doesn't even get 4 invites.

Of course it might have been smarter, in retrospect, to interview at more places, but if those 4/11 were the only ones you were actually interested in, then it doesn't hurt to wait for the other 8 schools (and you may have made a fine decision attending 4). I think you'll have good luck, since you started the season out with 11 invites.

There's still plenty of time in the season. Since you're all in and complete, I wouldn't worry for at least 45+ days. Best of luck! 👍

 

[midnight0il]

My panic mode: got 11 ii....
Stupidly declined 7 and only attended 4. Of those 4... 2 wait listed me and I have yet to hear the verdict of the other 2. Not looking good. Although I'm waiting to hear back from 8 more schools for an ii... I'm still freaking out.

Hmm…I would not have declined any interviews regardless of my level of interest in the school before I received an acceptance.

But I think you'll be fine with the 4 and remaining ones.

 

[eizeral]

Haven't heard anything from anyone in the last week. Last I heard were 2 waitlists from 2/3 schools I interviewed at. Ugh.

 

[MedGuy692]

Sorry to jump in quite late (and especially if I'm already covering some of the same points), but I need guidance on what to do. I've had this on my mind for a while.

So, about me...I'm a senior at Maryland, 3.97 overall GPA, 3.9 (or thereabouts) science GPA, 32 MCAT (11 PS, 10 VR, 11 BS). Without delving too much into everything, I've done a LOT of community service activities, have done research at an on-campus lab and over the summer at NIAID, and worked at a surgery center full-time over a summer and current volunteer at a local hospital. (If anyone wants more detailed info I'd be happy to provide it).

Anyways, I applied to 12 schools, had all my secondaries submitted by the first week of September at the latest (I was busy working this past summer, so I wasn't able to get my primary submitted until late June). I interviewed at Maryland in September and thought I had a good chance of getting in (especially being in state and all), but I was waitlisted. Interviewed at WVU in mid-November, waitlisted. I recently interviewed at USUHS before the break, but I won't know for a while what their decision is. GU offered me an interview in January. Aside from that, I haven't gotten any other interview offers.

So, for lack of a better word...help? I don't know what to do from here or what my chances are from here.

 

[gobigorgohome22]

Sorry to jump in quite late (and especially if I'm already covering some of the same points), but I need guidance on what to do. I've had this on my mind for a while.

So, about me...I'm a senior at Maryland, 3.97 overall GPA, 3.9 (or thereabouts) science GPA, 32 MCAT (11 PS, 10 VR, 11 BS). Without delving too much into everything, I've done a LOT of community service activities, have done research at an on-campus lab and over the summer at NIAID, and worked at a surgery center full-time over a summer and current volunteer at a local hospital. (If anyone wants more detailed info I'd be happy to provide it).

Anyways, I applied to 12 schools, had all my secondaries submitted by the first week of September at the latest (I was busy working this past summer, so I wasn't able to get my primary submitted until late June). I interviewed at Maryland in September and thought I had a good chance of getting in (especially being in state and all), but I was waitlisted. Interviewed at WVU in mid-November, waitlisted. I recently interviewed at USUHS before the break, but I won't know for a while what their decision is. GU offered me an interview in January. Aside from that, I haven't gotten any other interview offers.

So, for lack of a better word...help? I don't know what to do from here or what my chances are from here.

I dont think there is much you can do at this stage. If there have been significant updates, you could send an update letter to a few schools. Try not to worry, you are in a Very good spot right now. You will get in somewhere.

 

[ReadyToRumble]

Sorry to jump in quite late (and especially if I'm already covering some of the same points), but I need guidance on what to do. I've had this on my mind for a while.

So, about me...I'm a senior at Maryland, 3.97 overall GPA, 3.9 (or thereabouts) science GPA, 32 MCAT (11 PS, 10 VR, 11 BS). Without delving too much into everything, I've done a LOT of community service activities, have done research at an on-campus lab and over the summer at NIAID, and worked at a surgery center full-time over a summer and current volunteer at a local hospital. (If anyone wants more detailed info I'd be happy to provide it).

Anyways, I applied to 12 schools, had all my secondaries submitted by the first week of September at the latest (I was busy working this past summer, so I wasn't able to get my primary submitted until late June). I interviewed at Maryland in September and thought I had a good chance of getting in (especially being in state and all), but I was waitlisted. Interviewed at WVU in mid-November, waitlisted. I recently interviewed at USUHS before the break, but I won't know for a while what their decision is. GU offered me an interview in January. Aside from that, I haven't gotten any other interview offers.

So, for lack of a better word...help? I don't know what to do from here or what my chances are from here.

Contact your pre-med advisor. At the start of the cycle mine told me to keep in touch with him. That so often he doesn't get information from people until way later in the cycle (when people have to reapply) and that he could actually be helpful throughout the cycle for advice. So send a quick email, let your advisor know where you're at and see what he says. He may tell you to relax or help you come up with a game plan that will put you at ease. He will definitely have more accurate insight than us because he has your letters, full activities list, etc. Good luck.

 

[TotalDomination]

still haven't heard anything. am i going crazy? yessir

 

[type12]

Zero interviews, 2 rejections: EVMS as everyone knows, and now Wayne State.
23 schools left! Wooooo, I suck.

 

[Zelda840]

I'm getting so anxious. I had one interview (Nebraska) and it seemed to go pretty well, but I won't hear back until mid-December at the earliest. Also applied to Creighton and have heard absolutely nothing from them. 🙁

 

[justAstudent]

Still silence from 30+ schools for me

 

[rkearl27]

0 interviews, 0 rejections, 1 official small pool. Complete between late September early October. I'm having a really hard time writing statements of purpose for masters programs for the impending gap year that kinda looks like I'll be taking.

 

[rkearl27]

WOooHooo we should form a ZERO Interview thread
Suckkkkkks fo US! 👎
At least the emoticons are fun lol

We probably should....I get a little depressed when someone comes on this thread and is worried about their x number of interviews going well. I need a place where I can complain comfortably hahaha