2014-2015 Panic Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Well, I get to hear back from ALL the places in March. Yay for all my rolling schools hating me <3
 
CannedPineapple said:
Well, I get to hear back from ALL the places in March. Yay for all my rolling schools hating me <3
Click to expand...
That stinks, I'm really sorry. At least that means you'll probably get into somewhere amazing!

It's kinda ironic how being too competitive can cause increased anxiety during the cycle if one mostly receives love from the top places who don't do rolling.
 
MirageS said:
Panicking 🙁 just got my second wait list 🙁 no acceptances yet.
3 IIs, 5 holds, rejections -> stopped counting after the 10th one
Click to expand...

I'm in the exact same position: 2/3 wait listed, haven't heard from the last place yet. I just want this whole process to be over! It's hard being patient.
 
Dr Stephen T Colbert DFA said:
I'm in the exact same position: 2/3 wait listed, haven't heard from the last place yet. I just want this whole process to be over! It's hard being patient.
Click to expand...
+2

2/5 waitlisted. The 3rd one seems to coming soon since people have been accepted my interview date.
Really starting to seriously question what's wrong with me.
 
WorldChanger36 said:
Jumping in the panic pool. Multiple DO acceptances zero MD interview invites. Getting late and I really want at least an MD interview.
Click to expand...
At least you have multiple acceptances! Some of us here are still in limbo. :dead:
 
1 MD interview (in deferral/hold/waitlist/whatever) so far and several rejections... I wonder if the cliched phrase "it only takes one" will become my mantra.

Also waiting on a Jan 8th MCAT retake score.

😢:scared:😕
 
Applied to 23 schools, rejected pre-II by 7, II at 5 schools, I interviewed at 3/5 and was waitlisted at all 3.....I'm freaking out.... :/
 
Me when people write "Just got accepted!!!" posts on SDN
don-draper-gif.gif
 
Had my one MD interview 2 weeks ago and don't think it went well :/ definitely panicking. Completely dropped the ball on a handful of questions...pretty bummed out at the moment!
 
nulsky77 said:
Had my one MD interview 2 weeks ago and don't think it went well :/ definitely panicking. Completely dropped the ball on a handful of questions...pretty bummed out at the moment!
Click to expand...
It's almost impossible to guess your outcome based on how you feel about the interview.
 
drdang92 said:
After 3 months of panicking I've finally accepted to my top choice!!! I don't know what to do with myself right now!
-5 interviews
-3.5 GPA
-27 MCAT
-URM
-weak ECs
Click to expand...
Congrats!! Were you accepted off a waitlist may I ask?
 
drdang92 said:
After 3 months of panicking I've finally accepted to my top choice!!! I don't know what to do with myself right now!
-5 interviews
-3.5 GPA
-27 MCAT
-URM
-medium ECs
Click to expand...
Fantastic, Congrats!
 
Been lurking on SDN til today. Finally need to post. As of now, I'm 99% sure I'm going to have to reapply. Stats: 30 MCAT, cGPA 3.88, sGPA 3.73, double major in music/anthropology (switched to the premed route around junior year after a long, long period of contemplation and shadowing), had to take some courses post-bacc last year but didn't do an official post-bacc program. Have over a year of clinical volunteer experience, several extracurriculars including multiple teaching experiences, multiple study abroad experiences, started working as a chief medical scribe in June, etc etc.

Issues with my application include: Lateness, I took the MCAT on 06/05/2015 and didn't want to automatically submit my scores, didn't get in primaries til mid July, secondaries in August/September; lack of any laboratory research experience, as the only research project I did was anthropological in nature and for an undergrad fellows program at my school; not really being that much of a unique snowflake in comparison to people who have done more 'impressive' things

Applied to 16 MD schools, most of which are around my MCAT range. Rejected from a few, heard nothing from most, keep getting emails along the lines of "you're still in the running but if we reject you just wait til the end of March LOL BYE" from the rest. Did my own research on DO, but due to not wanting to apply DO without any DO-specific shadowing/clinical experience, didn't apply DO this year. I've been working alongside both MDs and DOs regularly, 40+ hours per week, since this past June, so I'd certainly feel comfortable applying DO next cycle.

Anyway... any successful applicants want to share words of wisdom? Criticisms that I maybe missed? Thoughts? Jon Hamm-containing GIFs?
 
absie107 said:
Been lurking on SDN til today. Finally need to post. As of now, I'm 99% sure I'm going to have to reapply. Stats: 30 MCAT, cGPA 3.88, sGPA 3.73, double major in music/anthropology (switched to the premed route around junior year after a long, long period of contemplation and shadowing), had to take some courses post-bacc last year but didn't do an official post-bacc program. Have over a year of clinical volunteer experience, several extracurriculars including multiple teaching experiences, multiple study abroad experiences, started working as a chief medical scribe in June, etc etc.

Issues with my application include: Lateness, I took the MCAT on 06/05/2015 and didn't want to automatically submit my scores, didn't get in primaries til mid July, secondaries in August/September; lack of any laboratory research experience, as the only research project I did was anthropological in nature and for an undergrad fellows program at my school; not really being that much of a unique snowflake in comparison to people who have done more 'impressive' things

Applied to 16 MD schools, most of which are around my MCAT range. Rejected from a few, heard nothing from most, keep getting emails along the lines of "you're still in the running but if we reject you just wait til the end of March LOL BYE" from the rest. Did my own research on DO, but due to not wanting to apply DO without any DO-specific shadowing/clinical experience, didn't apply DO this year. I've been working alongside both MDs and DOs regularly, 40+ hours per week, since this past June, so I'd certainly feel comfortable applying DO next cycle.

Anyway... any successful applicants want to share words of wisdom? Criticisms that I maybe missed? Thoughts? Jon Hamm-containing GIFs?
Click to expand...
Applying early makes a difference, especially being complete in July vs. September. I wouldn't retake the MCAT at all, your numbers are fine. Have your primary in by early June and secondaries done by mid-July. Stay away from schools like George Washington or Georgetown that get 12 million apps. You can try to get into a research lab to have "something new." Don't worry about reach schools, just apply to realistic schools only- both MD and DO. You definitely are competitive for all DO schools and a good amount of MD schools. Try to apply to 20-25 if finances allow it. Use MSAR wisely and pay attention to the "Acceptance Information" page. Good luck and best wishes!
 
miamiheatfan said:
Applying early makes a difference, especially being complete in July vs. September. I wouldn't retake the MCAT at all, your numbers are fine. Have your primary in by early June and secondaries done by mid-July. Stay away from schools like George Washington or Georgetown that get 12 million apps. You can try to get into a research lab to have "something new." Don't worry about reach schools, just apply to realistic schools only- both MD and DO. You definitely are competitive for all DO schools and a good amount of MD schools. Try to apply to 20-25 if finances allow it. Use MSAR wisely and pay attention to the "Acceptance Information" page. Good luck and best wishes!
Click to expand...

Thank you!! 🙂
 
absie107 said:
Been lurking on SDN til today. Finally need to post. As of now, I'm 99% sure I'm going to have to reapply. Stats: 30 MCAT, cGPA 3.88, sGPA 3.73, double major in music/anthropology (switched to the premed route around junior year after a long, long period of contemplation and shadowing), had to take some courses post-bacc last year but didn't do an official post-bacc program. Have over a year of clinical volunteer experience, several extracurriculars including multiple teaching experiences, multiple study abroad experiences, started working as a chief medical scribe in June, etc etc.

Issues with my application include: Lateness, I took the MCAT on 06/05/2015 and didn't want to automatically submit my scores, didn't get in primaries til mid July, secondaries in August/September; lack of any laboratory research experience, as the only research project I did was anthropological in nature and for an undergrad fellows program at my school; not really being that much of a unique snowflake in comparison to people who have done more 'impressive' things

Applied to 16 MD schools, most of which are around my MCAT range. Rejected from a few, heard nothing from most, keep getting emails along the lines of "you're still in the running but if we reject you just wait til the end of March LOL BYE" from the rest. Did my own research on DO, but due to not wanting to apply DO without any DO-specific shadowing/clinical experience, didn't apply DO this year. I've been working alongside both MDs and DOs regularly, 40+ hours per week, since this past June, so I'd certainly feel comfortable applying DO next cycle.

Anyway... any successful applicants want to share words of wisdom? Criticisms that I maybe missed? Thoughts? Jon Hamm-containing GIFs?
Click to expand...
I agree with Miami. Applying early will make or break you. I am a reapplicant with similar stats as you who applied late last year. I improved a lot upon my application during that time including volunteering, more clinical experience, and doctor LOR. Look at your own app and spend the time now figuring out how to improve. Every school asked me what happened last year and what did I do to improve.

I also suggest applying to more schools like Miami said. I ended up applying to nearly 30 schools and it is seemingly random where I got in. Accepted to 3 schools, so about 10% "success." More schools is probably better for chance at acceptance and then options when you are accepted! Contrary to what Miami said, I say go for GU and GW if you want. I applied to both and was interviewed at one so it's not impossible unless funds are tight.

Advice I was given is to take some time to be sad about not getting in this year. 1 week and then get over it. This is part of your journey to become a doctor. Start finding opportunities, get a raise at work, go volunteer with people, find a lab to volunteer in, or whatever you think your app needs.

A small tip: if you apply DO, make the application count. I applied to a few of them this year and I haven't heard anything from them since. I probably didn't put too much effort into the app and it showed.

Best wishes my friend. Let me know if you need any clarification about what I said or had any questions.
 
darthsubway said:
I agree with Miami. Applying early will make or break you. I am a reapplicant with similar stats as you who applied late last year. I improved a lot upon my application during that time including volunteering, more clinical experience, and doctor LOR. Look at your own app and spend the time now figuring out how to improve. Every school asked me what happened last year and what did I do to improve.

I also suggest applying to more schools like Miami said. I ended up applying to nearly 30 schools and it is seemingly random where I got in. Accepted to 3 schools, so about 10% "success." More schools is probably better for chance at acceptance and then options when you are accepted! Contrary to what Miami said, I say go for GU and GW if you want. I applied to both and was interviewed at one so it's not impossible unless funds are tight.

Advice I was given is to take some time to be sad about not getting in this year. 1 week and then get over it. This is part of your journey to become a doctor. Start finding opportunities, get a raise at work, go volunteer with people, find a lab to volunteer in, or whatever you think your app needs.

A small tip: if you apply DO, make the application count. I applied to a few of them this year and I haven't heard anything from them since. I probably didn't put too much effort into the app and it showed.

Best wishes my friend. Let me know if you need any clarification about what I said or had any questions.
Click to expand...

Great post! Could you elaborate on why you think you didn't get responses from DO schools? I have good stats for DO, I have a DO letter and put a lot of effort into "why DO" but no luck so far... I'm wondering if there is anything DO-specific that I need to improve.
 
PlasticBag said:
Great post! Could you elaborate on why you think you didn't get responses from DO schools? I have good stats for DO, I have a DO letter and put a lot of effort into "why DO" but no luck so far... I'm wondering if there is anything DO-specific that I need to improve.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, I don't have a great explanation. Likely a mixture of things including applying to only 3 DO schools, having some spelling mistakes in my app (embarrassing), bad "why DO," and maybe they could tell that DO was my back up. I have a feeling that if I applied to more DO schools, I would have gotten in somewhere, but who knows. Unless I am mistaken, the DO cycle is longer than the MD cycle so there is hope still, plasticbag. Never thought I'd address a plastic bag.

How many schools did you apply to?
 
darthsubway said:
Unfortunately, I don't have a great explanation. Likely a mixture of things including applying to only 3 DO schools, having some spelling mistakes in my app (embarrassing), bad "why DO," and maybe they could tell that DO was my back up. I have a feeling that if I applied to more DO schools, I would have gotten in somewhere, but who knows. Unless I am mistaken, the DO cycle is longer than the MD cycle so there is hope still, plasticbag. Never thought I'd address a plastic bag.

How many schools did you apply to?
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response, makes sense! And congrats on your acceptances.

I applied to five DO schools, and added two more later (got rejected from one of them). Still waiting to hear from the other six, I'm hoping for at least one ii, even if it ends up being a rejection, just so I can go into the next cycle not being totally depressed.

Applying late probably hurt me the most (waited over three months for my DO letter, arrrgh, didn't get it until December) and not applying to enough schools. I can maybe add two more next cycle for a total of 9 DO schools but no more (geographic reasons).

If I don't get any ii's by March, I'll start studying for an MCAT retake 🙁 It's a horrible, awful test, but it does widen options significantly and it seems like I need a lot more schools to apply to (needless to say, I had no luck at MD schools with my 29).

And if I get in next cycle, I'll become a recyclable plastic bag! Sorry, couldn't help it 😉
 
PlasticBag said:
Thanks for your response, makes sense! And congrats on your acceptances.

I applied to five DO schools, and added two more later (got rejected from one of them). Still waiting to hear from the other six, I'm hoping for at least one ii, even if it ends up being a rejection, just so I can go into the next cycle not being totally depressed.

Applying late probably hurt me the most (waited over three months for my DO letter, arrrgh, didn't get it until December) and not applying to enough schools. I can maybe add two more next cycle for a total of 9 DO schools but no more (geographic reasons).

If I don't get any ii's by March, I'll start studying for an MCAT retake 🙁 It's a horrible, awful test, but it does widen options significantly and it seems like I need a lot more schools to apply to (needless to say, I had no luck at MD schools with my 29).

And if I get in next cycle, I'll become a recyclable plastic bag! Sorry, couldn't help it 😉
Click to expand...

Ah yeah the applying late plus the low number of schools is probably why you haven't heard anything yet. Applying to all 9 will likely yield success if you apply early. No shame in applying again as long as you learn from your mistakes. I'm sure that you have thought of all these things on your own, so you know what you need to do to do better next cycle if it comes to that.
 
I'm going to join y'all. LizzyM score of 72 and no acceptances yet. 🙁

The stress of it all has been making me lose weight and I'm barely pulling myself together. Hopefully good news is on our way for all of us.
 
lightasday said:
I'm going to join y'all. LizzyM score of 72 and no acceptances yet. 🙁

The stress of it all has been making me lose weight and I'm barely pulling myself together. Hopefully good news is on our way for all of us.
Click to expand...
I'm in the exact same position with the same LizzyM score. How many interviews did you get? I applied to 17 schools and only got interviews at 2 (1 waitlist, 1 pending).
 
nm825 said:
I'm in the exact same position with the same LizzyM score. How many interviews did you get? I applied to 17 schools and only got interviews at 2 (1 waitlist, 1 pending).
Click to expand...
I applied to 10 schools. Interviewed at 2, and I'm on a pre interview hold for 1. I haven't heard back from the other 7. 🙁

I just don't understand. Not to sound pompous or anything, but I have great extracurriculars and my committee letter was superb, as my advisor told me. I feel that all my hard work was for nothing. :/
 
nm825 said:
I'm in the exact same position with the same LizzyM score. How many interviews did you get? I applied to 17 schools and only got interviews at 2 (1 waitlist, 1 pending).
Click to expand...

lightasday said:
I applied to 10 schools. Interviewed at 2, and I'm on a pre interview hold for 1. I haven't heard back from the other 7. 🙁

I just don't understand. Not to sound pompous or anything, but I have great extracurriculars and my committee letter was superb, as my advisor told me. I feel that all my hard work was for nothing. :/
Click to expand...
I feel for you guys. When I applied last cycle, I applied to around a dozen places. LizzyM~74, applied to 12 places, got 2 II's, and no cigar on either. This cycle I applied to around two dozen places and got 9 II's, and I've been fortunate enough to have been offered an acceptance really early on. So I have a couple of questions for you guys that I think could hopefully shed some light on you guys' situation.

1) When did you guys submit your secondaries? Submitting secondaries early can give you a strong edge, especially if you're a solid but unexciting applicant. When schools have more interviews to give, they tend to be more generous with them to whomever is applying.

2) How are your guys' clinical experiences? Clinical EC's are generally the most significant EC's given the obvious fact that you're trying to go into a clinical profession. Medical schools want to make sure that you guys know what you're getting into. They're more worried that you'll drop out because you realize you don't like medicine than because you couldn't handle the coursework. Shadowing is extremely important. It's crucial to have relevant shadowing experiences that have helped confirm your desire to become a physician. In my opinion, family medicine is probably the most important specialty to shadow since it captures many of the essential features of the profession (patient-physician relationships, holistic approaches towards care, being prepared for anything etc.). A lot of people spend a lot of time shadowing various specialists, which is cool, but may offer one a very limited view of what the profession is.
 
4 MD interviews yielded one rejection, 2 waitlists, and one pending.
3 DO interviews yielded 3 acceptances.

My last MD interview is coming up and I'm just not sure if MD schools like my personality based on the response I've gotten from them in the past. :/ Feeling very nervous.
 
aprimenumber said:
I feel for you guys. When I applied last cycle, I applied to around a dozen places. LizzyM~74, applied to 12 places, got 2 II's, and no cigar on either. This cycle I applied to around two dozen places and got 9 II's, and I've been fortunate enough to have been offered an acceptance really early on. So I have a couple of questions for you guys that I think could hopefully shed some light on you guys' situation.

1) When did you guys submit your secondaries? Submitting secondaries early can give you a strong edge, especially if you're a solid but unexciting applicant. When schools have more interviews to give, they tend to be more generous with them to whomever is applying.

2) How are your guys' clinical experiences? Clinical EC's are generally the most significant EC's given the obvious fact that you're trying to go into a clinical profession. Medical schools want to make sure that you guys know what you're getting into. They're more worried that you'll drop out because you realize you don't like medicine than because you couldn't handle the coursework. Shadowing is extremely important. It's crucial to have relevant shadowing experiences that have helped confirm your desire to become a physician. In my opinion, family medicine is probably the most important specialty to shadow since it captures many of the essential features of the profession (patient-physician relationships, holistic approaches towards care, being prepared for anything etc.). A lot of people spend a lot of time shadowing various specialists, which is cool, but may offer one a very limited view of what the profession is.
Click to expand...

I submitted my secondaries between early and mid-August...probably a little late. I have an ok amount of clinical experinece (100+hours of shadowing, 1 year of volunteer EMT, a semester of enrolling ER patients in clincial studies), but I think my lack of research (other than the ER thing) killed me. I'm holding out hope for the results of my second interview, which funny enough is at my dream school and the highest ranked school I applied to...I don't really understand how that happened. They have a ~60% post-interview acceptance rate too, so I'm still holding out hope, but I think I may have bombed one of the interviews.
 
nm825 said:
I submitted my secondaries between early and mid-August...probably a little late. I have an ok amount of clinical experinece (100+hours of shadowing, 1 year of volunteer EMT, a semester of enrolling ER patients in clincial studies), but I think my lack of research (other than the ER thing) killed me. I'm holding out hope for the results of my second interview, which funny enough is at my dream school and the highest ranked school I applied to...I don't really understand how that happened. They have a ~60% post-interview acceptance rate too, so I'm still holding out hope, but I think I may have bombed one of the interviews.
Click to expand...
Well, it appears that you already have a couple of DO acceptances, so congratulations on that! I hope everything works out for you with your dream school too!
 
Entering the brutal post-interview waiting period after booking flights, renting cars, and reserving rooms to be interrogated at a top choice school. Any advice on how one can survive the wait without losing one's mind?
 
X3NA said:
Entering the brutal post-interview waiting period after booking flights, renting cars, and reserving rooms to be interrogated at a top choice school. Any advice on how one can survive the wait without losing one's mind?
Click to expand...

Before I got accepted I would lie down and stare up at my ceiling for a couple hours a day so I don't think I can help you.
 
exmoderpina said:
1 MD interview (in deferral/hold/waitlist/whatever) so far and several rejections... I wonder if the cliched phrase "it only takes one" will become my mantra.

Also waiting on a Jan 8th MCAT retake score.

😢:scared:😕
Click to expand...

That MCAT won't help you for this cycle at MD schools though.

gyngyn said:
It's almost impossible to guess your outcome based on how you feel about the interview.
Click to expand...

I don't know. I'm certain a recent interview will lead to a rejection, if that school didn't put everyone on the alternate list.
 
X3NA said:
Entering the brutal post-interview waiting period after booking flights, renting cars, and reserving rooms to be interrogated at a top choice school. Any advice on how one can survive the wait without losing one's mind?
Click to expand...
Just live life normally. If you're still in school, focus on not failing your classes. If you're in a gap year, keep doing your gap year activities.
 
Debating whether I should go to community college and get a certificate in some medical profession ...

Or find another research position.

Oh the choices of the panic life.
 
Serious question: how do you extinguish hope?

It would be much easier for me to stop waiting for ii's and just accept the necessity of reapplying, but until I get rejection letters from all DO schools (longer app cycle and the like justifications for my hope), I will keep checking my email for something other than silence.

But another week of silence has just begun.
 
dont have a summer plan as of right now and exams are starting to pile up.... whoops!!
 
PlasticBag said:
Serious question: how do you extinguish hope?

It would be much easier for me to stop waiting for ii's and just accept the necessity of reapplying, but until I get rejection letters from all DO schools (longer app cycle and the like justifications for my hope), I will keep checking my email for something other than silence.

But another week of silence has just begun.
Click to expand...
Send rather nasty and unprofessional emails to each of the DO schools that you're waiting on. That should do the trick.

Serious answer:
Your hope isn't unjustified. I know of a friend who got two last minute interviews in April, got waitlisted at one of the schools, got off the waitlist in late June, and is now a M1 at a DO school. It definitely does happen.

But there's not much I can tell you that you probably don't already know. You can just try to focus on everything else you have going on in your life, and just forget about medical school for a little while. You can also do the opposite, and just assume that you will need to re-apply, and start focusing on what you can do to improve your application in preparation for your next cycle.
 
aprimenumber said:
Send rather nasty and unprofessional emails to each of the DO schools that you're waiting on. That should do the trick.

Serious answer:
Your hope isn't unjustified. I know of a friend who got two last minute interviews in April, got waitlisted at one of the schools, got off the waitlist in late June, and is now a M1 at a DO school. It definitely does happen.

But there's not much I can tell you that you probably don't already know. You can just try to focus on everything else you have going on in your life, and just forget about medical school for a little while. You can also do the opposite, and just assume that you will need to re-apply, and start focusing on what you can do to improve your application in preparation for your next cycle.
Click to expand...

Haha, I could call schools: "How much for an ii?", that should do it.

I'm trying to focus on re-applying, doing more volunteering, etc. I figured that even if I do get a super late interview, it's probably better to have something to say other than "I was lying on the couch in depression waiting for that ii for months".

Well, it will be over at some point!
 
Whatsinthebox said:
Before I got accepted I would lie down and stare up at my ceiling for a couple hours a day so I don't think I can help you.
Click to expand...

Still better than dishing out $300 to buy an exotic bird in an effort to forget the fact that I applied to med school though...
 
Three interviews, two rejections and one wait list. Starting to think I'm just not a fun person to talk to….
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

riolustan
Standard mid-cycle silence panic post
Replies
3
Views
1K
candbgirl
C
wysdoc
  • Sticky
*~*~*~* Official TMDSAS Questions Thread 2025-2026 *~*~*~*~*
2 3 4
Replies
171
Views
11K
texasvandy
T
chilly_md
  • Sticky
*~*~*~* Official AMCAS Questions Thread 2025-2026 *~*~*~*
2
Replies
86
Views
10K
chilly_md
chilly_md
chilly_md
~*~*~*~*~* Official Letters of Evaluation Questions Thread 2025-2026 *~*~*~*~*~
2
Replies
70
Views
4K
chilly_md
chilly_md
chilly_md
*~*~*~* Official AMCAS Questions Thread 2024-2025 *~*~*~*
Replies
24
Views
9K
diltiazemm
diltiazemm
Top