2020-2021 Waitlist Support Thread

[nyibst]

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Does anyone know if being placed on a WL earlier in a cycle increases the chances to be higher on the list? I was placed on the alternate list for my state school in early Jan. The class size is between 100-110 based on past data and they send out only 300 interview invites.

 

[andrana14]

You pointed out something really interesting... the international part, and that has kinda shed some light on my situation. Also very similar stats, submitted on day one, but I grew up overseas (although am a US citizen). Fun fact, even though my parents paid taxes to the state I'm attending undergrad in for the past 20 years, I STILL am OOS for that state (and every other state in the US too!). Got zero love from the state schools in that state 🙁--gotta love the IS/OOS politics...

Good luck to us both; here's to us getting in somewhere soon!

the politics are the worst---no matter at what level. Been in the US (same state) for 18 years (I'm 23) and obviously paid taxes for all those years and am considered international...my undergraduate which was in my state also didn't give me in-state tuition :/ just sucks that given my position the best thing for me to do if I don't get in is to move back to a country I haven't lived in for so long. since I got 5 WLs this time around, I'm not confident anything will change next year

 

[LaughingGas10]

Holy s**t!!!! I was about to write a post lecturing you about limiting yourself to T20s, but I went back and saw from your WAMC post that you did everything right. What do you think happened????????????

If this happened to you it could happen to anyone. When you talk about applying earlier, just how late did you apply? Given your stats, you should have received a look no matter when you applied, as long as it was before the deadline!

There are no obvious weaknesses in what you stated above, so there almost has to be a bomb somewhere in your app (essays, LORs, etc.). 16 schools is a little on the light side, but the schools you were talking about seem fine. Crazy as it might sound, I wonder if there is a chance that your list wasn't heavy enough, and that you found yourself yield protected out at most of your schools, without enough shots at the higher ranked schools to give yourself a reasonable chance to be successful this cycle?

I'd love to hear other opinions, but it kind of has to be one of these two (terrible essays and/or LORs, or terrible school list). It's not your interview skills, because you didn't get that far. Given the profiles of everyone else reporting success this cycle, it sure isn't your stats or ECs, which are the two most important metrics. I feel terrible for you, and hope people who know what they are talking about weigh in here.

Unfortunately this holistic method of selection for each individual school will mean that a few highly talented applicants, with good applications will get left in the lurch.

Remember, even in the highest stats bracket of 520+/3.95+ around 6% probably dont make it to any school. Granted some of them dont due to the usual reasons, late apps, poor school list, lack of EC, interview skills, LOR etc.

The medical school admission process is not like a sports draft pick, where the most talented players will get picked up by the next team in line, if not picked by the earlier team in line. Each individual school selection is independent of the other, so there will be some people with plain ole bad luck who dont get picked.

 

[gyngyn]

These protocols are not total BS. They are set up by the schools, to benefit the schools, by allowing them to manage their enrollment process.

These protocols were set up by the AAMC, not the schools. It was done to protect that entity, not the schools.

 

[KnightDoc]

Unfortunately this holistic method of selection for each individual school will mean that a few highly talented applicants, with good applications will get left in the lurch.

Remember, even in the highest stats bracket of 520+/3.95+ around 6% probably dont make it to any school. Granted some of them dont due to the usual reasons, late apps, poor school list, lack of EC, interview skills, LOR etc.

The medical school admission process is not like a sports draft pick, where the most talented players will get picked up by the next team in line, if not picked by the earlier team in line. Each individual school selection is independent of the other, so there will be some people with plain ole bad luck who dont get picked.

I haven't seen the 6% figure anywhere. Is it published? I've only seen the AAMC 13% for 518+/3.8+.

I get it's not a draft, but it's also not random. Submitting to 16 independent reviews with 520+/3.95+, with all the expected ECs, and only receiving one II, in a process where 43% of applicants are ultimately successful and the median for success is 511/3.7, indicates something other than bad luck is at play. Again, I wonder whether this person was resource protected out and hurt himself by not applying to more top tier schools?

 

[LaughingGas10]

I haven't seen the 6% figure anywhere. Is it published? I've only seen the AAMC 13% for 518+/3.8+.

I get it's not a draft, but it's also not random. 520+/3.95+, with all the expected ECs, submitting to 16 independent reviews, where 43% of applicants are ultimately successful and the median for success is 511/3.7 indicates something other than bad luck is at play when you apply to 16 reasonable schools and only receive one II. Again, I wonder whether this person was resource protected out and hurt himself by applying to more top tier schools?

AAMC has stopped publishing data for the highest category of stats 520+/3.95 + and the 6% in that section comes from older data sets prior to the 2015 MCAT

 

[Moko]

Hey guys, I am struggling to not be angry at this application process. I know that every spot is "earned" and not "deserved," but it is generally deflating to not see this pan out. To give some background, I am a first time applicant with a cGPA 3.98, sGPA 3.97, and 520 MCAT (delayed from April to July). I have unique research experience (educational/sociological to guide reformation of an entire undergraduate biology program), taught organic chemistry, tutored general chemistry, volunteered for many hours, scribed, shadowed, administered COVID-19 tests, washed colonoscopes, received good LOR, and was even picked to carry the banner for my college graduation because of my successes in undergrad (sadly canceled due to COVID :/ ). I applied to 16 schools (not many) but have only received one interview and I have been placed on the waitlist there. None of the 15 other institutions even gave me a chance to speak with them or have provided feedback. Honestly, I am unsure about what to do different this time other than apply earlier. Stay strong guys.

Holy s**t!!!! I was about to write a post lecturing you about limiting yourself to T20s, but I went back and saw from your WAMC post that you did everything right. What do you think happened???????????? If this happened to you it could happen to anyone. When you talk about applying earlier, just how late did you apply? Given your stats, you should have received a look no matter when you applied, as long as it was before the deadline! 16 schools is a little on the light side, but the schools you were talking about seem fine. Crazy as it might sound, I wonder if there is a chance that your list wasn't heavy enough, and that you found yourself yield protected out at most of your schools, without enough shots at the higher ranked schools to give yourself a reasonable chance to be successful this cycle?

I was piqued by @KnightDoc's detective work. Looking at your original school list, I can understand why many of those schools did not offer you an interview (yield protection?). How many schools on @Faha's list did you end up applying to? I would recommend sending a LOI to the school that interviewed you (may not help but is unlikely to hurt). Given the lack of interest despite an application that is seemingly competitive for T20 schools, I do wonder if there is a red flag somewhere. If your W does not turn into an A by May, feel free to send me a message with your personal statement and activity essays. I'll be happy to look through them then to provide feedback. Best of luck. &Readover

 

[Goro]

Hey guys, I am struggling to not be angry at this application process. I know that every spot is "earned" and not "deserved," but it is generally deflating to not see this pan out. To give some background, I am a first time applicant with a cGPA 3.98, sGPA 3.97, and 520 MCAT (delayed from April to July). I have unique research experience (educational/sociological to guide reformation of an entire undergraduate biology program), taught organic chemistry, tutored general chemistry, volunteered for many hours, scribed, shadowed, administered COVID-19 tests, washed colonoscopes, received good LOR, and was even picked to carry the banner for my college graduation because of my successes in undergrad (sadly canceled due to COVID :/ ). I applied to 16 schools (not many) but have only received one interview and I have been placed on the waitlist there. None of the 15 other institutions even gave me a chance to speak with them or have provided feedback. Honestly, I am unsure about what to do different this time other than apply earlier. Stay strong guys.

How do you know that you had good LORs?

How many hours shadowing?
Clinical exposure?
Nonclinical Volunteering?

You should have more schools on your list, a mix of half Harvard/Stanford class and half Keck/Einstein class.

 

[0rion]

How much do we expect WLs to move this year with COVID and all that is going on?

 

[ilovelisa]

How will the waitlist movement at UCF likely be? Do you all think they will they make it through the top half of the middle third?

 

[BaddingBreak]

How will the waitlist movement at UCF likely be? Do you all think they will they make it through the top half of the middle third?

Check the school-specific thread for UCF. @REL who I believe is the dean of admissions there, posts often and has offered several conjectures about what the waitlist movement will look like there, and talks transparently about their waitlist process

 

[Hello_There_117]

Have you read your provided update yet? They told me my chances in the email so I would check there. If you haven't received one before then you will have to wait until the end of March as the updates are provided at the end of every month.

 

[loosecriminal]

Today I got put on a waitlist from my last interview (had 2 interviews, first school deferred me) and I was heartbroken then I stumbled upon this thread and feel slightly better! I hate it but I am glad I’m not alone in this awful process. Sending good vibes to you all

 

[blondedoctor22]

4 WLs and 3 Deferrals. I don't think I've ever been so stressed out. I'm also trying to decide when I should start my next application.

 

[eartharte]

4 WLs and 3 Deferrals. I don't think I've ever been so stressed out. I'm also trying to decide when I should start my next application.

Do you think that your application would significantly change if you applied again for the 2021-2022 cycle? I'm sitting w/ 6 WLs and I figured for myself that there's nothing super important I've done in the past year (especially w/ COVID) that would significantly sway my application one way or the other. So I decided that if I don't get into med school this cycle that I'd take a couple gap years.

Edit: does anyone else have any advice to chip in about this?

 

[adrummingdog]

Do you think that your application would significantly change if you applied again for the 2021-2022 cycle? I'm sitting w/ 6 WLs and I figured for myself that there's nothing super important I've done in the past year (especially w/ COVID) that would significantly sway my application one way or the other. So I decided that if I don't get into med school this cycle that I'd take a couple gap years.

Edit: does anyone else have any advice to chip in about this?

I'm in this exact scenario, dont really know how I can improve my app at this point, plus havent done much this year cuz of COVID. On 5 WLS currently. I'll have to retake my MCAT too now so I think I'm not gonna apply this summer and wait till next time

 

[premed1011]

Do you think that your application would significantly change if you applied again for the 2021-2022 cycle? I'm sitting w/ 6 WLs and I figured for myself that there's nothing super important I've done in the past year (especially w/ COVID) that would significantly sway my application one way or the other. So I decided that if I don't get into med school this cycle that I'd take a couple gap years.

Edit: does anyone else have any advice to chip in about this?

Planning on doing the same. currently on 3 WLs and just took a job with a 2 year commitment so will be taking a couple of gap years if I don't get off.

 

[Hello_There_117]

I've been thinking about this too. If you are rejected, I would ask your schools for feedback and then see what they thought needed improvement. If it's something fixable then I don't think gap years would be required. For myself, I was fortunate enough to be told from one of my earlier interviews it was my lack of research and poor interview skills that nailed the coffin then. I don't know about the other schools though. Since that time I've improved my research by about 350 hours of independent study, one regional first author poster, and a symposium talk. I also plan to apply to DO this time round because I want to be an internal medicine doctor and don't want to wait/chase the MD forever I'm just not that type of guy. One last thought, post over in the WAMC to get app feedback maybe they can give you some advice on the matter.

 

[cardamom_coffee]

I've been thinking about this too. If you are rejected, I would ask your schools for feedback and then see what they thought needed improvement. If it's something fixable then I don't think gap years would be required. For myself, I was fortunate enough to be told from one of my earlier interviews it was my lack of research and poor interview skills that nailed the coffin then. I don't know about the other schools though. Since that time I've improved my research by about 350 hours of independent study, one regional first author poster, and a symposium talk. I also plan to apply to DO this time round because I want to be an internal medicine doctor and don't want to wait/chase the MD forever I'm just not that type of guy. One last thought, post over in the WAMC to get app feedback maybe they can give you some advice on the matter.

Did you ask for feedback after you were waitlisted or after you were rejected? I'm on a few WLs now thinking about reapp and was wondering if I can ask for feedback while still on the WL!

Hoping our WL's turn into A's soon!

 

[andrana14]

needless to say with 5 WLS, I've been pondering these things as well. (though I'm pretty much all but decided that I will not be applying again, I still get a little upset at the thought of not being a doctor). I haven't done much this year except continue my job as a scribe. My PS wont change, my secondaries wont change bc nothing has changed in a year...literallllllly nothing. So, I feel that I would be stupid to submit the same application and expect a different result. I've also done mock interviews with my school and they said my interviewing skills are good--I also have been told at other types of interviews that I'm good at interviews so I don't believe the issue is here.

I don't think I will be retaking a 520 MCAT. Someone here mentioned retaking an MCAT--if you already have multiple WLs, do you think your MCAT is an issue at all?? (unless you're taking it bc the score expired then I'm sorry about the situation)

I'm also concerned about asking for letters from profs again since now its been a year since I graduated (my pre-health advisor said we have to have them updated).

 

[Hello_There_117]

After the R. I wasn't waitlisted at that school but instead rejected.

Edit 1: I would also add though they were one of if not the nicest admissions staff I met so that probably had something to do with how much advice they gave me.

Edit 2: I have also heard this application cycle has been more competitive than in the past so perhaps it's harder to get an acceptance versus a Wait List this year?

Edit 3: I find my poor interview skills laughable because I have been a competitive speech and debate team member the last four years of my college education and I still cringe every time I think of that interview.

 

[deleted1051859]

Did you ask for feedback after you were waitlisted or after you were rejected? I'm on a few WLs now thinking about reapp and was wondering if I can ask for feedback while still on the WL!

Hoping our WL's turn into A's soon!

I considered asking for feedback while on the waitlist as well but I was a little worried that it may come across as "giving up for this year"

 

[cardamom_coffee]

I considered asking for feedback while on the waitlist as well but I was a little worried that it may come across as "giving up for this year"

Saaaame, or (in my case) indirectly letting the Adcoms know that I don't have an A yet.
[you know how sometimes they ask during an interview if you have A's to any other places? I really think that question should be illegal...'cause if you say "yes" they're like "oh so you won't come here" and if you say no they're like "so what red flags in your app did we miss?"]

 

[andrana14]

I considered asking for feedback while on the waitlist as well but I was a little worried that it may come across as "giving up for this year"

dang some of you guys bring up things I never even thought about...I'll add that to my list of things to worry about lol

 

[andrana14]

After the R. I wasn't waitlisted at that school but instead rejected.

Edit 1: I would also add though they were one of if not the nicest admissions staff I met so that probably had something to do with how much advice they gave me.

Edit 2: I have also heard this application cycle has been more competitive than in the past so perhaps it's harder to get an acceptance versus a Wait List this year?

Edit 3: I find my poor interview skills laughable because I have been a competitive speech and debate team member the last four years of my college education and I still cringe every time I think of that interview.

It's possible that the interviewer had something to do with the poor interview. It might not have been you and with public speaking experience, it was likely other factors. One of my interviewers was a little "off" which obviously affects your mood, performance, and view of the school! Perhaps this is one of those "luck" things

 

[Hello_There_117]

Nah it was all me and I've accepted that. I was just off and didn't adequately prepare, you know for the most important interview of my life up to that point, lol.

 

[hopefulfuturemd1999]

I’m sitting on 4WL from 4 interviews and wanted to figure out the best way to approach LOIs. MSAR says my top choice offers A’s to around 30 students from 300 on the WL. I would love to go here but the numbers don’t look all that good. On the other hand, one of the schools I got WL’ed at offers 75 A’s from the WL of 275. I feel like I should submit my LOI not to my top choice but to the school which gives me the best chance of coming off the WL. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I didn't even know MSAR had waitlist info so thanks for that. Also I think you should submit LOIs for both, it wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[cardamom_coffee]

I didn't even know MSAR had waitlist info so thanks for that. Also I think you should submit LOIs for both, it wouldn't hurt to try.

I’m sitting on 4WL from 4 interviews and wanted to figure out the best way to approach LOIs. MSAR says my top choice offers A’s to around 30 students from 300 on the WL. I would love to go here but the numbers don’t look all that good. On the other hand, one of the schools I got WL’ed at offers 75 A’s from the WL of 275. I feel like I should submit my LOI not to my top choice but to the school which gives me the best chance of coming off the WL. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I would caution against sending an LOI(ntent) to more than one school--by definition, you can only have one school be your top choice. I'd recommend sending a letter of intent to one school and letters of strong interest to the others. Other than that, it's up to you to decide which school is your top choice

 

[Hello_There_117]

Recommend the sending only one Letter of intent as well. If you don't want to send just an LOI you can also do a combined LOI and update on current activities. But be sure your school accepts updates, not all do. Nor do all take LOI's.

 

[KnightDoc]

Did you ask for feedback after you were waitlisted or after you were rejected? I'm on a few WLs now thinking about reapp and was wondering if I can ask for feedback while still on the WL!

Hoping our WL's turn into A's soon!

People sometimes beat me up for giving advice while not being a current or former applicant (I am a future one who has been obsessing on this for a few years 🙂), so take this for what it's worth, but I REALLY don't think receiving feedback while you are on a WL is a thing anywhere.

Schools have strict protocols against showing any favoritism while an application is pending, and coaching some applicants but not others would be exactly that. For this reason, I don't think any school will respond favorably to a request for feedback while a live application is pending. The few schools that actually provide feedback do not do so until their cycle (or at least yours at their school) is over. Anyone is welcome to correct me If I am wrong.

 

[cardamom_coffee]

needless to say with 5 WLS, I've been pondering these things as well. (though I'm pretty much all but decided that I will not be applying again, I still get a little upset at the thought of not being a doctor). I haven't done much this year except continue my job as a scribe. My PS wont change, my secondaries wont change bc nothing has changed in a year...literallllllly nothing. So, I feel that I would be stupid to submit the same application and expect a different result. I've also done mock interviews with my school and they said my interviewing skills are good--I also have been told at other types of interviews that I'm good at interviews so I don't believe the issue is here.

I don't think I will be retaking a 520 MCAT. Someone here mentioned retaking an MCAT--if you already have multiple WLs, do you think your MCAT is an issue at all?? (unless you're taking it bc the score expired then I'm sorry about the situation)

I'm also concerned about asking for letters from profs again since now its been a year since I graduated (my pre-health advisor said we have to have them updated).

Just another applicant's $0.02 but by continuing your scribing job you're showing longitudinal interest in medicine! My greatest concern for reapp is that I haven't had any clinical experience in the past year due to COVID lol. It's interesting because my advisor said that I didn't need to rehaul my LORs--just asking the writers to change the date should be sufficient, although I do plan to ask one of the professors I've been TAing under this year to write me something. My advisor did say that I'll need to rewrite my PS tho, even though I really liked it :'( but according to him, I can keep my activities and secondaries where/when applicable.

I'm really sorry that we're both on WLs like this and really really hope you get in this cycle! I remember you from a previous post and think we have a few things in common regarding our applications...feel free to DM me if you want to run through if-then scenarios of whether to reapp or not, or even if you just want to chat and commiserate...

 

[eartharte]

Can someone give any guidance as to what a letter of intent would look like? Why type of language do you use so you sound determined but not desperate?

 

[andrana14]

Can someone give any guidance as to what a letter of intent would look like? Why type of language do you use so you sound determined but not desperate?

Not sure if I'm qualified enough to give advice since my LOI didn't work obviously lol
but--I also looked at other people's advice before writing one and here's what I gathered:
-say w/ certainty that if you get in, you are absolutely 100% attending (don't beat around the bush, just say it); I would open and close by saying this.
-also summarize your activities since your interview so it can serve as an update + LOI
-talk about why that school and why you're a perfect fit (basically a why us + why they should pick you summarized; the only addition to those generic essays I guess would be definitely mention any new things you learned during the interview that basically solidified this school as the top choice for you)

Basically, talking specifically about how the school would serve your interests and what you can contribute will make you sound as if you're a good fit rather than seeming desperate for an admission IMO. For instance, I focused on why the location of the school and a specific research center in that city would serve my interests!

edit: you can PM me and I can give you a general format for it as well! Again, at your own risk since my LOI didn't have an impact on my decision.

 

[Dokt0r]

4 waitlists and counting...so much pain

 

[Julatteluver]

hi everyone!! Currently sitting on 2 WLs and 1 pending decision. Just wondering, does anyone know anything about GWU's waitlist movement? It's my top choice and I heard they have a fairly big movement, but since GWU does not release any wl info publicly, I wasn't sure what to expect in a month or so

 

[0rion]

I got 2 WL from 6 interviews (one school still hasn't respond). Do you guys think I should start looking for a gap year job or should I wait until late April/early May before panicking?

You haven't begun panicking yet?
Imo it's always better to play it safe than sorry. I'd personally have less discontent if I quit a job after 2 weeks than if I assumed I would move off a WL and it didn't happen.

 

[emily3590]

Question for anyone with advice: I interviewed at my state school (UConn) back in early October, got the WL shortly after that, only pre-II Rs from every other school. My question is do you think I'm in a better spot than some other people who were WL at UConn since I interviewed so early? Or is this a bad sign because maybe they really liked my primary and secondary app but then gave me the WL because they didn't like my interview? Basically I'm asking if I should be reading into how high on the WL I might be because I got WL way back in October..

 

[KnightDoc]

Question for anyone with advice: I interviewed at my state school (UConn) back in early October, got the WL shortly after that, only pre-II Rs from every other school. My question is do you think I'm in a better spot than some other people who were WL at UConn since I interviewed so early? Or is this a bad sign because maybe they really liked my primary and secondary app but then gave me the WL because they didn't like my interview? Basically I'm asking if I should be reading into how high on the WL I might be because I got WL way back in October..

Nope. You interviewed early because someone happened to review your file early. There is no way to tell whether or not that's because your file was scored very highly pre-interview as compared to everyone else who received an II. TBH, the bad news is that, with pre-II Rs everywhere else, that's probably not the case. The good news is that an early WL has no predictive value regarding your position on the WL one way or the other.

If you're up to it, my advice would be to reach out to the school, let them know they are your first choice (I'd try the phone first and then follow up with a LOI), and see if they can't give you some visibility regarding where you are on the WL and how likely it is that you will be called off. You might get nowhere, but it's not going to hurt at this point in the cycle if you do it professionally. Good luck!!!

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

I got 2 WL from 6 interviews (one school still hasn't respond). Do you guys think I should start looking for a gap year job or should I wait until late April/early May before panicking?

I'd probably start lining up potential gap year job / activities at this point. Hopefully one of the WLs and/or your outstanding decision will turn out favorably. If you don't get in anywhere, I would look hard at your interviewing skills and see what you can do to shore that up. Fingers crossed!

 

[paul30]

hey y'all, out here joining the WL gang
1/2 IIs came back as a WL and now I'm just waiting for the decision for my second (and probs last) II :') love that for me

 

[studentdoctor111111111111]

I'm also joining the WL thread :') I'm down to one hold list left and it's not looking good lol

 

[Aiguo]

Does anyone have advice on how to follow up about the waitlist? The school keeps saying they have an unranked waitlist and every applicant is re- evaluated when they pull someone off.

I have sent in an LOI. I've heard that helped some individuals at this particular school turn their waitlist into an acceptance. Did not help me. I am still waitlisted

 

[0rion]

I'm also joining the WL thread :') I'm down to one hold list left and it's not looking good lol

Keep your head up, homie. It'll all work out in the end and we still have lots of time left for WL movement in the coming months!

 

[0rion]

I've heard rumors that the new traffic rules will lead to schools offering fewer acceptances initially and waitlisting more people to avoid overfilling schools since they cannot see if the students have been accepted anywhere else until april, is there any truth to this?

This question was on a thread from a couple years ago when the new Traffic Rules were put out, but the question never got answered. I still see speculation regarding this topic in more recent threads. Does anyone have an answer here?

 

[blinkblink2]

z

 

[paul30]

I've had 7 interviews (LM 75), with 6/7 upper mid/upper-tier schools, including two T10 schools. I have yet to hear from one, but have been waitlisted by 3 and post-II rejected by 3.

My application was meticulously crafted over a span of many years, but I don't think that I fit the "sensibility" of a medical school adcom in 2021. It's not in my nature to figuratively pull punches and I am the sort of person by appearance from their perspective, "oozes privilege." The fact that I fought tooth and nail for this for 6 years is irrelevant because I'm not a "good story."

Could my interview skills use some work? Perhaps, but my mother passed away a few months ago and I've been depressed ever since. The circumstances of this are not something I can tell adcoms about.

Adcoms make us almost exploit our trauma and mental health for a "good story" and then when you don't get in, it feels devalued. On the other hand, if you don't incorporate any trauma into your PS, it's like everything you've ever done is invalidated. Getting into colleges really is a system of access to resources and where you come from, not the trials and tribulations you've gone through, the hard work you've put in, or even basic empathy towards people's situations. I'm sorry this is happening to you, and I hope you get off at least one of those WL (I know you will!! you sound like an amazing person deserving of this profession)

 

[blinkblink2]

z

 

[deleted1093251]

Oof 8 waitlists so far! What do I do?? I already sent a letter of intent... time to pump out the rest of the letter of interests??

 

[paul30]

I fundamentally disagree with the position adcoms take that it is the "why" not the "what" that matters. I think that people have incomplete insights as to why they do things and that, especially looking back years prior to the genesis of something you've been steeped in for the whole of that time, more often than not is a form of confabulation.

In my opinion, it is the "what," as in your deeds that should be the primary determinant. Your "identity" is not going to make you a good physician, except perhaps in relation to those similar to you.

I have been paranoid about being in this situation for years, which is why every conceivable box on my application is checked, and even some additional that are relatively novel. Now, I can see that I was not, in fact, paranoid, but had the self-awareness to know that I am the sort of applicant adcoms jump in to reject, as they cannot claim to have taken this position to "promote the underrepresented" and such, without having to demote the likes of me.

To be honest, I don't necessarily agree with you, but I understand your frustration. Hoping you get off the WL!

 

[cardamom_coffee]

Oof 8 waitlists so far! What do I do?? I already sent a letter of intent... time to pump out the rest of the letter of interests??

Just got off zoom with my premed advisor at a big premed powerhouse university--I was planning my reapp with her. She said that this year she's seen so many of us with 5+ II, a bunch of WL's, no A's (and often no post-II R's either). It's been a super competitive cycle...hope we get our A's soon!