- Joined
- Dec 25, 2019
- Messages
- 180
- Reaction score
- 203
4 WLs already over here, we're starting the anxiety eeaaaarly this year
Worst comes to worst, reuse the letter from this cycle. You got 5 IIs, so obviously you’re competitive. Sometimes the cards just don’t fall in your favor. How many schools did you apply?Thank you so much for the replies and encouragement, you guys, it really means a lot. Unfortunately though, I believe it's my pre-health office's policy that committee letter recipients can't reapply immediately and must wait a certain amount of cycles (don't remember if it's one or two) before doing so. Plus they have another policy that they don't give letters to people who are more than three years post graduation at the beginning of the cycle (i.e. this cycle was the last time I fell within those guidelines.) So I think whether I reapply or not will ultimately come down to them; if they actually save my rec letters and would support a reapp next year, I wouldn't mind doing it, but if they throw out all my rec letters, then that's it really. They also tend to be pretty cut throat, so the latter is actually not out of the realm of possibility.
But hopefully it doesn't come to that 😅
No, no, no, no, no! I can't, and won't try to, tell you what to do, but these are NOT reasons to quit.Thank you so much for the replies and encouragement, you guys, it really means a lot. Unfortunately though, I believe it's my pre-health office's policy that committee letter recipients can't reapply immediately and must wait a certain amount of cycles (don't remember if it's one or two) before doing so. Plus they have another policy that they don't give letters to people who are more than three years post graduation at the beginning of the cycle (i.e. this cycle was the last time I fell within those guidelines.) So I think whether I reapply or not will ultimately come down to them; if they actually save my rec letters and would support a reapp next year, I wouldn't mind doing it, but if they throw out all my rec letters, then that's it really. They also tend to be pretty cut throat, so the latter is actually not out of the realm of possibility.
But hopefully it doesn't come to that 😅
I'm 99% sure my prehealth office would refuse to send the letter again if I were to reapply and not follow their conditions. They at one point told me I was disqualified from the letter because I accidentally sent them the wrong pdf file. They told me it was a scare tactic after I appealed though, but I was in anxiety for like 2 weeks about it. I was complete at 26 schools, latest being August 4th.Worst comes to worst, reuse the letter from this cycle. You got 5 IIs, so obviously you’re competitive. Sometimes the cards just don’t fall in your favor. How many schools did you apply?
Oh I'm not saying I wouldn't be willing to reapply without it; I'm more afraid of them throwing out the rec letters I already collected. 8 letters, a lot of them are from science and humanities faculty who aren't at my uni anymore, or from places I stopped working at years ago which I haven't really kept in contact with, that were the primary source of my clinical hours. If they threw out all of them it would take years to get my app ready again, because I doubt those I asked still have copies of the letters anymore, and if I asked them to rewrite the letters would no doubt be worse because I haven't talked to a lot of them for a long time. On the other hand, my CV is much more suited for grad school imo, I strongly believe I could get all the application materials ready by this upcoming cycle, and I have a bunch of colleagues now who can be potential grad school letter writers.No, no, no, no, no! I can't, and won't try to, tell you what to do, but these are NOT reasons to quit.
If you cannot get a committee letter, you just apply without it. Less than ideal, but far from fatal, especially if you cannot get a letter due to a policy regarding years since graduation.
Please do not allow an arbitrary policy designed to maximize a school's stats to determine the course of your life. You can absolutely get new LORs and either have them submitted directly to AMCAS or to Interfolio, and then go from there. Your pre-health office might be a gatekeeper to the school's committee, but they are absolutely not the ultimate arbiter of what you do with your life!
I don’t want to get your hopes up, but I do have a strong feeling that schools are using the waitlist more liberally than in past years perhaps as a result of previous cycle.I have 7 interviews 5 OOS and 2 IS with 4 WLs and 3 waiting for decisions. MCAT 512, ORM, GPA 3.8, research, clinical hours, EMT, teaching hours and shadowing. What are my odds to A?
I know it’s a stressful waiting game. Good luckI don’t want to get your hopes up, but I do have a strong feeling that schools are using the waitlist more liberally than in past years perhaps as a result of previous cycle.
When I applied before, my II to A conversation rate was very high. This time around, I’ve had 15 interviews and am on like 7 or 8 waitlists at this point.
On a good day, the prolonged uncertainty has been an opportunity for growth. On a bad day, an existential crisis. It’s all perspective, both sides have truth to them. All that we can do is focus on the things we can control. Otherwise, feel the feels, and hope for better days.Hey gang.
I was WL’d at my only interview today. Still processing my feelings. How’s it going for y’all as far as coping with the prolonged uncertainty? Looks like I won’t know anything more until late April (realistically May) when I find out my rank on the WL. Even then, it’s just an Rx for more waiting. I thought I was emotionally exhausted just from the regular length cycle, (ha) let alone the sole WL cycle situation.
Nice to meet you, fellow sad bastards.
Hasn’t this been the case for the past 2 cycles as well?Does anyone think in light of admissions not being able to see where you have been accepted this year that the waitlist at schools is going to be larger than normal?
This^^^. Actually, past 3 cycles! 🙂Hasn’t this been the case for the past 2 cycles as well?
If your top choice accepts updates and does not put a limit on the number, I think you should send them. It would show that you're still interested. Moreover, if that school has a heavy research focus, then a new publication or sending in a manuscript will certainly help.Hi all, I'm sorry if this has been answered on some previous forum but this group seems like a very supportive and helpful bunch -- I was recently waitlisted at my top choice med school and am pretty bummed about it. Other than a letter of intent and updates, is there anything else I can consider doing? I had a paper in review that has been accepted for publication, and have just submitted a second paper that is now under review.
Is it ever normal to send an additional letter of recommendation? Or is that overkill and desperate, I could potentially receive a very strong rec from my PI who I have spent my gap year working under, and he didn't write one initially because I had just started working when I applied.
Any and all insight and support would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks and best of luck to everybody <3
Honestly, the advice of "you're rejected until you're accepted" is comforting to me in a way. I think the worst thing about the waitlist is, as you imply, the very delayed closure. But keeping that advice in my head has allowed me to take comfort in making a solid plan B. For me whether that means reapplying or looking into another career remains to be seen, but tricking myself into early closure has been powerful.Hey gang.
I was WL’d at my only interview today. Still processing my feelings. How’s it going for y’all as far as coping with the prolonged uncertainty? Looks like I won’t know anything more until late April (realistically May) when I find out my rank on the WL. Even then, it’s just an Rx for more waiting. I thought I was emotionally exhausted just from the regular length cycle, (ha) let alone the sole WL cycle situation.
Nice to meet you, fellow sad bastards.
I think @Trained LabRat summarized the logical basis with which to do so pretty accurately. To add on, in a personal sense, I think you should still do it. Because at the end of the cycle, and god forbid things did not work out, at least you can say to yourself, "I did absolutely everything that someone in my position could've done, but sometimes the cards don't fall and things don't work out." That's a part of life. At least you wouldn't be sitting there wondering what could've been, or having regrets that you could've done more. I think having those regrets after doing something unsuccessful is far worse than doing everything you could and still being unsuccessful, though this is definitely only my personal opinion.Hi all, I'm sorry if this has been answered on some previous forum but this group seems like a very supportive and helpful bunch -- I was recently waitlisted at my top choice med school and am pretty bummed about it. Other than a letter of intent and updates, is there anything else I can consider doing? I had a paper in review that has been accepted for publication, and have just submitted a second paper that is now under review.
Is it ever normal to send an additional letter of recommendation? Or is that overkill and desperate, I could potentially receive a very strong rec from my PI who I have spent my gap year working under, and he didn't write one initially because I had just started working when I applied.
Any and all insight and support would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks and best of luck to everybody <3
Good luck, I got my fingers crossed for u!Applied last cycle, 4 II (3 MD, 1 DO) and 4 WL's. Applied this cycle- 3 MD II's (1 WL, 1 Post-II R, One pending) 3 DO II's (1 1/21, 2 upcoming).
feeling ok about getting in this time around given the 2 additional II's but the stress and anxiety last time was very difficult so just wanted to check in with everyone lol
Are you considering DO?5 II's, 4 WL's and 1 post-II R. My app was pretty lopsided I think- 3.8 GPA and 515 MCAT, lots of research with multiple high author pubs, and lots of clinical hours. Got a committee letter with what I was told were great evals and LORs, applied early and to mostly research/teaching oriented schools in my score range. However, I had literally no nonclinical volunteering on my primary, no leadership besides my adjunct job and mentoring in my research lab, no crazy awards, no separate entry for shadowing, and no hobbies on the app. Didn't do a whole lot of interview prep either besides why medicine and why X school. Needless to say I've made a lot of mistakes I think.
Have been doing weekly nonclinical volunteering at a place I really like for a few months, and might ask my coordinator for a LOR to the WL schools that accept them. Other than that, I think I'll send a LOI to one of the schools, but I've heard it's bad practice to do so without any A's, so I'm not sure. Continued interest letters to the rest I think.
If it doesn't work out this cycle I probably won't reapply. It would be my 4th gap year (if I wait a year like the advice goes it would be 5,) my parents are both very old, I'm an only child, and I should be setting myself up to get a decent job before they die instead of applicant limbo with unpaid/low paying work, so they don't die worrying about me. Maybe apply for grad school. I think my resume is much more suited to it, and I could see myself being happy as a potential prof because I adore teaching and I could still make a difference in making people's lives better.
Anyway, just venting I guess. No one else to really talk to about this. I've been lurking for a while and reading all of you guys/girls' posts has helped me cope a lot, so thank you all very much. I read the entire WL support thread from last year, and I don't really see any of the eventual reapplicants from that thread in this one, so hopefully you all got accepted somewhere. Will be here throughout as well, and hopefully I can be of emotional support to you guys as you have been to me. You all sound like truly wonderful people, and even if this doesn't work out, I know you'll have the drive to succeed, whether it be pursuing this again or another career path. Thank you all again.
3.8/515 with lots of research is kind of high for DO (TBH, I am not sure DO values research at all), and risks being resource protected out. All the issues @Ali_Bomaye is having with ECs would be issues at DO too. Once those are addressed, they should be fine for MD with those stats, plus research.Are you considering DO?
This is not the type of update that is likely to move the needle.I was thinking about landing an additional job/volunteer position to send in an update letter, and was wondering if that would help to make a difference at this point.
I’m under the impression that if they accept them and are written well, the worst and most likely thing to happen is nothing. But there’s the possibility it moves the needle a bit (particularly if you have another acceptance, especially so from a significantly higher ranked program).Does anyone know if it's worth sending a letter of intent? I've heard mixed reviews on whether to send one or not if you got waitlisted by your top school. I don't have too many updates to include in the letter besides becoming a trainer for new ophthalmic assistants at my current job and being a back up patient monitor for a drug study we are hosting at my job as well. Not sure if those are enough to change how they view my application. Any feedback would be great.
No reason at all to feel defeated. It's a brutal process with a greater than 60% failure rate, and you did far better than most in scoring 4 IIs.just received my 4th WL from 4 MD II (technically 2 are deferrals). Not sure where I went wrong, it might be that my MCAT is 509, im ORM with a decent GPA. Maybe its true schools are being more cautious with acceptances but who really knows for sure. Two of these interviews I felt went very well for me but maybe the interview doesn't really do much in moving the needle. Just feeling defeated, this process is so long and tough. Wishing everyone here gets off their waitlists.
Letter of intent can help3/3 waitlists. Is there any method that has worked for people trying to come off the WL?
Could be yield protection due to MCAT score. Also as far as I'm aware LOI's don't have much weight in adcoms eyes because most people don't follow the honor code of only 1 to your top choice, and because a lot of people who send them only do so because they have no acceptances. What was your undergrad GPA? I've also read that med schools weigh that much more heavily than any grad GPA. Finally, you only mentioned clinical experience, and number of hours. Was the clinical experience very involved and not something like patient transport? How's your nonclinical volunteering and research? Leadership? Hobbies? X factor of some sort? Essays/PS? Was your app complete on time? How'd the interview go?I'm so lost.... 517 MCAT, 4.0 in a 30 credit masters, 1k hours clinical experience... waitlisted at a DO school that I sent an LOI to....
what the heck am I doing wrong????
I'm so lost.... 517 MCAT, 4.0 in a 30 credit masters, 1k hours clinical experience... waitlisted at a DO school that I sent an LOI to....
what the heck am I doing wrong????
I’ve had a dean of a DO school say that they don’t even look at graduate grades. He recommended that I basically do another full UG degree to boost my cGPA and sGPA. I said ur güd. Kept doing masters level science courses and landed an acceptance at a different (better) DO school. It may just be the school, don’t be discouraged. APPLY BROADLYI'm so lost.... 517 MCAT, 4.0 in a 30 credit masters, 1k hours clinical experience... waitlisted at a DO school that I sent an LOI to....
what the heck am I doing wrong????
Balanced mcat (127/130/130/130).What's your undergraduate cGPA and sGPA? How many hours of clinical, non-clinical, and shadowing hours? MCAT score breakdown?
Agreed on the tons of stuff. Spoke to someone in admissions td who was complimentary of my app. No it wasn’t patient transport. Strong all around app (7 interview invites between 3 MD and 4 DO).Could be yield protection due to MCAT score. Also as far as I'm aware LOI's don't have much weight in adcoms eyes because most people don't follow the honor code of only 1 to your top choice, and because a lot of people who send them only do so because they have no acceptances. What was your undergrad GPA? I've also read that med schools weigh that much more heavily than any grad GPA. Finally, you only mentioned clinical experience, and number of hours. Was the clinical experience very involved and not something like patient transport? How's your nonclinical volunteering and research? Leadership? Hobbies? X factor of some sort? Essays/PS? Was your app complete on time? How'd the interview go?
There's really a ton of stuff that could've happened, and from all the stories I've heard, it's so competitive now that a very slight real or perceived deficiency in even one usually is the difference between you getting in vs. someone else.
Were you rejected from the other 6 interviews? If you still haven't heard back I wouldn't count yourself out yet. IMO DO schools throw waitlist to candidates who they feel may not attend or aren't a good fit, either they feel you'll get offers elsewhere or you will attend a different school. That's a good portion of interviews, so I don't think it's your app on paper.Agreed on the tons of stuff. Spoke to someone in admissions td who was complimentary of my app. No it wasn’t patient transport. Strong all around app (7 interview invites between 3 MD and 4 DO).
nope, WL from 1 (MD) pending 2! (1 MD and 1 DO) with 1 more DO upcomingWere you rejected from the other 6 interviews? If you still haven't heard back I wouldn't count yourself out yet. IMO DO schools throw waitlist to candidates who they feel may not attend or aren't a good fit, either they feel you'll get offers elsewhere or you will attend a different school. That's a good portion of interviews, so I don't think it's your app on paper.
You'll be good, just brush up and analyze your interview skills a bit more for ur upcoming interviews. I think you'll get in somewhere, just be confident in how far you've comenope, WL from 1 (MD) pending 2! (1 MD and 1 DO) with 1 more DO upcoming
I'm a reapp so im particularly sensitive I think! appreciate your words tho.You'll be good, just brush up and analyze your interview skills a bit more for ur upcoming interviews. I think you'll get in somewhere, just be confident in how far you've come
You got this! DO waitlists also have a lot more movement, so keep the faith!I'm a reapp so im particularly sensitive I think! appreciate your words tho.
????Hey ya'll! I know this is a little off-topic, but could someone explain how to start a new sdn group chat for a school?
Sorry!😅 I meant to say an sdn thread. I didn't see one for a master's program medical school track for the year 2022 (the last one was 2018-2019) and was going to try and make one because I had a few questions.????
What do you mean "group chat"? There are already threads for every school in the school specific sub forum. Beyond that, the only "chats" that I am aware of are DMs that can include multiple participants. You can also start any thread you want in the pre-med forum, but you'll get a lot more interested and knowledgeable eyeballs if you just post a comment in the pre-existing school specific thread.
Hope this helps!
It's easy! 🙂Sorry!😅 I meant to say an sdn thread. I didn't see one for a master's program medical school track for the year 2022 (the last one was 2018-2019) and was going to try and make one because I had a few questions.
Thank you!! I got it!!! 😊It's easy! 🙂
You just go into whatever forum you want to post it in (like this one) and start typing away in the Thread Title box between the sub forums and the sticky threads.
YESSSS!!! We love to see it!! Gahhh this gives us all life! CONGRATULATIONS FUTURE DOCTOR!! Can you share what school?3rd application cycle and was just pulled off the waitlist for the only school that interviewed me. Words can't even express how excited I am. 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Congrats!!!3rd application cycle and was just pulled off the waitlist for the only school that interviewed me. Words can't even express how excited I am. 🎉🎉🎉🎉