2022-2023 Howard

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chickenjoe said:
thank you, beautiful people. I can't tell you how nervous I am. But I really am wishing the best for all of you... pray for me, wish me luck whatever, I could really use it.
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Thé best of luck! Hopefully it all goes well and you hear good news afterwards
 
Anybody know anybody with a sub 3.0 gpa get an II for this school this year??
 
not sure about this year, but i know of some people that had <3.0 gpa to get interviews/acceptances at Howard (given they also had post-bacc/masters work). I think 494 MCAT is their only hard requirement for II
 
Shammah said:
I am not judging you, I was referring to myself. I was saying, I hope they won't see me as too desperate. I was just concerned about how adcoms would view multiple update letters cos I wanted to send in another one. I'm sorry for how I worded it.
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Multiple updates can be seen as needy and desperate.
 
Goro said:
Multiple updates can be seen as needy and desperate.
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F1andHopeful said:
What is a good number range to stay within?
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Is it really the number exactly? Or more whether the updates are significant enough? An MCAT retake is an update, new activities related to healthcare exposure are updates, new publications are updates. Where is the line?
 
TiramisuLover99 said:
Is it really the number exactly? Or more whether the updates are significant enough? An MCAT retake is an update, new activities related to healthcare exposure are updates, new publications are updates. Where is the line?
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Honestly, I think it comes with knowing what you truly think is significant and changes the contributions you are making either academically, community-wise, etc... like if you are sending that you are doing more community service when you already have over 1,000 hrs in your application (maybe not necessary).

Maybe you're taking a course, that is new, but it is a prerequisite. Or you've retaken a prerequisite course and gotten a better score (necessary to send). new MCAT (that score automatically goes into your portal, but also just give them a nudge in case they haven't seen)

But also try and imagine yourself in the shoes of the people going over the applications, while, yes, it is their job to screen applications/updates-- it has to be a very time-consuming and exhaustive process. You (not saying you, particular, but "you" in general) need to make sure that what you are sending is worthwhile, and do you feel that if you were the person doing this job and receiving this email actually changed the status of this applicant?

And while I know everyone probably wants to send everything that makes them a better applicant, ultimately, overdoing it may make them pursue us less because they think we're over the top. just food for thought. I'm sure you're all doing great though, wishing you all the best!!
 
Goro said:
Multiple updates can be seen as needy and desperate.
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You have to advocate for yourself or no one else will. This rhetoric makes no sense, we take money and time to apply? And inquiring is making you needy and desperate,y’all must not know how hard it is to get into med school.
 
F1andHopeful said:
What is a good number range to stay within?
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Is it really the number exactly? Or more whether the updates are significant enough? An MCAT retake is an update, new activities related to healthcare exposure are updates, new publications are updates. Where is the line?

1-2 updates at the end of the cycle for those on waitlists; 1 for those without IIs by Xmas. Updates need to be substantial, like a semester of great grades, a major scholarship (think Rhodes/Fulbright class); a publication, or the completion of a significant amount of hours in an EC. Merely starting a new job is worthless info in my book.

wavyboys21 said:
You have to advocate for yourself or no one else will. This rhetoric makes no sense, we take money and time to apply? And inquiring is making you needy and desperate,y’all must not know how hard it is to get into med school.
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Adcom member for 20+ years; I know from which I speak, and I'm telling you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
chickenjoe said:
Sir/Ma'am, of course, we appreciate your help, but maybe... just maybe... there was a softer way to say this-- I know a lot of people are just nervous? 😨
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SDNers need to have a thick skin in this process!
 
Getting into medical school is hard, and it can be disheartening to hear that your application isn’t good enough for admissions. Unfortunately, there are many good applications but not enough seats for everyone. I think you need thick skin to be able to look inward and revamp your application so that you can give yourself the best possible chance. I think Goro is just saying that multiple updates that aren’t significant aren’t going to help and it might be better to focus that effort into making a better application for next cycle (gaining better clinical hours, retaking the mcat, gaining more volunteer experiences, etc). All in all, not getting into medical school doesn’t define you and getting this far is an achievement itself!
 
As for the number of updates, lots of schools have a maximum number of updates that they will accept. I think whatever those numbers look like are probably a good indicator. At most of the schools I applied to, the limit is 3 or 4. Some of them even categorize them e.g. maximum 2 academic updates, 2 extracurricular updates, etc.
 
I am being anal, but i sent an update letter a while ago and received a reply.

“Good luck this cycle”

Does this mean I’m not even being considered. I don’t know why I’m reading into this, can you tell the waiting game is killing me?
 
"Files are reviewed within 6-8 weeks although there is no immediate decision, files are considered until April 2023. If not selected for an interview, release emails are sent around June 2023." June? What? LOL
 
TiramisuLover99 said:
"Files are reviewed within 6-8 weeks although there is no immediate decision, files are considered until April 2023. If not selected for an interview, release emails are sent around June 2023." June? What? LOL
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How long did it take for yours to be reviewed?
 
Atomic-A said:
They usually send a response after you email them an update letter so I think this is what this is about. Might be generic.
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gravytrain30 said:
I am being anal, but i sent an update letter a while ago and received a reply.

“Good luck this cycle”

Does this mean I’m not even being considered. I don’t know why I’m reading into this, can you tell the waiting game is killing me?
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mine said “Thank you for considering Howard University College of Medicine. Your update has been received and noted. ”
 
Any ORMs here who have got an II?

Im an overrepresented Minority just for clarification
 
DO4325 said:
Just got II but does anyone know if Howard gives out scholarships to incoming students.
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Congrats!! 🙂 and yes they do! They make you fill out FAFSA + some other financial aid document beforehand. Not sure if they started rewarding them yet though.
 
I asked for feedback post rejection/interview and of course no one responded. I’m sick of this entire bs process. I recently got into a phd program with a tuition waiver and stipend and I’m tempted to accept it. Medical school admissions has too much uncertainty and bs woven into the process. I’m sick of putting my best foot forward to have some uniformed person, usually who is not even a medical doctor, say “no”.
 
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chicken-n-beer said:
I asked for feedback post rejection and of course no one responded. I’m sick of this entire bs process. I recently got into a phd program with a tuition waiver and stipend and I’m tempted to accept it. Medical school admissions has too much uncertainty and bs woven into the process. I’m sick of putting my best foot forward to have some uniformed person, usually who is not even a medical doctor, say “no”.
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I had sent an update letter with no response. So when I sent a letter of interest this week I made sure to copy Ms Fowlkes and lo and behold I got a swift response.
 
spiritualgbedu said:
I had sent an update letter with no response. So when I sent a letter of interest this week I made sure to copy Ms Fowlkes and lo and behold I got a swift response.
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I did that. The email was directly to Fowlkes. They won’t tell me anything because they probably rejected me for some bs reason. I truly hate this biased, non-objective process.
 
spiritualgbedu said:
I had sent an update letter with no response. So when I sent a letter of interest this week I made sure to copy Ms Fowlkes and lo and behold I got a swift response.
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hey for update letters pre- interview should we be ccing Ms. Fowlkes? I want to update on a clinical experience I have been doing since this summer but idk how updates work at this school
 
i sent an update to admissions like three weeks ago and no response. wondering if they even added it??
 
chicken-n-beer said:
I asked for feedback post rejection/interview and of course no one responded. I’m sick of this entire bs process. I recently got into a phd program with a tuition waiver and stipend and I’m tempted to accept it. Medical school admissions has too much uncertainty and bs woven into the process. I’m sick of putting my best foot forward to have some uniformed person, usually who is not even a medical doctor, say “no”.
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While I have no idea what you are going through, I am sure you've taken time to think this through... I just want to nudge you to remember why you're doing all this. As a reapplicant, I can understand your feeling of uncertainty and want to let you know I completely hear you, and your emotions are warranted. Just make sure you try and talk your ideas/feelings through with someone... also Howard runs on CPT so you may not hear back so soon

sending tons of prayer and good vibes your way
 
chicken-n-beer said:
I asked for feedback post rejection/interview and of course no one responded. I’m sick of this entire bs process. I recently got into a phd program with a tuition waiver and stipend and I’m tempted to accept it. Medical school admissions has too much uncertainty and bs woven into the process. I’m sick of putting my best foot forward to have some uniformed person, usually who is not even a medical doctor, say “no”.
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Congrats on your PhD acceptance! Your stats and EC are competitive. I think if you have to reapply next year, you should apply broadly and specifically to osteopathic programs early. I'm very confident you would get II in DO programs, and some MD schools as well. I understand your frustration, this is my 2nd cycle, and I was really disappointed with how my 1st cycle turned out.

Also wanted to add, that you're correct the process is unfair, although that has worked to my advantage. I haven't heard back from schools whose MCAT/GPA averages match mine to a T, but I was accepted/WL at 2 schools whose stats are significantly higher than mine likely because I was a good fit. Its a huge roll of the dice, so all we can do is give it our best and hope someone out there sees something in us.
 
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chicken-n-beer said:
I asked for feedback post rejection/interview and of course no one responded. I’m sick of this entire bs process. I recently got into a phd program with a tuition waiver and stipend and I’m tempted to accept it. Medical school admissions has too much uncertainty and bs woven into the process. I’m sick of putting my best foot forward to have some uniformed person, usually who is not even a medical doctor, say “no”.
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You got this ! Don’t give up
 
chicken-n-beer said:
I asked for feedback post rejection/interview and of course no one responded. I’m sick of this entire bs process. I recently got into a phd program with a tuition waiver and stipend and I’m tempted to accept it. Medical school admissions has too much uncertainty and bs woven into the process. I’m sick of putting my best foot forward to have some uniformed person, usually who is not even a medical doctor, say “no”.
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Hey, I’m so sorry about how this cycle has went so far for you and really hope that you hear some good news soon. I want to ask if you have any letters of recommendation from anyone that may be questionable in any way. Your application as a whole may be strong but maybe a recommender stated something that made them less fond of admitting you. 🙁
 
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