3 Interviews, no acceptance

[DocTheFuture]

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So this cycle I had 3 interviews. 1 decision pending for 6 months, 1 decision pending for 2 months and 1 waitlist. Sigh...

Is anyone on the same boat? What are your strategies for this situation?

 

[Meihua]

Have you sent out LOI(s) or contacted the schools in any way?

 

[DocTheFuture]

Yes I just sent a LOI to the wait listed school 3 weeks ago..

 

[3rdarmageddon]

I had 4 interviews, 1 rejection, 2 wait lists, and the final school hasn't released whether I was rejected or wait listed yet (they already gave out all their straight acceptances).

 

[passionformed]

I had 4 interviews, 1 rejection, 2 wait lists, and the final school hasn't released whether I was rejected or wait listed yet (they already gave out all their straight acceptances).

That's ridiculous. Your MCAT, GPA, and EC's are stellar. I am really scared about this whole process, it really is a crapshoot.

EDIT: Seems like you applied to rather high ranked schools... I really hope that explains it. Best of luck!

 

[Meihua]

Yes I just sent a LOI to the wait listed school 3 weeks ago..

That's about all you can do...one of my friends was in a similar situation last year and made it off the waitlist in May.

Start planning for what you would do in a gap year to improve your application, though.

 

[3rdarmageddon]

That's ridiculous. Your MCAT, GPA, and EC's are stellar. I am really scared about this whole process, it really is a crapshoot.

EDIT: Seems like you applied to rather high ranked schools... I really hope that explains it. Best of luck!

I did apply to some rather high ranked schools. But most of my interviews were at the better schools on my list. What really shocked me was the post interview rejection by my state school. I'm going to have to reassess my strategy for next year.

 

[JoshuaGuit]

26 schools, 2 interviews, 2 waitlists

 

[syoung]

Good luck guys... Keep showing them love.

 

[VictorAlpha]

That's ridiculous. Your MCAT, GPA, and EC's are stellar. I am really scared about this whole process, it really is a crapshoot.

EDIT: Seems like you applied to rather high ranked schools... I really hope that explains it. Best of luck!

This probably doesn't make you more assured but my experience was the bolded part x10🙁

If your stats are good; keep at it for upcoming cycles and you'll get it. You can be scared about any individual cycle, but know that if you keep working hard it will happen...that was also my experience

 

[applemac123]

I did apply to some rather high ranked schools. But most of my interviews were at the better schools on my list. What really shocked me was the post interview rejection by my state school. I'm going to have to reassess my strategy for next year.

did you apply late?

 

[apumic]

That's ridiculous. Your MCAT, GPA, and EC's are stellar. I am really scared about this whole process, it really is a crapshoot.

EDIT: Seems like you applied to rather high ranked schools... I really hope that explains it. Best of luck!

Applied
Duke University
Mayo Medical School
Applied, Rejected
University of California, San Francisco
Application Complete
Brown University
Emory University
Columbia University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
Stanford University
Tufts University
University of North Carolina
University of Pittsburgh
Vanderbilt University
Yale University
University of Central Florida

Invited for Interview
University of Hawaii

High MCAT with lack of common sense = OMNIREJECTION.

J/k, but seriously -- applying to all top-ranked schools is just setting yourself up for failure. We have several people with higher MCAT and GPA combos than his in my class and I have a friend with a balanced 38/3.8 who got rejected everywhere last year and this year only got into Loma Linda, where s/he will be matriculating in the fall (unless something changes in the next couple of months, anyway).

 

[apumic]

I did apply to some rather high ranked schools. But most of my interviews were at the better schools on my list. What really shocked me was the post interview rejection by my state school. I'm going to have to reassess my strategy for next year.

The reason your state school rejected you post-interview may very well be related to the reason everyone else waitlisted/rejected you post-interview. It's probably a case of "looks good on paper; didn't deliver in person." Higher ranked schools want high stats, so they tend to interview those people. However, an acceptance requires more than great stats.

 

[theherowedeserv]

3 WL. I am on your ship.

 

[Alejandro]

While your stats are strong, it doesn't necessarily mean that everyone in your group of stats are all destined for a top 20 school.

Thats almost like assuming schools that are outside of that range are looking for students WELL BELOW your stats, and all of their students don't even come close to you. Many schools, mid tier and even lower tier have very accomplished students.

 

[lcck]

It's very much so a crapshoot, no matter which schools you apply to-- sometimes you just get an interviewer who doesn't vibe well with you and wants to deconstruct everything you say. It's not really something you can control.

 

[Ellie Arroway]

High MCAT with lack of common sense = OMNIREJECTION.

I think that something that is overlooked in the importance of applying broadly is mental well-being. I've had an acceptance since November at a very good (but not top 20) school, which has kept me from going crazy just in case the high-ranked schools all gave me the boot or put me on the waitlist train. If I still had no firm acceptances I would be losing my mind.

 

[3rdarmageddon]

High MCAT with lack of common sense = OMNIREJECTION.

J/k, but seriously -- applying to all top-ranked schools is just setting yourself up for failure. We have several people with higher MCAT and GPA combos than his in my class and I have a friend with a balanced 38/3.8 who got rejected everywhere last year and this year only got into Loma Linda, where s/he will be matriculating in the fall (unless something changes in the next couple of months, anyway).

That list a little out of date. I applied to:

Columbia
Duke
Emory
Harvard
Hopkins
Mayo
Stanford
Tufts
UCSF
Central Florida
University of Hawaii
UNC
Pitt
Vanderbilt
Brown
Yale
OHSU
Wake Forest
WVU

And I am aware that I must have done something wrong, and that medical school weren't likely to be throwing themselves at me. At the same time, I only applied to schools where I was fairly confident I could be happy. I will apply more broadly next year, but I also knew that UH (where I would really like to go, and my state school) prefers re-applicants, and I wouldn't mind taking a year off if that's what it takes to get in.

 

[Meihua]

And I am aware that I must have done something wrong, and that medical school weren't likely to be throwing themselves at me. At the same time, I only applied to schools where I was fairly confident I could be happy. I will apply more broadly next year, but I also knew that UH (where I would really like to go, and my state school) prefers re-applicants, and I wouldn't mind taking a year off if that's what it takes to get in.

This. My list was also top-heavy, but I thought if I didn't get in anywhere I'd rather take a year off to strengthen my application and then reapply than go somewhere I didn't think I would be happy.

 

[alpinism]

Lol so you're saying you'd only be happy at top 25 schools?

 

[Snackish]

Zero acceptances, zero interviews, zero, zero, zero. Applying again. Life.

 

[ur2l8]

Zero acceptances, zero interviews, zero, zero, zero. Applying again. Life.

Stats?

 

[Snackish]

Stats?

3.7 cum and sci. 30 MCAT (11 verb/10 phys/9 bio). Complete October due to 2nd mcat in sept to rectify my 6 in verbal from my 1st 31 MCAT in may. Consensus is my late complete is why I didn't get any McLovin so I'm applying early this time.

 

[GopherMD]

3.7 cum and sci. 30 MCAT (11 verb/10 phys/9 bio). Complete October due to 2nd mcat in sept to rectify my 6 in verbal from my 1st 31 MCAT in may. Consensus is my late complete is why I didn't get any McLovin so I'm applying early this time.

I had similar stats (except worse sciGPA) and received zero interview invites the first time around. Reapplied with improvement in GPA (not by much though) with a couple more of experience and got accepted to my top choice along with 3 other MD interviews. Sometimes it just takes a second try. Stick with it and def apply early. Good luck!

 

[Snackish]

I had similar stats (except worse sciGPA) and received zero interview invites the first time around. Reapplied with improvement in GPA (not by much though) with a couple more of experience and got accepted to my top choice along with 3 other MD interviews. Sometimes it just takes a second try. Stick with it and def apply early. Good luck!

Thanks

 

[3rdarmageddon]

Lol so you're saying you'd only be happy at top 25 schools?

No, and while my list was definitely top-heavy, there were definitely some lower ranked schools that I was interested in for other reasons (UH, WVU, UCF). I will definitely put less emphasis on rank next time, and would be happy to hear any suggestions for private medical schools in warm climates to apply to (please PM so that I don't take over this thread any more than I seem to have already). I need the help, and have changed my criteria quite a bit since I submitted my primary.

 

[The Beyonder]

I think that something that is overlooked in the importance of applying broadly is mental well-being. I've had an acceptance since November at a very good (but not top 20) school, which has kept me from going crazy just in case the high-ranked schools all gave me the boot or put me on the waitlist train. If I still had no firm acceptances I would be losing my mind.

This to everyone applying in 2013. Having an acceptance early makes your cycle so much better, even if it's from a safety school.