37 MCAT, 3.9 GPA waitlisted at top choice, rejected at the rest.

[chajjohnson]

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Hey guys,

So my application cycle this year has been pretty terrible. I took the MCAT July 14, and waited until I got my score back to even submit my apps (very stupid I know, but I didn't realize AMCAS took two months to process). I did very well on the MCAT (12P 13V 12B) and have a 3.9 cumulative GPA at my school. I'm a cell bio major and have won numerous academic scholarships and awards. I also have three years research experience with several published abstracts and one co-authored manuscript. I volunteered at a local hospice for about a year and a half, and i've done a smattering of other local volunteer projects. I have had no shadowing experiences. I submitted four letters of rec, one from my research PI and the other three from professors I've done very well with. I am a MN native my whole life.

I applied to my top choice school ( U of MN) and a few upper level schools just for fun (e.g. Mayo, Stanford...) thinking I wouldn't have a problem at the U of MN. So far, I've been waitlisted at the U and rejected everywhere else. I'm worried that with my stats the ADCOM saw a glaring issue somewhere in my application (didn't like my interview, lack of volunteer/clincal experience, etc) and I will be ranked poorly on the waitlist. I won't find out my ranking until May, which conveniently is when AMCAS opens for next cycle. The U will give me no info on why I was waitlisted until I get rejected, so I can't figure out how to improve my application by May.

Can you guys see any obvious weaknesses in my app that I can address by May? I'm thinking applying late screwed me up, and having my letters of rec from only professors may have made them think I spent all my time studying, not volunteering or anything.

Thanks so much.

 

[MedPR]

I'm of the opinion that post interview wait lists are a product of a poor interview or the school realizing that you won't be a great fit. Probably not something to do with how you look on paper.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[climbouthole]

This process is really hard to understand, and your situation is only evidence of that. You are very right your application time hurt you (verified in September is pretty late, late enough for someone with your stats to be left out it seems). And then because of your stellar numbers, I would encourage you to examine your letters/ECs IF you have to reapply.

I think you have a great chance of getting in off the wait list, but my opinion means hardly anything. IF you have to reapply, spend the year volunteering in an ER/hospice, maybe find a research gig/continue with your PI, but I'd imagine with a sustained engagent in clinical medicine and an on time/early app will net you multiple acceptances.

P.S. How many schools did you apply to? Just U of MN and some top tiers? Expand that just to widen your net and see what bites you get, again IF you reapply. Don't be discouraged by this cycle, I'd say by far the biggest issue you have is timing assuming letters/clinical experience is at least sufficient.

 

[chajjohnson]

If I had to decide between shadowing and volunteering for a few months, what do you think would be more worthwhile?

 

[alpinism]

Hey guys,

So my application cycle this year has been pretty terrible. I took the MCAT July 14, and waited until I got my score back to even submit my apps (very stupid I know, but I didn't realize AMCAS took two months to process). I did very well on the MCAT (12P 13V 12B) and have a 3.9 cumulative GPA at my school. I'm a cell bio major and have won numerous academic scholarships and awards. I also have three years research experience with several published abstracts and one co-authored manuscript. I volunteered at a local hospice for about a year and a half, and i've done a smattering of other local volunteer projects. I have had no shadowing experiences. I submitted four letters of rec, one from my research PI and the other three from professors I've done very well with. I am a MN native my whole life.

I applied to my top choice school ( U of MN) and a few upper level schools just for fun (e.g. Mayo, Stanford...) thinking I wouldn't have a problem at the U of MN. So far, I've been waitlisted at the U and rejected everywhere else. I'm worried that with my stats the ADCOM saw a glaring issue somewhere in my application (didn't like my interview, lack of volunteer/clincal experience, etc) and I will be ranked poorly on the waitlist. I won't find out my ranking until May, which conveniently is when AMCAS opens for next cycle. The U will give me no info on why I was waitlisted until I get rejected, so I can't figure out how to improve my application by May.

Can you guys see any obvious weaknesses in my app that I can address by May? I'm thinking applying late screwed me up, and having my letters of rec from only professors may have made them think I spent all my time studying, not volunteering or anything.

Thanks so much.

Just in case you have to reapply, 3 things:

1. Get some shadowing experience. At least 20hrs with 1 doc, preferably 50hrs from 2 docs. Get a LOR from one of the physicians. Not having any shadowing is a huge red flag at many schools (unless you have previously worked long-term with docs in a hospital/clinic setting, not a hospice). In addition, if you don't have any other volunteering (clinical or non-clinical) experiences besides the hospice, it would help to get some additional projects under your belt..

2. Submit your app in June and complete secondaries by August.

3. Apply to at least 10 schools including 4 or 5 safeties. Even with your stats, you still need to apply broadly just in case. If you want to stay close to home in the midwest, try schools like UW, MCW, Iowa, Creighton, Northwestern, UChicago, SLU, WashU, etc...

Good Luck!

 

[SOMBound13]

UMinn has likely WL'd you because they're assuming that you'll go elsewhere. They're concerned about yield.

You might as well contact UMinn and let them know that you will FOR SURE enroll if accepted. Others may know who all you should contact, but contact any and all appropriate people.

Also, send regular updates, etc. UMinn needs to know that you will enroll if accepted. Period.

Others can comment, but I think it would be ok to somehow diplomatically include that you have no other outstanding apps. That will let them know if they do accept you, you won't go elsewhere if an acceptance comes in later from elsewhere.

At this point, you have nothing to lose by being POLITELY agressive.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Did you apply to any safety schools?

 

[chajjohnson]

Did you apply to any safety schools?

No I didn't. U of MN is my first choice and I didn't really think I'd have problems getting in.

 

[SOMBound13]

No I didn't. U of MN is my first choice and I didn't really think I'd have problems getting in.

Again, UMinn likely thinks you're using them as a safety. They don't know that you only have rejections. You need to let them know that you will matriculate if accepted.

Others here know the right way to right a Letter of Intent that is kind of a formal commitment to a SOM that you will enroll if accepted. Hopefully someone will post more info.

Until then, formulate some kind of short letter indicating your strong interest in UM, that you intend to practice in your home state, and that you would enroll.

 

[Goro]

You have what looks like a stellar packet, so I'm worried about a red flag, like a poor LOR, or something like an IA, felony, or multiple and/or recent misdemenaors like DUIs.

OR the low wait listing and rejections post interview (you did get interviews, right?) says strongly that you bombed your interviews.

Suggest you contact the Admissions deans to see if you can get some feedback.

Hey guys,

So my application cycle this year has been pretty terrible. I took the MCAT July 14, and waited until I got my score back to even submit my apps (very stupid I know, but I didn't realize AMCAS took two months to process). I did very well on the MCAT (12P 13V 12B) and have a 3.9 cumulative GPA at my school. I'm a cell bio major and have won numerous academic scholarships and awards. I also have three years research experience with several published abstracts and one co-authored manuscript. I volunteered at a local hospice for about a year and a half, and i've done a smattering of other local volunteer projects. I have had no shadowing experiences. I submitted four letters of rec, one from my research PI and the other three from professors I've done very well with. I am a MN native my whole life.

I applied to my top choice school ( U of MN) and a few upper level schools just for fun (e.g. Mayo, Stanford...) thinking I wouldn't have a problem at the U of MN. So far, I've been waitlisted at the U and rejected everywhere else. I'm worried that with my stats the ADCOM saw a glaring issue somewhere in my application (didn't like my interview, lack of volunteer/clincal experience, etc) and I will be ranked poorly on the waitlist. I won't find out my ranking until May, which conveniently is when AMCAS opens for next cycle. The U will give me no info on why I was waitlisted until I get rejected, so I can't figure out how to improve my application by May.

Can you guys see any obvious weaknesses in my app that I can address by May? I'm thinking applying late screwed me up, and having my letters of rec from only professors may have made them think I spent all my time studying, not volunteering or anything.

Thanks so much.

 

[SOMBound13]

You have what looks like a stellar packet, so I'm worried about a red flag, like a poor LOR, or something like an IA, felony, or multiple and/or recent misdemenaors like DUIs.

OR the low wait listing and rejections post interview (you did get interviews, right?) says strongly that you bombed your interviews.

Suggest you contact the Admissions deans to see if you can get some feedback.

We don't know if he has a "low wait listing". That hasn't been yet determined. See below BOLD

I'm worried that with my stats the ADCOM saw a glaring issue somewhere in my application (didn't like my interview, lack of volunteer/clincal experience, etc) and I will be ranked poorly on the waitlist. I won't find out my ranking until May, which conveniently is when AMCAS opens for next cycle. The U will give me no info on why I was waitlisted until I get rejected, so I can't figure out how to improve my application by May.

JMO, but I don't think there has to be "glaring issues." It seems that you applied to a bunch of reaches that reject all kinds of qualified applicants. Then, you applied to your instate SOM, a school that probably largely enrolls MCAT 29-35 (non MD/PhD) students. So, your application comes along, you're interviewed because you're instate and qualified, but you didn't communicate to them that you REALLY want to go there. UMinn may be focused on Primary Care, yet the OP did no shadowing and is mostly research oriented. So, the SOM worries that with your stats you have more prestigious acceptances coming, they're concerned about yield, so they WL'd you.

There may be some glaring issues, but there may not be. He may just need to let UMinn know that he will enroll if accepted.

 

[chajjohnson]

Thanks for all the input guys. I sent the U of MN a letter saying it was my first choice and would attend if accepted but the Dean of Admissions said they don't take letters of intent or anything like that. It seems like they just want to be left to themselves for deciding the waitlist rank.

 

[SOMBound13]

Thanks for all the input guys. I sent the U of MN a letter saying it was my first choice and would attend if accepted but the Dean of Admissions said they don't take letters of intent or anything like that. It seems like they just want to be left to themselves for deciding the waitlist rank.

Did you have any individual interviews while there? Do you remember any names?

Are you saying that after you sent a LOI the Dean responded that they don't accept those? What about updates? Do they accept those? If so, then that could be a back-door method of including a hint of a LOI.

Suggest you contact the Admissions deans to see if you can get some feedback.

Is the above allowed? If so, this could be another back door way of providing a LOI.

I mentioned in another thread about how I got into one of my REUs. I had applied somewhat late, so I wasn't surprised when I was rejected. I really wanted this REU so I kept sending the "contact person" very polite emails week after week letting him know that I was still available in case someone changed their mind about participating. The week before the REU was scheduled to start, I sent another email. The next morning the phone rang and I was offered a spot...someone had just cancelled. Obviously it was much easier for them to call the person that had just let them know that he was still available rather then go thru a pile of old applications hoping to find someone who might still have an open schedule. I'm only sharing this to make the point that humans have a lazy side to them and if they know that they can avoid hassles by making only one call, they'll do it.

 

[chajjohnson]

Did you have any individual interviews while there? Do you remember any names?

Are you saying that after you sent a LOI the Dean responded that they don't accept those? What about updates? Do they accept those? If so, then that could be a back-door method of including a hint of a LOI.

Suggest you contact the Admissions deans to see if you can get some feedback.

Is the above allowed? If so, this could be another back door way of providing a LOI.

I mentioned in another thread about how I got into one of my REUs. I had applied somewhat late, so I wasn't surprised when I was rejected. I really wanted this REU so I kept sending the "contact person" very polite emails week after week letting him know that I was still available in case someone changed their mind about participating. The week before the REU was scheduled to start, I sent another email. The next morning the phone rang and I was offered a spot...someone had just cancelled. Obviously it was much easier for them to call the person that had just let them know that he was still available rather then go thru a pile of old applications hoping to find someone who might still have an open schedule. I'm only sharing this to make the point that humans have a lazy side to them and if they know that they can avoid hassles by making only one call, they'll do it.

I sent the dean of admissions a letter of intent and she said not to send any more information until the waitlist rank comes out. They also won't tell me why I was waitlisted until the rank comes out, so now I'm basically just guessing as to what my flaws were. I assume lack of shadowing was a big one.

Do schools really waitlist qualified applicants because they think they might not go there?

 

[FalconSlice]

I sent the dean of admissions a letter of intent and she said not to send any more information until the waitlist rank comes out. They also won't tell me why I was waitlisted until the rank comes out, so now I'm basically just guessing as to what my flaws were. I assume lack of shadowing was a big one.

Do schools really waitlist qualified applicants because they think they might not go there?

Possibly, but not quite sure. But what I can tell you (while I'm supposed to be studying for an exam but helping people on SDN just because...) is that lack of volunteering, shadowing, etc. shows that you are immaturely making a decision in medicine without being informed. If you really want to be a doctor, it is only understandable you should explore the field on your own time (because you want to) to convince yourself you actually do want to go into medicine.

 

[SOMBound13]

Do schools really waitlist qualified applicants because they think they might not go there?

Yes. Doesnt' that make sense? Schools worry about their yield. Undergrads do this as well.

 

[gyngyn]

Do schools really waitlist qualified applicants because they think they might not go there?[/QUOTE]

No, they don't interview them.

 

[SOMBound13]

Do schools really waitlist qualified applicants because they think they might not go there?

No, they don't interview them.

Not true...especially if it's an instate public...which in this case, it is. At a number of instate publics, they have a basic rubric that if an instate student meets the threshold, he's offered an interview.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I would say that the problem was your interviews and that did not apply to enough schools. If I were you, I would start preparing for next application cycle just in case. It sucks but worth it! Start volunteering at a hospital, shadowing a couple of doctors, and definitely practice interview skills. Apply to like 20 schools next cycle and apply broadly. You will prob get interviews at most of them.

 

[gyngyn]

Not true...especially if it's an instate public...which in this case, it is. At a number of instate publics, they have a basic rubric that if an instate student meets the threshold, he's offered an interview.

Sorry, I've only practiced in CA! I do seem to recall something like this for other states.

 

[Narmerguy]

Not true...especially if it's an instate public...which in this case, it is. At a number of instate publics, they have a basic rubric that if an instate student meets the threshold, he's offered an interview.

Schools reject and waitlist hundreds of "qualified" applicants. It's difficult to claim it's because the school is worried the applicant wouldn't attend if accepted. More likely, every school expects applicants to demonstrate interest in their school when they apply. If I applied to Harvard and seemed lukewarm about applying or as if I only did it because they were a top ranked school, I'd likely get rejected regardless of my "qualification." Maybe it's because they wouldn't expect me to attend, or maybe it's simply because they don't want a student like that in their class when they have plenty of others who care about the school and expressed that interest.

People, especially those with rejections, often like to think that schools rejected/waitlisted them because they were just so good that the school couldn't believe they'd ever choose them. This could be true at a fraction of schools, but I highly doubt it, and it's much more likely that these applicants shoot themselves in the foot by simply being neutral or weakly positive towards a school rather than express genuine interest/effort in the interview/essays. Interviewing applicants is expensive and a waste of time, schools do not waste interview spots unless they are considering admitting a student, but your behavior during that interview can certainly convince them otherwise.

 

[SOMBound13]

Do schools really waitlist qualified applicants because they think they might not go there?

No, they don't interview them.

Not true...especially if it's an instate public...which in this case, it is. At a number of instate publics, they have a basic rubric that if an instate student meets the threshold, he's offered an interview.

Sorry, I've only practiced in CA! I do seem to recall something like this for other states.

Yes. Calif would be different, very different.

Schools reject and waitlist hundreds of "qualified" applicants. It's difficult to claim it's because the school is worried the applicant wouldn't attend if accepted. More likely, every school expects applicants to demonstrate interest in their school when they apply. If I applied to Harvard and seemed lukewarm about applying or as if I only did it because they were a top ranked school, I'd likely get rejected regardless of my "qualification." Maybe it's because they wouldn't expect me to attend, or maybe it's simply because they don't want a student like that in their class when they have plenty of others who care about the school and expressed that interest.

People, especially those with rejections, often like to think that schools rejected/waitlisted them because they were just so good that the school couldn't believe they'd ever choose them. This could be true at a fraction of schools, but I highly doubt it, and it's much more likely that these applicants shoot themselves in the foot by simply being neutral or weakly positive towards a school rather than express genuine interest/effort in the interview/essays. Interviewing applicants is expensive and a waste of time, schools do not waste interview spots unless they are considering admitting a student, but your behavior during that interview can certainly convince them otherwise.

We're talking about an instate public (not a Calif public and not a private and certainly not a Harvard-like SOM). There are public SOMs that use a rubric to determine which instate applicants to invite. It's often a points system....and if an instate applicant meets the threshold, he's offered an invite.

 

[chajjohnson]

Do you guys think that with my stats there was some glaring issue that will preclude me from being accepted this cycle( i.e. getting ranked very poorly on the waitlist) or I still have a good shot? I'm just debating how to handle these next few months as far as preparation for the next cycle goes.

 

[gmcguitar4]

Do you guys think that with my stats there was some glaring issue that will preclude me from being accepted this cycle( i.e. getting ranked very poorly on the waitlist) or I still have a good shot? I'm just debating how to handle these next few months as far as preparation for the next cycle goes.

Re-write PS and try to get another LOR if possible. Prepare for June 1st submission WITH safety schools this time. I would say prepare like you aren't going to get in so in the case that you do, you aren't behind the game.