4 Interviews, 3 Waitlists...thinking about next cycle

[cherrykissel]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi SDN, I applied to 25 schools this cycle and got 4 interview invites. So far, I'm on 3 waitlists and am waiting to hear back from 1 school. I'm coming to the realization that I should prepare for the next cycle just in case...I know that I need to improve my interview skills and apply earlier (most of my secondaries were submitted September-October and I interviewed Dec-Feb).
.
Anyways, so here's my question: I've noticed that most secondaries will ask reapplicants what they have done since they've last applied. I haven't added anything to my app this past year aside from 2 new LOR's and I'm currently working full time and hold 3 volunteer positions (4hrs/week in the hospital ED, 3 hrs/week as a front desk assistant at a nonprofit, 2hrs/week as a ESL tutor). It would be very difficult for me to find time to accommodate another EC. Would it be a red flag if I don't have any new things to add to my app? Or should I wait another year to find some new activities and reapply for fall 2014? I'm already 25 and I would much rather apply sooner than later, but I don't want to go through another cycle if it's just going to be a waste.

btw I'm a CA resident and my stats are GPA 3.8, MCAT 31

Any opinions would be appreciated, thanks!

UPDATE: Accepted off 2 waitlists in late May 🙂

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

Hi SDN, I applied to 25 schools this cycle and got 4 interview invites. So far, I'm on 3 waitlists and am waiting to hear back from 1 school. I'm coming to the realization that I should prepare for the next cycle just in case...I know that I need to improve my interview skills and apply earlier (most of my secondaries were submitted September-October and I interviewed Dec-Feb).
.
Anyways, so here's my question: I've noticed that most secondaries will ask reapplicants what they have done since they've last applied. I haven't added anything to my app this past year aside from 2 new LOR's and I'm currently working full time and hold 3 volunteer positions (4hrs/week in the hospital ED, 3 hrs/week as a front desk assistant at a nonprofit, 2hrs/week as a ESL tutor). It would be very difficult for me to find time to accommodate another EC. Would it be a red flag if I don't have any new things to add to my app? Or should I wait another year to find some new activities and reapply for fall 2014? I'm already 25 and I would much rather apply sooner than later, but I don't want to go through another cycle if it's just going to be a waste.

btw I'm a CA resident and my stats are GPA 3.8, MCAT 31

Any opinions would be appreciated, thanks!

I would probably reapply, and work on your interview skills. Seems like you are a good applicant if you got 4 interviews. Just make everything you did this year sound really nice in the secondaries, and apply to some new schools.

I'm curious to know what other people think in regards to taking yet another year of to strengthen your app. I'm in a similar position.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I disagree. Something is wrong with your school list, when you applied or a critical part of your app. You have a lowish MCAT for your 3.8 gpa, but you still should have received more than 4 interviews out of 25. Hell, I received 5 and my stats aren't even close (I applied DO, but I only have a 3.2/26). So, school list? App date? Had personal statement reviewed by PS readers (non-trad forum is best)? Have any other potential red flags?

 

[KaseyA]

I would probably reapply, and work on your interview skills. Seems like you are a good applicant if you got 4 interviews. Just make everything you did this year sound really nice in the secondaries, and apply to some new schools.

I'm curious to know what other people think in regards to taking yet another year of to strengthen your app. I'm in a similar position.

What's your science/technical gpa? Also, your ethnicity?

 

[PMPMD]

I disagree. Something is wrong with your school list, when you applied or a critical part of your app. You have a lowish MCAT for your 3.8 gpa, but you still should have received more than 4 interviews out of 25. Hell, I received 5 and my stats aren't even close (I applied DO, but I only have a 3.2/26). So, school list? App date? Had personal statement reviewed by PS readers (non-trad forum is best)? Have any other potential red flags?

Agree. CA resident doesn't help.

 

[cherrykissel]

My primary was submitted mid-July and was verified mid-August.
I was complete at most schools around September-October and got my first interview invite in November.

Can't really think of any red flags...I haven't directly contacted any schools yet, but seeing that I did get 4 interviews, I didn't really think I had anything glaringly wrong with my app.
I'm Asian btw.

 

[pkwraith]

Well, it does look like interviewing is probably your major hang up. 4 Interviews should be enough for an acceptance (~90% of at least one acceptance going just by probability).

Your plate looks reasonable. You just need to figure out a good response to the various re-applicant prompts, maybe about how you're able to leverage experience in your existing positions to further responsibilities and leadership.

 

[cherrykissel]

Thanks for your reply! The interview process was definitely the most difficult for me. I'm just a very shy person and it is extremely uncomfortable for me to talk about myself. I had several mock interviews and practiced for weeks, but I just get so nervous at the real thing.

 

[scarshapedstar]

You may want talk to a doctor about this performance anxiety - you may simply need a beta blocker, just like every standup comic you've ever watched on TV does. Or if you ever took an SSRI in the past, get back on it a month before you interview.

Do whatever you can to avoid having a year of effort sabotaged by a sweaty forehead. It sucks that a few hours can have such an outsized impact on the rest of your life but there's ways to cope.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

1. Have the non-trad readers read your PS. Having "a couple of docs" who know you read your letter is worthless. The people who read them don't know you from Adam, and they've read a hundred others this week. People who know you read into things. I had dozens of people read mine, no one helped me as much as the PS readers.

2. Apply June 1st. Don't fully recycle secondaries (schools keep your app from last year and compare what you said then to now)

3. Consider adding some DO schools, unless you're dead-set against it.

4. Do some mock interviewing with people who do not know you. See if you can use your school's career services center (you're a grad they may still help), or maybe see if an HR person where you work can help, if that wouldn't hurt your job (my former job the HR people would have helped me, but I knew them well)... Otherwise see if friends of friends could help...

 

[cherrykissel]

Thanks again for your comments! I really appreciate them 🙂
I've also contacted some of the schools I applied to and set up appointments to go over my app. Hopefully I'll get some more feedback to help me for the next cycle.

 

[ineed2stpsmurfn]

First you say:

I applied to 25 schools this cycle and got 4 interview invites. So far, I'm on 3 waitlists....

and then you had the bright idea to...

My primary was submitted mid-July and was verified mid-August.
I was complete at most schools around September-October and got my first interview invite in November.

while having a...

...my stats are GPA 3.78, MCAT 31

when you are a...

I'm a CA resident

and then you actually...

didn't really think I had anything glaringly wrong with my app.

RIGHT before you say...

I'm Asian btw.

lololol. gonna have to bring that mcat up. not to be condescending or anything it's just I think you had an idea at minimum that these problems held you back.