Am I right to be this worried?

[Mistress S]

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Okay, as another week of complete silence draws to a close, I'm really starting to lose faith that I will get in this year. Not to say that I won't, but when I started this process I felt pretty confident, or I wouldn't have spent so much money and time on it. I have decent stats (32/3.75), years of clincal experience, and applied to a range of schools (15 that I completed secondaries for). Of course I worried, but overall I felt like I would probably get in somewhere.

However, I took the Aug MCAT, and I'm wondering if this effectively killed my app. I completed almost all of my secondaries prior to the release of new scores; most were done in September and a few in October. Scores have been out for over a month now, and all I have heard is 1 rejection. I called schools earlier this week and was just told that my file is complete and awaiting review. I know some schools are really slow--Einstein just sent me a "your file is complete" e-mail last week, over a month after I sent in my secondary. But I'm worried that by the time I get interviews (assuming I eventually do), I'll just be interviewing for the waitlist, since schools are already filling up their classes.

If you look at the Aug MCAT interview thread, tons of people have received interviews, so I feel like something is wrong with my application since I haven't heard anything. This process is turning me into a neurotic, obsessive loser, and I hate it. I didn't think I would have to wait this long after scores were released for interviews, but it looks like it may be awhile. SDN can give you a distorted picture I know, but I'm really scared; I don't know if I can go through this process emotionally and financially again. 🙁 So give it to me straight: are things really looking bad if I don't have a single interview yet, or is this normal and not that big of a deal?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Don't worry too much, it's still relatively early, especially for an August MCATer. You know how much of a roller coaster this process is. When you're looking at an empty mailbox day after day, you will start to feel nothing will go your way, which is not true. And later, when you get interviews, you will feel that everything will go your way, which is also not true. So stick to the center and bear with it for a while longer.

 

[DianaLynne]

I've been complete at some schools for going on three months now and still haven't heard anything other than "you're complete." I wouldn't worry yet, heck, we're just getting to the point that the deadline to submit secondaries is passing. Tons of people have gotten applications in after yours, the adcoms are just wading through a lot of work, they'll get to yours in good time.

Hang in there, this game isn't anywhere near over yet! 😉

 

[sdnstud]

i totally feel ya.

check out this thread http://forums.studentdoctor.net/sho...iews#post626236

This is a thread from last year. note that there were a bunch of interview invites in december (more than november!!!).

 

[Medikit]

I wouldn't start to worry until March, but you might want to start forming a backup plan and act on it in late January.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

i totally feel ya.

check out this thread http://forums.studentdoctor.net/sho...iews#post626236

This is a thread from last year. note that there were a bunch of interview invites in december (more than november!!!).

Linky no worky.

 

[lilmo]

i wouldn't worry about it. you have amazing stats and shouldn't have any problems getting in. the med school i attend interviews through the end of january and keeps spots open until they have interviewed everyone, letting people know of their acceptance/rejection in mid-february. i wouldn't worry about it filling up before you interview. good luck!

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

I think many folks still don't understand just how drawn out this process is. There are a disproportionately small number of high end applicants holding spots at a large number of schools right now.

The best 15% of applicants probably hold 50% of all current acceptances. They will only be dropping acceptances at a snail's pace for quite some time. At least up to when the slowest desirable school on their list gets back to them, maybe up to when financial aid award letters go out, or even up to the May 15th deadline. Once these dates start passing it's flood like.

Some schools are still accepting applications!

Last years threads show a huge amount of turnover between the end of April and the beginning of *July*. And when I say huge, I mean huge.

 

[faradayampere]

I think many folks still don't understand just how drawn out this process is. There are a disproportionately small number of high end applicants holding spots at a large number of schools right now.

The best 15% of applicants probably hold 50% of all current acceptances. They will only be dropping acceptances at a snail's pace for quite some time. At least up to when the slowest desirable school on their list gets back to them, maybe up to when financial aid award letters go out, or even up to the May 15th deadline. Once these dates start passing it's flood like.

Some schools are still accepting applications!

Last years threads show a huge amount of turnover between the end of April and the beginning of *July*. And when I say huge, I mean huge.

a "huge turnover" last yr, so you mean that ppl on waitlist got in or ppl got interviews in Apr and got in??

but in any case, it sounds great!!! at least, we -- avg applicants -- still have hope 🙂

 

[brynn7]

life sucks. i am so stressed out/just plain depressed. i feel like i have no control over my life right now. all i am trying to do is get a 4.0 this semester thats the only thing i feel like i can do to make me feel better. and i can send it to the schools i havent heard from and be like look biatch i am fabulous. i am also super broke but all i do is tutor in physics, biology, and chemistry and oh yeah i go to a super tiny liberal arts college where no one even takes science classes except for super smart motivated people that dont need tutors (i have like 2 students now). other than that i do some modeling. if you think your life sucks try mine. i get evaluated from every possible angle of my life. school=tests, writing papers, giving presentations.... applying to medical school=trying to seem smart, well-rounded, driven, capable.... modeling=yeah ok we only care how you look...no we feel like we're gonna go with the anorexic runway model over there, sorry you look a little tired. that girl does nothing else. she poses in front of the mirror all day long. i tell those girls i go to college and theyre all "wow, congratulations...thats so cool" i love my life. its f*cking fabulous. now just let me into a f*cking medical school!!!!!!

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

From what I understand, interviews decrease a lot around January. Some people interview into April, though, so it's not totally shut off.

But, if you're waitlisted, it's not over until the fat lady sings. I remember someone posting that they got accepted off the wait list on August 2nd!

The problem with "wait-list season" from April-July is that it's totally chaotic. Due to threads on this site, interviewfeedback.com, and other things you can sort of get a bearing on what's going on at what school at any given time. For example, you can see which schools are interviewing people, which are accepting people, what the interviews are like, etc. In contrast, during wait-list season, it's almost impossible to track what schools are doing what. It's totally disorganized by nature.

Every time a school receives a withdrawal, they accept another person off the wait list. Since they have no control over when people decide to withdraw, they have no control over waitlist flow.

 

[brynn7]

From what I understand, interviews decrease a lot around January. Some people interview into April, though, so it's not totally shut off.

But, if you're waitlisted, it's not over until the fat lady sings. I remember someone posting that they got accepted off the wait list on August 2nd!

august!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? that sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

I edited my post... check changes...

Yeah, I've heard of a great deal of "day-before-class-starts" acceptances. It's not merely anecdotal - I know current students who woke up the day before class, got the phone call, and immediately had to pack and find a place to live...

 

[faradayampere]

From what I understand, interviews decrease a lot around January. Some people interview into April, though, so it's not totally shut off.

But, if you're waitlisted, it's not over until the fat lady sings. I remember someone posting that they got accepted off the wait list on August 2nd!

The problem with "wait-list season" from April-July is that it's totally chaotic. Due to threads on this site, interviewfeedback.com, and other things you can sort of get a bearing on what's going on at what school at any given time. For example, you can see which schools are interviewing people, which are accepting people, what the interviews are like, etc. In contrast, during wait-list season, it's almost impossible to track what schools are doing what. It's totally disorganized by nature.

Every time a school receives a withdrawal, they accept another person off the wait list. Since they have no control over when people decide to withdraw, they have no control over waitlist flow.

so if you do not receive an invitation at the end of Dec (for Jan/Feb interview), you pretty much have a very small chance of getting in?? (and yes, there is exception, I'm not talking about those exceptions, just in a general sense)

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Check out this thread from last year. It looks like there are a surprisingly large number of interviews even up through mid February.

But it's still small compared to the huge number from November and December.

And it looks like by March they weren't able to keep the thread bumped.

 

[Mistress S]

Thanks for the replies so far. I don't know if I find that thread from last year very reassuring--it looks like the vast majority of interviews are from Oct and Nov, so it seems like if I don't hear something soon I may not at all. 🙁 I keep thinking each day that something will come, but then- disappointment. It's getting to the point where I feel like it would be better to just give up hoping so I won't feel disappointed, but I don't want to have to do that yet either. I feel like people are telling me not to worry, it's not too late yet, but it seems like everybody else at least has an interview by now, so how can I not worry? I was relieved when I got my MCAT scores back, but now I feel like all of my hard work may have been for nothing.

I know there are other people in the same position as me, but I don't see many of them on these forums. A lot of qualified people don't get in each year. Nobody wants to be that horror story that gets passed around on these boards, but I can't help feeling like that's where my app is headed. It was easier to reassure myself the first couple weeks after scores came out, but by now lots of people who took the Aug MCAT have received invites so its harder to tell myself "it's just too early".

Sorry this post is so whiny. I've been really up and down these past few weeks, and right now, after another quiet week, I'm pretty down. Hopefully something will happen to cheer me up next week.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Check out this thread from last year. It looks like there are a surprisingly large number of interviews even up through mid February.

But it's still small compared to the huge number from November and December.

And it looks like by March they weren't able to keep the thread bumped.

I am still awed by the thoroughness of PrincetonRock's fake interviews and acceptances.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Best troll _ever_.

Well, maybe. We've had a lot of entertaining trolls...

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

this thread is like a balm to my worried soul * applies lavishly *

 

[supersnuffles]

this thread is like a balm to my worried soul * applies lavishly *

That's sarcasm right? Sigh, I can't even tell anymore. 😕

 

[Fusion]

Mistress, you need not stress so much. Your numbers are really good, and if you applied to a range of schools, you will get accepted this year. As an August MCAT'er, many of the schools have not reviewed your application just yet. So you are at somewhat of a disadvantage in that regard, but I am sure this is nothing that you did not know already. But that is certainly not to say that you won't get in this year. You may not get into your #1 choice, but you will get into a good school nonetheless. We have not even reached the peak of interview invites, which will occur in Jan-Feb.

 

[faradayampere]

Mistress, you need not stress so much. Your numbers are really good, and if you applied to a range of schools, you will get accepted this year. As an August MCAT'er, many of the schools have not reviewed your application just yet. So you are at somewhat of a disadvantage in that regard, but I am sure this is nothing that you did not know already. But that is certainly not to say that you won't get in this year. You may not get into your #1 choice, but you will get into a good school nonetheless. We have not even reached the peak of interview invites, which will occur in Jan-Feb.

I'm really confused .... some ppl said the peak of the interview invites should be in Oct-Nov though?? Most schools interview from Sept to March, so normal distribution reasoning would yield the peak of the season is in Jan => most interview invites should come in Nov/Dec??? I'm not sure though ... any thoughts?

 

[JDAD]

Mistress, can you post the list of schools you applied to? That would help us in letting you know more about your situation.

 

[DrPharaohX]

To the OP:

I wouldn't worry. Last year I was an August MCATer and my MCAT scores were less than yours. I eventually interviewed in March and got in off the waitlist.

The thing with being an August MCATer is that by the time your scores come in and your application is complete for review, tons of other applications have already been submitted at an exponentially higher rate than earlier in the fall. Not only that, top applicants are currently holding the current spots, as has been mentioned, and they let go of them slowly throughout the cycle. So while it makes the waiting feel unbearable it doesn't mean you won't get in.

For an August MCATer, January - March is a good estimate for when you might start hearing about interviews. Of course you may hear earlier...or later...that's how it is with this cycle, but I wouldn't fret now seeing as how it's still November.

Also, you seem to have solid stats and involvements, so it's ok, take a breather and relax. Trust me, I know first hand how hard this cycle can be and I also know that it can be dangerous for your physical and psychological health if you "live in it," so make sure to find good outlets of energy to calm down.

 

[Mistress S]

Mistress, can you post the list of schools you applied to? That would help us in letting you know more about your situation.

Here is the list of schools I completed secondaries at--I originally applied to 20 schools, but my file is complete at these 15:

120 Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
105 Boston University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
118 Dartmouth Medical School (Regular M.D.)
833 Drexel University College of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
123 George Washington University Sch of Med & Hlth Sci (Regular M.D.)
132 Jefferson Medical Coll. of Thomas Jefferson Univ. (Regular M.D.)
167 Keck Sch. Of Med.University of Southern California (Regular M.D.)
801 Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
158 Oregon Health and Science University (Regular M.D.)
169 Stanford University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
172 Temple University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
140 The University of Miami School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
176 Tulane University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
108 University of California San Francisco (Regular M.D.)
145 University of Michigan Medical School (Regular M.D.)

Thanks to everyone offering encouragement and support, sorry to be so negative but that's just the way I've been feeling lately.

 

[Mistress S]

Actually, here is the link to my mdapplicants profile if that will be helpful in evaluating my situation:

http://mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=2183

 

[brynn7]

Actually, here is the link to my mdapplicants profile if that will be helpful in evaluating my situation:

http://mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=2183

you my dear are freaking fabulous. stop worrying. a 15 on VR?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD! that is a little bit scary. your ec's are very impressive. i wish i was you. 😳

 

[Mistress S]

you my dear are freaking fabulous. stop worrying. a 15 on VR?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD! that is a little bit scary. your ec's are very impressive. i wish i was you. 😳

Yeah, but did you see the science scores? Pretty mediocre. 🙄 Thank you though, you are very kind. You did make me feel a bit better. 🙂

 

[jiy76]

Hang in there mistress they will get to you. I am in the same position and have heard nothing.It sucks but imagine 1000 applications in front of you and you are applicant # 755. it takes time to get to you especially since they try to give everyone equal consideration. Don't get down you have good stats and should get in somewhere you applied to a lot of school. Keep the faith 🙂

 

[striped sweater]

Yeah, but did you see the science scores? Pretty mediocre. 🙄 Thank you though, you are very kind. You did make me feel a bit better. 🙂

sometimes it helps to read the posts of people in your situation from a year ago... then click on their recent posts to get a clue as to where they are now. over and over, i find them in medical schools firmly entrenched in their first year of studies which is hopefully where you will be next year!

also, have you done a check at mdapps to see how others have fared with similar science scores? they seem to get in just fine. i just bet they get later interviews is all.

good luck!!!

 

[BOBODR]

Yeah, but did you see the science scores? Pretty mediocre. 🙄 Thank you though, you are very kind. You did make me feel a bit better. 🙂

I feel your pain. I have applied to many of the same schools, have lopsided scores and decent EC's. Yet I have heard nothing except one rejection which was very surprising. Also I am worried because some schools although only a few such as BU are done interviewing in January. I dont want to pay to travel only to interview for waitlists and then spend every day praying that I get in a day before classes somewhere... but if thats what it takes I guess thats what I will have to do. Also I dont know if anyone who took the Aug MCAT has gotten any rejections, the thread doesnt indicate which MCAT was taken, So I guess in this case no news isnt neccessarily good news. Good luck.

http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=2617

 

[Khenon]

I think we need to be careful about saying that "most" interviews are done by January. Maybe "most" SDNers are done by then, but "most" the people on this website are top applicants. Most applicants are NOT on this website, thus using threads from this website is not a good evaluation of when the interview season is ending. I guess I don't have any other stats to show how busy interview seasons are, and when, but I don't think anything is over at this point. So many people interview in the spring, and they WILL get acceptances. You're not necessarily at the bottom of any barrel. For example, I know Mayo booked up their phone interviews about a month ago, through December (ie they couldn't schedule anything until Januay). Of course, they'll accept a few during that time, but they are going to wait until they can interview everyone they want before giving out the majority of their spots. There are many people waiting to get interviews, not just you, so I wouldn't worry at this point.

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

maybe that 8?

but i dont know OP
i have only gotten one intreview and its not till last week of jan
so dont feel alone...and best of luck
that vr is awesome
and ur ECs are nice too
good luck!

 

[doctorsean]

i agree, when I first saw the stuff said on this site, I freaked out, but then I realized that most people on this site are the exceptional applicants and us "avg" ppl need to be patient.

 

[Fusion]

I'm really confused .... some ppl said the peak of the interview invites should be in Oct-Nov though?? Most schools interview from Sept to March, so normal distribution reasoning would yield the peak of the season is in Jan => most interview invites should come in Nov/Dec??? I'm not sure though ... any thoughts?

The reasoning is that since most applications are reviewed in the order that they were completed, by the time the new year comes around, most admissions committees are turning their attention to the applications that were completed later in the process (i.e., August MCAT takers). Therefore, most August testers will hear back from medical schools some time during the first month or two of the new year. Couple this with applications that were completed earlier in the process but were put on a pre-interview hold for whatever reason, and you have peak season for interview invites. Once March gets here, applicants are on the tail end of interview season, and each passing day without an invite becomes more critical. DrPharaoX brings up some good points as well.

Bottom Line: Sit tight everyone, it's still relatively early.

 

[blacklisted]

Actually, here is the link to my mdapplicants profile if that will be helpful in evaluating my situation:

http://mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=2183

I just want you to know, you aren't alone. I've been feeling really down on myself as well. Take care of yourself, treat yourself to something nice, call your friends and ask them to tell you a joke over dinner. It helps, a lot. This is all going to work out, one way or another.

 

[Manifesting]

Mistress S: I completely relate to the anxiety you are feeling. I am in a similar situation, so I am unable to answer your question or provide facts to ease your mind. My reply is meant to reassure you that you are not alone. This entire process is SO burdensome for pre-meds. There must be a better way to standardize and streamline things, especially in light of physician shortages in so many areas. I wish you peace of mind as you wait and the joy of an eventual acceptance. Good luck.

This is my second effort, as I was an Aug 2003 MCATer. I am an older non-trad, so I decided before I initiated my 2005 applications that this had to be my year and that I would not apply again. I cannot keep my family hanging on to my dream any longer. Despite my best efforts to have my files complete at each of my ten schools relatively early in the cycle, two of my LORs were exasperatingly slow. If not for that delay, all of my files would have been complete by or before 10/20, but only one was and only because I lucked into an early, pre-secondary interview at that school. The other nine files completed between 11/8 & 11/19. The letters were written last February; what is so hard about mailing them??? ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!

Now I feel as though the whole deal is blown. I was rejected after that first and only interview and have been placed on hold for an interview at one other school. I have yet to hear from eight schools. Adcoms seem to be gearing down due to the approaching semester's end and/or holiday breaks. Interviews are being scheduled for Feb & March. I read these threads and it sounds like there are opportunities for acceptance in the spring or early summer, but for me, an acceptance then may be too late! I have a spouse with very specialized employment, two teens in school, two dogs and our house to sell; if I am not accepted until June, July or yikes, August, how will I possibly manage to pull off this complicated relocation??? We were really hoping for an early acceptance and a few months to plan and coordinate everything. Well, so much for that. I am not shooting for top tier, could care less about that, and would attend any of the schools to which I applied. I just need ONE acceptance so I can put this whole process behind me and focus on the future for myself and my family.

My perception is that as each day passes, my chance of acceptance diminishes exponentially. That perception may not be entirely correct, but as everyone posts news of interviews and acceptances, it is my reality. I am trying to be patient and optimistic, but I feel as though everything is unsettled. The waiting and hoping is so hard! This week, to distract myself, I intend to focus the mental energy I am wasting on worry to giving thanks for the many blessings in my life and to praying for the safe return of my 19 y/o nephew from his Marine post in Fallujah. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all. 😍

 

[Rzarecta]

life sucks. i am so stressed out/just plain depressed. i feel like i have no control over my life right now. all i am trying to do is get a 4.0 this semester thats the only thing i feel like i can do to make me feel better. and i can send it to the schools i havent heard from and be like look biatch i am fabulous. i am also super broke but all i do is tutor in physics, biology, and chemistry and oh yeah i go to a super tiny liberal arts college where no one even takes science classes except for super smart motivated people that dont need tutors (i have like 2 students now). other than that i do some modeling. if you think your life sucks try mine. i get evaluated from every possible angle of my life. school=tests, writing papers, giving presentations.... applying to medical school=trying to seem smart, well-rounded, driven, capable.... modeling=yeah ok we only care how you look...no we feel like we're gonna go with the anorexic runway model over there, sorry you look a little tired. that girl does nothing else. she poses in front of the mirror all day long. i tell those girls i go to college and theyre all "wow, congratulations...thats so cool" i love my life. its f*cking fabulous. now just let me into a f*cking medical school!!!!!!

Cheers sweets, I may not be the ADCOMs but you sound like a rockstar to me.

 

[Medikit]

If you became a republican you would increase your chances by like 5 million percent! 👍

 

[scooter31]

just my gut feeling after taking a peek at your MDApp profile--- look for OHSU and Dartmouth to bite soon. I have a feeling that the hold up is the Aug MCAT and the score distribution-- maybe a lot of these places are trying to figure out how to your distribution works in their schemas of who to interview. Just my thought, but you definitely have a solid app, nothing to be ashamed of--- but in the crowd of square pegs that they normally see every app season, well... the round ones take awhile to figure out. Take it as a compliment 👍

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Best troll _ever_.

Well, maybe. We've had a lot of entertaining trolls...

huh? why would you think this person is a troll? sounds totally legit to me 😕

and it's normal for people to feel anxious when they haven't heard from anywhere and others have.

 

[scooter31]

huh? why would you think this person is a troll? sounds totally legit to me 😕

and it's normal for people to feel anxious when they haven't heard from anywhere and others have.

The reply is in response to the above poster 's (Pinkertickle) mentioning of Princeton Rocks.... 👍 a troll's troll, shall we say

 

[LionKing]

Mistress, Just to let you know, You are not alone- I too haven't heard anything from more than a few of the schools you applied to... I, unfortunately was complete at a lot way back in July/Early Aug. I received my first rejection from Pitt last week and have heard absolutely nothing from anyone else except for 1 interview waitlist- Don't feel down, just be patient, You'll get through this!

 

[wisteria]

Mistress S: I completely relate to the anxiety you are feeling. I am in a similar situation, so I am unable to answer your question or provide facts to ease your mind. My reply is meant to reassure you that you are not alone. This entire process is SO burdensome for pre-meds. There must be a better way to standardize and streamline things, especially in light of physician shortages in so many areas. I wish you peace of mind as you wait and the joy of an eventual acceptance. Good luck.

This is my second effort, as I was an Aug 2003 MCATer. I am an older non-trad, so I decided before I initiated my 2005 applications that this had to be my year and that I would not apply again. I cannot keep my family hanging on to my dream any longer. Despite my best efforts to have my files complete at each of my ten schools relatively early in the cycle, two of my LORs were exasperatingly slow. If not for that delay, all of my files would have been complete by or before 10/20, but only one was and only because I lucked into an early, pre-secondary interview at that school. The other nine files completed between 11/8 & 11/19. The letters were written last February; what is so hard about mailing them??? ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!

Now I feel as though the whole deal is blown. I was rejected after that first and only interview and have been placed on hold for an interview at one other school. I have yet to hear from eight schools. Adcoms seem to be gearing down due to the approaching semester's end and/or holiday breaks. Interviews are being scheduled for Feb & March. I read these threads and it sounds like there are opportunities for acceptance in the spring or early summer, but for me, an acceptance then may be too late! I have a spouse with very specialized employment, two teens in school, two dogs and our house to sell; if I am not accepted until June, July or yikes, August, how will I possibly manage to pull off this complicated relocation??? We were really hoping for an early acceptance and a few months to plan and coordinate everything. Well, so much for that. I am not shooting for top tier, could care less about that, and would attend any of the schools to which I applied. I just need ONE acceptance so I can put this whole process behind me and focus on the future for myself and my family.

My perception is that as each day passes, my chance of acceptance diminishes exponentially. That perception may not be entirely correct, but as everyone posts news of interviews and acceptances, it is my reality. I am trying to be patient and optimistic, but I feel as though everything is unsettled. The waiting and hoping is so hard! This week, to distract myself, I intend to focus the mental energy I am wasting on worry to giving thanks for the many blessings in my life and to praying for the safe return of my 19 y/o nephew from his Marine post in Fallujah. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all. 😍

Cheer up! That's so cool that you have kids! You're lucky you're going into medicine already having had kids - i have this paranoia that by the time i get around to having a family i'm goin go be way too old. I agree it sucks to not hear anything at all. I've had one interview, two rejections (BU and Georgetown) and haven't heard squat from any other school (11 others). I was completed everywhere by late september. several of my friends who applied with similar stats to me (~30 mcat ~3.3 gpa) didn't get any of their med school correspondence til january-march. and they DID all get in.

 

[baldguy]

I have similar stats and am in a similar situation. A couple replies, but still waiting at a ton of schools. I can check all of the schools that have status pages in my sleep. Depressing process, but I agree with everyone else, your stats are great and you will prevail, hang in there.

I have two kids, who are wonderful, but I am a bit wary about what 7 years of toil at little or no pay is going to do to them in the long term. Careful what you wish for!

 

[Manifesting]

wisteria and baldguy: thanks for the words of cheer! sometimes it just helps to vent, you know? I felt much more calm after I posted my message yesterday. When I got home and retrieved the mail, I was thrilled to find an interview invitation to one of my top choice schools! I'll be making that trip in just two weeks and might actually hear back from them before the holiday break. What a gift that would be! It is so funny, 'cause my kids asked me just last week what was on my Christmas wish list. I said the only thing I wanted was an acceptance. I hear you with the "careful what you wish for" warning and I worry also about the impact of my plans on my kids, but I know I will always be disappointed and full of regret if I do not give my best effort to becoming a physician. Growing up with a parent who is regretful/unfulfilled/uninspired is definitely unhealthy; I know, I had two of them! I do not want to follow the path of my own parents and I pray that my children will perceive my desire and efforts to "manifest my destiny" as a positive example for their adult lives. I strongly believe that if we all would do what we love and love what we do, the world would be a happier, healthier place. Can you imagine the magnitude of positive energy, ethusiasm and accomplishment which would fill such a world? THAT is what I want for my kids.

If you think of it, please send me some good thoughts/prayers/karma/etc. for success at my interview on 12/7. Many thanks! Again, Happy Thanksgiving to all and best wishes for your own pieces of good news very soon!

 

[Tiki]

I edited my post... check changes...

Yeah, I've heard of a great deal of "day-before-class-starts" acceptances. It's not merely anecdotal - I know current students who woke up the day before class, got the phone call, and immediately had to pack and find a place to live...

I got into my top choice school two days before classes started.


And to the poster who said that must suck, I assure you it doesn't. It was the happiest day of my life. 🙂

If the end of January comes and goes and you have no interviews, then I'd start to worry. Until then, I'd try to relax. Good luck to ya'll.

 

[kc123]

Here is the list of schools I completed secondaries at--I originally applied to 20 schools, but my file is complete at these 15:

120 Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
105 Boston University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
118 Dartmouth Medical School (Regular M.D.)
833 Drexel University College of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
123 George Washington University Sch of Med & Hlth Sci (Regular M.D.)
132 Jefferson Medical Coll. of Thomas Jefferson Univ. (Regular M.D.)
167 Keck Sch. Of Med.University of Southern California (Regular M.D.)
801 Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
158 Oregon Health and Science University (Regular M.D.)
169 Stanford University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
172 Temple University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
140 The University of Miami School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
176 Tulane University School of Medicine (Regular M.D.)
108 University of California San Francisco (Regular M.D.)
145 University of Michigan Medical School (Regular M.D.)

Thanks to everyone offering encouragement and support, sorry to be so negative but that's just the way I've been feeling lately.

Hi, Mistress,

I just read through some of your posts, and your profile sounds really solid. I applied to a lot of the same schools that you did. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but I think you will get in. You have a lot going for you. (Maybe you are already in, and I just didn't see that post).

I think sending an update letter is a great idea. It will make you stand out from others, and bring your application closer to the top of the pile. Have you heard anything from BU yet? BU really appreciates non-traditional applicants, from everything that I have heard. I wrote them a detailed letter to accompany my secondary (explaining "gaps in my education," and I think this helped me quite a bit. BU is one of the two schools that I have heard from so far. I imagine that if you got a 15 on the verbal section, then your writing skills aren't too shabby, so this could really help you. (My MCAT scores were lopsided, too, but it was my verbal that was terrible, and my overall score was less than yours). Play up your ECs. BU is very serious about their commitment to Boston's underserved population (something that really drew me to the school). Sorry that I can not speak as much about the other schools. BU is the only school that I've interviewed at so far, so I did a fair amount of research before my interview.

Hope this helps a little bit. Feel free to PM me w/ questions.

Karin

 

[Mistress S]

Hi, Mistress,

I just read through some of your posts, and your profile sounds really solid. I applied to a lot of the same schools that you did. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but I think you will get in. You have a lot going for you. (Maybe you are already in, and I just didn't see that post).

I think sending an update letter is a great idea. It will make you stand out from others, and bring your application closer to the top of the pile. Have you heard anything from BU yet? BU really appreciates non-traditional applicants, from everything that I have heard. I wrote them a detailed letter to accompany my secondary (explaining "gaps in my education," and I think this helped me quite a bit. BU is one of the two schools that I have heard from so far. I imagine that if you got a 15 on the verbal section, then your writing skills aren't too shabby, so this could really help you. (My MCAT scores were lopsided, too, but it was my verbal that was terrible, and my overall score was less than yours). Play up your ECs. BU is very serious about their commitment to Boston's underserved population (something that really drew me to the school). Sorry that I can not speak as much about the other schools. BU is the only school that I've interviewed at so far, so I did a fair amount of research before my interview.

Hope this helps a little bit. Feel free to PM me w/ questions.

Karin

Hey Karin,

Thanks for the encouragement! I am not in anywhere yet, but I have had one interview (at OHSU) and another one scheduled for Mt Sinai in Feb. I am still waiting to hear from ~10 schools, including BU. I actually just finished writing update letters to all of those schools which I am going to send out tomorrow, so we'll see what happens. So I guess good luck to both of us!