Annoying Rejection Letters

[hopefulmed100]

Rejection letter rant...

So rejection letters are expected. What annoys me are the letters that state that they had over 2000 competitive applicants and so after a review they decided they couldn't offer a interview to you. That's fine. The only flaw I see with that is that these schools don't have application deadlines until the end of December so how can they say they've had so many applicants and they can't offer you a interview.
In other words they shouldn't say that they have gotten all those applicants and rejected you when their applications deadline is still open for some time.They should wait at least until later to write this in their letters.It's kind of insulting to my intelligence.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

2 words ... **** 'EM!

I've received a few of those, and one went on to say "my application is on hold and if a spot opens up they will contact me" ... riiiight.

I'm just hoping I get in somewhere, or else, it'll be the day I beg McD's to hire me, and then getting laughed at for being over-qualified. and. rejected.

Jack Daniels never lets me down.

 

[jackieMD2007]

wouldn't you rather know that you're being rejected sooner rather than later so you know where to focus your attention?

so sorry about your rejection--sucks!!

 

[GuzzyRon]

wouldn't you rather know that you're being rejected sooner rather than later so you know where to focus your attention?

so sorry about your rejection--sucks!!

My thoughts exactly.
Usually, the longer a program holds on to my application, the higher my hopes rise (up until a certain point). And as much as rejection sucks, I'd rather be rejected by a program sooner following their review of my file than for them to wait until the end of December.

 

[hopefulmed100]

wouldn't you rather know that you're being rejected sooner rather than later so you know where to focus your attention?

so sorry about your rejection--sucks!!

I completely agree with this. I would rather find out now rather than later. The thing that annoys me about the rejection letter is that it says "our program had 2000 competitive applicants this year and we are unable to extend an interview invite to you."

It's only October and their applications are still technically open for another one to two months so they shouldn't say that "they had 2000 applicants this year." They could have used this line in their rejection letter AFTER their application deadline had passed but not when it's still so open.

 

[gutonc]

Rejection letter rant...

So rejection letters are expected. What annoys me are the letters that state that they had over 2000 competitive applicants and so after a review they decided they couldn't offer a interview to you. That's fine. The only flaw I see with that is that these schools don't have application deadlines until the end of December so how can they say they've had so many applicants and they can't offer you a interview.

This makes less than no sense.

The rejection says they had "over 2000 competitive applicants and so after a review they decided they couldn't offer a interview to you." And you're OK with that. You then go on to say that it's flawed because their application season is still technically open. Ummm...OK. True enough, but it's not like they're going to get fewer applications between now and then. So the ">2000" statement still stands as true. And if you (and this is a bummer, no doubt about it) didn't make the cut in the first 2000, are you somehow going to magically jump to the top of the list when another hundred or so people apply? Doubtful.

In other words they shouldn't say that they have gotten all those applicants and rejected you when their applications deadline is still open for some time.They should wait at least until later to write this in their letters.It's kind of insulting to my intelligence.

Why not, there's nothing logically inconsistent in this statement. It's not insulting to your intelligence (except that you don't understand your own argument). It's damaging to your ego.

 

[hopefulmed100]

This makes less than no sense.

The rejection says they had "over 2000 competitive applicants and so after a review they decided they couldn't offer a interview to you." And you're OK with that. You then go on to say that it's flawed because their application season is still technically open. Ummm...OK. True enough, but it's not like they're going to get fewer applications between now and then. So the ">2000" statement still stands as true. And if you (and this is a bummer, no doubt about it) didn't make the cut in the first 2000, are you somehow going to magically jump to the top of the list when another hundred or so people apply? Doubtful.



Why not, there's nothing logically inconsistent in this statement. It's not insulting to your intelligence (except that you don't understand your own argument). It's damaging to your ego.

If you read my post you would know that I'm not arguing about the rejection... just the rejection letter wording.
Am I happy that I got rejected. Of course not. But I do accept that rejections are going to come. That's part of the process. I know for a fact that this school never has more than about 2000 applicants TOTAL by the end of the interview season because they post it on their website. So they can't send a rejection letter saying that they "HAD 2000 applicants" when it's only October and they still have open applications for another 2 months.

What this means is that they probably reused last year's end of interview season rejection letter and didn't bother changing it. If they are going to reject someone than just reject them.Don't reuse the previous years rejection letter in the middle of the interview season. That's tacky and annoying.

 

[gutonc]

If you read my post you would know that I'm not arguing about the rejection... just the rejection letter wording.
Am I happy that I got rejected. Of course not. But I do accept that rejections are going to come. That's part of the process. I know for a fact that this school never has more than about 2000 applicants TOTAL by the end of the interview season because they post it on their website. So they can't send a rejection letter saying that they "HAD 2000 applicants" when it's only October and they still have open applications for another 2 months.

What this means is that they probably reused last year's end of interview season rejection letter and didn't bother changing it. If they are going to reject someone than just reject them.Don't reuse the previous years rejection letter in the middle of the interview season. That's tacky and annoying.

You have no idea how many applications they have at this point in the season. You may be right about the 2000 number. You probably aren't. You don't, and will never, know.

In the absence of data, you can make up any story you need to make yourself feel better. Which, if I remember my MS3 psych correctly (which I probably don't), is a mature coping mechanism so, you know, good for you.

At least they sent you a rejection...Stanford still owes me 2, one from 2005 and one from 2007 (residency and fellowship).

 

[QofQuimica]

If you read my post you would know that I'm not arguing about the rejection... just the rejection letter wording.
Am I happy that I got rejected. Of course not. But I do accept that rejections are going to come. That's part of the process. I know for a fact that this school never has more than about 2000 applicants TOTAL by the end of the interview season because they post it on their website. So they can't send a rejection letter saying that they "HAD 2000 applicants" when it's only October and they still have open applications for another 2 months.

What this means is that they probably reused last year's end of interview season rejection letter and didn't bother changing it. If they are going to reject someone than just reject them.Don't reuse the previous years rejection letter in the middle of the interview season. That's tacky and annoying.

Dude, let it go. No matter how they word it, it's still a rejection letter, so who cares if they used last year's form letter? If they really get 2000 applications every year, then they would probably rather spend their time reading all those 2000 apps instead of making sure that their rejection letters are worded just so. Forget about them and focus on your other programs instead of obsessing about irrelevant details. Your sanity will last a lot longer that way.

All that being said, rejections suck. Here's to hoping for some good news coming your way.

 

[Luv2Cut]

I think OP is saying that he'd rather the program tell him flat out that he's not going to be offered an interview due to their exclusivity rather than veil it in an excuse "we had TOO MANY applicants this year and can't offer you an interview."

Some people would rather be told straight out. And some people would rather be told in a diplomatic fashion to spare their feelings/ego.

Reminds me of someone that asks the prettiest girl in school out on a date. Don't tell me, "Oh I have to stay home that night because its the night I get my elbows sharpened." Just say no "It ain't gonna happen."

 

[hopefulmed100]

I think OP is saying that he'd rather the program tell him flat out that he's not going to be offered an interview due to their exclusivity rather than veil it in an excuse "we had TOO MANY applicants this year and can't offer you an interview."

Some people would rather be told straight out. And some people would rather be told in a diplomatic fashion to spare their feelings/ego.

Reminds me of someone that asks the prettiest girl in school out on a date. Don't tell me, "Oh I have to stay home that night because its the night I get my elbows sharpened." Just say no "It ain't gonna happen."

Exactly.Perfectly worded.

 

[atsai3]

I think OP is saying that he'd rather the program tell him flat out that he's not going to be offered an interview due to their exclusivity rather than veil it in an excuse "we had TOO MANY applicants this year and can't offer you an interview."

Same thing, different wording: demand for interviews (including the OP) outstrips supply.

-AT.

 

[JSdoc]

Let it go. You were rejected. They say what they say in order to have minimal emotional impact on people.

 

[Apollyon]

You got a rejection; some few years ago, I believe it was Wright State that sent me an email virus with their rejection.

Thanks, I needed that!

 

[gutonc]

You got a rejection; some few years ago, I believe it was Wright State that sent me an email virus with their rejection.

Thanks, I needed that!

That is 12 different kinds of awesome! At least they didn't send somebody to your house to punch you in the junk.

 

[Luv2Cut]

I think I like the ego sparing version. Here's what my first rejection email said:

"Per the ENT program director, interviews are now closed. Due to the number of applications we have received, it was impossible to interview everyone.
Thank you for your interest."

Thats means I'm an awesome candidate and due to sheer numbers they just ran out of interviews. Yea, I like that. At least thats what I'll tell myself.

 

[sella turcica]

honestly it would be nice if the remaining programs would either tell me yes or no, because limbo is annoying. I want to schedule flights to certain areas before they get too expensive, but if I wait, they might contact me. Oddly I haven't received a single rejection. 😕

I'm not losing sleep over it, though. Don't sweat the small details, they have to let people go some way or another. I wish I kept my Harvard Medical School rejection letter, they cleverly crafted it in such a way that said "don't bother applying again".

 

[coup de chance]

You got a rejection; some few years ago, I believe it was Wright State that sent me an email virus with their rejection.

Thanks, I needed that!

WOW. That is crazy. Probably some secretary was looking at porn.

 

[Deferoxamine]

I wish I kept my Harvard Medical School rejection letter, they cleverly crafted it in such a way that said "don't bother applying again".

I remember one medical school flat-out told me in January of application season in the rejection letter: "We are not giving you an interview." No embellishments, no soft words surrounding it, no attempts to blow smoke up my ass before or after the delivery.

Needless to say, I rooted against their powerhouse basketball team that winter when filling out my brackets, and they lost in the second round. 🙂

 

[jackieMD2007]

That is 12 different kinds of awesome! At least they didn't send somebody to your house to punch you in the junk.

"Could have been worse: rejection could have included a cockpuncher"
😱

 

[Jwax]

Let it go. You were rejected. They say what they say in order to have minimal emotional impact on people.

I find this thread interesting because for my rejections, all I read is "We're sorry to inform you that..." blah blah blah whatever. Email deleted, who wanted to go to your school anyway?

 

[netdevil]

I have applied at 80 odd surgery programs and have recieved only 5 rejections so far. No other responses. What does this mean guys? I'm an FMG with 88/99 scores, cleared my CS and good surgical experience in my own country.

 

[netdevil]

I hav rejections from UNC-Chapel Hill, University of Chicago, Emory Univ Atlanta, Medical College of Georgia, Stony Brook, St Louis, Univ of Toledo.
Dunno how many more will come. No invites yet. Probably screwed man. What do guys say?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I hav rejections from UNC-Chapel Hill, University of Chicago, Emory Univ Atlanta, Medical College of Georgia, Stony Brook, St Louis, Univ of Toledo.
Dunno how many more will come. No invites yet. Probably screwed man. What do guys say?

If you don't have good US experience, you're pretty much wasting your time applying to Univeristy based programs like those, unless you've got really impressive research credentials. If the other programs you have applied to are in the same league, you're going to be getting many rejections. You should apply to community based programs. And you'll need to consider whether you're willing to do a surgical prelim year instead -- could be a golden ticket to a categorical residency, could be a one way trip to nowhere.

 

[netdevil]

Thanks a lot for your reply. i have applied to numerous community based programs as well and have even applied for prelim at most of the places.
Will keep my fingers crossed ...