anyone else failing to get interviews?

[chookie]

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I felt so confident at the end of my postbacc classes (last spring) and my advisor seems to still think positively about my candidacy but I have had NO INTERVIEWS so far and 6 rejections (applied to 21 schools). I am so miserable and disappointed about this... friends of mine are already getting acceptances. I went to an Ivy league school for postbacc and a very high-ranking undergrad university. My GPA is ~3.4 and MCAT score is 30 (10/10/10). What is going on? Is anyone else having this experience?

 

[AZCOMstudentdoc]

What is going on? Is anyone else having this experience?

Chookie:

Yes...I have experienced something similar. I was confident going in 😎 - despite scoring a mediocre (at best) 27 MCAT - with my 3.8 graduate GPA (MS Biochemistry), research experience, a wealth of professional work experience, great ECs, great LORs, and a very interesting 'story' with my PS, yet, I was rejected by nearly every school to which I applied 🙁 .

My saving grace is the single DO school I applied to...accepted 😀 . It seems like the Osteopathic programs really value life / work experience, research, etc; and perhaps, for a variety of reasons, they are much more willing to look past a so-called 'average' or 'mediocre' MCAT or GPA (although there are a good amount of exceptions, A LOT of acceptees I have read about on this website have MCAT score above 30). To me, they seem more inclined to look at the big picture of you, as a candidate, future medical student, and future physician.

Now...that being said...I am still waiting to hear a decision from my state school (allopathic).

There are so many variables...it really is hard to say exactly WHY adcoms have not really moved on your app (only 6 rejections out of 21 apps tells me that you should definitely NOT be too worried, yet). Something should come through for you...especially if you applied to your state school in addition to a DO program or 2.

Keep after it 👍 .

 

[kimmcauliffe]

Keep your chin up- all it takes is one acceptance. 😉

 

[NontradICUdoc]

I am in a similar boat except I have a low MCAT. I was advised to retake the MCAT which I am.

The advise I was given was to contact the schools when the cycle is over and request an appointment to discuss your application and what they advise to do to make your application more competative.

 

[Dave_D]

Another one here in the same boat. My MCAT is good at 33 but my GPA could be better. (Yes, another one of those "Did horribly when I was a young undergrad, did great post bacc.) I figured I only need to apply to about 10 schools and I'd get at least 3-4 interviews and one acceptance. Not sure if it's my overall GPA that's killing me or the fact I have so few EC's. I'm going by the same advice others have said, wait until the season is over and then call up some schools and ask what I need to do to be more competative. I'm also going to evaluate if I should apply to schools I previously applied to.(Albany and MCW are both definitely not getting a second chance at me. Hawaii probably won't and maybe Brown as well.)

 

[bubbleyum]

I felt so confident at the end of my postbacc classes (last spring) and my advisor seems to still think positively about my candidacy but I have had NO INTERVIEWS so far and 6 rejections (applied to 21 schools). I am so miserable and disappointed about this... friends of mine are already getting acceptances. I went to an Ivy league school for postbacc and a very high-ranking undergrad university. My GPA is ~3.4 and MCAT score is 30 (10/10/10). What is going on? Is anyone else having this experience?

hi chookie. i have about the same stats as you (3.4 overall, 3.8 bcpm, 30 mcat) and am a post-bacc student. i applied early and have only had one interview... i didn't expect schools to fall all over me but thought i would get a decent chance at most of the mid-range schools i applied to. and the invites that are still being sent out now seem like they are being sent out to august mcaters... i have pretty much lost hope for this cycle. no love even from my state school.

so far i am still volunteering and taking classes to improve my application(maybe for next cycle). i also work full-time.

you are not alone! (but i'm sure that's not much encouragement right now. 😳 )

 

[efex101]

It is NOT the end yet *but* once this is over and "if" you have not seen success you need to call/e-mail ALL schools and ask. This will give you a better idea to items that you might need to adress. Also, did all of you send in application materials ASAP? to include timely LOR's? this can often be very important specially for those applicants with soso GPA/MCAT combos...

 

[happydays]

Dave,
According to your MDapp profile, I'd say you really should have applied to more "lower tiered" schools. The average successful applicant has a 3.5 science GPA, 30 MCAT, and 13~15 applications. Since you're right about average, you should have applied to a couple more small schools. Just my 2 cent. You really should call to ask each adcom to get the real answer.

 

[happydays]

I felt so confident at the end of my postbacc classes (last spring) and my advisor seems to still think positively about my candidacy but I have had NO INTERVIEWS so far and 6 rejections (applied to 21 schools). I am so miserable and disappointed about this... friends of mine are already getting acceptances. I went to an Ivy league school for postbacc and a very high-ranking undergrad university. My GPA is ~3.4 and MCAT score is 30 (10/10/10). What is going on? Is anyone else having this experience?

To the OP,

I hope you didn't apply to 16 top-20 schools and 5 "safety" schools. That's usually where applicants go wrong. (But I don't know your whole profile, so I have no basis to comment on anything else. You should consult your advisor again.)

 

[Dave_D]

Dave,
According to your MDapp profile, I'd say you really should have applied to more "lower tiered" schools. The average successful applicant has a 3.5 science GPA, 30 MCAT, and 13~15 applications. Since you're right about average, you should have applied to a couple more small schools. Just my 2 cent. You really should call to ask each adcom to get the real answer.

Yes, I think you have a point there. The reason I didn't do that is that I based it more on what I had done recently. Since I originally was an undergrad in the early 90's I figured what I had done for the past 2 years as a post bacc premed would be the thing that most schools would really pay attention to since it describes me now.(Basically spent those 2 years pretty much a full time premed, taking a total of 13 classes with a GPA of about 3.9) I figured with such a dramatic turn-around I wouldn't seem so average. Oh well, live and learn. I will be applying to osteopathic schools this time. (I know, should have done it the first time.) I will call the schools to find out what they'd like to see me improve.(Well, all except Albany. Won't waste any time on them.)

 

[AZCOMstudentdoc]

I am wondering how many more of us non-trads (with MCATs ranging from acceptable to great) have done great with their post-bacc and / or graduate GPA - feeling like they have overcome a poor to average undergrad GPA - only to not see the admissions process results they had hoped for.

One possible common thread to those applicants is the undergrad GPA that leaves something to be desired.

Are there more schools out there that strictly look at undergrad GPA in spite of post-bacc or graduate GPA?

 

[ShyRem]

mid30, I've gotten denied the 'potential interview' pile at several schools because of my 20 year old grades. My MCAT, while not stellar, is a 29 (and there are many folks who get interviews with lower MCATs than that), but my overall GPA is a 3.23. My recent GPA is a 3.6 (much more acceptable). I'm not talking about Harvard Med here... I'm talking about mid-lower tier schools. Even my state school. Many schools are all about bottom line numbers to get you past the initial cuts. If you don't have the minimum numbers, no matter what the circumstances, you don't make it. You could win a nobel prize but get kicked out due to poor old grades bringing your GPA down. Sad, but true. Lots of number-whoring in med school admissions.

 

[AZCOMstudentdoc]

mid30, I've gotten denied the 'potential interview' pile at several schools because of my 20 year old grades. My MCAT, while not stellar, is a 29 (and there are many folks who get interviews with lower MCATs than that), but my overall GPA is a 3.23. My recent GPA is a 3.6 (much more acceptable). I'm not talking about Harvard Med here... I'm talking about mid-lower tier schools. Even my state school. Many schools are all about bottom line numbers to get you past the initial cuts. If you don't have the minimum numbers, no matter what the circumstances, you don't make it. You could win a nobel prize but get kicked out due to poor old grades bringing your GPA down. Sad, but true. Lots of number-whoring in med school admissions.

This is something I was ignorant to going in...I thought that my post-bacc and graduate GPAs would essentially 'replace' my poor undergrad GPA (2.8 ). I think this could hurt a lot of us...because so many non-trads are completing post-bacc / graduate work for the exact same reason...to earn a more competitive GPA...only to have their hard work ignored by some school in the initial screen...what a bummer!

 

[hokiemon]

Just out of curiousity, are you asian or south-east asian?

 

[chookie]

Just out of curiousity, are you asian or south-east asian?

No, Chookie is my cat's name

 

[chookie]

To the OP,

I hope you didn't apply to 16 top-20 schools and 5 "safety" schools. That's usually where applicants go wrong. (But I don't know your whole profile, so I have no basis to comment on anything else. You should consult your advisor again.)

Well... like many of us I'm sure, I was told that there are no "safety" med schools. However, I did apply to a good range -- SUNY (I am from NY), other mid-tier schools, and a few Ivies.

 

[chookie]

Chookie:

It seems like the Osteopathic programs really value life / work experience, research, etc; .

Are you happy with that compromise or do you still feel like you have missed out by not getting into an MD program?

 

[AZCOMstudentdoc]

Are you happy with that compromise or do you still feel like you have missed out by not getting into an MD program?

I don't really see it as much of a compromise...Osteopaths and Allopaths all receive the same training...its just that Osteopaths get a little additional training in OMM. Any perceived fundamental philosophical differences don't matter to me (although the whole person disease-state and preventative medicine approach is one I like, and incidentally think even Allopaths support).

Your medical education is what you make of it...if you are going to be a great physician, it matters not where you get your training.

The key difference for me is a practical one...tuition at the private Osteopathic school where I have been accepted is around $36,000 per year, whereas my state Allopathic school offers tuition at around $15,000 per year...almost 1 1/2 times less.

So, I would really like to get in at my state school...but I will be a medical student this year no matter what 😀 .

 

[remo]

I felt so confident at the end of my postbacc classes (last spring) and my advisor seems to still think positively about my candidacy but I have had NO INTERVIEWS so far and 6 rejections (applied to 21 schools). I am so miserable and disappointed about this... friends of mine are already getting acceptances. I went to an Ivy league school for postbacc and a very high-ranking undergrad university. My GPA is ~3.4 and MCAT score is 30 (10/10/10). What is going on? Is anyone else having this experience?

Are you missing clinical experience or good LOR's? If you don't have enough exposure to medicine or have average LOR's that might be your problem.

 

[ShyRem]

mid30, again, you and I have the same thoughts. I've been accepted to a DO program, but unfortunately not even interviewed by my own state school. I have, however, been interviewed by VCU. Go figure.

It also matters not where I get my education. A good doctor is more than what initials are after their name, and I think you can make the most of even the worst education (whether MD, DO, or foreign - you know some schools are better than others in each category) and come out better than someone who goes to BMS (Best Medical School) and screws around.

 

[AZCOMstudentdoc]

mid30, again, you and I have the same thoughts. I've been accepted to a DO program, but unfortunately not even interviewed by my own state school. I have, however, been interviewed by VCU. Go figure.

It also matters not where I get my education. A good doctor is more than what initials are after their name, and I think you can make the most of even the worst education (whether MD, DO, or foreign - you know some schools are better than others in each category) and come out better than someone who goes to BMS (Best Medical School) and screws around.

You can say that again 👍 !

 

[Jamers]

Chookie:

Yes...I have experienced something similar. I was confident going in 😎 - despite scoring a mediocre (at best) 27 MCAT - with my 3.8 graduate GPA (MS Biochemistry), research experience, a wealth of professional work experience, great ECs, great LORs, and a very interesting 'story' with my PS, yet, I was rejected by nearly every school to which I applied 🙁 .

My saving grace is the single DO school I applied to...accepted 😀 . It seems like the Osteopathic programs really value life / work experience, research, etc; and perhaps, for a variety of reasons, they are much more willing to look past a so-called 'average' or 'mediocre' MCAT or GPA (although there are a good amount of exceptions, A LOT of acceptees I have read about on this website have MCAT score above 30). To me, they seem more inclined to look at the big picture of you, as a candidate, future medical student, and future physician.

Now...that being said...I am still waiting to hear a decision from my state school (allopathic).

There are so many variables...it really is hard to say exactly WHY adcoms have not really moved on your app (only 6 rejections out of 21 apps tells me that you should definitely NOT be too worried, yet). Something should come through for you...especially if you applied to your state school in addition to a DO program or 2.

Keep after it 👍 .

Not a non-trad. applicant, I just saw this thread and read your post. I would just like to say that I agree completely with what you said about Osteopathic schools. I applied to one Allopathic school and only because a doctor friend of mine made me. I applied to Osteopathic schools because I wanted to get accepted because they liked me as a person, not because of how I did on a test.

 

[.edu-MD]

[Expired.]

 

[Law2Doc]

Are you missing clinical experience or good LOR's? If you don't have enough exposure to medicine or have average LOR's that might be your problem.

I agree with this post (as well as those saying you need to contact schools after the cycle if you don't get in, to see how you might improve your app for next year). There are many factors other than the numerical ones you cited. Did you apply early? Was your PS (and secondary essays) strong and your reasons for medicine well thought out? Do you have solid ECs? Could one of your LOR's have tanked you? Any major blemishes in your past (academic or criminal)? You didn't mention the letter score on the essay part of the MCAT -- was it also adequate? As you can see, there are many reasons your app could get snagged. If you don't get in, you need to find out where the problem is and spend the next cycle fixing it, and then apply more broadly. Good luck.

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

I am older (29) and as nontraditional as they come - married all through undergrad, had to take a year off (family tragedy) so undergrad done in 5 years, GED, had to go to piddly undergrad due to husband's job location, etc and I think some schools really have a hard time with this....don't they realize that people don't come out of cookie cutters and don't all take the same road to med school? Whatever happened to all the "life experience is a plus" mumbo jumbo and "diversity" nonsense you hear about? Diversity is not race or creed alone, it is also the life you have lived! I had no premedical advisor and only applied to 6 schools...3 interviews (leading to 1 acceptance and 1 waitlist, 1 int. still pending), 2 rejections and 1 school who has said absolutely nothing one-way or the other! At least one school thinks I will be a good doctor.

Sorry to sound like I’m ranting, but I just really hate it when good applicants get passed over for those that fit the traditional mold better.

 

[happydays]

I am older (29) and as nontraditional as they come - married all through undergrad, had to take a year off (family tragedy) so undergrad done in 5 years, GED, had to go to piddly undergrad due to husband's job location, etc and I think some schools really have a hard time with this....don't they realize that people don't come out of cookie cutters and don't all take the same road to med school? Whatever happened to all the "life experience is a plus" mumbo jumbo and "diversity" nonsense you hear about? Diversity is not race or creed alone, it is also the life you have lived! I had no premedical advisor and only applied to 6 schools...3 interviews (leading to 1 acceptance and 1 waitlist, 1 int. still pending), 2 rejections and 1 school who has said absolutely nothing one-way or the other! At least one school thinks I will be a good doctor.

Sorry to sound like I’m ranting, but I just really hate it when good applicants get passed over for those that fit the traditional mold better.

Well, you can't assume that just because the traditional students are younger that they all lack the experiences that you have. My family has gone through hell and back, so my accomplishment today is deeply charished.

Also, you have to think about what adcoms are thinking: "should I give this spot to someone who will have 40 yrs to contribute or 30 yrs to contribute?"

I think adcoms are harsher on the so called "under-experienced trad students." They have to prove themselves mature enough to handle the tough responsibilities. Non-trads, like you, have to show that they've decided later on but is comitted toward the profesion for life. Most of the time the non-trads have an advantage due to higher degrees, more publications, and more experiences in the medical field.

All in all, a highly qualified candidate will become accepted. You're a perfect example. 🙂 We have to distinguish ourselves from the pact in different ways, and I think the end acceptance rate is about the same (~50%).

In my opinion, the only people who have it really easy are those whose parents are loaded with cash, who can send their children to Harvard (where they get easy A's and committee letters 15 pgs long), and they end up at a prestigious med school without having to deal with issues that you and I have gone through.

Applying to 6 schools was a little risky. If you looked at the AAMC site, the average is 10 to 13. But I'm glad it worked out for you.

 

[Bernito]

It seems that postbacc and graduate coursework have little bearing as many schools only look at undergrad GPA. At least this has been my experience.

And for all the talk about diversity of experiences, there are some core ones that the schools look for (IMO), that can put a non-trad at a disadvantage.

 

[efex101]

Gosh it seems that some non-trads are counting on "experience" way too much...I have seen many of my colleagues with tons of experiences regardless of their lack of age...also ONE acceptance is ALL you need. I had no problem at all getting tons of interviews/acceptances BUT I did apply to a lot of schools. One thing that seems to be an afterthought but it is very important is to apply to a lot of schools if possible. Some schools are looking for "specific" things and this way you broaden your chances of getting multiple acceptances.

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

Well, you cannot assume that just because the traditional students are younger that they all lack the experiences that you have.

In my opinion, the only people who have it really easy are those whose parents are loaded with cash, who can send their children to Harvard (where they get easy A's and committee letters 15 pgs long), and they end up at a prestigious med school without having to deal with issues that you and I have gone through.

Applying to 6 schools was a little risky. If you looked at the AAMC site, the average is 10 to 13. But I'm glad it worked out for you.

I lack the much needed funds to apply to that many schools and my income was too high to get AAMC application assistance, but my debt is already so large that all my income is spoken for before it even exists. Therefore, I realize that if I had applied to like 20 schools as others have I may have been able to have more options, but I could not afford it.

I was not insinuating that younger students do not have life experiences I was merely stating that I think some nontrads get penalized for maybe not having the traditional experiences....I have a select few EC's but I was managing a house, working and going to school full time (don't know how all this looks to an admissions committee on paper).

Gosh it seems that some non-trads are counting on "experience" way too much...I have seen many of my colleagues with tons of experiences regardless of their lack of age.

I am not counting on it, I feel mildly penalized for it by some of the schools that I applied to.

I was not trying to rake up the bottom of the pond here and get any hackles up....I was not attacking anyone, that is not my style....I only wanted to comment on how some schools do prefer trads.

 

[efex101]

I do not think that hackles were raised...but see there *are* non-trads that were able to do what some of you call the "traditional" experience while working/going to school/having kids/etc...so the problem is that there are a large number of extremely competitive non-trads also applying and for some reason these folks DO have all the components that trads also have. Hence you are competing with some very well qualified non-trads....I see that many folks cannot possibly apply to a bunch of schools due to various issues and my comment was not intended for those that a) cannot afford to apply or b) cannot relocate.

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

after posting my rant i regretted it....sorry guys! you know how this process is, it can get to you after a while. i did not mean to snap and i guess i am just reaching that point where i need to start meditating more and exercising more to keep my mind off of things. thank you all for being cool about it....now that i have vented my spleen (even though i don't have one, really, i don't 😉 ) i feel better.

 

[RxnMan]

...I think some schools really have a hard time with this....don't they realize that people don't come out of cookie cutters and don't all take the same road to med school? Whatever happened to all the "life experience is a plus" mumbo jumbo and "diversity" nonsense you hear about? Diversity is not race or creed alone, it is also the life you have lived! I had no premedical advisor and only applied to 6 schools...3 interviews (leading to 1 acceptance and 1 waitlist, 1 int. still pending), 2 rejections and 1 school who has said absolutely nothing one-way or the other! At least one school thinks I will be a good doctor.

Sorry to sound like I’m ranting, but I just really hate it when good applicants get passed over for those that fit the traditional mold better.

Don't regret the rant. Part of why I write here is to vent my frustration at the process and get my mind off waiting for my school to make up its mind. I feel the same way you do. I had a horrible time in ugrad and it's catching up to me. Why? Because I chose to go the harder route and stay in school, despite what was going on in my family life. Did the experience make me a better person? Yes. Would it make me a better doctor? Yes; I know exactly what patients are going through when they see a loved one slowly sicken and die. But do schools know this? No. My ugrad grades don't make the cut-offs, even though I took those classes when most kids my age were in high school.

Is medicine facing a lack of diversity? Then make ADCOMs read all of the app. before rejecting it. I know this is a monumental task. But what else can you do to solve this problem?

 

[noonday]

In my opinion, the only people who have it really easy are those whose parents are loaded with cash, who can send their children to Harvard (where they get easy A's and committee letters 15 pgs long), and they end up at a prestigious med school without having to deal with issues that you and I have gone through.

whoa. honey. what is this Harvard of which you speak? 'cause it ain't the one i went to way back when. i was not a pre-med then, my b's and c's were hard earned, and i will be paying off the loans i took out to go there for a long time to come, and it's already been nearly a decade of monthly payments. and since i was not pre-med, i had a hard time getting any help at all with anything in this process both b/c of that and b/c i am not longer affiliated with the U. i literally had to fly 3000 miles and beat down doors to get someone to help me. i almost applied "rogue" as they say. oh, and no one "sent me" there. i worked goddamned hard at my crappy public high school, worked to pay for my car so i could take classes at the local community college in HS, and worked all through undergrad. and most of my friends there worked and earned everything they got, too. sure there are some legacies, but most of us were bright, passionate about knowledge, and really really hard working. and i won't even start with the family problems, deaths, the unemployment year, etc...

<breath>

just a caution...if you're going to be angry about someone making a generalization about a younger applicant, don't go making other generalizations. like you yourself imply, there are exceptions to every rule.

and to everyone...good luck. we all deserve it. we all earned it.

 

[happydays]

whoa. honey. what is this Harvard of which you speak? 'cause it ain't the one i went to way back when. i was not a pre-med then, my b's and c's were hard earned, and i will be paying off the loans i took out to go there for a long time to come, and it's already been nearly a decade of monthly payments. and since i was not pre-med, i had a hard time getting any help at all with anything in this process both b/c of that and b/c i am not longer affiliated with the U. i literally had to fly 3000 miles and beat down doors to get someone to help me. i almost applied "rogue" as they say. oh, and no one "sent me" there. i worked goddamned hard at my crappy public high school, worked to pay for my car so i could take classes at the local community college in HS, and worked all through undergrad. and most of my friends there worked and earned everything they got, too. sure there are some legacies, but most of us were bright, passionate about knowledge, and really really hard working. and i won't even start with the family problems, deaths, the unemployment year, etc...

<breath>

just a caution...if you're going to be angry about someone making a generalization about a younger applicant, don't go making other generalizations. like you yourself imply, there are exceptions to every rule.

and to everyone...good luck. we all deserve it. we all earned it.

For the most part, there are two types of people at Harvard: The really rich with lots of connections (please, this is a true fact), and those who worked their asses off to get there. So there.

Also, I was playing on the stigma of the easy A at Harvard to illustrate a point. And yes, I know Harvard advisors pick to whom they will write committee letters. If they think you're getting too low grades in the sciences, they'll ask you to major in easier courses (courses that suit you better) to boast your GPA. The example was to show the best case scenario, not to flame.

 

[TimmyTheWonderD]

and to everyone...good luck. we all deserve it. we all earned it.

WOO HOO!
AMEN SISTER!

 

[doctor detroit]

For the most part, there are two types of people at Harvard: The really rich with lots of connections (please, this is a true fact), and those who worked their asses off to get there. So there.

Also, I was playing on the stigma of the easy A at Harvard to illustrate a point. And yes, I know Harvard advisors pick to whom they will write committee letters. If they think you're getting too low grades in the sciences, they'll ask you to major in easier courses (courses that suit you better) to boast your GPA. The example was to show the best case scenario, not to flame.

Is it just me, or does Happydays make no sense. Of course Harvard has its share of privileged people, but they still have to work hard. Do those students have an advantaged in life? Yeah. They still earned their SATs and GPAs. Maybe they went to an elite private highschool. So what? And what is this crap about Harvard advisors. Is there something wrong or unusual about an advisor advising a student who is not doing well that they might be better off taking less demanding courses?

 

[Beau Geste]

and to everyone...good luck. we all deserve it. we all earned it.

You bet.

And Henry Rollins still rules!

 

[happydays]

Is it just me, or does Happydays make no sense. Of course Harvard has its share of privileged people, but they still have to work hard. Do those students have an advantaged in life? Yeah. They still earned their SATs and GPAs. Maybe they went to an elite private highschool. So what? And what is this crap about Harvard advisors. Is there something wrong or unusual about an advisor advising a student who is not doing well that they might be better off taking less demanding courses?

I'm just stating the facts. You can think whatever you want.

 

[MeowMix]

If you don't have interviews at some of those schools yet, but they haven't rejected you, DO NOT GIVE UP!! You probably have at least a few weeks before they stop sending out invitations, so use the time this weekend.

Sit down and write a strong, enthusiastic update letter about how interested you are in each program. Tell them about the great things you've done since you applied. Emphasize that you are keen, eager, passionate about medicine, and very intelligent, as well as having great people skills. If there were weaknesses in your AMCAS essay, find a way to make up for it.

I've personally observed someone write a very strong letter to a school after getting rejected (they subsequently got an interview, got accepted, and are now attending 🙂). I watched another student take the time to submit an update letter, and then "miraculously" get an interview within a week, late in the season.

You have nothing to lose. But don't procrastinate!

 

[bubbleyum]

If you don't have interviews at some of those schools yet, but they haven't rejected you, DO NOT GIVE UP!! You probably have at least a few weeks before they stop sending out invitations, so use the time this weekend.

Sit down and write a strong, enthusiastic update letter about how interested you are in each program. Tell them about the great things you've done since you applied. Emphasize that you are keen, eager, passionate about medicine, and very intelligent, as well as having great people skills. If there were weaknesses in your AMCAS essay, find a way to make up for it.

I've personally observed someone write a very strong letter to a school after getting rejected (they subsequently got an interview, got accepted, and are now attending 🙂). I watched another student take the time to submit an update letter, and then "miraculously" get an interview within a week, late in the season.

You have nothing to lose. But don't procrastinate!

i dunno, i sent in update letters to a bunch of schools(about my classes and activities i've been doing since secondary submissions), which then led to prompt REJECTIONS. so i don't know if that tactic works for everyone.

also, i didn't know that lor's about yourself worked! wow.

 

[robh]

...don't they realize that people don't come out of cookie cutters ...

I don't know about that. I've been observing the average 22 y/o applicant at my interviews and entertaining the thought that perhaps a cookie cutter was involved... 🙂

 

[MeowMix]

i dunno, i sent in update letters to a bunch of schools(about my classes and activities i've been doing since secondary submissions), which then led to prompt REJECTIONS. so i don't know if that tactic works for everyone.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always get you an interview. I don't think it leads to rejection; the timing is probably coincidental.

But at least you know that you did your absolute best, for all that money you spent on apps.

 

[psipsina]

I don't know about that. I've been observing the average 22 y/o applicant at my interviews and entertaining the thought that perhaps a cookie cutter was involved... 🙂

I recently interviewed at my 2 state schools and had the same inkling . . . I'm not even an tradtional non-trad as I am only 24 but was married thru undergrad and due to weird family issues have been independent since I was 16, so when it comes to maturity levels and experience I usually fit in more with the non-trads. . . . but these kids I was at my interviews with seemed so young, especially the boys, I don't know if it was just nerves but a cookie cutter could definitely explain the phenomenon. In contrast at my Tulane interview the interviewees were all such interesting people with a much higher mean age.