Anyone sick of this?

[SigPi]

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Who else is tired of explaining this horrid application process to every curious friend and family member? Better (or worse) yet, who is sick of explaining that you didn't make it this year and wont be starting this fall? Reapplying is breaking my balls and my bank! 😡

 

[BaylorGuy]

If you've just graduated, the best way to explain is that you are taking a year off. It doesnt sound as harsh as "oh, i didnt get in"

Besides, taking a year off sounds like you are backpacking and having a good time (which in reality we all know isnt too true)

 

[swman]

Yeah I just figured out it's easier to say "I'm taking a year off" too. This after months of being at a loss for words every time somebody asks me what medical school I've chosen to go to.

 

[BaylorGuy]

Its a lot easier to deal with...especially when talking with a family friend or someone who you don't have daily contact with. Whenever i happen to bump into someone at the grocery store, pharmacy, or a friends place...i just tell them i'm taking a year off. It looks better if you are doing something on your "year off"...like working or volunteering or waiting for the leaves to turn (assuming you do these things).

 

[2tall]

In hindsight...instead of avoiding people or just acting like the first application cycle never happened, I wish I had told them plainly, "I was rejected." Point is...you'll get to medical school. You never know who you're helping by saying...I was rejected, I didn't give up, I was relentless, and now I'm where I hoped I'd be.

It's not just about medical school...it's about life. Maybe you'll be rejected again (in a relationship, in a job, by your family). Maybe you'll feel insecure or afraid (dealing with personal illness...dealing with your patients). Knowing that you got through...letting other people know that you persevered...it can help.

Now, I'm always quick to point out that I'm a re-applicant. I'm proud of it now, because some people give up.

My 2 cents.

 

[IAMS]

I concur. Reapplicants go again because we have more work to do.. and that can mean any number of things. When I learn about other applicants, and all they've been through - I think maybe I haven't done enough volunteer work or clinical work or research.. how do we ever know we're ready? Obviously its the adcom's decision to choose those most ready for the job - we can only prepare ourselves the best we can. Do all you can to prepare yourself, and the chips will fall into place. It will soon be your turn.

 

[xSTALLiONx]

In hindsight...instead of avoiding people or just acting like the first application cycle never happened, I wish I had told them plainly, "I was rejected." Point is...you'll get to medical school. You never know who you're helping by saying...I was rejected, I didn't give up, I was relentless, and now I'm where I hoped I'd be.

It's not just about medical school...it's about life. Maybe you'll be rejected again (in a relationship, in a job, by your family). Maybe you'll feel insecure or afraid (dealing with personal illness...dealing with your patients). Knowing that you got through...letting other people know that you persevered...it can help.

Now, I'm always quick to point out that I'm a re-applicant. I'm proud of it now, because some people give up.

My 2 cents.

That's ******ed.. Your whole point is to try to be a "hero" for the re-applicants..

I would rather spend valuable friend time talking about other things than explaining the application process.. and as fascinating as you might find it.. Your grandma and friends would rather hear stories of interesting things you saw in your EMT experiences or chat about your local football team, etc..

 

[dr.z]

I never told I was applying to most people. I didn't want people to bother me about my acceptance or rejection.

 

[2tall]

That's ******ed.. Your whole point is to try to be a "hero" for the re-applicants.. ..

There's nothing heroic about my comment. Your comment seems to come from your own insecurities...so it's pointless to address.

I would rather spend valuable friend time talking about other things than explaining the application process..

My friends and family happen to care about my goals and my success. The OP and the subsequent poster's friends and family also seem to care about their successes...hence their questions about the application process. Again, the fact that you would prefer not to discuss this process seems like a personal problem.

and as fascinating as you might find it.. Your grandma and friends would rather hear stories of interesting things you saw in your EMT experiences or chat about your local football team, etc..

I am not an EMT and my local football team isn't very good. I did not say the application process monopolizes my daily conversations and realize that there other things happening in the world.

The above posts referred to avoiding mentioning rejection or even the fact that they had applied, because it would lead to questions re-applicants hate most. Why...? How? I had intended to break down my previous post, since there seems to be a problem with your critical reading skills. However, I don't find it necessary. Perhaps you should have a friend or family member read my post to you in order to facilitate your complete understanding of it.

I would ask...

What is your whole point? or even Do you have a point?

...but I could care less.

Keep the Faith 🙂

 

[EMET_BUTS]

I have to agree with dr. z on this one. I have told two people that I am reapplying.. and my wife was one of them... that will expand this week when I need to ask for LORs.

Everyone has a method, but I would rather not get the unnecessary grief, nor raise peoples expectations until I have a better idea of how things are going. This way, if my application is rejected all around, I don't have to share this with everyone.

Again, just my opinion.

😉

 

[truckibear]

As a re-applicant, all I can say is, if you've got the heart to go again, kudos to you! Before I even applied I constantly read about how the year is this horrid waiting game and all of it just seems like one big crapshoot. But if there's one thing that a year of applying and not getting in will show you, it is whether you really want to become a doctor or not. 2tall mentioned that some people give up. I find this not only true, but I would say that most people give up before they ever begin. Throughout my undergrad, pre-meds dropped out of the race like flies! Also, in my experience, two of the best pharmacists I had the pleasure of working with were also re-applicants. I was surprised to learn that. I would say that re-applicants are more humble and grateful in the long run for few people get a second chance. In fact, sometimes having to take an extra year off becomes a blessing in disguise. I know one person who did not get in during the first round and took it as a sign that she had been too selfish in pursuing her goals. She got into her dream school two years later and during the time she had off she was able to stay home and take care of her mother, whose health and finances were suffering. Anyway, have heart. Try to remember your goal and why you are working towards it. It's going to be a rollercoaster ride. Good luck!

 

[RayhanS1282]

I work on a "need to know" basis....if I feel you need to know it...I'll tell you...otherwise I won't. As for explanations to family and friends (other than immediate and close family members), I don't feel I owe them any. It's my life, my scores, my application, my rejections, my acceptance, my cross to bear. It's a difficult process as it is...you don't need to have it made any more difficult by other people being in your business.

 

[LJDHC05]

It's weird telling people that you're waitlisted at two places, but reapplying anyway. It's weirder reapplying to the places you're waitlisted and explaining what you've done since they read your last application. Basically I graduated, waited for rejection letters, and drank myself silly while thinking about re-doing this whole process (which led to a pretty good personal statment, grammar not-widthstanding).

I hope the second time works better than the first!

 

[threeeyedfrog]

If you think telling your friends/parents you didn't get in is bad...my father called every last person he's ever met who is some way connected to medicine/dentistry/law and told them my GPA, my MCAT, where I had interviewed and where I had been wait-listed. Then, my mother threw me a graduation "party" where all the people my Dad spoke to about me came up to me and asked about med school. It was so much fun to say 0 acceptances, 2 wait-lists...now I want to die every time I see any of my parent's friends!

 

[tacrum43]

If you think telling your friends/parents you didn't get in is bad...my father called every last person he's ever met who is some way connected to medicine/dentistry/law and told them my GPA, my MCAT, where I had interviewed and where I had been wait-listed. Then, my mother threw me a graduation "party" where all the people my Dad spoke to about me came up to me and asked about med school. It was so much fun to say 0 acceptances, 2 wait-lists...now I want to die every time I see any of my parent's friends!

My parents threw me a graduation party with a bunch of their friends and like one of mine. It was yesterday actually. I just played up the fact that I was going to graduate school at Georgetown. They all seemed fairly impressed with that and it would take the focus off the fact that I didn't get into medical school this year.

However, I have to admit my parents didn't go announcing my MCAT and GPA to anyone who would listen though.

 

[DrZeke]

My parents threw me a graduation party with a bunch of their friends and like one of mine. It was yesterday actually. I just played up the fact that I was going to graduate school at Georgetown. They all seemed fairly impressed with that and it would take the focus off the fact that I didn't get into medical school this year.

However, I have to admit my parents didn't go announcing my MCAT and GPA to anyone who would listen though.

Ya, I'm lucky my parents don't throw me those kinds of parties. I'm actually scheduled to go to a few parties in the coming weeks for all the people leaving for med school. I'm curious to see how I will feel afterwards...even though I never really applied last year. It's still like the people whose parties I'm going to have like nothing under a 3.75 gpa....

 

[DrZeke]

My parents threw me a graduation party with a bunch of their friends and like one of mine. It was yesterday actually. I just played up the fact that I was going to graduate school at Georgetown. They all seemed fairly impressed with that and it would take the focus off the fact that I didn't get into medical school this year.

However, I have to admit my parents didn't go announcing my MCAT and GPA to anyone who would listen though.

Ya, I'm lucky my parents don't throw me those kinds of parties. I'm actually scheduled to go to a few parties in the coming weeks for all the people leaving for med school. I'm curious to see how I will feel afterwards...even though I never really applied last year. It's still like the people whose parties I'm going to have like nothing under a 3.75 gpa....