Appealing a rejection?

[ihopetobeado]

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I just got a rejection letter from my first choice school even though I was well above the admitted class’ GPA and average MCAT scores. I had plenty of extracurriculars, lots of clinical experience, great letters of recommendations, I’ve done research, shawdowed plenty of DO's and I’m working a regular job to boot. Everyone (advisors, physicians, etc.) is flabbergasted at the rejection. I suspect though that one of interviewers is the culprit to my rejection: He seemed in a rush and was in a surly mood when I first met him. He became condescending after a few questions and started to go on lengthy tangents. I tried interjecting, but to no avail. He did mention that “you'll get an acceptance” and “you should be successful in this” so I went ahead and decided to let his delusional abrasiveness go. Now, I’m not so certain. I’ve tried asking what was my undoing before the Admissions Committee, but was told await a written response from the Admissions Director which, by all accounts, won’t be until the spring of 2006! At this point, I figure I have nothing to lose by making waves, but wanted some advice on how to approach this. Did I also mention that the surly interviewer is one of the assistant deans at the school?

 

[USArmyDoc]

You could sure try. I doubt you'll be successful though.

 

[Ski2Doc]

I didnt get a rejection but am waiting for one from one of the schools that i interviewd in. Evr1 said that the interviewr i had was laid back and an "easy" interview. But when he interviewed me i felt he was VERY cold. Didnt even bother to listen to my responses, and they werent very long.
Religion came up and I feel he was biased against me because of my religion.
What i did is this: I told the admisisons guy who gave us the tour, but i didnt want to go to the dean at tht time b/c maybe my feelings were wrong. I believe i did very well on the interview and if i get rejected i will definately appeal.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[wolfram241]

You should call and talk to someone in admissions before making an appeal. I think the person you talk to will be as confused as you, then you can figure out what to do.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Having higher numbers than the matriculant average doesn't mean anything.

 

[box29]

Having higher numbers than the matriculant average doesn't mean anything.

This is true. Perhaps the interviewers' evaluations weren't as high as you thought they might have been and played a big role in your outcome. Obviously, they won't tell you what it was in your interview that hurt you, but they may suggest "other things.'' Since your stats are higher than the averages, I would guess it was your interview. Something just may not have sat well with the interviewers. Contrary to what others think...it is the interview that makes you or breaks you.

 

[Nate]

I am not sure how school x handles these things but I know various schools will allow you a new interview if you feel your interview was not right. Usually the time to ask for a new interview is before a decision though so I am not sure if it is too late for you or if it would matter at this point anyway. There are plenty of great schools out there so don't give up.

 

[LT2]

if you have a decent pre-med advisor, ask them to help you out. you can write a letter of reconsideration, whether or not it'll help you is anybodies guess. if you can ask your advisor for help, they'll tell you the basics of the letter and maybe they can make a call on your behalf... good luck.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I'm sure you can't say which school it was, but quit a few DO schools don't just evaluate your ability to pass the courses or be a good doctor. A lot of them look for people who will further the profession and protect its future, ie those who are dedicated to the profession itself and not just medicine. Some people are just good at hiding the fact that they aren't.

If DO is really just a backup, it will shine through during the interview.

 

[FrogE7]

I know people with MCAT scores 8-9 points above the school's mean MCAT, getting rejected. If it was just your scores and grades, there would be no point to the interview.

The Admissions Committees are not idiots. It seems that you were a little over confident and maybe they did not like that. The field of medicine already produces "cocky" people. Maybe it is best to start off with people who are down to earth.

 

[FutureDocDO]

It seems that you were a little over confident and maybe the did not like that. The field of medicine already produces "cocky" people. Maybe it is best to start off with people who are down to earth.

This is true. I was told by one of the schools I interviewed at that they rejected a physical therapist because he was cocky and said that he would be an asset to the osteopathic community. The admissions committee doesn't seem to like arrogant people. To the OP, I am not saying you're one of those people but since your numbers are above the average for your number one school it could have been something you said during the interview. Good luck with your other interviews.

Maybe your numbers are way higher than their average that they weren't sure if you'd pick their school over others if accepted. Just a thought.

 

[USArmyDoc]

This is true. I was told by one of the schools I interviewed at that they rejected a physical therapist because he was cocky and said that he would be an asset to the osteopathic community. The admissions committee doesn't seem to like arrogant people. To the OP, I am not saying you're one of those people but since your numbers are above the average for your number one school it could have been something you said during the interview. Good luck with your other interviews.

Maybe your numbers are way higher than their average that they weren't sure if you'd pick their school over others if accepted. Just a thought.

Whats wrong with saying you are an asset to the osteopathic profession. I feel that with my educaion and experiences I will be an asset. So will everyone else here. What am I missing? 😕

 

[FutureDocDO]

Whats wrong with saying you are an asset to the osteopathic profession. I feel that with my educaion and experiences I will be an asset. So will everyone else here. What am I missing? 😕

I guess it depends on how you answer it. If you make it sounds like it'd be ther lost if they don't accept you that would not make a good impression. I was told this at my interview so I am telling it as I was told. In my opinion, a physical therapist would be a good fit for osteopathic schools but obviously not.

 

[stoic]

i think that you would need a very compelling reason to get much more than a laugh when requesting to be reconsidered for admissions. if challenging a rejection could be done anytime someone had good stats and didn't get in - and was succesful often - the admissions committee would have basically just given up all of the their credability.

i'm not saying don't try, just realize the uphill battle this would be. think about it; are they gonna believe you - a pissed off reject - or an interviewer that's been working with them for a while?

your best bet is to try and figure out what exactly happened and then make sure you don't make those mistakes elsewhere.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I guess it depends on how you answer it. If you make it sounds like it'd be ther lost if they don't accept you that would not make a good impression. I was told this at my interview so I am telling it as I was told. In my opinion, a physical therapist would be a good fit for osteopathic schools but obviously not.

Well, I would always answer it to the fact that I believe that osteopathic medicine and I complement each other well. I feel that my personal philosophy, from my undergraduate course work, has fprged me into a prime candidate for an osteopathic school.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I guess it depends on how you answer it. If you make it sounds like it'd be ther lost if they don't accept you that would not make a good impression. I was told this at my interview so I am telling it as I was told. In my opinion, a physical therapist would be a good fit for osteopathic schools but obviously not.

Well, I would always answer it to the fact that I believe that osteopathic medicine and I complement each other well. I feel that my personal philosophy, from my undergraduate course work, has forged me into a prime candidate for an osteopathic school.

 

[dr.z]

Having higher numbers than the matriculant average doesn't mean anything.

True. Numbers aren't sufficient for acceptance. There are multiple factors considered.

 

[silas2642]

I just got a rejection letter from my first choice school even though I was well above the admitted class’ GPA and average MCAT scores. I had plenty of extracurriculars, lots of clinical experience, great letters of recommendations, I’ve done research, shawdowed plenty of DO's and I’m working a regular job to boot. Everyone (advisors, physicians, etc.) is flabbergasted at the rejection. I suspect though that one of interviewers is the culprit to my rejection: He seemed in a rush and was in a surly mood when I first met him. He became condescending after a few questions and started to go on lengthy tangents. I tried interjecting, but to no avail. He did mention that “you'll get an acceptance” and “you should be successful in this” so I went ahead and decided to let his delusional abrasiveness go. Now, I’m not so certain. I’ve tried asking what was my undoing before the Admissions Committee, but was told await a written response from the Admissions Director which, by all accounts, won’t be until the spring of 2006! At this point, I figure I have nothing to lose by making waves, but wanted some advice on how to approach this. Did I also mention that the surly interviewer is one of the assistant deans at the school?

It's not about JUST the numbers, especially with DO schools. They really want the whole package.