Application cycle expectations vs. actual outcome

[TheGloaming]

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How did your expectations for your application cycle compare to your actual outcome of your cycle thus far? (For those with multiple application cycles, report most recent cycle)

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I applied only DO and only applied to 10 schools total, but I have no idea what a rejection letter looks like, and got interviews everywhere I sent a secondary. Got into my number one choice so I am way happy, but I sometimes wish I would have applied to some MD schools to see if my PS and situation was really that awesome or if I just had the numbers to back up a DO app, and that is all. But ultimately, it went much better than I thought.

 

[Nymphicus]

My goal was to get ONE allopathic acceptance at a school I loved, but my "realistic goal" was to get a single allo acceptance.

No way I could have predicted the results. No way.

 

[flatearth22]

Reading and posting on SDN greatly lowered my expectations. Looking at it all over, I probably got what my numbers/EC's deserved.

 

[TheGloaming]

Reading and posting on SDN greatly lowered my expectations. Looking at it all over, I probably got what my numbers/EC's deserved.

SDN really made my expectations all over the place. After reading some posts, I thought there is no way I'm going to get into any school. At other times, I thought I would have a great shot of getting into a couple of my top choice schools. In the end, I was somewhere in between, which is where I think I should be, and I am happy with the results.

 

[thlaxer]

SDN definitely did contribute to my anxiety and neuroticism as well during the application cycle (for better or for worse, I still can't really tell ). I knew that I'm absolutely terrible at interviews, so I applied with pretty low expectations.. was just hoping for a single acceptance anywhere. Still pleasantly surprised and very grateful for how things turned out.

 

[kexy]

I was surprised by the schools that chose to interview me (and even more surprised by the ones that didn't). That said, my application cycle went about how I expected/a little bit better overall. It went better than expected in some cases (couldn't have dreamed of certain acceptances), a little worse in others (thought I'd get more love from CA schools). I am very grateful that it's gone the way it has, because I realize what a crapshoot this process is and it could have gone much worse.

 

[NeuralNetwork]

 

[Lexicon0]

Much better than expected. Probably in part due to sdn-induced neuroticism.

 

[western1]

Better than I had expected. A lot of deviation though. Interviews at my reach schools and rejections from some schools I considered "safety".

This isn't just me though. I have a feeling everyone goes through something similar.

 

[robertch8]

I was surprised by the schools that chose to interview me (and even more surprised by the ones that didn't). That said, my application cycle went about how I expected/a little bit better overall. It went better than expected in some cases (couldn't have dreamed of certain acceptances), a little worse in others (thought I'd get more love from CA schools). I am very grateful that it's gone the way it has, because I realize what a crapshoot this process is and it could have gone much worse.

This is exactly how I felt about my application cycle-- I'm a resident of a state with 7 med schools and only got interviews at 2 of them but somehow got invited at some OOS schools like Washington and Nebraska where they're super strict on who they invite out of state. Regardless, I have some very good options and that's all you can ask for.

 

[MrTambourineMan]

Schools I thought I would for sure get an interview at, I didn't. And a few schools that I thought were reaches, I got interview invites. It's just a chaotic process.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I was definitely not expecting to get so many interview invites (10 of 14 applications) so that was incredible. And then I didn't expect to get waitlisted at most of them. 😛 I feel so fortunate, though, since I got an early acceptance...especially knowing how much luck is involved in this process. It's been a crazy year and it isn't over yet!

 

[phnerd1105]

Was disappointed by some schools, surprised by others. Overall surprised at 6 interview invites. Wish I had submitted an earlier application though (secondaries in June/July rather than end August/September), then who knows how things might have turned out.

 

[Jamie561]

Much, much better than expected. I could not be happier with my acceptances and scholarship offers. I'm deciding between 2 top 5 schools and a full ride to a top 10.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[Dr. Ducky]

This application cycle went great! I applied broadly and to both MD/DO. I took a year off and applied this past cycle (before my MCAT scores arrived). I received multiple interview invites and acceptances. Of course, I had some "reach" schools that weren't realistic for me (but I would have gladly relocated if by some miracle I gained acceptance). I did gain acceptance at my realistic #1, and I couldn't be happier!

 

[afreaknamedpete]

Well, I've heard back from 8 schools post interview already and expected to get in to at least one of them. No such luck though... so much worse than I expected.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Much, much better than expected. I could not be happier with my acceptances and scholarship offers. I'm deciding between 2 top 5 schools and a full ride to a top 10.

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Mind sharing stats/ecs? Do you have an MDapps? I would be very interested to see it if you do.

Also, any general advice?

 

[drshoes]

Mine was much better than I expected. Out of 22 schools I applied to, I received 21 interview invites and wound up getting into my dream school.

 

[I like meowmix]

redacted

 

[otggwmfs]

.

 

[TheGloaming]

Mine was much better than I expected. Out of 22 schools I applied to, I received 21 interview invites and wound up getting into my dream school.

Holy cats! How many did you attend? What school didn't send an invite?