Confusing Summer Research Acceptance Situation

[gsquared]

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Like many other SDN'ers, I applied to several summer research programs, and I recently heard back from many of the programs. Interestingly, I was accepted to the programs which I considered to be more competitive (my reach choices), but I was also rejected from the larger programs which I considered my matches/safeties.

Many of the programs which I didn't get into explicitly stated in their rejection emails that these decisions don't have any bearing on Med/Grad school admissions, but I can't help but wonder if there is some issue with my application that led to the large number of rejections from the state schools that I applied to. Of the nine programs I applied to, I was only accepted to the Mayo and Wash U programs.

For those who are curious- brief overview of my app:
GPA: Very Good 3.9+
EC's: Tons (varsity athlete, lots of philanthropy, shadowing, volunteering, etc.)
Year: Soph
Research Exp: 1 year in lab (with 2 oral presentations, a poster, and a published paper)
LOR's: Probably quite good (one from PI, one from intro bio prof)
etc...

Any thoughts on what might have happened? I know this might come off as a bit neurotic, but I am planning on applying to several of the schools I was just rejected from in the near future, and I thought I had a pretty good app.

 

[ksmi117]

Like many other SDN'ers, I applied to several summer research programs, and I recently heard back from many of the programs. Interestingly, I was accepted to the programs which I considered to be more competitive (my reach choices), but I was also rejected from the larger programs which I considered my matches/safeties.

Many of the programs which I didn't get into explicitly stated in their rejection emails that these decisions don't have any bearing on Med/Grad school admissions, but I can't help but wonder if there is some issue with my application that led to the large number of rejections from the state schools that I applied to. Of the nine programs I applied to, I was only accepted to the Mayo and Wash U programs.

For those who are curious- brief overview of my app:
GPA: Very Good 3.9+
EC's: Tons (varsity athlete, lots of philanthropy, shadowing, volunteering, etc.)
Year: Soph
Research Exp: 1 year in lab (with 2 oral presentations, a poster, and a published paper)
LOR's: Probably quite good (one from PI, one from intro bio prof)
etc...

Any thoughts on what might have happened? I know this might come off as a bit neurotic, but I am planning on applying to several of the schools I was just rejected from in the near future, and I thought I had a pretty good app.

You can't know what these programs were looking for. You were accepted somewhere and that's what matters. As far as med school app stuff, I think you'll be good.

 

[binko]

This reminds me of something my dad told me recently. I may have posted this on here before, but it bears repeating.

He said that there was a (rather inhumane) experiment done in which chickens were placed in cages with electrically conductive floors. At random intervals they would receive an electrical shock from the floor. They began to display superstitious behavior, trying to figure out what they were doing when they received the shock and avoiding whatever they concluded may have caused the shock. They would stand in strange contortions for hours hoping to avoid getting shocked.

My dad told me this story because he thinks the same phenomenon occurs among pre-meds and he hoped I don't start acting like a shocked chicken as application time approaches. So this is the wisdom I have to share: Don't be a shocked chicken.

 

[shemarty]

So this is the wisdom I have to share: Don't be a shocked chicken.

👍

 

[Lukkie]

This reminds me of something my dad told me recently. I may have posted this on here before, but it bears repeating.

He said that there was a (rather inhumane) experiment done in which chickens were placed in cages with electrically conductive floors. At random intervals they would receive an electrical shock from the floor. They began to display superstitious behavior, trying to figure out what they were doing when they received the shock and avoiding whatever they concluded may have caused the shock. They would stand in strange contortions for hours hoping to avoid getting shocked.

My dad told me this story because he thinks the same phenomenon occurs among pre-meds and he hoped I don't start acting like a shocked chicken as application time approaches. So this is the wisdom I have to share: Don't be a shocked chicken.

one of the most amazing analogies i have read. your dad is truly amazing. may this post remain etched in SDN history forever.

 

[binko]

one of the most amazing analogies i have read. your dad is truly amazing. may this post remain etched in SDN history forever.

Haha, glad you like it. Feel free to repost anywhere you like — spread the word against chicken-syndrome!

 

[Lukkie]

Haha, glad you like it. Feel free to repost anywhere you like — spread the word against chicken-syndrome!

posted in my blog 😀

 

[ar2388]

haha fantastic anecdote!!!

 

[kac714]

truly awesome advice! OP, seriously, don't sweat it.

 

[gsquared]

I appreciate all the good advice- like I said, I'm not too worried about the situation, because I got into two excellent programs. Perhaps other selection factors were at play, but (like many other posters suggested) I don't really think that playing guessing games would be productive.

Would anyone suggest contacting any of these programs after the application cycle to see if there was an issue with my app? This would primarily be for if I decided to switch labs in the future/apply to an affiliated grad/med school. Too much?

 

[Ok2Panic]

I appreciate all the good advice- like I said, I'm not too worried about the situation, because I got into two excellent programs. Perhaps other selection factors were at play, but (like many other posters suggested) I don't really think that playing guessing games would be productive.

Would anyone suggest contacting any of these programs after the application cycle to see if there was an issue with my app? This would primarily be for if I decided to switch labs in the future/apply to an affiliated grad/med school. Too much?

Like other people have said, I honestly would neither sweat it nor read too much into it. Oftentimes it comes down to something like not being able to find anyone who works in your area of interest to place you with over the summer. When they say it has no bearing on your grad/med school app, they really really mean it. Obviously this is just anecdotal, but I know someone who was rejected from the Northwestern program twice in a row, and got into med school there with flying colors. She was fantastically thrilled to finally be able to send Northwestern a rejection letter. Anyways, go to one of the other programs you got into, have a fantastic summer and don't look back. You're going to drive yourself crazy otherwise.

So in summation, don't be a shocked chicken.