Contacting School After Rejection

[VetMed555]

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I know there's a similar thread, but I have a specific question, so I figured I'd ask in a separate thread.
I've been accepted to 3 schools and rejected at 1 (my 4th choice anyway, but still). I wanted to call or email and do "the post-mortem" for that school (Missouri). However, both my husband and my academic advisor think I should just let it go. I am really just curious and wasn't going to mention other acceptances/be obnoxious or anything like that. I just think since I spend so much time and effort on that application, I deserve to know. What do you guys think?

 

[clawsbeatskin]

I don't know...on one hand, you're right, you spent a considerable amount of effort (and money!) on the app. But given that you've been accepted to multiple other schools, it seems like your rejection from this one school may have just been one of those "too many great applicants, not enough spots" situations. I doubt they have the ability to give you sound and helpful reasons why you weren't accepted. They'll probably tell you the run of the mill things that they tell every other great applicant who is unfortunately rejected, and I'm not sure it will benefit you in the long run. It's not like you're looking to improve your app for next round! 🙂

One other way to look at it...you will potentially use up the precious time and energy of the adcom member that might otherwise benefit someone who legitimately needs the info to improve their app for next round.

 

[ri23]

I know there's a similar thread, but I have a specific question, so I figured I'd ask in a separate thread.
I've been accepted to 3 schools and rejected at 1 (my 4th choice anyway, but still). I wanted to call or email and do "the post-mortem" for that school (Missouri). However, both my husband and my academic advisor think I should just let it go. I am really just curious and wasn't going to mention other acceptances/be obnoxious or anything like that. I just think since I spend so much time and effort on that application, I deserve to know. What do you guys think?

As the other poster said, it would really be a waste of time. You cannot expect to get in to every school you apply to being that there are so many applicants. What do you expect them to tell you? You would really just be taking an adcomms time when they could be doing something more productive, or assisting those that actually need it.

 

[hoodle]

I disagree - if you really are dying to talk with an adcomm, go ahead! It's not a zero-sum game. By talking to an adcomm you aren't directly taking time away from some other worthy applicant! You paid for your application, the members of the admissions committee are being paid to do their jobs, and you have just as much right as anyone else to ask questions of them. Each school is independent, anyways - they don't know you got into 3 others, and that fact has very little bearing on how they should interact with you!

A different question is whether or not you'll get anything useful out of that conversation, or whether you should just let it go and not waste brain cells over it. But that's a personal decision - it's not like you shouldn't be allowed to talk with adcomms if you want to.

 

[BobDog]

However, it might be a little weird if the subject of other admissions offers comes up. I would let it go.

 

[VAgirl]

If you did it by phone, how much time is it really wasting? I'd say a different reason not to do it (and one that would work better for me) is that it likely won't make you feel any better. This may sound silly, but it seems to me like when someone breaks up with you. You always think it'll make you feel better to know why he/she ended it and that will give you closure. But it almost never works that way. You just end up more hurt.

Maybe a silly analogy, and maybe not everyone works like that. But for me, that's how I'd look at it.

If you decide you want to do it anyway, though, I don't think it's a big deal. Like I said originally, how much of an adcom member's time would it really take up?

 

[VetMed555]

If you did it by phone, how much time is it really wasting? I'd say a different reason not to do it (and one that would work better for me) is that it likely won't make you feel any better. This may sound silly, but it seems to me like when someone breaks up with you. You always think it'll make you feel better to know why he/she ended it and that will give you closure. But it almost never works that way. You just end up more hurt.

Maybe a silly analogy, and maybe not everyone works like that. But for me, that's how I'd look at it.

If you decide you want to do it anyway, though, I don't think it's a big deal. Like I said originally, how much of an adcom member's time would it really take up?

That's funny, my husband gave almost the same analogy.😀 I don't think I'll contact them. After reading all comments it does start to seem like a waste of my time and theirs. What could they possibly say to make me feel better? LOL: "We're sorry, we made a mistake..." LOL😀 Either way, thanks so much for your replies!

 

[BigGreenVet]

I called both of my rejections and I found it helpful. I wanted to know what that schools viewed as my strengths and weaknesses so that I would have a better view of myself in interviews. I told them about where I had been accepted and where I was interviewing. They offered advice about the schools and how to strengthen the image of myself during interviews.

 

[FlyOnTheWall]

if you really are dying to talk with an adcomm, go ahead! It's not a zero-sum game. By talking to an adcomm you aren't directly taking time away from some other worthy applicant! You paid for your application, the members of the admissions committee are being paid to do their jobs, and you have just as much right as anyone else to ask questions of them.

I agree. I did a postmortem for an applicant we turned down (3.8+ GPA, 600/800 GRE (verbal/quant) but <100 hours actual vet experience). It's my job and she has the right. She had been accepted or offered interviews at 4 other schools and was just wanting the file review/post mortem to identify weaknesses and prepare for interviews. I don't think either of us thought the process was a waste of time.

 

[VAgirl]

I agree. I did a postmortem for an applicant we turned down (3.8+ GPA, 600/800 GRE (verbal/quant) but <100 hours actual vet experience). It's my job and she has the right. She had been accepted or offered interviews at 4 other schools and was just wanting the file review/post mortem to identify weaknesses and prepare for interviews. I don't think either of us thought the process was a waste of time.

👍 Thanks for the reminder that adcom members are people, too, and can understand where we're coming from! 🙂 Amongst all our speculation, it's always nice to hear what you have to say!

 

[ri23]

I agree. I did a postmortem for an applicant we turned down (3.8+ GPA, 600/800 GRE (verbal/quant) but <100 hours actual vet experience). It's my job and she has the right. She had been accepted or offered interviews at 4 other schools and was just wanting the file review/post mortem to identify weaknesses and prepare for interviews. I don't think either of us thought the process was a waste of time.

Yes, I would definitely understand why it would helpful if the applicant had interviews that they still had to prepare for, but in VetMed's case she is done with the application process and I believe she knows where she is going.

 

[ri23]

I disagree - if you really are dying to talk with an adcomm, go ahead! It's not a zero-sum game. By talking to an adcomm you aren't directly taking time away from some other worthy applicant! You paid for your application, the members of the admissions committee are being paid to do their jobs, and you have just as much right as anyone else to ask questions of them. Each school is independent, anyways - they don't know you got into 3 others, and that fact has very little bearing on how they should interact with you!

A different question is whether or not you'll get anything useful out of that conversation, or whether you should just let it go and not waste brain cells over it. But that's a personal decision - it's not like you shouldn't be allowed to talk with adcomms if you want to.

It is not always that case that members of the admissions committee are paid to do that. At Ohio State, being on the admissions committee is voluntary, and therefore additional work for the members.

 

[VAgirl]

It is not always that case that members of the admissions committee are paid to do that. At Ohio State, being on the admissions committee is voluntary, and therefore additional work for the members.

I don't think hoodle meant that the adcom members would be getting paid extra for this work, but rather that it's within the purview of their overall job. Perhaps an extra duty that they volunteer to take on, but I don't think that substantially changes things. If I volunteer for an extra project at work (which I just did the other day--in fact I suggested the project to begin with), that project is still my job.

Not to say we don't appreciate the extra work and long hours adcom members are putting in voluntarily. But we also shouldn't shy away from finding out answers to legitimate questions that we have because it might make extra work for them. I would assume that they've volunteered for these positions because they care about the future practitioners of vet med. (Or perhaps it was their turn to be on the committee. 😀 )

 

[philomycus]

I loved VAgirl's relationship anaology!! 🙂 I would let it go, but do what you feel is best for you.

 

[loo]

You're kidding me, right?

What would you possibly gain?

Save the neuroses for something more appropriate...like licensing exams.

Bask in the fact that you have been accepted...a lot of folks haven't.

 

[hoodle]

You're kidding me, right?
...

Bask in the fact that you have been accepted...a lot of folks haven't.

I don't appreciate this sort of aggressiveness... it's not constructive. Don't try to make people feel guilty for their acceptances. No one wins by that.

 

[loo]

I don't appreciate this sort of aggressiveness... it's not constructive. Don't try to make people feel guilty for their acceptances. No one wins by that.

Relax.

Sorry if YOU misinterpreted MY OPINION. I don't think I'm making anyone feel guilty for their acceptance. It's called "looking at the global view".

Last I heard, there is still freedom of expression in the US.

 

[hoodle]

whoooaaaaa. hands off.

 

[loo]

whoooaaaaa. hands off.

???? Uh, what does this mean?

 

[designerVet]

I think the interviews ALL depend on who interviews you. seriously. If you were accepted to three, you may have nailed the fourth one if... it is hard to pinpoint. I have seen that of the 4 places I've interviewed, each school seems to have it's own personality and seems to place importance and emphasis on different personality traits, experiences, etc. Which is good. Gives everyone else a chance to get in. And gets you into the school that fits BEST with YOU. Celebrate the acceptances!! Go back and actually LOOK at the #'s. Especially if you are OOS at a school. It's like "HOLY..." you had like a 1 in 10 shot. or LESS!! that rocks!!!

 

[VetMed555]

Save the neuroses for something more appropriate...like licensing exams.

A dose of "healthy?" neuroses is what helped me get into 3 vet. schools in the first place 😀
Plus, it's not about neuroses. I was just really curious. Especially with such great responses from other schools what that particular school thought was lacking. Curiosity is healthy, and I do understand that adcoms are VERY busy people. I just have a hard time letting go of "the one that got away". Not much to gain from it but satisfy my curiosity. But it's no big deal. I'm not going to contact them based on most comments and the fact that it's one of their busiest times of the year. I do feel terrible for people that did not get in (some of them are my friends), but I don't think that's a reason for me to not do what's in my best interest.

 

[hoodle]

???? Uh, what does this mean?

means that our conversation wasn't going anywhere, and I'm deeming it better not to discuss farther! but oh no, here I am, responding. 🙄

 

[designerVet]

hey you guys!! everyone is a wreck right now. go easy on each other. It IS hard to be on a roll and then get a rejection. PLUS after all the acceptance letters come in then I feel like it is almost TOUGHER to actually pick where you are going to go for 4 years. Pre-vets just deep breath-it. This whole process is ALMOST over.... 🙂

 

[loo]

A dose of "healthy?" neuroses is what helped me get into 3 vet. schools in the first place 😀
Plus, it's not about neuroses. I was just really curious. Especially with such great responses from other schools what that particular school thought was lacking. Curiosity is healthy, and I do understand that adcoms are VERY busy people. I just have a hard time letting go of "the one that got away". Not much to gain from it but satisfy my curiosity. But it's no big deal. I'm not going to contact them based on most comments and the fact that it's one of their busiest times of the year. I do feel terrible for people that did not get in (some of them are my friends), but I don't think that's a reason for me to not do what's in my best interest.

First of all, contratulations on your multiple acceptances! That's is a great feat, especially considering how competitive vet school admission is.

I am wondering why this rejection matters all that much in the big scheme of things? You've jumped over what most people consider to be the biggest obstacle to a veterinary career. I guess I don't understand---it just sounds a little neurotic to me, that's all. It's sorta like someone who gets the highest grade in the class, and then has to know what everybody else got. Personally, I wouldn't care; but I've been "enlightened" by others to the fact that some do.

Cie la vie.

Good luck to you in your future endeavors

 

[loo]

means that our conversation wasn't going anywhere, and I'm deeming it better not to discuss farther! but oh no, here I am, responding. 🙄

You are correct in that your contribution was reactionary. That is, writing without thinking.

Hope you have a better day.😀

 

[VAgirl]

It's sorta like someone who gets the highest grade in the class, and then has to know what everybody else got.

It's not like that at all. That's competition with others. It's more like someone who got a 98 needing to know why they lost those 2 points. That's competition with yourself. And I think we've all been there.

 

[Electrophile]

Are you out of state at Missouri? The biggies I can think of why you didn't get an acceptance was large animal experience. They are *really* pushing for that (which makes sense with the big deficit they have). One student in our class had an amazing CV and other creds, but was waitlisted because he was OOS and had no large animal experience. He luckily got in, but almost no one in our class had no large animal experience that I know of. Not that their focus has helped much in my case. I originally wanted to do true mixed practice of everything, now...not so much anymore. 🙄 I don't think I'd mind doing some local family or hobby farm stuff for variety, but nothing in serious production.

 

[VetMed555]

Are you out of state at Missouri? The biggies I can think of why you didn't get an acceptance was large animal experience. They are *really* pushing for that (which makes sense with the big deficit they have). One student in our class had an amazing CV and other creds, but was waitlisted because he was OOS and had no large animal experience. He luckily got in, but almost no one in our class had no large animal experience that I know of. Not that their focus has helped much in my case. I originally wanted to do true mixed practice of everything, now...not so much anymore. 🙄 I don't think I'd mind doing some local family or hobby farm stuff for variety, but nothing in serious production.

I am OOS for Missouri. And yes, I have almost 0 large animal experience--all of my experience comes from small animal emergency and research, so maybe that's it. Maybe I should've researched better before applying, but at the time, I applied to four schools that I had prereqs for and which had suitable locations for my situation. Although I did include my lack of LA experience into my explanation statement, I had nothing to prove that I wouldn't mind working with LA given more exposure. I honestly see myself going for residency either in internal medicine or emergency (not sure yet) and most likely small animals. So yes, in retrospect, Mizzou might have not been the best fit for me.

 

[CanadianGolden]

.

 

[chris03333]

You've jumped over what most people consider to be the biggest obstacle to a veterinary career.

Poor misguided people...getting in is a cake walk compared to the actual vet school part🙄

Have to point that out, sorry for the hijack😛