Crapshoot

[surge]

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Okay, so I apologize in advance because my statement is going to sound arrogant by definition. No offense meant to schools or other applicants. I just want to illustrate what a crapshoot this process is...

Okay, I'm definitely not this year's best qualified applicant, but I feel pretty confident about my application. And, in all honesty, I've been doing really well in the admissions game.
So, forgive me for not being able to resist sharing this.... 😀

Apparently I've been placed on waitlists by Mount Sinai and UConn.

Oh, well.... 🙁 .... I guess I'm GONNA HAVE TO SETTLE FOR UTSouthwestern, WashU or Yale.....

WTF?! 🙄

 

[Angeliqua]

I don't think this has anything to do with the process being a crapshoot. Different programs look for different types of people. You (and most of us) have tailored our lives, research experiences and applications towards the hope of getting into a school such as Yale, WashU, Harvard, UCSF, etc. We (sort of) know what those schools are looking for and try to make ourselves their ideal candidate. Perhaps, Mt. Sinai and UConn have extremely different programs than the aforementioned "elite" schools and are thus looking for different people to be in their programs. They know historically who matriculates and obviously did not recognize you as someone who will and would rather spend their time recruiting people who might go there. BTW, I did not apply to either school, just wanted to respond to your lamentations.

Congrats on your other acceptances, sorry to hear about the waitlists😉

 

[surge]

Yeah, in all honesty, I see your points. Things like that did cross my mind, but I just have no way of knowning. Clearly, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter, I was just being obnoxious 😀

 

[isidella]

So as a person accepted by UConn but rejected by Yale, guess my pattern makes more sense. After all, Uconn is an acedemic wasteland and Yale is the Mecca of higher learning. 🙄

I am often shocked and disturbed by some of the BS I see in this forum. Not only does it succeed in teaching bad habits to newbies, but it also deeply insults current applicants (even with the handy apologetic disclaimer). The elitism just keeps getting worse. Am I the only one who realized that throughout this application process, most schools are truly interested in personality and experiences rather than only numbers? Maybe I only saw schools at the bottom of the barrel. . . Guess that explains it. 🙁 🙄

FYI-I will go to what many of you consider a "lesser" institution and in the end, I will still be a physician scientist. I may not have the best car or go to the best parties on the hill or golf with the senator, but I will surround myself with bright dedicated people who care about research as much as I do. I will get grants, maybe not the biggest, but I will be resourceful enough to make the most out of it. All without a degree from Yale. Imagine that.

 

[surge]

Sorry isidella, I know I'm being an idiot.

The thing is that I actually spent 2 summers at UConn and had an amazing time there. My favorite mentor and one of my best friends are both there, and in all honesty, my experiences at UConn were what ultimately made me fall in love with science and decide to pursue an MD/PhD. While I'm not so convinced about Mount Sinai, I know that UConn is an incredible school.

So my problem - and I have no good argument for it - is that I feel that I was not put on a waitlist not because of my qualifications, but because of politics. Now, clearly, it may be, as you say, because of my personality and experiences - that is, afterall, a subjective thing.
I was asked extensively at both schools where else I have applied and interviewed. I was honest with them, although at the time, I had no acceptances.
I think that they took it upon themselves to assume that UConn was a backup school for me, and that I would reject the acceptance if given one. And, as we all know, every school cares about their matriculation rates.
Now, while I could understand that, I am still dissapointed with their conduct.
I was dissapointed precisely because I know what a phenomenal institution it is (yes, it's true that they don't have a fancy name, but I think when it comes to science, there are people there that are doing world-class stuff - my former mentor being one of them). Would I choose them over Yale? You are right, probably not. But it shouldn't matter, and as an applicant I resent that.

And, yes, in part, I'm being a resentful lover. Or they just really don't want socially inept ****s like me, in which case, my argument doesn't hold 🙂

I don't know if you'll end up choosing UConn, but if you do, there is no doubt you will get exceptional training.

Either way, I apologize once again.

 

[Angeliqua]

Originally posted by surge

And, yes, in part, I'm being a resentful lover.

Oh, now I see what it takes to get into the top schools, I guess UConn just didn't fall for it, eh?

 

[surge]

Originally posted by Angeliqua
Oh, now I see what it takes to get into the top schools, I guess UConn just didn't fall for it, eh?

Damn them! And they seemed pleased with my performance, too...😀

Uh-oh. My secret's out. 🙁

 

[Angeliqua]

Isidella,
Based on your posts on this forum, it is quite clear that you will be an awesome physician scientist regardless of where you go to school. You certainly don't need a "name" to stand out; you will do that on your own. Not to mention, you got into A LOT of great places (ahem, mayo...) 🙂

See you on the golf course with the senator...well, I might be the caddy if one of these schools doesn't take me already!

Ang

 

[isidella]

Ang, you are the best and your viewpoint in refreshing. You will set a new standard for caddies. 😉 Good Luck to You!

surge-sorry for the harshess, you were kind of in the wrong place at the wrong time with your whimsical post. I can be a meanie. my bad.

 

[pathdr2b]

Originally posted by isidella
FYI-I will go to what many of you consider a "lesser" institution and in the end, I will still be a physician scientist.

I'm leaning toward an Ivy league PhD (UPenn) and either a GWU or Howard MD. Wonder what that will make me? That's right.................................................. I'll be MD/PhD!

But the real question is should I average the tiers of the institutions I attend?😛

 

[surge]

Originally posted by isidella
surge-sorry for the harshess, you were kind of in the wrong place at the wrong time with your whimsical post. I can be a meanie. my bad.

That's okay, we all know I deserved it 😀
Plus, we needed a lame thread in here, don't you think? Why should the pre-allos have all the fun? 😉

In all seriousness, though, I really think all of you guys are great. I know we come from tremendously different backgrounds, but I know what kind of work and dedication is required to get into ANY MD/PhD program in the country. But it's actually not that - as much as what your abmition tells about you as people.
Most of us could easily get into an MD program, get out and make a lot of money in private practice. My stomach turns every time I read a new post on the pre-allo or residency forums about the latest trends in the already-6-figure salaries.
But you guys decided to dedicate your lives not only to treating individual patients, but to helping mankind by expanding the horizons of the very knowledge that allows us to make this world a better place. And you do it at your own cost, both monetary and pyschological, often for intensly intimate reasons.

And that's why I will be proud to call all of you my coleagues.


BTW, isidella, are you any closer to deciding, now that Mayo came up?

 

[canadagirl]

To be fair, UConn put you on their waitlist, they didn't reject you. If your guess is right and they waitlisted you because they don't want to wreck their matriculation ratios or whatever, then they would almost certainly be receptive to a letter of intent if you really wanted to go there.

But you're not going to send them a letter of intent, right? You're just gonna go ahead to Yale, etc. And, presumably, that's exactly the reason why they waitlisted you.

If I were the director of admissions at UConn, I'd probably do the same thing - wouldn't you? 😛

 

[surge]

I guess I might, although I like to think that I wouldn't. Regardless, I understand why they did it (if that indeed is the reason). However, I still don't think it's a right reason not to offer admission to someone. But, hey, who ever said this process was flawless, right?

But, yeah, you're right, of course. I will respectfully withdraw and probably go to Yale. Hopefully someone gets that spot instead of me when the list moves.

I just found it ironic that the school that gave me not only the desire but also essentially set the foundations of my whole application didn't accept me 😀

Anyway, it's a good humbling experience. Those are good once in a while 😉