Did anyone not have an emotional application cycle?

[dieanotherday]

---

Members do not see this ad.

If you were to do it all over again, what would have made you less stressed out?

Did the amount of sdn stalking on specific school discussions help or hurt?
Did anyone ever feel truly ready/worthy for any interview?

How often did you question your intelligence and ability to overcome this process?

Just wanted to see if anyone is as emotionally drained as I am right now. I feel relieved but completely devoid of $$ or emotions. I felt euphoria like I never felt before getting that acceptance but at the same time this cycle was an emotional roller coaster. The lows were oh so low...

 

[Faux]

This thread will be interesting to hear. I'm applying this cycle but can't imagine feeling any happier than I did after I took my DAT. I was perfectly fine until I was driving a few minutes on the highway and started sobbing.

 

[dieanotherday]

This thread will be interesting to hear. I'm applying this cycle but can't imagine feeling any happier than I did after I took my DAT. I was perfectly fine until I was driving a few minutes on the highway and started sobbing.

it definitely was a shock to me on how emotional i got

and a lot of people were crying outside of the prometrics testing center
but not all of them were taking the dat

 

[ktran17]

Enjoyed my thanksgiving break. (week before d-day)

I hate how so many different status changes occur during thanksgiving week. We already have to wait longer than any other professional student.

 

[dieanotherday]

Enjoyed my thanksgiving break. (week before d-day)

I hate how so many different status changes occur during thanksgiving week. We already have to wait longer than any other professional student.

status changes like portal?

 

[ktran17]

status changes like portal?

Yeah, your AADSAS status for each school will be different. Some of them will say check back dec 2nd, others turn blank, etc.

It forces applicants to start speculating based on past trends. =[

 

[Glimmer1991]

Dear God... The day I found out I didn't get invited to UNC's first interview was one of the worst days ever. (They only have four interview dates and I submitted in the first batch.)

 

[ModifiedBass]

Fortunately, I was never all too stressed - that's just how I am. The only time I really stressed out was due to my lower volunteer hours and during the 7 weeks of hellish DAT studying. I was lucky enough to get interview invitations very early on from my top choices, so that definitely helped. In regards to the interview, I didn't really prepare. I feel that when it comes to interviews, you should already know yourself and what you want to project to your interviewer, preparing too much makes its worse (for me at least). So my advice is, if you are comfortable with yourself and your application, don't stress too much about the interview, it was always an enjoyable experience for me. Again, luckily the schools I applied to didn't really use the portals all too often, so that took some stress out of the picture. When Dec. 2nd came, I had had 3 interviews, and 3 calls/emails of acceptance that day, which was probably the best I've felt in many years.

 

[ChrisM07]

If you were to do it all over again, what would have made you less stressed out?

Not making the mistakes I made early on in undergrad that caused me to have to take a complete roundabout way of getting here. Just learning studying habits, time management, etc. Of course, they are mistakes and we learn from them. I would be a different person today if it weren't for them and I have learned a lot along the way so I guess they were a blessing in disguise? I know it may sound hokey but it's true. I improved over time and this is what I'm glad of.

Did the amount of sdn stalking on specific school discussions help or hurt?

Both. Getting rejections throughout the entire fall while seeing everyone here getting interviews left and right was a little discouraging but this site offers lots of valuable information, and I've been visiting it for quite a while, offering my share when I can. I don't think that I ever felt bitter towards people because of their successes because clearly they earned it and worked hard for it. It was helpful to see people that were in similar positions like me sometimes too.

Did anyone ever feel truly ready/worthy for any interview?

Very close to being ready after reading this site over and over and reading the interview review page. There is still that "uncertainty" that will always leave us feeling not 100% but that's just the nature of the game I guess. I second guessed my answers the moment I started to walk back to my hotel room but, you know, just had to let it go. After thought, I was confident. We can't know what the interview will be like completely before it happens. And I felt very worthy. It was very humbling to have two invites in my inbox within the five day work week post-December. It was very humbling to have schools have a genuine interest in what I had to say and to hear what I have to offer. I won't forget that.

How often did you question your intelligence and ability to overcome this process?

All the time. Maybe not intelligence, but will to pursue. Throw in some despair 🙂.

Just wanted to see if anyone is as emotionally drained as I am right now. I feel relieved but completely devoid of $$ or emotions. I felt euphoria like I never felt before getting that acceptance but at the same time this cycle was an emotional roller coaster. The lows were oh so low...

 

[Jungerr]

December 2nd/3rd was hellish for me. I was checking my phone and email all day every five minutes.

Feeling crestfallen at the end of Dec. 3rd at finding out I've been waitlisted at both schools I interviewed for would be an understatement.

 

[Meat Gyver]

From me to future applicants :

• SDN is a great tool for preparing for the DAT
• Once that application is sent, as tempting as it may be, don't become attached to SDN (constantly looking at it won't speed up interviews/acceptances, it will just drive you insane).
• The process is extremely random, so digging through forums from 10 years ago to see if you find any "trends" is pointless. Just buckle up and try to enjoy the ride.
• Don't stress over Dec. 2/3. I didn't get accepted to any schools on that day and thought I'd have to reapply again. Just know the application cycle is much longer than you think, and just because someone with similar stats got an interview/acceptance earlier doesn't mean it's the end of the road (I got 3 post dec interviews and got accepted to all of them - I'm still yet to hear back from the first school I interviewed at in October).
• I made the mistake of trying too hard on my first interview. Once I realized that I bombed the first interview, I thought the second one would be do or die for me since Dec 2/3 was nearing, so I over- prepared for that one too. Simply put, trying too hard or coming in rehearsed is just as effective as throwing cheesy pick up lines at girls at a bar thinking they'll go home with you (yeah it works sometimes - I did get accepted to one of those schools - but don't count on it). Just be yourself - you'll be far more confident being yourself than trying to be what you think they want you to be.

 

[Illfavor]

This thread will be interesting to hear. I'm applying this cycle but can't imagine feeling any happier than I did after I took my DAT. I was perfectly fine until I was driving a few minutes on the highway and started sobbing.

Yea, I was happier with my DAT score than when I found out I got in to my #1.

All in all, try to have some perspective during the entire process.

 

[NMC2010]

Dear God... The day I found out I didn't get invited to UNC's first interview was one of the worst days ever. (They only have four interview dates and I submitted in the first batch.)

^ Same way I felt. OSU had 3 interview days/phone call invitations. I didn't hear from them on the first one... or the second. They were supposed to call starting at 9:00 am for the third date, and it usually takes them 50-60 minutes to call all 72 people. I sat in my histology class waiting... 9:10... 9:20... 9:30... 9:40... finally got the call at 9:43. That was my only invite to anywhere, so everything was riding on getting accepted there. On Dec 2nd, they started calling at 10:00. I waited the same way, checking SDN to see who had gotten accepted + checking OSU facebook page to see if calls were still going. Around 11:00 am they said calls were done, and I didn't get one. Really felt disappointed.

But then on Dec. 31st, at 10:47 am (weird I remember the time), I got the acceptance call! Gotta say, it was a huge relief. Watching AADSAS from August - January wasn't a pleasant process

@Faux and @Illfavor, was the same way for me. Since I had to retake my DAT, when I saw I got the score I needed for OSU on screen after the test, I pretty much jumped for joy and started laughing and doing fist pumps in the testing center. The test admins were watching me through the window/on camera laughing at me, but I didn't even care - went outside and started laughing with them 🙂

 

[Blake1e]

If you were to do it all over again, what would have made you less stressed out?

Did the amount of sdn stalking on specific school discussions help or hurt?
Did anyone ever feel truly ready/worthy for any interview?

How often did you question your intelligence and ability to overcome this process?

Just wanted to see if anyone is as emotionally drained as I am right now. I feel relieved but completely devoid of $$ or emotions. I felt euphoria like I never felt before getting that acceptance but at the same time this cycle was an emotional roller coaster. The lows were oh so low...

I didnt get in this past cycle but, heck, I feel like answering this.

Since I am doing it all over again, being consistent with my workouts and not neglecting my gf as much will help lessen some stress.

I stalked the specific school discussions for a few days straight, then went cold turkey for weeks, and repeated this pattern. Seeing others in the same situation and coming across useful advice you wouldnt have thought of made it very helpful.

After a few hours reading about the school, I felt more than ready and excited about doing the interview.

I dont consider myself smart, people often say I am but I think they just have low standards for intelligence and/or theyre trying to sweet talk me into doing them a favor. When I mess up, I get a little annoyed and say to myself "really brain, really?" Sometimes I purposely make myself feel worse b/c I find negative energy quite motivating. Questioning your intelligence and abilities is nothing compared to the soul-destroying effects of questioning your sanity after messing up in a certain way multiple times, it immobilizes you. But like most things soul-destroying, a boner and a cute girl (bonus if she's your gf and you genuinely like her a lot) is the quick-fix remedy, so glad Im a dude, I have no idea what Id do if I was a chick, maybe some heroine I hear a lot of good things about it..

Being emotionally drained is tiring; numb is a better word to describe how I most often feel during the process. Emotional dissociation allows me to be very productive, partly by saving me from the prolonged, energy-sapping, and stressful roller coaster rides (and btw I dont even like real ones). My buddy tells me this is a trait people with a lot of Neanderthal DNA usually have and that's why it's uncommon. Interesting theory, not sure if its correct, but it does make some sense given what I already know on the subject. Anyways, Im ready for this coming cycle, I made some big improvements..

 

[Ferneezy]

At the risk of sounding cooler than the other side of the pillow, I can't say this application cycle stressed me too much. I preempted all of that by taking a busy ass job just a couple weeks prior to my first interview, which provided more than enough stress on its own to properly distract me from the cycle.

That's not to say I didn't check my email every. time. it chimed on my phone in the hopes it was an interview invite. I was a very thirsty man late summer 2013...

 

[dieanotherday]

At the risk of sounding cooler than the other side of the pillow, I can't say this application cycle stressed me too much. I preempted all of that by taking a busy ass job just a couple weeks prior to my first interview, which provided more than enough stress on its own to properly distract me from the cycle.

That's not to say I didn't check my email every. time. it chimed on my phone in the hopes it was an interview invite. I was a very thirsty man late summer 2013...

I wished I didn't put so much emphasis on the applications and secondaries which for me didn't take very long to do

I should have gotten a job from the get go and any interview that came would have been a complete and happy surprise vs a small relief to my agony and desperation

 

[sgv]

a good way to save a few hairs from stress is to quit SDN. i was pretty desperate and prayed a good deal but there have been more distressful moments in my life.

here's an interesting tidbit, a study gathered a bunch of random stock traders and told them that pressing a button may increase or decrease stock prices on a display but didn't tell them that pressing the button would actually be meaningless and have no effect. After they surveyed them, the people who believed that pressing the button would affect stock prices tended to be unsuccessful stock traders who weren't disciplined to control their emotions in order to trade logically and tended to overestimate how much control they had over situations. they deceived themselves into thinking that they have more control than they really did. The skill of coping with outcomes beyond your control is important in stock traders who have to be disciplined enough to make rational decisions when prices plummet. The point is that how you react to occurrences beyond your control shows your management of emotions. you have to believe that the outcome after your interview is beyond your control and therefore there's no point in agonizing and ruminating over what can happen. you can control your gpa, dat score, and how prepared you are for your interview but after that everything is out of your control.

 

[gn4]

I really stressed out after taking the DAT because I had screwed up majorly on the QR section. I got a 16 on that. Was even annoyed with my TS score because I thought it should have been higher, but whatever. So I stressed out a bit over my scores.

Also, don't try to compare your scores to other people on SDN. I think I really stressed out because I took my test a day or two after @Illfavor and he had posted his awesome scores. I had nothing against him either. haha. I was just comparing my scores to his. I was like "damn..he killed it". He's a good guy btw.

The happiest day for me during this interview process was getting invited for interviews at places I didn't think I even had a shot at. That's when I realized that things might be ok and cancelled my retake of the DAT.

 

[hitmans45]

I couldn't believe any of the interviews I received. The interviews I recieved from schools I considered "long shots" left me speechless. I must have read each invite email dozens of times (to be honest I still read them once in awhile and smile...creepily). After I got an interview from my top choice I started to actually think "maybe I do have something to offer". I know you shouldn't use things like that to determine your self worth, but screw that! I was feeling myself. The stress of waiting was bad, but I actually think it would have been worse without SDN. At least I didn't feel alone in the process, none of my friends truly understand what I was going through.

And that first emailed acceptance, woooooooo, it was a relief. But I was very surprised how nonchalantly I received the news. Even after my #1 choice called, I was on the verge of freaking out, but once I hung up I was like "OK...great" and went to work. I do find myself getting more and more excited as orientation gets closer.

After my DAT I sat in my car outside the testing center staring at my scores for 20mins, closest I've come to crying in years. Thank God my manliness got in the way.

 

[dieanotherday]

I'm pretty sure all the people who cried at my prometrics testing center were tragically sobbing....
wasn't tears of happiness I'm sure.

 

[Demilaax]

EDIT: I don't want to talk about it.

 

[y3nd0]

In retrospect, I had a pretty emotional cycle. Studying for the DAT was definitely the worst part. I remember crying in front of my roommate on several occasions because I got so frustrated with studying (the classification part of biology really got to my head. Seriously, like it's something I really need to know as a dentist). I had a huge emotional breakdown on the bathroom floor while talking to my parents a few weeks before I was supposed to take my exam. It sucked. A lot.

In terms of the waiting... it was horrible, especially since I treated SDN like a double edged sword. I didn't have any friends who were going through the same thing I was, so essentially, SDN was a haven for me to escape to when I needed to "be" with others going through the application cycle. The downside to SDN? Seeing others get invites/secondaries to schools you applied to, even though they applied after you. That, of course, was very discouraging and worrisome to see.

My first acceptance came on Dec. 2 at 3AM, and I was here on SDN to see the action unfold in the "Official acceptance" thread. It was an experience that will forever be embedded in my mind as the peak of the application cycle. Why? It was so exciting to see people get accepted to their top choice/any dental school. It was like watching people achieve their dreams/paving the path to their future, all in one spot.

When I was accepted to my top choice on Dec. 2, I was just relieved and excited that the whole thing was over.

So... TL;DR, yes this cycle has been crazy in terms of emotions. But, without the people I love, and SDN, I'm sure it would have been worse.

 

[Slumber]

Studying for the DAT was pretty damn miserable, thanks yo the destroyers. I thought I was going insane because I was studying so much. The whole first batch thingy. It was pretty damn stressful for no good reason. Being in first batch means nothing, it's the same as the second, third, fourth, or fifth batch. The most daunting aspect of the application cycle is the waiting game. It's just endless. You wait until AADSAS opens up, then you wait for them to calculate your gpa, then you wait for interviews... then you wait for the first Monday of December....

 

[dental13]

I was only able to apply to very few schools (6), and I ended up not getting any interviews until post December. long story short, I ended up getting into my dream dental school and withdrew two interviews. And I can certainly say that your hard effort will pay off at the end.

 

[CleverThought]

I'm a non emotional person to begin with, so I can't say that this cycle was all that rough emotionally for me. I did have a few neurotic moments and I was heartbroken to get the silent treatment from Creighton, but otherwise this cycle wasn't too bad on me. I tried to keep busy and not focus on things that were out of my control