I applied during this application cycle, and although I got into a couple medical schools, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Illinois, and had interviews at Duke, Case Western, and Northwestern, I was pretty disappointed that I did not get into a top 25 medical school. Here is basically my profile. I graduated from Northwestern in 3 years with a 3.7 GPA and a degree in economics, took the MCAT this past summer after I graduated, and got a 37. I thought my stats, along with my extracurriculars which I thought covered the bases (1 summer of research at Feinberg, shadowing 3 doctors, 1 year of volunteering at a free health clinic in Chicago) would be able to get me into a top med school which obviously did not happen. As I look back to what went wrong, I know it wasn't my interviews or essays as all my answers were thoughtful and were presented in a confident, self assured manner. I think the problem was the substance of my overall application, in the sense that I didn't spend a summer abroad in a poor country or didn't have a publication due to the fact that my research experience was only a summer. In a sense, there was no fascinating or unique circumstance that I could share because of my vanilla E.C.'s and the fact that I come from a pretty privileged background, as both of my parents are physicians. But honestly, is it really my fault that I have lived a pretty good life? I guess I could have taken a year off to further strengthen my application, but I know that most of my friends who go abroad in public health programs end up partying instead of really "making a difference", and I could not see myself doing that. Furthermore, I find research really boring and could not force myself to do that for a year. To close, I think I realize that in order to get into these top schools, it was more a matter of me not doing the aforementioned activities instead of just bad luck. What do you guys think?
Disappointing Application Cycle
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I think it is in poor taste to come on a website and complain about how you didn't get into a higher tier program when, not only did you get into very solid schools, but some people would love ANY acceptance. It doesn't make you a bad person, it just makes you seem whiny. And honestly, no, doing all that stuff doesn't mean that you would have gotten into a top 25 school. They'd probably still have tons of applicants like you and better still. I say be happy with what you have. Some people don't even have half of it.
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Don't worry about it, its tough enough to get in anywhere. Your going to be a doctor! nice work
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+1
Plus, you seem like the person who follows a "formula," more than actually enjoying what you're doing. Could be me, but obviously research and going abroad aren't your thing, and doing it just for the sake of med school is worse than not doing it at all. All I have to say is, top 25=many being research oriented, and you don't seem to enjoy research in the first place; hence maybe those schools aren't for you in the first place. That being said, feel privileged, take your acceptances and RUN 🙂
Yes, I am definitely lucky to get in somewhere. I know a good amount of people at Northwestern who weren't able to get in anywhere and I realize that my post would seem to be in poor taste to someone who did not get in this cycle, but my intention was not for that to happen. This post, I guess, is a therapeutic way for me to list my regrets to make sure it doesn't happen again in medical school, nothing more. In the end, it really doesn't matter where you go to medical school and I will be a doctor.
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It's funny how you say this yet complain about not getting into a "top 25" school.
It's also funny that these "top 25" ranking are based on research; a field in which you cant "force yourself to do for a year."
Stop showcasing your sense of entitlement and start acting humble.
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Did you actually get rejected at those 3? If you're on the WL, you still have a chance - and it's not like you have to be that stressed since you have acceptances, after all! Of course it's disappointing to not get into your top choices, but as long as you have a good place to go you don't really have that much to be upset about.
I will admit, the only reason I would have liked to get into a top 25 school is for the name recognition and if that is a bit egotistical, so be it. I don't think there is anything wrong with having some sort of ambition and competitiveness in life. Also, I don't think it's entitlement in the sense that I worked extremely hard for the 3 years I was at Northwestern. Furthermore, I spent pretty much the entire past summer studying for the MCAT and my score was good enough to get into one of these places. Is it a crime to not want to do a year of hardcore research after working so hard already? I guess my main point is that I don't feel doing research has anything do with being an effective doctor, and I wish that what we define to be the top medical schools are based on which schools are the best at research.
Ya I did get rejected at all 3 of those places. Also, my intention is not to be a whining douchebag. I just wanted some feedback about my profile, and I realize I needed to do more research and can't have it both ways. (wanting to get into a top 25 without doing more research)
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While I may not have agreed with your original post, this part is spot on. I feel this same way, too.
Too bad all the top medical schools are mainly top medical schools because of the research they do.
Are you being serious? You really feel that you worked exceptionally hard during your premedical career? There are so many premeds that worked exceptionally hard to demonstrate a passion for medicine beyond getting extraordinary stats. In my opinion, you didn't work nearly as hard as most of the applicants I came across at my interviews this year.
This is true. However, I think that if one wants to become a top notch science-based medical practitioner, one must acquire a nuanced understanding of the scientific method. Research helps significantly to develop this understanding. I think that's why top schools emphasize research.
Yes, as I said in my original post, I think I could have definitely done more research and volunteering which was one of my major weaknesses of my application. It was just tough to fit it in while taking a tough courseload at northwestern, which is why I probably would have had a stronger application by taking a year off.
Yeah, i can imagine finishing your undergraduate education in 3 years would be quite heavy in terms of course load.
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As someone who have actually finished undergrad in 3 years... I'd have to say no. Full course load was 4 classes/quarter and 3 quarters/year. I did 3 classes/quarter my last two years and 4 classes/quarter my first year. Go go AP classes.
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While strong research experiences help you get into the "top 25", I don't think it's really necessary. I have a few friends who got into those schools without research experiences.
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I know it's been pointed out already in this thread, but what are usually considered the "top schools" are the top research schools. Primary care is ranked completely separately. The top schools have a strong motivation to value research experience in their applicants. Their goal is to train the next generation of physicians that are going to advance the field. While possible, it is very unlikely that students without some understanding of how science is actually done will significantly advance the field. You can be smart, but if you don't have the drive to understand the nitty gritty, or are at least willing to put in some time to see how the work is done, you will never be a real scientist. The top schools, particularly the top ten, are training 'medical scientists' (whether or not they actually go into a research field).
Also, get over yourself. You're not the first person to finish undergrad in three years, you're not the first pre-med to endure Northwestern's rigor, and you're not the first one to have a 37 on their MCAT. I see nothing in your ramblings that makes you stand out as more than just a relatively smart guy. In this case, your finishing in three years might be a detriment as you've only had three (busy) years since high school to develop as a person.
Also, get over yourself. You're not the first person to finish undergrad in three years, you're not the first pre-med to endure Northwestern's rigor, and you're not the first one to have a 37 on their MCAT. I see nothing in your ramblings that makes you stand out as more than just a relatively smart guy. In this case, your finishing in three years might be a detriment as you've only had three (busy) years since high school to develop as a person.
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Dude you are not entitled to anything, you do ur best preparing ur application, the submit it and the schools decide. You have three times the number of acceptances u'll ever need. U gotta be content at some point.
There are people with 3.9s and 43s who get rejected annually, its a minority, but it happens nonetheless.
Also you need to understand that there's a point of diminishing returns with numbers (gpa/mcat). Beyond some threshold, everyone is pretty much considered the same, number-wise, and "fit" becomes more important.
There are people with 3.9s and 43s who get rejected annually, its a minority, but it happens nonetheless.
Also you need to understand that there's a point of diminishing returns with numbers (gpa/mcat). Beyond some threshold, everyone is pretty much considered the same, number-wise, and "fit" becomes more important.
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Agreed, but I'm sure they had something else that made them stand out. Either perfect numbers, or they've really shown a dedication to helping the community, etc.
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You should be happy to have some acceptances. Many people like myself don't have any acceptances and are still in a very nervewracking situation. You're going to be a doctor and I think the whole "top tier" school thing is overrated since it is based on research. Unless you are going to be a research heavy physician or be a part of academic medicine. It shouldn't matter to you so much.
Yeah, I'd have to say not necessarily as well. I double majored in neurobiology and psychology (which interestingly had no overlap in requirements) in 4 years. So, 3 yrs for a single major is definitely manageable while doing other premedical activities. AP classes screwed me over for med schools ha ha....I have to take 2 classes this summer prior to starting to make up for classes I passed out via AP credits 🙁
To austinap, I understand and agree with you assessment of what the top medical schools mission is but my posts have not been ramblings as you put it. Also, the goal of the original post was for feedback on my application and not to show off my numbers or whatever. I just had high expectations that I did not meet, and in the end, most of the blame does indeed lie with me.
Also, ya graduated in 3 years was pretty easy for me and I never had to take more than 4 classes a quarter, as I had a lot of AP credits and only majored in one subject. It was more the premed classes at northwestern, mainly orgo and bio that took so much time.
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dude that sucks. You had great stats but still got screwed.
If you really don't want to go to those med schools that accepted you, and since you did graduate college in 3 years, I would advise you spend a year at the London School of Economics-(One of the best econ/social sciences schools in the world) and then reapply while still working on research projects/clinical activities in London.
I am curious, how many top 25 schools did you apply to? I would have applied to like 15/top 25 schools and then another 15 (mid-tier to lower-tier schools) just to play it safe.
I plan on graduating in 3 years, then spending a year the London School of Economics and after that going to medical school. I also plan on being an economics major.
This thread is scaring the **** out of me, because we go to similar schools (Vanderbilt/Northwestern) and we have the same major. ****!!!!
If you really don't want to go to those med schools that accepted you, and since you did graduate college in 3 years, I would advise you spend a year at the London School of Economics-(One of the best econ/social sciences schools in the world) and then reapply while still working on research projects/clinical activities in London.
I am curious, how many top 25 schools did you apply to? I would have applied to like 15/top 25 schools and then another 15 (mid-tier to lower-tier schools) just to play it safe.
I plan on graduating in 3 years, then spending a year the London School of Economics and after that going to medical school. I also plan on being an economics major.
This thread is scaring the **** out of me, because we go to similar schools (Vanderbilt/Northwestern) and we have the same major. ****!!!!
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wtf, no don't do this, it would be game over
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Terrible advice. He's weak in research and you advise him to get a grad degree in econ?
ya man, actually nw had a yearlong program at LSE which I thought about doing. At this point, I'll probably get my degree and maybe in the future get an M.B.A. But ya, I applied to 25 total schools, divided among 7 safeties, 7 mid-tiers, and the rest top 25 so ya I pretty much covered all bases. Perhaps the fact that my application was complete in mid September had a minor role, but I guess I will never know.
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case rejects post interview?
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Seeing your stat and attitude, I would guess that you didn't apply to many school, did you? If you applied to all 25, I guarantee you that you would get into at least one.
Also, a word of advice to vandy, in your interviews do not ever mention the fact that you are thinking about getting an M.B.A. or becoming a part-time health care administrator, part-time physician in the future. I did that in my early admission interview to Northwestern University last year in order to stand out, and I realized months after I got rejected how terrible a strategy that was. Adcom's want to see your commitment to medicine, so if you mention economics make it related to health care reform, etc.
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Shhh...I think his plan is to take OP's spot.
No, I applied to 14 of the top 25 medical schools and applied to 25 medical schools overall because I knew the process would be competitive, just not to the extent that it turned out to be.
No, I'm on the post interview hold list, but I highly doubt I will get in, as at the end of March they will take a small percentage of people from the hold list to a waiting list and from there potentially an acceptance.
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This is starting to be a pet peeve. Someone interviews at a school, gets rejected, and then says "I know it wasn't the interview." There is only one way to know how well an interview went. If you get accepted, it went well. If you get rejected, it did not go well. If you get waitlisted, it went OK. The fact is you did not significantly wow them, or prove to them that you were the right fit for their school, at the interview. If I were you, I would figure out before your residency interviews what you are doing wrong. Interviewing is about a lot more than being "thoughtful and self-assured".
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You can have a completely average interview and still get in. The importance of the interview is weighed differently, related to the rest of your application, depending on the school (although I would estimate at more than 50% at most schools).
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I see where the problem is: arrogance.
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Wow. Tough luck. Either way, you're going to be a doctor. Do well, ace the steps, and you'll have another chance to get into one of those highly competitive residencies at a brand name school/hospital. It isn't the end yet. Good luck
