Discouraged by application process

[SavoirFaire]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

So the cycle for this year is officially over. No more interviews are given out and all that is left is the waitlist. This year I applied to 20+ (MD and DO) schools. I received two interviews - ATSU/SOMA and AZCOM. I was waitlisted at both schools.

As of now I haven't heard anything from either school. I have only heard that there are a lot of students on both waitlists...making acceptance sound unlikely. SOMA said it is unlikely it will happen for me this year. There are 174 people on AZCOM's unranked waitlist.

I can't help but feel discouraged by the whole thing. I am re-applying to a few schools this year (5-10) but that is it. I get that medical school is competitive, but I have worked really hard to get to where I am. My cGPA is 3.5, sGPA is 3.4, and I have a 27 MCAT. So I have the numbers of the average DO matriculant. I did the EC's, worked my way through college to pay for myself, have the clinical experience (shadowing, hospital volunteering).

It is demoralizing to see that I did everything that was required and yet I have nothing to show for it. I feel like the interview process was a poor way to judge who I am as a person as well. Asking me about tennis or volunteering doesn't really let them know who I am or what kind of doctor I will be.

Have you been in this situation? I am trying to stay positive; I am re-applying. But it is difficult to see that my hard work hasn't been appreciated.

 

[donkeykong1]

hmm. well your stats seem fine for DO schools. how early or late did u apply last cycle?

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Indeed, late? Early? Balanced MCAT? Also, what about letters? Did you reapply already for this year? Have you called these schools to find out what you could have improved? Since you only received 2 interviews, it seems it's a primary/secondary application issue, as you were waitlisted at both schools that interviewed you... So, personal statement? LORs? MCAT? Essays for secondaries?

 

[Honze55]

what was your undergrad school?

 

[avion321]

OP your story sounds very similar to mine. I graduated with a 3.39 cGPA and a 28 on the MCAT. Over two years I was rejected 27 times, by MD and DO schools. Last year I had my application turned in on June 1st. I got into my top choice DO school this time around. I know it can the tough. It sounds like you do not handle rejection very well. Use it as motivation, keep on fighting, stay strong and resilient. If you truly want it, stop at nothing and never take no for an answer.

As for the interviews. Not sure what you did for prep but I found that doing mock interviews questions really helped.

Fall 20+ times, stand up (20+)+1

 

[Velocity]

I agree with avion321. The rejection hurts a lot - there's no getting around that. It hurts even more considering the time, effort, hope, and expense that you invest into it. Just know that you're far from being the only one to experience this sort of thing, and while you should look at your application with a critical eye to figure out what you can improve for next time, don't view it as a reflection on you as a whole. The application process can seem pretty random at times.

As I see it, you got two interviews this cycle. That's a big deal! You were even wait-listed at the schools that interviewed you, which is also a big deal. It could have been two outright rejections, after all.

For what ever it's worth, when I applied the first time (10-12 schools) I didn't get a single interview. That hurt pretty badly, but I knew it was due to low scores. I spent three years working to correct it, and applied again. I still wasn't sure of my chances, and figured that if I didn't get a single interview this time... Out of 20-30 schools, I received two interviews, leading to one acceptance and one wait list.

All you need is one, and as I see it, you're almost there. Try to improve in any way that you can, and keep trying. You'll make it, I'm sure of it. Best of luck in the next cycle that you apply for, assuming you don't make it in off of a waiting list this cycle.

 

[SavoirFaire]

Thanks, it is good to hear success stories from you guys.

Indeed, late? Early? Balanced MCAT? Also, what about letters? Did you reapply already for this year? Have you called these schools to find out what you could have improved? Since you only received 2 interviews, it seems it's a primary/secondary application issue, as you were waitlisted at both schools that interviewed you... So, personal statement? LORs? MCAT? Essays for secondaries?

I applied to about 15 MD programs, 7 DO programs. I applied from August to December of last year. I have already applied to 3 schools this year. I will add more in a few weeks if I don't hear more from AZCOM or SOMA.

what was your undergrad school?

University of Georgia.

 

[ManBroDude]

Thanks, it is good to hear success stories from you guys.



I applied to about 15 MD programs, 7 DO programs. I applied from August to December of last year. I have already applied to 3 schools this year. I will add more in a few weeks if I don't hear more from AZCOM or SOMA.



University of Georgia.

I have a feeling you had a glaring red flag on your application, something that made the ad-coms go "no thanks". What was the tone of your PS and application? Criminal background? Doing it for the money only? Only wanna specialize in ortho?

 

[SoulinNeed]

Thanks, it is good to hear success stories from you guys.



I applied to about 15 MD programs, 7 DO programs. I applied from August to December of last year. I have already applied to 3 schools this year. I will add more in a few weeks if I don't hear more from AZCOM or SOMA.



University of Georgia.

August is a bit late to apply, and if you applied to the DO schools closer to December than August, then I can understand why you may have been rejected at all of them.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

You should apply to all the schools you're planning to, it is unlikely at this point you'll hear from them, if you do, you can withdraw. Applying early could get you in... Just a thought... Additionally, I was thinking about your volunteer stuff you said you shadowed and volunteered in a hospital, what else did you do for ECs?? Maybe getting an EMT or CNA and doing some paid hospital work would help

 

[TriagePreMed]

7 DO schools is kinda low for someone with your numbers. Personally, I'd do the opposite this time. 15 DO and 7 MD.

 

[MedicineMike]

As a fellow UGA alum, I feel that I should help you out!

I haven't heard anything about your letters of rec. Did any of your science professors or MD/DOs write you a letter of rec? I know you all have the advisor letter packet thing there, but did you get anyone else to write letters?

Also, do you have any W's on your transcript? Multiple re-takes?

 

[willen101383]

I have a feeling you had a glaring red flag on your application, something that made the ad-coms go "no thanks". What was the tone of your PS and application? Criminal background? Doing it for the money only? Only wanna specialize in ortho?

YUP something has to be going on with ur app OP. Your stats are competitive for every DO school out there for the most part. Your GPA is a little low but that MCAT is solid for every DO school in the country.

Are you lacking clinical experience? An app heavy with REAL clinical experience can really help make up for GPA/MCAT issues.

 

[SLC]

Are you lacking clinical experience? An app heavy with REAL clinical experience can really help make up for GPA/MCAT issues.

It's true. Your GPA is higher than mine, my MCAT was a little higher but overall I'd give you a definite stats edge. Where I'd suspect we're different is in the EC's including clinical experience.

The way you described your EC's etc. In the original post makes them seem pretty vanilla. I suspect they may be. Hospital volunteering? What did you do there? I'll tell you that >80% of your fellow applicants also did "hospital volunteering". >80% of your fellow applicants also have similar stats to you.

What that means is that when Joe or Jane ADCOM member sit down at their desk to screen 80 applications over the weekend, they have a hard time remembering yours specifically at the Monday interview invite meeting. If you happen to get an interview, you also blend in with most other interviewees and they may have a tough time remembering you specifically at the admissions meeting a few days later.

This is all speculative on my part of course, but I imagine this is likely a large part of what may be wrong in your case.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

That was my concern as well... That's why I think a CNA or EMT job could help some...Op no offense, but your tone in regards to the ECs is very blah/nonchalant, like you did them because they are a formality, maybe this shows in your app??

 

[SLC]

That was my concern as well... That's why I think a CNA or EMT job could help some...Op no offense, but your tone in regards to the ECs is very blah/nonchalant, like you did them because they are a formality, maybe this shows in your app??

Exactly,

There's a reason most premeds feel like the admissions process is extremely random. They set up their applications to be "randomly" selected from literally stacks and stacks of virtually identical applications.

Qualified applicants who manage to find a way to stand out are overwhelmingly successful. I didn't feel this application process was random at all. It happened almost exactly as I planned/expected.

 

[SavoirFaire]

August is a bit late to apply, and if you applied to the DO schools closer to December than August, then I can understand why you may have been rejected at all of them.

That is exactly what I did.

I have a feeling you had a glaring red flag on your application, something that made the ad-coms go "no thanks". What was the tone of your PS and application? Criminal background? Doing it for the money only? Only wanna specialize in ortho?

My personal statement for MD programs talked about stigma of psychiatric patients. I wasn't sure how it would go over with admissions (perhaps they are holding onto those same negative views of psychiatric patients), but I decided that I had to write about it. It was a significant factor in my decision to pursue medicine. I lost my sister by suicide and she struggled with psychiatric illnesses. The whole story of her life and her healthcare experiences inspired me to pursue medicine and to focus on mental health.

I later talked to a clinical psychologist who told me that there are even MD's out there who still think psychiatric patients are crazy or lazy. That scared me afterwards, and I rewrote my PS.

For the DO programs, I took basically all of that out. I figured - better safe than sorry. I still believe that stigma in psychiatry is a huge barrier to mental health, but I will deal with that on my own in the future. I came to the conclusion that opinions over something controversial should best be left out of a personal statement.

 

[SavoirFaire]

As a fellow UGA alum, I feel that I should help you out!

I haven't heard anything about your letters of rec. Did any of your science professors or MD/DOs write you a letter of rec? I know you all have the advisor letter packet thing there, but did you get anyone else to write letters?

Also, do you have any W's on your transcript? Multiple re-takes?

I had LORS from: a DO, an MD, molecular biology professor, abnormal psychology professor, neuropsychologist, volunteer coordinator, advisor.

I had 1 W in Calculus...took it one more time and got a C.

That was my concern as well... That's why I think a CNA or EMT job could help some...Op no offense, but your tone in regards to the ECs is very blah/nonchalant, like you did them because they are a formality, maybe this shows in your app??

I spent a lot of time working through college so that I could support myself. So my EC's are mostly work experience, a neuroscience club, some community/hospital volunteering, recently I have done shadowing. I spent most of my free time honestly with my friends, playing music, and playing tennis. I pursued things I love doing that don't involve medicine. I did not have 1000 hours of volunteering/shadowing or anything like that. More like 150-200 hours.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

1, PS, glad you took out the part about the psych patients... here's the deal, your PS has to SING "This is why I want to go into medicine" not just say it. So, if you were discussing why you want to change XYZ, and not "this made me want to pursue medicine in order to help other people like my sister" it may have just turned off the readers. http://sdnfamilyaerospace.blogspot.com/2011/03/family-aerospaces-suggestions-on.html

2. Start doing more volunteering, as in, as much as you can. Start volunteering at the soup kitchen or food shelf. Volunteer anywhere it gets you in touch with needy populations, this will help, and it shows you're still trying to achieve your goal, that you didn't just give up once you had some done.

3. A LOT (most probably) of us non-trads worked our way through college, that's why we're on the DO/MD path NOW, and not when we were 20. Don't dwell on this. I worked 20-25hrs/week, had full time courses, and still found time to volunteer all the way through school. I have something like 3000 hours just from college, not including the many more hours I have since.

4. Seriously consider my comment about getting a CNA certification, and getting a job as one ASAP, my local hospitals use them as care attendants, and it's not the "nursing home" type job, and they get paid decently, so a PT or FT gig could pay the bills...

5. Call AZCOM and ATSU-SOMA and ask WTH was wrong with me... Keep calling and asking until they give you an answer...

 

[Goro]

Reapply and quit feeling sorry for yourself. Your stats are fine, so you should contact the schools you interviewed at and try to get some feedback as to why you were waitlisted. It might have been an interview skills thing, or something in your letters of recommendation. Also consider that people DO move from the waitlist to accept, so be patient.

So the cycle for this year is officially over. No more interviews are given out and all that is left is the waitlist. This year I applied to 20+ (MD and DO) schools. I received two interviews - ATSU/SOMA and AZCOM. I was waitlisted at both schools.

As of now I haven't heard anything from either school. I have only heard that there are a lot of students on both waitlists...making acceptance sound unlikely. SOMA said it is unlikely it will happen for me this year. There are 174 people on AZCOM's unranked waitlist.

I can't help but feel discouraged by the whole thing. I am re-applying to a few schools this year (5-10) but that is it. I get that medical school is competitive, but I have worked really hard to get to where I am. My cGPA is 3.5, sGPA is 3.4, and I have a 27 MCAT. So I have the numbers of the average DO matriculant. I did the EC's, worked my way through college to pay for myself, have the clinical experience (shadowing, hospital volunteering).

It is demoralizing to see that I did everything that was required and yet I have nothing to show for it. I feel like the interview process was a poor way to judge who I am as a person as well. Asking me about tennis or volunteering doesn't really let them know who I am or what kind of doctor I will be.

Have you been in this situation? I am trying to stay positive; I am re-applying. But it is difficult to see that my hard work hasn't been appreciated.

 

[JamesLMT]

Just to repeat what everyone has said in this thread. The application process sometimes makes you scratch your head. It took me three years to get that acceptance. I was rejected so many times. My third year, I buckled down, took a critical look at my application, and made some changes to it. I completely rewrote my personal statement, sold who I was, and just continued doing the things I love (volunteering, chasing my hobbies, etc.) I received 4 interviews this year, and with low stats too. Honestly, your numbers are what make you the same as everone else (unless you are applying with a 45 on the MCAT). It's the rest that makes schools want to offer you an interview. Think about what makes you stand out from the crowd. What hardships you have overcome? What unique interests and viewpoints you have about the medical field? Those things get you in. Kinda links to your wonderment in them asking about tennis, etc. They want to see how you hold yourself, they want to see how you talk about the things you love, they want to see WHO YOU ARE. Stand out, not with your stats, but with your personality, hobbies, and lifes' experiences. Show them that you have that passion for other things in life instead of repeating what they have heard from other interviewees.

I remember one of the admissions committee walked up to me on the day of my interview and said "you're the one that plays violin right?" This allowed me to open up and show them who I was. No one will walk up to you and say, "You're the one that got that 27 on the MCAT right?" In a world of black and white, they want color.

At least that is my take on it. I digress, however. Good luck to you this cycle, add more schools NOW instead of later if you decide to.