Feeling pretty down

[Daydreamer2008]

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I'm coming to the realization that I probably will not be getting in this year. I have no interview invites and I'm constantly thinking about what is wrong with my application and why schools don't want to grant me interviews.

I know that I can apply again, but I feel like a huge failure since I am already an older applicant, and it has been difficult to think about anything but this fact for the past couple days. I keep thinking about everyone who knows I am applying and what they will think of me when I don't get in. Do you guys have any advice about how to get over this? I am seriously pondering going to a therapist b/c I am feeling sad a lot of the time over this 🙁

 

[spicedmanna]

Do you guys have any advice about how to get over this? I am seriously pondering going to a therapist b/c I am feeling sad a lot of the time over this 🙁

Sounds like good advice to yourself; go get the help that you want and need. Speaking to someone who is willing to listen without judgment, and with whom you can be completely authentic, is good for the soul. 👍

My advice? Take a moment to love and appreciate yourself just as you are right now. If you are having trouble doing that, picture someone or something you really love and turn that same love onto yourself. Love yourself exactly where you are. Have no doubt that you are a wonderful human being, worthy of as much love as you want. The fact that you are even willing to make the huge sacrifices in order to apply to medical school says volumes about you. If people judge you negatively for not having been accepted into medical school, it is more about their own fears than about you. Remember that.

It is often not useful to get critical on yourself and then to add some kind of arguable judgment on top of all that; simply ask yourself what you can learn from your experience this year. You have not failed, you have simply delayed getting into medical school for another year. Failure, to me, is not having tried at all, or giving up without first having given it your all.

The medical school admissions process is a crap shoot. Keep in mind that while there are probably factors that you could have done better to favor acceptance, there are just as many factors that were outside of your control. Recommit to your process, find out where you could improve your chances for acceptance, take the necessary actions steps, and then let the rest of it go. Know what you can control and what you can't; that's one of the keys to lasting happiness and success. Remember, however, just because you didn't get in this year (if this is indeed the case, because there are still many months to go), doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong, or that there is something inherently wrong with you. Take heart that you are perfect just as you are. 😉

As long as your heart beats and you are willing to do what it takes, you can get into medical school. It is a sermountable task for the strong of heart and will. If you believe you can do it, and you do your absolute best each time, then I think it is only a matter of time before you are a doctor. 🙂

Best wishes and 😍 to you.

 

[20YROLDEMT]

Sounds like good advice to yourself; go get the help that you want and need. Speaking to someone who is willing to listen without judgment, and with whom you can be completely authentic, is good for the soul. 👍

I agree, talk to someone about whats going on and continue on with a renewed drive; Have you thought about perhaps applying to D.O or Caribbean schools? .......See what happens...If you want something bad enough and are willing to work for it, nothing should stop you.

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

One strategy for staying out of the clutches of despair is to keep busy - simply minimizing the amount of time you have to sit around and drive yourself insane thinking about the negatives can do wonders.

Limiting the analysis of your application to yourself will not help you if/when you re-apply. So, instead of wondering about what is wrong with your application, try to find some objective people who can give you some concrete advice - it could be a pre-med advisor, fellow pre-meds (the well-informed and genuinely caring variety), friends/acquaintances who are currently in med school, physician friends/acquaintances, admissions staff (some schools have fairly helpful admissions staff, but you may have to call a few to find someone willing to take the time to talk to you).

On a more personal note... just to give a little perspective... I decided that I wanted to be a doctor when I was around 5 (more than 26 years ago), I was a pre-med the instant I stepped foot on a college campus for the first time (almost 15 years ago), in fact I had hoped to go straight to med school after high school but was told there were no such options by some well-meaning but misinformed people (I had just immigrated to the USA and had gone to high school for only 1 year before graduating and having to go to college, so I had no knowledge base and no information network and didn't know any better), after being kicked and punched by life for a little while (and believe me, she held nothing back and beat me within inches of survival) I got out of undergrad with a GPA so pathetic that it borders laughable (8 years ago... it took a while to graduate), then I went back to get a masters (3.5 years ago) and with an excellent graduate GPA, good MCAT (not stellar but good... organic chemistry was in 1993... 🙂 ), lots of ECs, lots of exposure, etc. I poured every ounce of my soul into applying to 12 schools in 2004 only to be told to take a hike. This is when they only had 1 year of grad school grades to work with, so I re-applied in 2005 and this time to 20 schools, again to be told to take a hike. I met with one admissions dean who was intent on annihilating me, and I quote: "With that undergrad GPA, you will NEVER get into medical school, EVER, and there is NOTHING you can do to change that." (I am not joking) I think he was testing to see if I'd bolt out of his office in tears... I didn't, I had a 30 minute interview and I was not about to let him off the hook within the first 2 minutes. I stayed and refused to let him not talk to me about my application (he actually offered some intelligent advice at the end). This application debacle didn't come cheaply, it's been tough emotionally and I've been licking my wounds and regrouping for the past 8-10 months. If I worried about what everyone who knew I was applying, and even more pointedly, everyone who's known I want to be a doctor (which is nearly everyone who has known me in the past 26 years) thought about me, I'd be long dead (they say stress can kill you, but I don't have anything off medline to back this up 😉).

Keep your head up, keep your eyes on the prize, keep busy, keep working on strengthening your application, and if you still feel that the sadness is overwhelming you, seek professional help.

Good luck!

 

[Daydreamer2008]

Thanks for the replies 🙂 you guys are so awesome!

 

[ShyRem]

Day: I am an older applicant, too. And the first time I applied I didn't even get an interview. Talk about depressing. I called several schools to ask "what happened" and got some... well... depressing replies. Mainly dealing with 20 year old grades (I did MUCH better when I went back after an 18 year hiatus), and believe it or not, my age (I'm 39). I was appalled. I was shocked. Then I got pissed off.

I was depressed too. I cried for days after the first round of rejections. I ate too much chocolate. I slept too much, then I slept too little. It sucked. My husband was fabulous. And after two weeks I looked at myself in the mirror and said "tomorrow is another day. I will try again."

I applied again. EARLY. As in I submitted my apps within the first hour they were open to AMCAS and AACOMAS, and I submitted secondaries within 24 hours of receipt. By labor day I had five interviews lined up, and by October I had an acceptance. I canceled two interviews after that.

So let us know when you look in the mirror and tell yourself you're worth another shot. We'll be here to cheer you on, a shoulder to cry on for the schools that can't see your good qualities, and a bottle of bubbly to pop when you finally make it.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

I feel for ya OP as I'm in he same situation. 35 years old, 33 MCAT, 3.3 GPA (4.0 post bacc) and no interviews at all. I really don't want to go DO (no offense to other DOs intended) but that may be the only way for we "older" folks to get accepted to medical school.

I think the allopathic schools sell older applicants short. IMHO we are more dedicated to medicine than the average 21 year-old, and will stay practicing as long if not longer than the younger ones. I plan on practicing medicine until I die, though maybe will have to goto shorter hours as time goes on I'm sure.

 

[ntmed]

I think the allopathic schools sell older applicants short.

It can seem like this. But in general, I don't think this is true. The overall acceptance rate to medical school is about 40%. For those over 38, the acceptance rate is about 20%. About 12% of those accepted are 28 or older. So schools are definitely taking older applicants.

Most medical schools I applied to had no problem with my age. The school I attended embraced my age, and actively sought out older applicants. Other schools I interviewed at were similar (Albany, Eastern Virginia, Drexel, George Washington, Hopkins). In my situation, I applied at age 38 with a 3.6 GPA, 4.0 graduate GPA, 4.0 post-bacc GPA, 34 MCAT. I applied to 24 schools, interviewed at about 10, and was accepted to about 4. Here's what I suggest.

1. Ask for a debriefing from schools who interviewed you, but rejected you. Be extremely polite when corresponding with these programs. Many are willing to provide a letter detailing the weaknesses in your application. In addition, talk to your premed advisors to get their opinions on how you can improve yourself.

2. To be competitive, you need a 3.6 undergraduate GPA and 3.6 science GPA. If you don't have these, of if you took your prereq's at a community college, then consider getting a masters in biology, chemistry, or physics to improve your academic standing. (A masters in other areas like public health, behavioral science, etc. is not as good.) Because graduate grading is a bit more permissive, you'll likely need a 3.75 graduate GPA to be competitive.

3. You need a 30 MCAT to be competitive. If you have a low undergraduate GPA, then you'll need a higher MCAT (maybe 33 or better). If you are below this, or below 9 in any area, then you probably should retake the MCAT. For me, it was 10-12 years since I took my prereq's. I needed to study 40 hours a week for about 4 months to prepare for the MCAT. Do whatever it takes to ace this exam.

4. If it's been more than 5 years since you took science courses (bio, chem, phys), then take a couple courses. Most medical schools require this.

5. Use the premed committee from your current school or from any prior school you attended. This is very important, as it will give you access to additional resources and support.

6. Send in all materials ASAP. Apply on June 1st, the first day applications are accepted. Send in secondaries within a day or two of receiving them. Most schools get thousands of applications and have a rolling admissions policy. Sending your material in as early as possible will help your chances of getting accepted.

PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[MJB]

I feel for ya OP as I'm in he same situation. 35 years old, 33 MCAT, 3.3 GPA (4.0 post bacc) and no interviews at all. I really don't want to go DO (no offense to other DOs intended) but that may be the only way for we "older" folks to get accepted to medical school.

QUOTE]


Lifetime,

I'm just curious as to why? I'm not offended, but I realized a long time ago that MD was going to be a huge longshot simply because I can't do a TON to change what I did in undergrad 10 years ago without spending a bunch of money I don't have and wasting a lot of time. I began searching and researching DO schools, and found many of them to be excellent...and much more receptive to older applicants. I can attest that it's not exactly "easy" to get into them either.

To the OP, I wonder if you've considered taking this route? I was encouraged at first to not apply DO at all this year, but knew that MD wasn't very realistic with my Science GPA so I applied to both.

Don't get too down on yourself, but I certainly understand what you're going through...I was just there last week.

 

[OncoCaP]

I'm getting close to 40 and I was accepted. I was told that age is not an issue for many MD schools, and it never was an issue in my case.

In my opinion, it does make a big difference if you take some pre-med classes at a top school, do well, work with a health-professions office at your school to learn all the ins & outs of the application process and do very well on the MCAT (take a prep course). Maybe the standards for older students are a bit higher, but with our experience, we should be able to produce excellent credentials anyway.

I'm going to go to a "Top 10" allopathic (MD) school (Baylor), but I was very impressed with an osteopathic (DO) school that I interviewed at (TCOM in Fort Worth) and would not have hesitated to go there. I realize that DO's are in a minority and there are issues with that. At the same time, DO's can have an excellent career and a DO invasive cardiologist who wrote one of my recommendations for TCOM was living proof of that.

 

[Tiagao]

DayDreamer,

Don't get too down on yourself. A lot of people go through what you are now. Last year the only school I was admitted to was AUC in the Carib. I was almost certain that was where I was going, but I talked to the schools and found out just what they wanted from me. I improved my MCAT 5 points and have done pretty well this cycle. If it didn't work out, then I'd go down south for sure, because this is what I want to do.

Talk to each school that you are seriously considering and find out what is going on and what you can do to improve your chances. At some schools, the squeaky wheel metaphore is very real.

Don't worry too much about getting older either. Time passes one way or another, you may as well spend it working toward something that you really care about.

One thing that my wife tells me alot is to "Try and enjoy this process. Enjoy applying, studying, sweating our applications, boards and residency (when they come). If you can't be happy and optimistic on a journey as long as this, then what good is the outcome." Man, I love her.😍

As the old spider Charlotte says, "Chin up."🙂

 

[Jonesie]

I'm another non-trad (28 / 32M / 3.67 / BA in Music), and until January 9th, I felt exactly the same way that you did -- down on myself and depressed at the thought of reapplication.

Then, in the space of a week, I received three interview invites to NYMC, Loyola, and Northwestern. The last two are my top two choices. I've had one interview already and it went terrific, due in no small part to the life experience and interviewing skills I've developed as a non-trad.

All I'm saying is that it's amazing how much can change in a week. The game's not over yet, and your week may come soon. Keep your chin up!

 

[e_phn]

I'm sorry to hear that, OP.

To me, it's only a failure when you stop trying.

 

[BeanerMD]

Sounds like good advice to yourself; go get the help that you want and need. Speaking to someone who is willing to listen without judgment, and with whom you can be completely authentic, is good for the soul. 👍

My advice? Take a moment to love and appreciate yourself just as you are right now. If you are having trouble doing that, picture someone or something you really love and turn that same love onto yourself. Love yourself exactly where you are. Have no doubt that you are a wonderful human being, worthy of as much love as you want. The fact that you are even willing to make the huge sacrifices in order to apply to medical school says volumes about you. If people judge you negatively for not having been accepted into medical school, it is more about their own fears than about you. Remember that.

It is often not useful to get critical on yourself and then to add some kind of arguable judgment on top of all that; simply ask yourself what you can learn from your experience this year. You have not failed, you have simply delayed getting into medical school for another year. Failure, to me, is not having tried at all, or giving up without first having given it your all.

The medical school admissions process is a crap shoot. Keep in mind that while there are probably factors that you could have done better to favor acceptance, there are just as many factors that were outside of your control. Recommit to your process, find out where you could improve your chances for acceptance, take the necessary actions steps, and then let the rest of it go. Know what you can control and what you can't; that's one of the keys to lasting happiness and success. Remember, however, just because you didn't get in this year (if this is indeed the case, because there are still many months to go), doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong, or that there is something inherently wrong with you. Take heart that you are perfect just as you are. 😉

As long as your heart beats and you are willing to do what it takes, you can get into medical school. It is a sermountable task for the strong of heart and will. If you believe you can do it, and you do your absolute best each time, then I think it is only a matter of time before you are a doctor. 🙂

Best wishes and 😍 to you.

Okay, I know this was not directed to me, but I must say, I did start crying. Ironically, it's exactly what I needed to hear, too. OP- I'm with you 100%...clearly you're not the only one feeling this way. I'll be thinkin of you throughout the rest of this application cycle and wishing you the best beyond as well👍

 

[djo12]

this message is for Daydreamer2008.

I feel your pain, and trust me, the words you are writing express my feelings completely. when i read your post i felt like i was seeing the inside of my soul! I have been so depressed and down because I have had three rejections so far and haven't gotten any interviews. I am telling you this because I want you to know that you are not alone. i have cried over this and even avoid talking to people because i am depressed and ashamed. before i tell you the things which have helped me and made me hopeful, i want to tell you my story.

I am 25 years old. I struggled at UPenn and worked hard but still got horrible science grades. I worked as a research technician at Hopkins for three years for so little money (and i mean really little, because hopkins works you like a street dog and pays you NOTHING) and used that shabby technician salary to pay for a master's degree, which went well (over 3.9 science GPA). then i wasted a whole summer MCATing in order to break 30 on the MCAT (I scored a 31)! Now I volunteer after work-- making my days over 12 hours. When I was taking classes and volunteering while working full-time, my days would start at 8:30 in the morning and end at 9:30 at night! worse hours than some residents!!

in spite of all this tiresome struggle, i highly doubt that i will be doing to a u.s med school. i respect D.O's very much and think it could be a very fulfilling alternative to the M.D, but I personally feel that the M.D fits my career goals better.

I am telling you my story to let you know that you are not alone in your frustration! I feel like to go from an ivy league school, where my roommates went to USCF, hopkins and harvard med, to the carribbean will be a bit tough for me. people ask me all the time whether i have interviews and i dont know what to say anymore. do i smile politely or just tell them i'm not getting in? i have been hearing about my friends getting into pharmacy school and other professional schools, but i have no good news on my end so it gets me sad and depressed often.

when i graduated from college, i would have never considered going to a carribbean school. but as i saw some of my friends go to st. george and as the uncertainty of med school acceptance became greater for me, i began to look into this school. the students do all kinds of good residencies-- not only internal medicine, psyc and peds, but a good number of their students get into competitive residencies like surgery. it was a good number. i was impressed. i have done animal surgery as a technician and may want to do this as a residency. after two years of being at st. george, you can come back to the u.s to do clinical rotations. i mean, yes, it carries some stigma, but in the end, most of their grads obtain u.s residencies.

sorry if it sounds like im going on. the reason i am telling you this is because i have been forced to look at another option or alternative that gives me hope. if i didnt see any hope or light at the end of the tunnel i would have gone crazy by now! to some people, "hope" may take the form of seeking to improve the application for the next cycle, and for others, this could involve looking to alternatives, such as D.O, PhD, pharmacy, etc.... For me, the option of the carribbean at least provides me with some sort of hope and reassurance that it will be ok.

i could try to improve my undergrad GPA through post-bac courses, but i am really tired too and not sure i want to wait 2-3 years to apply again. i really admire people who do it, but i dont know if i can!

i am not trying to sell the carribbean as an option.. only you can find your true source of hope and follow it. if your heart really tells you that you want to be an M.D and study at a U.S school, then follow it! talk to adcoms, pre-med advisors, med students. find out what you need to do and do it if this is what you want. i think i spent a lot of time this cycle being depressed about not getting interviews, but once i started to think about the future and plan for it i became more active and productive. while you might still get into med school this cycle, perhaps you can get ahead start on improving your application, whether it be taking more classes, volunteering, etc... (i have no idea what to recommend since i dont know anything about your application).

you never know, you could still get into a med school this cycle! people tell me not to give up hope, so i want to tell you that as well. i know i am a stranger and this might not mean a lot, but i really admire you as an older applicant-- it really speaks for your determination to go to med school after you have had a lot of life experience after college.

lastly, before i end this long post, i want to share with you some advice i have gotten on this forum and from friends who are in med school now:

a) while you can't change anything on your application now, you can put pressure on schools by calling them/emailing them to ask about your status. at first i thought this was bothering the schools and didn't want to do it, but a lot of my med student friends are telling me to do this, so i want to pass on to you this advice.

b.) i have also been told that it can help to write a letter of interest to some schools. if there are two or three schools that you really want to go to, write them a letter specifically telling them why they are your first choice or top choice. make sure they understand that you will definiately go to their program if accepted.

c.) send updates! if you get good grades, an abstract, more volunteer experience, a good new letter of recommendation, etc.... send it!

don't despair! i really hope you get an interview soon. if you need to talk to someone who is going through the same feelings are you, please feel free to message me

 

[8744]

I'm coming to the realization that I probably will not be getting in this year. I have no interview invites and I'm constantly thinking about what is wrong with my application and why schools don't want to grant me interviews.

I know that I can apply again, but I feel like a huge failure since I am already an older applicant, and it has been difficult to think about anything but this fact for the past couple days. I keep thinking about everyone who knows I am applying and what they will think of me when I don't get in. Do you guys have any advice about how to get over this? I am seriously pondering going to a therapist b/c I am feeling sad a lot of the time over this 🙁

Have you considered that it may be for the best? Without meaning to be cruel, there has to be something pretty wrong with your application (grades, extra-curricular, MCAT scores) to not even get an interview and you may spend the next few years fruitlessly beating your head against an impenetratable wall,

Maybe it's better to just do something else. Being a doctor is an OK job. I like it most of the time but in my opinion (in my opinion, in my opinion, in my opinion...there...I said it) it wasn't worth all of the hoops jumped through, all of the obsession, and all of the grind. All I really have to look forward to now to make it a better career than my previous job (which i did not dislike) is the promise of a significant income once I'm done with residency.

But if my previous job had paid just as well it definitely would not have been worth it. Re-examine your motivations and make sure you are applying for the "right" reasons, that is, because you really want to do it (for the money, prestige, chicks, altrusim, whatever) and not because you have it in your teeth and just can't let go.

 

[djo12]

this message is to panda bear,

come on, honesty is good, but sensitivity is also important too. im sorry to say this, but when i read your post it reminded me of house. i mean, yea, from my womanly perspective he's attractive and all, but he's harsh (no hard feelings to you or anything).

it's good that you are trying to be realistic, but really, how can you say that Daydreamer2008's situation is "for the best?" i mean, your experience is your own, you can't predict that if someone else were to go into medicine they would be unhappy. also, Daydreamer is an older applicant who has had a lot of time and life experiences, and still wants to go to medical school. to me, that says a lot about will-power, dedication and desire.

i wanted to add that there are people who actually go into medicine and feel fullfillment. and for more reasons than just money or prestige (i'm not saying those reasons arent valid for many people-- im sure you know after being in the field for a while, i am not questioning you on this at all). my mom, for example, is a physician. yes, she gets way stressed out and there are certainly personalities at work and aspects of the job she doesnt like. but she works in baltimore city with an underprivileged patient population, and after helping people rebuild better health and healthier lifestyles, she says she feels a lot of fulfillment.

why am i going on about this? i'm just saying that if you want to do something, dont let anyone tell you you cant or its "for the best that you don't." im not a physician, but i live with one, and my mom talks a lot (trust me 😳), but i love her!), and she tells me all of her ups and downs. sure, there are aspects of her job which arent glorious and make her unhappy, but she helps people and feels fulfillment. she even told me that it isnt a great way to make money-- that if she really only wanted money she would have opened a business.

about not hearing about interviews, i dont agree that this indicates that DayDreamer2008 has something severely "flawed" with the application. In fact, it could be something very easily fixed (ex-- improved MCAT, post-bac classes, earlier application, applying to more schools).. it is unfair to judge someone that way without knowing anything about their application. we have to give each other the benefit of the doubt too. we are all human and can't fix our pasts, but we can always seek improvements in the future. sorry if i sound idealistic and unrealistic, but i feel that by giving constructive criticism, support and encouragement to each other, we all benefit.

 

[notdeadyet]

I have no interview invites and I'm constantly thinking about what is wrong with my application and why schools don't want to grant me interviews.

Have you asked why? Some medical schools will give you feedback on what was the source of the rejection.

Personally, I think depression can be felt strongest in idle hands. If you're down about lack of progress, one thing you can do is start prepping for another go 'round. If your GPA is low, look into postbac programs or SMPs. If your MCAT is too far south, start prepping for a retake. If you don't have clinical experience, get some.

I haven't received any acceptances yet, and my weak link is a lousy score (8) on the bio section of the MCAT. So even though I still have strong hopes for this application cycle, I've spent about two months studying for an MCAT retake that (touch wood) may not have to happen. But it beats compulsively checking my email and staring in my beer.

PandaBear is blunt but has a valid point in one sense: if you don't take a good long look at your application and find out what's wrong with it, reapplying doesn't really help. Find out what is giving your app a cold reception and work to overcome it.

 

[notdeadyet]

I feel for ya OP as I'm in he same situation. 35 years old, 33 MCAT, 3.3 GPA (4.0 post bacc) and no interviews at all. I really don't want to go DO (no offense to other DOs intended) but that may be the only way for we "older" folks to get accepted to medical school.

I totally disagree with this. I'm sure there may be a little allopathic prejudice against nontrads, but I think most of it went away years ago. The average age keeps climbing amonst most medical schools due to more and more nontrads being accepted.

ntmed's stats on older applicants just shows that many nontrads don't have the strong numbers that many trads do. Many career changers had mediocre experiences in college the first time around. This will hurt you. Many older folks have been out of school for so long they get worked by standardized tests like the MCAT. This will also hurt you.

But I don't think there's any overt prejudice against nontrads out there. If you have the same GPA/MCAT/clinical experience of a 21 year old bio major, your chances are just as good at getting in, if not better.

 

[8744]

this message is to panda bear,

come on, honesty is good, but sensitivity is also important too. im sorry to say this, but when i read your post it reminded me of house. i mean, yea, from my womanly perspective he's attractive and all, but he's harsh (no hard feelings to you or anything).

it's good that you are trying to be realistic, but really, how can you say that Daydreamer2008's situation is "for the best?" i mean, your experience is your own, you can't predict that if someone else were to go into medicine they would be unhappy. also, Daydreamer is an older applicant who has had a lot of time and life experiences, and still wants to go to medical school. to me, that says a lot about will-power, dedication and desire.

i wanted to add that there are people who actually go into medicine and feel fullfillment. and for more reasons than just money or prestige (i'm not saying those reasons arent valid for many people-- im sure you know after being in the field for a while, i am not questioning you on this at all). my mom, for example, is a physician. yes, she gets way stressed out and there are certainly personalities at work and aspects of the job she doesnt like. but she works in baltimore city with an underprivileged patient population, and after helping people rebuild better health and healthier lifestyles, she says she feels a lot of fulfillment.

why am i going on about this? i'm just saying that if you want to do something, dont let anyone tell you you cant or its "for the best that you don't." im not a physician, but i live with one, and my mom talks a lot (trust me 😳), but i love her!), and she tells me all of her ups and downs. sure, there are aspects of her job which arent glorious and make her unhappy, but she helps people and feels fulfillment. she even told me that it isnt a great way to make money-- that if she really only wanted money she would have opened a business.

about not hearing about interviews, i dont agree that this indicates that DayDreamer2008 has something severely "flawed" with the application. In fact, it could be something very easily fixed (ex-- improved MCAT, post-bac classes, earlier application, applying to more schools).. it is unfair to judge someone that way without knowing anything about their application. we have to give each other the benefit of the doubt too. we are all human and can't fix our pasts, but we can always seek improvements in the future. sorry if i sound idealistic and unrealistic, but i feel that by giving constructive criticism, support and encouragement to each other, we all benefit.

I said it may be for the best. And the odds do not favor him. Some people do not get into medical school, even after years and years of applying. It's as simple of that.

Also, I only meant to say that while there are few wrong reasons for applying to medical school, being obsessed about it to the point that you eschew reality is one of them. And I never understood how people can be so sure they will like being doctors without ever having been one.

 

[NonTradMed]

Try to ascertain why you didn't get in and try again. I don't think you should try for years and years but giving medicine a second application is not a bad idea. However, ask around and see what your is wrong with your application. Did you apply to enough schools? A wide range of schools? MCAT too low? GPA not good enough? Then go about making improvements. Med school isn't for everyone but I think if you really want it, don't quit just yet!

EDIT: Depending on your circumstances, there may nothing 'seriously' wrong with your application b/c you aren't getting interviews. Contrary to SDN belief, many people do not get in with multiple interview invites. My (allo) school is filled with people whose only shoot at med school was their instate school and it was their only interview. Not everyone finds med school as easy to get into as college.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

If you want someone bad enough, you WILL get it. Just keep trying.

That's what I thought, too. And then came the restraining order... 🙁

 

[djo12]

hey guys

i just wanted to say, DONT GIVE UP HOPE! Just a month or two ago, I was sure I would never get any interview. On Feb 9th I interviewed at Creighton School of Medicine, even though my undergrad GPA is way off their mean. Just because you don't fit the school's averages in every single way doesn't mean the chance of an interview is lost. Don't give up 😳)