freaking out, i'm getting rejections left and right

[dagghert256]

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what to do?!?!?!?

been on 7 interviews. just got third rejection, haven't heard from other four yet. so i'm really really really worried.

first rejection i was half expecting because it was my first interview and i was a blubbering idiot. but i calmed down and all other interviews felt really good. i did practice interview with counselor and she said i gave solid answers and performed well. i felt i replicated performance on practice interview with all of my real interviews except the first one. now that i'm getting rejections, i'm feeling they're all gonna reject me since the interviews were all basically the same, asking the same questions and i gave the same type of answers.

really worried here. i keep rethinking what i could have done wrong. i didn't start scratching myself or start talking about plans to take over the world.

do i have a bad letter of rec? is there a red flag somewhere? i have two more interviews and now i'm worried about those too now. i'm worried i'm becoming really conscious of everything and i'm just gonna blow those somehow.

on interview day do they watch how you interact with others? i'm starting to think that may be a possibility because i generally am quiet and only do small talk here and there.

but mostly i'm thinking i'm doing something wrong in interview because my third rejection was from mcw yesterday. and they said on interview day that accecptance at that point was almost all based on interview.

my stats are 3.95, 31 (10,11,10) if it matters. california resident

 

[Shades McCool]

Well there is nothing you can do about the other 4 interviews now. You could always ask for some interview feedback from the schools that rejected you. To be honest, with those stats there has to be something lacking in your interview or EC's. If it is your interview then the feedback will help you. If it is your EC's better luck next year.

 

[cammy1313]

What schools are these that have rejected you?

 

[oldman]

just remember there's usually many students applying for few spots, you'll have to expect for rejections to come through. i think they are always watching, so make sure to be on your best behavior and try to be social. my pre-med advisor said the interview begins the moment your foot touches the city you arrive in and doesn't end until you leave.

 

[dagghert256]

Well there is nothing you can do about the other 4 interviews now. You could always ask for some interview feedback from the schools that rejected you. To be honest, with those stats there has to be something lacking in your interview or EC's. If it is your interview then the feedback will help you. If it is your EC's better luck next year.

ec: 1 year hospital volunteer, 1 year research and ongoing.


it's frustrating cuz schools like mcw won't give you any specific feedback. argh, why can't schools that reject you tell you why. i wish i could know so i won't go around repeating whatever it is i'm doing, over and over and over

 

[oldman]

yeah, they won't give feedback until it's too late.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

what to do?!?!?!?

been on 7 interviews. just got third rejection, haven't heard from other four yet. so i'm really really really worried.

first of all, my condolences and please calm down. I can understand how you could have screwed up a first intervew; no matter how often you practice you don't have the same anxiety level as on the real thing when everything instantly goes out of your mind. Learn from where you think you made mistakes on them. Go over them again with your advisor and see if she has any suggestions how you can improve upon it. Talk to others who were accepted at the same school and see how they answered those questions. But go into your next interviews calm and confident and y6ou'll probably perform better. Also keep in mind, adcoms are human and all have different expectations; what one may consider a good answer another may not. Likewise one's response at your previous interviews does not necessarily mean the next adcom will have a similar reaction to your same responses to similar questions.

do i have a bad letter of rec? is there a red flag somewhere? i have two more interviews and now i'm worried about those too now. i'm worried i'm becoming really conscious of everything and i'm just gonna blow those somehow.

i doubt there is any red flag or you would never have been offered an interview

and they said on interview day that accecptance at that point was almost all based on interview. my stats are 3.95, 31 (10,11,10) if it matters. california resident on interview day do they watch how you interact with others? i'm starting to think that may be a possibility because i generally am quiet and only do small talk here and there.

yikes, those seem like solid stats and based on all said it seems like it would be based soley on the interview at that point. and whereas i don't really know since i haven't been on even one interview, i would think that they would watch how you interact with others.

Best of luck!

 

[VPDcurt]

ec: 1 year hospital volunteer, 1 year research and ongoing.

You might want to add some more ECs. I think that almost all the applicants that get an interview have those (and I would think that many/most applicants have at least 1 year of research and hospital volunteering).

 

[VickFan]

ur stats are great... i, too, am wondering why ur not getting accepted...

ur EC activities arent great but good enuf to get u in SOMEWHERE...

are u applyin to all out-of-reach schools?

do u have a safe school that backfired?

 

[Psycho Doctor]

ec: 1 year hospital volunteer, 1 year research and ongoing.


it's frustrating cuz schools like mcw won't give you any specific feedback. argh, why can't schools that reject you tell you why. i wish i could know so i won't go around repeating whatever it is i'm doing, over and over and over

yikes!! they don't tell you why...that REALLY sucks!!!

 

[calstudent]

If you are still in school, ask your pre-med advisor or, better yet, a professor, to do a mock interview with you. Talk to yourself in front of a mirror.
I doubt that you are being rejected because of ECs: you wouldn't have 7 interviews if your ECs were that weak; and, I think it is too late to change them unless you have plans for what you are gonna do between now and the start of medical school (about 9 months or so)

Good luck to you. You are taking the right step by re-evaluating (I am guessing that all 3 rejections have been post-interview, right?...I had a bit of trouble understanding your comment). If they are not post-interview, then no fretting.

 

[DianaLynne]

I'm going to agree with the posts so far. With good stats like that, and the fact that you have had several interviews means that adcoms are looking at you positively. The couple of interviews I've done, both of the admissions directors said that if you've made it this far, you are med school material. You can do it, now you just have to show that you "play well with others" and have the moral fortitude to survive.

My advice: go in your interviews and just be yourself. Be friendly, fun, and most of all, excited about what you're doing. I think enthusiasm for learning and a passion for making a difference in the world go very far.

Hang in there, you have the right stuff. Keep going to those interviews, keep working in school and your community to help other people, and that acceptance letter will be in your hands soon.

Peace,
Diana

 

[qwerty one]

yikes!! they don't tell you why...that REALLY sucks!!!

I think it really depends on the school. Some do, some don't.

 

[bigbassinbob]

Which schools are these that are already rejecting people post-interview?

 

[efex101]

Yup some schools *do* watch how you interact with others but not all. If you are giving what may seem as "canned" answers that may be a red flag. That very specific topic was covered at Mayo this past weekend by adcoms to pre-meds. They can smell a canned answer from miles away....also at many schools once you get to the interview point everything is equal (lor, gpa, mcat, etc) this is not true for all medical schools. At some medical schools a board reviews your whole application all over again within the context of your interview....that includes the basics lors, gpa, mcat, etc..just fyi.

 

[Farmers]

Do you mean waitlisted or rejection? I thought they don't reject people post-interview.

 

[bloHaZaRd]

Do you mean waitlisted or rejection? I thought they don't reject people post-interview.

If only that were true 😛

 

[Amy B]

Call the schools and ask them for a post rejection evalution so you can find out why they rejected you and what you could do to improve your application for next time. Hopefully you will get in somewhere, but you can talk to the schools that rejected now and find out why. They are willing to do this for you. Good luck. Hopefully you will hear good news from the otehr schools.

 

[Premedtomed]

Do you mean waitlisted or rejection? I thought they don't reject people post-interview.

I thought so too. You are put on hold.
You can submit lors or update of your activities, things like that

 

[NYCDesi]

is it possible to appeal rejections?
for example, if you talk to the admissions office about your application and why you got a post interview rejection, could you point out any discrepancies, if in fact there were any and then appeal the rejection?

 

[TheElephant]

Yup some schools *do* watch how you interact with others but not all.

How do they do that? The guides during all the interviews that I have been to thus far have told us that they are in no shape and form related to admissions committee or decision realted to admissions.

The only place where I know the guide does play a part in admission's decision is at Emory.

 

[calstudent]

I'm not sure that you can appeal rejections, because often you have to go before the whole adcom. to be accepted, and it's unlikely they'd send you back again like that. Just my 2 cents though; I have no idea about the actual process!

 

[Shaz]

what to do?!?!?!?

been on 7 interviews. just got third rejection, haven't heard from other four yet. so i'm really really really worried.

first rejection i was half expecting because it was my first interview and i was a blubbering idiot. but i calmed down and all other interviews felt really good. i did practice interview with counselor and she said i gave solid answers and performed well. i felt i replicated performance on practice interview with all of my real interviews except the first one. now that i'm getting rejections, i'm feeling they're all gonna reject me since the interviews were all basically the same, asking the same questions and i gave the same type of answers.

really worried here. i keep rethinking what i could have done wrong. i didn't start scratching myself or start talking about plans to take over the world.

do i have a bad letter of rec? is there a red flag somewhere? i have two more interviews and now i'm worried about those too now. i'm worried i'm becoming really conscious of everything and i'm just gonna blow those somehow.

on interview day do they watch how you interact with others? i'm starting to think that may be a possibility because i generally am quiet and only do small talk here and there.

but mostly i'm thinking i'm doing something wrong in interview because my third rejection was from mcw yesterday. and they said on interview day that accecptance at that point was almost all based on interview.

my stats are 3.95, 31 (10,11,10) if it matters. california resident

I'm pulling for you dude...things will work out.

 

[labrador]

If these were waitlists or holds, rather than acutal rejections, then relax.

If these were end of the road rejections, still keep things in perspective. Most schools are going to reject 1/2 to 2/3 of the people who interview. Almost EVERYONE who is fortunate to have 9 interviews, will receive more than one rejection. Even MCW, which I agree is perhaps the most concerning as your stats are slightly above their average and they accept about 70% of interviewees, still has to reject 30%. Still, you're wise to question what went wrong. You have 2 more interviews, and likely will have more.

1) I believe schools are looking in the interview for someone who is personable and can engage in conversation. They want people who not only will have those skills as physicians, but who will make friendly, engaging classmates. So, if you feel you are a very quiet person, yes, I would make the effort in the small groups and mingling times to make conversation. The adcoms aren't listening to what you're talking about to the other interviewees so you don't have to be profound- fine, talk about the weather or where other people have interviewed, etc. etc. Just don't stand against the wall by yourself. In the interview, remember the basics: firm handshake, eye contact, talk but don't run off at the mouth (nerves can make people do that.)

2) Try to talk about something that interests you outside of medicine during your interview. You have a high gpa, so you want them to know you do something other than study and have goals other than grades. A common question is to ask what you do for fun. Come up with something non-academic and non-medical. What have you done that's at least a little bit interesting. Do you have a passion? (Adcoms love passion).

3) Avoid claims that you can't support. I heard one adcom talk about what he doesn't like: when he asks a question, for example, why medicine? and people answer they want to help people, but have no real evidence of helping people. Or "to work with the underserved", when they've never worked with the underserved other than 2 weekends at a foodbank. You have to figure out what your strengths are and talk about them, not what you think they probably want to hear.

3) Practice so you feel more comfortable with a variety of questions. There are dozens of questions to practice with (look at prior interviews.) But, don't write out and memorize your answers - you want to be somewhat spontaneous. I like to take walks and pretend that I'm being interviewed. I talk outloud and try on different answers. Ask people you know to ask you questions, especially people who are a bit older (of the generation you are likely to have at your interviews.) This can be parents, friends of parents, teachers, etc. Face to face is best (so they can tell you if you're looking at the floor or twirling your hair, etc.), but phone is ok too. They should tell you if you say like everyother word, or you know, you know, or mumble or talk to quietly, etc.

4) It's impossible not to be somewhat nervous when you're being evaluated for something you want this bad. But remember, interviews are subjective, and acceptances or rejections can also include a bit of luck. Interviewers may try not to be biased, but they're human. So maybe someone plays ultimate frisbee, or the trumpet, or has travelled to Peru, or whatever and so does their interviewer, so he/she assumes the person must be wonderful and this person has lucked out. Another person might be overweight or have some other "appearance" issue, and they happen to have an interviewer who judges overweight people harshly. (Examples, only, please, I'm not bashing any particular trait.) So, maybe you got 3 in a row where things didn't click and you'll get 2/4 acceptances for the ones remaining and totally ace your 2 upcoming interviews. It's too soon to panic (even though pretty much everyone is uneasy until they get that first acceptance!)

Good luck to all.

 

[efex101]

Interviewers *can* observe you while you are waiting around to see how you interact do not be fooled. Also, the secretaries can write notes on your file so do not be rude to obnoxious to these folks. Whenever you are at an interview at any point you can be observed so just be yourself...