Frustration…

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DiveMD

DiveMD

Giggity giggity!!!
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OK. It’s already November and I only have 2 interviews out of >50 programs. I guess it’s appropriate to say that I will be reapplying next year (Duh!). What kind of last minute move can someone in my position make in order to elicit more invites? Any thoughts? 🙁
 
DiveMD said:
OK. It’s already November and I only have 2 interviews out of >50 programs. I guess it’s appropriate to say that I will be reapplying next year (Duh!). What kind of last minute move can someone in my position make in order to elicit more invites? Any thoughts? 🙁
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I realize it's frustrating this year due to the slow process, but I wouldn't lose your hopes yet. There are many schools, my home school included, that has not sent out any invitations. I spoke to my program director yesterday and the PD informed me that they won't be sending out any interview invitations until end of 2nd week of November. He was saying many programs are delayed due to the new process and everyone receiving all the material on a CD format instead of papers and they have difficulty reviewing applications because the review committee needs access to a computer to review an applicant instead of reading the application during commute or etc..

As for the last minute move you can do, I would try to contact those programs you are really interested via a hand written letter. Otherwise you can try to talk to your dept chair/PD and seek their opinion.
Sorry I can't help more than that. Good luck.
 
Last year, i got a half dozen interviews in late november and early december just from people who cancelled their interviews due to conflicts. I was unable to go to any of these late interviews because of my own conflicts, so they got bumped to other applicants. Don't get too stressed out until you're completely done interviewing. I'd tell you all to not get stressed until after match day, but that might be too much to ask for.
 
One of the people I went to med school with was applying for radiology. He got one interview (it was at a good program). He matched. You don't know going in how many interviews you get, but you just have to make sure you make the most of those opportunities.

As the others have pointed out, many places haven't sent their invites out yet, so don't give up hope. Unless you've received 48 rejections, then your application is still out there.

Dave
 
hey dive, hang in there. i'm very frustrated as well but there's still time. most of the ny programs haven't sent them out yet (and there's a lot in ny!). so don't get too down...u want to nail however many interviews you get anyway!
 
Dive, I know how you feel...I too have applied to many programs, and have few interviews, and it seems like most of the schools I have applied to have already started giving interviews (by the posts on the message boards)...but I spoke with a program director yesterday at a program I am very interested in, and she said that the process this year is way behind. The new format that SF match has used, has really slowed them down, and she felt very bad b/c she knows that the candidates would not get as much time to travel b/c they were soo behind. The program has given out some interviews (as noted on the msg boards), but apparently still has 2/3 to give out. If many (or even some of the programs) are in the same predicament, it may just be a late process this year...I know it's not much, but just wanted to let you know that there is still hope ;-)
 
repeat
 
Thank you SDN/ future Ophthalmology peers for all the support. You are certainly a fine group of people. I have to accept that this process is very stressful and is already wearing me down. But I guess 2 interviews are better than nothing…Good luck to you all!
 
Hi you all,

This sucks. I've been getting rejections left and right from programs I really wanted to visit like Vanderbilt. I come from a top tier medical school. My board scores were good, I have international medicine experience, did ophtho research, and managed to first author several ophtho papers that are currently submitted for review. I'm not AOA. Maaaaaaaaaan, what does a guy gotta do around here for an interview at a decent/strong program??? +pity+

PS: Sorry for the SOB story, but (whew) I really needed that off my chest!
 
I would honestly call them or write them a letter or ask a faculty member or Dean to call them to see if they will reconsider! What do you have to lose? Nothing! Do it! You might get a few more interviews that way!
 
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As part of the extremely frustrated ophtho applicant group, I just want to remind everyone that hundreds of people applied this year, only a few of whom are on this forum! Although I think SDN is a great reference and support, it is not necessarily representative of the entire applicant pool. So just because several people here have a lot of interviews, it doesn't mean that there aren't 400 more somewhere that haven't heard from programs yet. Like many here have said before, until you have been rejected by all those programs, don't get discouraged. GL
 
I remember feeling exactly like you last year. I only ended up with 3 interviews and thankfully matched. And I matched where I didn't think I had a chance because I got the last offered interview.

Reading these posts and seeing my husband go through it this year for IM is a sad reminder of the entire process. It's like dysfunctional dating. And no matter what you're applying for it is painful and nerve-rattling!

Hang in there!
 
azzarah said:
I would honestly call them or write them a letter or ask a faculty member or Dean to call them to see if they will reconsider! What do you have to lose? Nothing! Do it! You might get a few more interviews that way!
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Does a faculty member need to call or is a letter from him ok?
 
Keep your head up people. It ain't over till the fat lady sings!
 
Okay another rejection from my fav school....EMORY! What the f? Can those invited to Emory please post their stats so I can see what I'm missing? Perhaps I've been expecting too much this interview season.
 
i feel your pain.
Rej from sinai today, plus 2 more rej. over the weekend.
This sucks, expecting to hear from schools this week, but rejections are not what i want!
still a little time though
 
So...how many interviews do successful applicants (as in, they match somewhere) get on average?

Because I'm definitely starting to get worried.
 
Guess we all gotta hang in there!!! Seems like PDs are definitely picking names out of a hat this year. I think they look at your profile (kinda like AOL age/sex/location?) and determine whether or not you'll rank their school. My great boards scores, experience in international medicine, and extensive ophtho research have definitely NOT paid off. Sorry to be such a downer on this forum, but seriously...what a drag!!
 
Scope This said:
Guess we all gotta hang in there!!! Seems like PDs are definitely picking names out of a hat this year. I think they look at your profile (kinda like AOL age/sex/location?) and determine whether or not you'll rank their school. My great boards scores, experience in international medicine, and extensive ophtho research have definitely NOT paid off. Sorry to be such a downer on this forum, but seriously...what a drag!!
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat! Actually, I started this F#$@ing thread! I have good boards (>230 in all my steps: 1, 2 and 3), good grades, good LOR, currently a Diving Medical Officer in the Navy (experience plus unique PS) and so far only 2 invites. What the hell do I need? A Medal of Honor? A Purple Heart? 😕 😡
 
Gaskell said:
So...how many interviews do successful applicants (as in, they match somewhere) get on average?

Because I'm definitely starting to get worried.
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Average for successfully matched applicants is 8 interviews. Of course, one can match with fewer than this. I've heard of someone matching with 1 and someone not matching with 14.
 
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Maaan...That is absolutely crazy...The only way to explain the drought is to do what I do! Tell yourself that the programs that pass you over only did so because they thought you were TOOO good to come to their program! Sometimes, lying to yourself can make you feel better! But seriously, all of this is quite difficult to rationalize and understand. Maybe its my ego getting the better of me. I just thought I'd be able to snag a couple of fantastic programs! I know it sounds absurd to assume that high caliber programs would just hand out interviews like candy to kids, but I really had my hopes up. It seems like one needs >260 Step I, AOA, and a top 10 medical school to procure an interview at a strongly competitive program. I guess this post is an attempt to rationalize it all....and since I know it doesn't work, I'll stop rambling now!

Also, I've heard that most people who receive 8 interviews will match. But, saying you matched at your #1 program is still bittersweet when you know that your real #1 school didn't offer you an invitation to interview!!!
 
My rationale is that most programs are inviting the same people. In a few weeks/days, all these programs will start receiving a massive amount of cancellations prompting an "emergency mode" invitation extravaganza. Hopefully…
 
Durirng my incredible abudnance of time this year as a m4, I have had ample opportunity to watch poker on espn. They say if you have a chip and a chair you can win the whole thing. Similarly in the match, one interview and you can match, but I suppose you can also go broke with the big stack.
 
speyeder said:
Average for successfully matched applicants is 8 interviews. Of course, one can match with fewer than this. I've heard of someone matching with 1 and someone not matching with 14.
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Thanks for the answer. I wonder how the person with 14 interviews scheduled them all, given the limited number of interview days? 😀

I really hope there is a second wave, and it comes soon.....
 
There are people out there receiving interviews at 90% of programs they applied to...the problem is they applied to 40-50 programs (and they are freaking out about it, when some have received a handful of invites)! I think this is helping to drive up the number of applications/person. I think DiveMD is right...due to the overlapping interview dates and the invites that go to the same overlapping applicants, I expect some to be opening up unless there has been a massive spike in the # of real applicants out there. I'm very happy with the invites I've received, and am not double booking, but I have to say I am also bewildered by the interview invite process.
 
all i can say is that it's humbling. i mean i knew i wasn't a stellar applicant but still hoped for more at this point. i feel like carrying a sign saying "i'm available anytime, please contact asap" hehe.
 
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