High stats, only one interview

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RoMan1516

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Hi all,

I know there are tons of posts like these out there, but I can't help but feel a little concerned.

I am a high-stat (LM: 82) applicant with no gap years who submitted all secondaries early (around 10 days for each, done in roughly mid July). I believe I have relatively strong EC's (strong research - 8 publications in mix of basic science and clinical, ~400 hours of clinical experience, and ~250 hours of nonclinical volunteering). I centered my application theme around innovation, given my strong experiences in different kinds of translational research. I don't think I'm the best writer, but I think my essays are at the very least solid given I reviewed them with a lot of people including a writing coach.

Thus far, I've received one interview (in early August), and radio silence since. I applied to a decently top-heavy list, given my stats and application's focus on research. I can't help but feel a little nervous watching a lot of people receive interviews to the schools I applied to in the various online forums.

Am I being overly anxious, or do you think I have cause for concern?

I know it is still relatively early, but I've seen a lot of people say that early interviews are sent out to people who submit early and are higher-stat, meaning I may have been passed up. As I'm typing this, I see that I might be overly neurotic (🥲), but I'd love if anyone can provide any insight.

Thank you!
 
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I can't provide any insight but I just want to say that I am in the same boat and I literally joined SDN today to ask the same question. I am also a high-stat applicant (LM: 83) with one gap year before submission with a research-heavy application (3 pubs with a first author, 300 hours of clinical, and like 400 hours of non-clinical) and some interesting ECs (competed nationally in one of my academic hobbies and am a triple major in both science and humanities subjects with school awards for research in both fields). Not only do I not have any IIs, I actually already have 3 rejections. I'm feeling equally as worried as you are but I'm just telling myself that no news is good news at this point. Hopefully reading my plight makes you feel better. 😢
 
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I can't answer for your individual situations, but just stay busy. Here's today's article.
www.studentdoctor.net

Admissions Committees: The Art of the Decision | SDN Review

Abstract: Faculty serve three to four year terms on admissions committees, so they can vary significantly year-to-year with shifting priorities over time.
www.studentdoctor.net www.studentdoctor.net
 
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BatJJ said:
I can't provide any insight but I just want to say that I am in the same boat and I literally joined SDN today to ask the same question. I am also a high-stat applicant (LM: 83) with one gap year before submission with a research-heavy application (3 pubs with a first author, 300 hours of clinical, and like 400 hours of non-clinical) and some interesting ECs (competed nationally in one of my academic hobbies and am a triple major in both science and humanities subjects with school awards for research in both fields). Not only do I not have any IIs, I actually already have 3 rejections. I'm feeling equally as worried as you are but I'm just telling myself that no news is good news at this point. Hopefully reading my plight makes you feel better. 😢
Click to expand...
How many total research hours ?
 
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FairEver said:
How many total research hours ?
Click to expand...
For biology research, I have about 3,000. My gap year job is a research position so I had an entire full-time year's worth of research hours + research that I did as an undergraduate (spent one of my summers doing full-time research and also completed an honor's thesis). For history research, I had both a paid fellowship position and also separately completed a senior thesis on a different historical topic for a total of around 400 hours. I should also note that my history fellowship position was on discrimination within Chicago's medical history, so it was pertinent to my application and my story. This plus the fact that I live in Chicago made UChicago's early pre-II rejection sting really badly. My growing suspicion is that I've done too much academic research and my service hours are holding me back.
 
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BatJJ said:
I can't provide any insight but I just want to say that I am in the same boat and I literally joined SDN today to ask the same question. I am also a high-stat applicant (LM: 83) with one gap year before submission with a research-heavy application (3 pubs with a first author, 300 hours of clinical, and like 400 hours of non-clinical) and some interesting ECs (competed nationally in one of my academic hobbies and am a triple major in both science and humanities subjects with school awards for research in both fields). Not only do I not have any IIs, I actually already have 3 rejections. I'm feeling equally as worried as you are but I'm just telling myself that no news is good news at this point. Hopefully reading my plight makes you feel better. 😢
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply 🙂

It definitely gives me comfort to see that my experience isn't totally unique. Keeping my fingers crossed for you–it sounds like you're a brilliant applicant. Hopefully we're both just being overly anxious!
 
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RoMan1516 said:
Hi all,

I know there are tons of posts like these out there, but I can't help but feel a little concerned.

I am a high-stat (LM: 82) applicant with no gap years who submitted all secondaries early (around 10 days for each, done in roughly mid July). I believe I have relatively strong EC's (strong research - 8 publications in mix of basic science and clinical, ~400 hours of clinical experience, and ~250 hours of nonclinical volunteering). I centered my application theme around innovation, given my strong experiences in different kinds of translational research. I don't think I'm the best writer, but I think my essays are at the very least solid given I reviewed them with a lot of people including a writing coach.

Thus far, I've received one interview (in early August), and radio silence since. I applied to a decently top-heavy list, given my stats and application's focus on research. I can't help but feel a little nervous watching a lot of people receive interviews to the schools I applied to in the various online forums.

Am I being overly anxious, or do you think I have cause for concern?

I know it is still relatively early, but I've seen a lot of people say that early interviews are sent out to people who submit early and are higher-stat, meaning I may have been passed up. As I'm typing this, I see that I might be overly neurotic (🥲), but I'd love if anyone can provide any insight.

Thank you!
Click to expand...
Overly anxious. They’ll come over the next couple months.
 
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I am expecting you will have more interviews (it is literally September...), but I should also note unless you applied MD/PhD, research should not be your focus on your application. From a quick glance (which is obviously not your entire application), your "innovation" story is a better fit for those programs. Yes research is crucial, but the goal of the MD is service to your fellow man and community first and foremost. Make sure that comes across in your interview, or else adcoms will ask in their deliberation "Why not MD/PhD or PhD? Is he a good fit for an MD? Will he actually serve patients or want to sit in a lab?". Again, I don't know your full application, but research should not be the main reason or sole focus of an MD only application (unless you cured cancer or something).
 
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I will echo the sentiment expressed above. It is still early, and without seeing your PS and ECs it's difficult to really appraise your application. However, the pattern of strong stats, strong research, marginal service is one I see very frequently in reapplicants.

There is a pervasive notion that the ideal medical school applicant is one who already resembles an academician in terms of vision and research output. This can overlook the fact that the profession of medicine is essentially grounded in humanism at the level of the direct interaction between physician and patient. Innovation and translational research are great things, but don't get fixated on the gravy while ignoring the meatloaf.

But again, it's still early. Hang tight and see what fruit the cycle bears.
 
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Med Ed said:
I will echo the sentiment expressed above. It is still early, and without seeing your PS and ECs it's difficult to really appraise your application. However, the pattern of strong stats, strong research, marginal service is one I see very frequently in reapplicants.

There is a pervasive notion that the ideal medical school applicant is one who already resembles an academician in terms of vision and research output. This can overlook the fact that the profession of medicine is essentially grounded in humanism at the level of the direct interaction between physician and patient. Innovation and translational research are great things, but don't get fixated on the gravy while ignoring the meatloaf.

But again, it's still early. Hang tight and see what fruit the cycle bears.
Click to expand...
Indeed. Many applicants to the really top schools have hundreds if not even thousands of hours of service to others, clinically and non-clinical.
 
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Med Ed said:
I will echo the sentiment expressed above. It is still early, and without seeing your PS and ECs it's difficult to really appraise your application. However, the pattern of strong stats, strong research, marginal service is one I see very frequently in reapplicants.
Click to expand...
I believe that sentiment is what was plaguing my initial application and I found so much more success in receiving interviews focusing on the patient stories I had through my research.
 
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RoMan1516 said:
Hi all,

I know there are tons of posts like these out there, but I can't help but feel a little concerned.

I am a high-stat (LM: 82) applicant with no gap years who submitted all secondaries early (around 10 days for each, done in roughly mid July). I believe I have relatively strong EC's (strong research - 8 publications in mix of basic science and clinical, ~400 hours of clinical experience, and ~250 hours of nonclinical volunteering). I centered my application theme around innovation, given my strong experiences in different kinds of translational research. I don't think I'm the best writer, but I think my essays are at the very least solid given I reviewed them with a lot of people including a writing coach.

Thus far, I've received one interview (in early August), and radio silence since. I applied to a decently top-heavy list, given my stats and application's focus on research. I can't help but feel a little nervous watching a lot of people receive interviews to the schools I applied to in the various online forums.

Am I being overly anxious, or do you think I have cause for concern?

I know it is still relatively early, but I've seen a lot of people say that early interviews are sent out to people who submit early and are higher-stat, meaning I may have been passed up. As I'm typing this, I see that I might be overly neurotic (🥲), but I'd love if anyone can provide any insight.

Thank you!
Click to expand...
I don't think you were passed up at all. Since you applied top-heavy, your competition is much steeper than someone like me, who is middle of the pack. I haven't heard back from a lot of MD schools that have (probably) given out II to folks with higher stats. However, the biggest thing that I've learned thus far through this application cycle is that you should try to only worry about the things you can control.

At the end of the day, you can only commit to one program. One interview and one acceptance is all it takes. What if it's not your top choice? I think that the school that chooses you is the right school for you (while one that rejects you isn't). At the end of the day, you're a freakin' beast of an applicant. Remember that. Keep your head up and remind yourself that it isn't over until it's over.
 
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PickaGodnPray said:
I believe that sentiment is what was plaguing my initial application and I found so much more success in receiving interviews focusing on the patient stories I had through my research.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply!

And yes, I tried my best to emphasize throughout my essays that I love the innovation component of my research and its applications to patients rather than the purely scientific aspects. For instance, I talked about stories I had of speaking to patients when consenting them for clinical trials and seeing the real world impact that successful translational research can have.

Additionally, a lot of the innovation and translational research I did was centered around creating cheaper, less-invasive, more preventive-style alternatives to current solutions, so my essays included lots of discussions on those issues of healthcare.

Regardless, thank you so much for your feedback and I will do my best to stay patient!
 
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I've said this before but I'll repeat it.... the review of applications runs along the same calendar as the college football season. We are only 2 or 3 games into a season that will last for most schools until Thanksgiving and at other schools until New Year's weekend.

Consider that one-quarter of all applications, enough to fill the class several times over, arrive on day #1. Given that it takes 20-30 minutes to make a thorough review of a single application, you can imagine how long it takes to plow through the top 1,000-2,000 and choose the subset that will get interviews.

Also, keep in mind that because scheduling interviews 10 weeks from now is sure to result in some requests to reschedule due to extenuating circumstances, the best practice is to hold those intended invitations until the dates are 3-4 weeks out.

For all those reasons, you shouldn't worry about not getting interviews until Thanksgiving. And the fact is, you've gotten an interview. It only takes one but I'd be willing to wager that you'll have at least 2 more before the turkey goes in the oven in November.

Keep busy. The system works and you'll get invites in due time.
 
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I’m lucky to have gotten a few IIs so far, but the last one was back in mid-August. Since then, it’s been radio silence. My stats aren’t bad (LM 92), and besides the IIs, I’ve already had a couple of rejections too. Deep breath… now just waiting it out.
 
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LizzyM said:
I've said this before but I'll repeat it.... the review of applications runs along the same calendar as the college football season. We are only 2 or 3 games into a season that will last for most schools until Thanksgiving and at other schools until New Year's weekend.

Consider that one-quarter of all applications, enough to fill the class several times over, arrive on day #1. Given that it takes 20-30 minutes to make a thorough review of a single application, you can imagine how long it takes to plow through the top 1,000-2,000 and choose the subset that will get interviews.

Also, keep in mind that because scheduling interviews 10 weeks from now is sure to result in some requests to reschedule due to extenuating circumstances, the best practice is to hold those intended invitations until the dates are 3-4 weeks out.

For all those reasons, you shouldn't worry about not getting interviews until Thanksgiving. And the fact is, you've gotten an interview. It only takes one but I'd be willing to wager that you'll have at least 2 more before the turkey goes in the oven in November.

Keep busy. The system works and you'll get invites in due time.
Click to expand...
Since my post, I've been fortunate to receive 2 more interviews, including one to Stanford. I wanted to thank you for your advice and words of encouragement, as they truly helped ease my nerves and keep my mind off of the cycle!
 
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