How devastated would you be if you got rejected everywhere?

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cyaneidae said:
The problem, really, is getting a job. :/ I've been applying to tons of university research jobs since March with no luck (and I worked for 2yrs in a bench med school lab during undergrad) and scribe jobs are at least an hour away from my house. :/

Gap years are great if you have something planned. I, on the other hand, didn't foresee myself being without a job almost a month after graduation--and am now getting nervous for the typical "what are you doing if not in school" secondary question.

/pity party
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I got a scribe job the second app I sent out. I don't know.

Scribing is way fun. Way more interesting than volunteering in the ER. <-- omg snoresville.
 
cheerful85 said:
I'm starting to get more perspective on having another gap year. Aside from just having more time to "strengthen my application" and put nose to grindstone, I'm realizing that I now have another year of my life where I'm not indentured to medicine and can actually achieve some of my other life goals (like improve my foreign language skills, travel, train for a marathon, etc) -- as desperately as I wish I was starting medical school this fall, having a little more free time isn't so bad. 🙂
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Exactly my sentiment. Yeah it sucks to not get in and having to reapply, but I enjoyed my gap year a lot, an extra one will be just as good (if not better)
 
Rik1111 said:
I got a scribe job the second app I sent out. I don't know.

Scribing is way fun. Way more interesting than volunteering in the ER. <-- omg snoresville.
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I wish I had a scribe job near me. 🙁 Nearest one is at least an hour away and not worth the commute. Tried looking for city scribe jobs and came up with nothing; I take it Chicago doesn't use scribes/all the positions are filled.

I am enjoying the relaxing time, however. It is nice not worrying about college anymore and I'm excited that I'll be able to fully enjoy the seasons this fall/winter; I echo what everyone's said about a gap year being a great year to take a step back.
 
Wordead said:
I'm not quite sure how I wandered into this thread and read the whole thing, but my advice for people who didn't get in is to take 2-3 years off and go do something else. Your application in all likelihood is not going to be greatly improved in 1 year. The gap years will be helpful - you get some perspective, some maturity, and learn how to navigate the workplace. And you don't burn out.

The top 10% of my class were ALL people who entered when they were >25 years old. I don't think that's a coincidence.

Just some food for thought.
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THIS. please don't rush to reapply when nothing has changed. Time is the best thing to better your app. You know what they say about people who do the same thing twice and expect a different result. If I didn't take my mind off med school I probably would have burned out. I took a few years to just grow up, live and enjoy life, did a masters, and now I'm starting medical school feeling 100x wiser and more confident than my 21 year old self.

For those with high stats though, there is something holding you back either in your writing or your interviewing. You need somebody that can give it to you straight as to how your application reads and how you interview. You just need to fix that and you are in.
 
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Wordead said:
I'm not quite sure how I wandered into this thread and read the whole thing, but my advice for people who didn't get in is to take 2-3 years off and go do something else. Your application in all likelihood is not going to be greatly improved in 1 year. The gap years will be helpful - you get some perspective, some maturity, and learn how to navigate the workplace. And you don't burn out.

The top 10% of my class were ALL people who entered when they were >25 years old. I don't think that's a coincidence.

Just some food for thought.
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So much more truth than this thread deserves.
 
I'd roll up in my blanket and cry for 3 days...:scared:
On the 4th day I'll get up and play GTA
 
Wordead said:
I'm not quite sure how I wandered into this thread and read the whole thing, but my advice for people who didn't get in is to take 2-3 years off and go do something else. Your application in all likelihood is not going to be greatly improved in 1 year. The gap years will be helpful - you get some perspective, some maturity, and learn how to navigate the workplace. And you don't burn out.

The top 10% of my class were ALL people who entered when they were >25 years old. I don't think that's a coincidence.

Just some food for thought.
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/thread
 
the idea of taking multiple years off between cycles may not apply to everyone. I don't think it does in my case. My application was good enough to warrant 7 interviews so clearly I was a desirable applicant to some degree. I am hoping the additional shadowing + volunteering + maturity I have gained this past year will be enough to land me an acceptance next cycle. Plus my MCAT score will expire if I take years off and I don't want to study for it and take it again.
 
SourD21 said:
the idea of taking multiple years off between cycles may not apply to everyone. I don't think it does in my case. My application was good enough to warrant 7 interviews so clearly I was a desirable applicant to some degree. I am hoping the additional shadowing + volunteering + maturity I have gained this past year will be enough to land me an acceptance next cycle. Plus my MCAT score will expire if I take years off and I don't want to study for it and take it again.
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I agree that it might not make sense for all reapplicants to wait additional gap years before reapplying.

for instance, I am a non-trad/career changer and have had several years out of school already while working full-time, so an extra year of work experience and life in the real world would likely be less personally profound for me compared to a traditional applicant. assuming that I am eventually accepted somewhere to medical school (which is a huge assumption, as nothing is ever guaranteed in this game), every year that I delay potentially reduces my total career income relative to student loans (I think being an older applicant has resulted in my having increased paranoia and worries about the financial side of undertaking medical school -- the costs are terrifying!). I also kind of feel like "I'm not getting any younger." 🙂

in addition, one of my flaws in the past year was not applying broadly enough, so my application this cycle will actually be brand new to the overwhelming majority of schools to which I am applying.

that said, I'm still really looking forward to figuring out what I can do with the extra year of time to myself (in addition to strengthening my application).
 
Wow.. crazy thread. I don't even know how to feel about this now. It would be different if it were students with 3.5 - G.P.A.'s and 28 - M.C.A.T.'s, but 3.9's with 36... Are there any guaranteed ways of getting accepted? Certain extracurriculars maybe?
 
I would be very disappointed, but I wouldn't give up. I would improve my application any way possible and apply again
 
Cardiothoracic said:
Wow.. crazy thread. I don't even know how to feel about this now. It would be different if it were students with 3.5 - G.P.A.'s and 28 - M.C.A.T.'s, but 3.9's with 36... Are there any guaranteed ways of getting accepted? Certain extracurriculars maybe?
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Nothing can guarantee an acceptance.
 
I would be super bummed, but I applied after one gap year, so I'll technically have two by the time I matriculate (if it is this year!). If not, I'll try again and just tack on another year. I got an awesome research job right after graduation, so I can't complain. Getting a job is tricky though depending on where you live, I ended up moving across the country for one. BUT I moved from a state with no state medical schools to a state with tons - this really isn't a bad idea if people are interested in more than one gap year.

But back to the original point, I would still be really bummed.
 
3.9 and 38 here. Reapplying this cycle. Ready to smash these apps two years after getting rejected!
 
Rik1111 said:
:idea:
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Yeah, like high stats are common these days. Clearly the 40% of people who do get in are doing something right (some of them holding several acceptances - how is that even possible?). Wonder what that could be...?

volcomx said:
When I applied I had a 33. But, lack of stellar ECs, late app, and top heavy. Remedied that hardcore over the past 2 years.
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Good. I think you're all set then. Good luck!
 
Cardiothoracic said:
Wow.. crazy thread. I don't even know how to feel about this now. It would be different if it were students with 3.5 - G.P.A.'s and 28 - M.C.A.T.'s, but 3.9's with 36... Are there any guaranteed ways of getting accepted? Certain extracurriculars maybe?
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When it's that high of stats, the problem is either something you wrote, something you said, or something somebody else wrote about you. Maybe arrogance or a lack of thinking about why you are actually doing this?
 
Arbor Vitae said:
When it's that high of stats, the problem is either something you wrote, something you said, or something somebody else wrote about you. Maybe arrogance or a lack of thinking about why you are actually doing this?
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Even when all that is thoroughly covered (plus submitting early and applying appropriately), acceptance isn't guaranteed according to the prevailing notion in this thread. So, despite having optimal stats and essentially flawless app, you can't assert you will get accepted (or there's a good chance you won't even get an acceptance). Something doesn't add up here...
 
Agent B said:
Even when all that is thoroughly covered (plus submitting early and applying appropriately), acceptance isn't guaranteed according to the prevailing notion in this thread. So, despite having optimal stats and essentially flawless app, you can't assert you will get accepted (or there's a good chance you won't even get an acceptance). Something doesn't add up here...
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The process itself.
 
Lower your standards. You don't have to go to a top tier school.
 
One thing to consider that I haven't seen mentioned is interview skills. It seems like a lot of people with strong stats/applications didn't get in. I'm wondering if these people had any interviews and were awko taco...
 
pandahunter said:
Lower your standards. You don't have to go to a top tier school.
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interestmeter.gif

Meh.
 
Just go to the Caribbean and match from there, it's pretty easy if you ask me.
 
pandahunter said:
Lower your standards. You don't have to go to a top tier school.
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Agreed I don't get how people apply to only top tiers more than once. Apply broadly.

In my opinion, if you didn't get in the first time you weren't meant for a top tier and you probably wouldn't excel there anyways. If you get off the waitlist at a top tier they obviously thought you'd be least likely to succeed. Why do people like this fight for a top tier acceptance when they probably will be at the bottom of the class anyways?
 
Wouldn't be that upset if I got rejected everywhere. I don't think it should phase you much if this is really what you're passionate about. Just improve and re-apply.
 
bollywoodlover said:
Agreed I don't get how people apply to only top tiers more than once. Apply broadly.

In my opinion, if you didn't get in the first time you weren't meant for a top tier and you probably wouldn't excel there anyways. If you get off the waitlist at a top tier they obviously thought you'd be least likely to succeed. Why do people like this fight for a top tier acceptance when they probably will be at the bottom of the class anyways?
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Applied and rejected from top tiers with a 3.9 and 33 MCAT.

I'm reapplying and retook the MCAT and got a 38. My stats put me in the 90th percentile for matriculating students at almost every top tier school. But yeah you're right, if I get into a top school I'll certainly end up at the bottom of the class.
 
You guys that have crazy stats and still got rejected saying it was because of lateness of the app. How late are we talking?
 
IL Pre Med said:
Wouldn't be that upset if I got rejected everywhere. I don't think it should phase you much if this is really what you're passionate about. Just improve and re-apply.
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you say that now but until your in that situation your pretty much talking out of our @$$. Sure most of us who get rejected everywhere will pick ourselves back up and reapply. But it's normal and perfectly okay to be upset. The fact that we're so passionate about being physicians makes rejection that much more difficult. Plus, there are a lot of factors that make this process completely undesirable to go through a second time.
 
IL Pre Med said:
Wouldn't be that upset if I got rejected everywhere. I don't think it should phase you much if this is really what you're passionate about. Just improve and re-apply.
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Spoken like someone who hasn't been through an application cycle.
 
SourD21 said:
Plus, there are a lot of factors that make this process completely undesirable to go through a second time.
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Which is why I decided to give myself a break between reapping. I think I just invented a new word.
 
IL Pre Med said:
Wouldn't be that upset if I got rejected everywhere. I don't think it should phase you much if this is really what you're passionate about. Just improve and re-apply.
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just wait til you're checking your email every 5 minutes to see if there's an Inbox(1) waiting for you
 
yehhhboiii said:
just wait til you're checking your email every 5 minutes to see if there's an Inbox(1) waiting for you
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mcloaf said:
Spoken like someone who hasn't been through an application cycle.
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Actually, spoken like someone who has been through an application cycle. I'm currently in pharmacy school so interview/admissions anxiety is a familiar thing. Granted pharmacy school and medical school are two different animals, the anxiety is still there in both cases. I feel if you mentally prepare for the worst you'll either be pleasantly surprised by an acceptance or you can continue an ongoing preparation for the next cycle. Either way you benefit.
 
IL Pre Med said:
Actually, spoken like someone who has been through an application cycle. I'm currently in pharmacy school so interview/admissions anxiety is a familiar thing. Granted pharmacy school and medical school are two different animals, the anxiety is still there in both cases. I feel if you mentally prepare for the worst you'll either be pleasantly surprised by an acceptance or you can continue an ongoing preparation for the next cycle. Either way you benefit.
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Completely unrelated but I just wanted to point out you now have 117 posts and Master Chief is John-117.

Anyways if I got rejected from every school I applied to I would probably cry. A lot.
 
Anathema said:
HriRish said:

"Hello SDN,

I'm a premed in my fourth year of college. The past four years have been brutal in terms of hard work and time commitment to the pursuit of getting into medical school. As a result, I haven't had much time to do much of anything else. However, being a minority in a school where everyone else around me is not of my ethnicity has been exceptionally hard for me, especially when it comes to my dating life. What's more is, I finally ended up liking this one girl in my class (she found excuses to talk to me, kept staring at laughing/smiling at me) and when I talked to her, she told me straight up she had a boyfriend (she's not the same ethnicity as I am) THEN WHY THE F*CK would you give me mixed messages?

Long story short, this lack of female intimacy has really started to take a toll on my self esteem and my growth as an individual. Should I suck it up and just accept that I am doomed to be forever alone? Is the situation more or less the same in medical school? Will I never find someone I can share my life with until I have an MD after my name? I feel so pathetic right now. My motivation to study for the MCAT is dwindling by the second. Anyone else out there suffering from this dilemma? I can't blame people for not being open minded when it comes to dating, as everyone is entitled to their own preferences. But jesus, when you put a single, virile male in a classroom full of beautiful women, no matter what the ethnicity, hormones will compel him to act. And more importantly, in my case at least, regret. I feel so down right now."

You've lost all credibility with all your statements and I doubt your experiences measure up to anyone here.
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Damn dude that's a low blow for you to quote that **** haha, embarrassing!
 
IL Pre Med said:
Actually, spoken like someone who has been through an application cycle. I'm currently in pharmacy school so interview/admissions anxiety is a familiar thing. Granted pharmacy school and medical school are two different animals, the anxiety is still there in both cases. I feel if you mentally prepare for the worst you'll either be pleasantly surprised by an acceptance or you can continue an ongoing preparation for the next cycle. Either way you benefit.
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yeah no, pharm school and med school applications are not even close to the same thing.
i took the pcat, got 99th percentile with about two weeks of study.
and we've all been through college applications. it doesn't compare
 
HriRish said:
I would commit suicide. No joke. But first, I would try and complete a SMP and re-apply, maybe with a higher MCAT, if needed. And a publication or two. Basically not getting in is not an option, period. And if that option so arises, suicide is the only solution.
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I'm just curious if this is the answer you would give an AdCom if you were asked that very same question :wow:
 
chillaxbro said:
Who else is actually happy to have a year "off"?

If I got a scribe job, I would be so happy. I would work 4-6 days a week, start working out, start reading some books, watch all the tv shows I have hoarded but never had time to watch due to school...
Then imagine getting an acceptance in November or December. You'll have 8 or 9 months to just chill and relax after sacrificing so much time, sleep, health, friends...
I'm tearing up just thinking about it
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I took a year off because I was tired of school. It was the best decision I think that I could have made. I work a 9-5, make bank, got into great shape, and actually had time to cultivate relationships and hang out with people. I also got accepted to my first school in October, and therefore pretty much cruised from there.

Plus, I'm now actually excited to start school again. That's what a desk job will do for you!
 
Honestly, I'd be fine. If I wasn't accepted, it just means I wasn't good enough then. I'd get a job (for money and preferably to get some kind of experience), get more volunteering in, and retake the MCAT (I did above-average, but I know I can do better). Then, I'd apply next cycle.
 
I will cry, and cry some more. Then reject all the things I used to like. Avoid SDN. Not talking to people about my medical school aspirations ("Nah I'm just working right now"). Deleting all correspondences from school that reject me. Retrieve said messages. Not eat favorite food for a month. Download cat pictures like crazy. Gain some clarity and self respect back. Reapply.

Hope no repeat performance.
 
I think that when we apply, we're all concerned that we may end up with no acceptance. Between last summer and my first acceptance (last January), my family and I were on edge. The app process is stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. No one wants to go thru it and have no success.

The Panic thread well-documents the drama that goes on while waiting or getting bad news.

Be sure to use a good strategy for your app list. Don't waste your apps on a bunch of OOS publics that won't likely accept you. Include some midwest mid-tier privates.

In the end, I got accepted to my top choice (it was my last acceptance!) . What a relief!
 
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