I really dont get it!!! 6 interviews and rejected

[MedGrl@2022]

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👍 You and I are very similar. Although I've been working on improving my Spanish over the last few years...English was my first language but I'm trying to make my Spanish more professional (kinda hood Spanglish right now lol).

A 27 hurts a little bit, but at this point you'll be super late in the cycle if you retake. If you can pull like a 35+ then it'll still be cool (I know a guy who submitted his primary literally the last day and managed to get into Harvard cause they are non-rolling).

https://www.aamc.org/download/321512/data/2012factstable25-1.pdf

According to the grids at your GPA and MCAT score you have a 77% chance of getting into an MD school. Think about it.

77% is great! I wonder what schools they applied to I hope it is not only Puerto Rican medical schools... I can not get into those due to their requirements... I want to take a medical Spanish class for sure...

 

[hopeles]

After reading through this thread either: 1) OP is trolling and successfully getting people worked up and stressed out, or 2) OP is a stubborn a**hole who won't listen to what people are saying and is just procrastinating. The OP keeps asking the same questions and making the same points, therefore delaying making a decision by continuing to ask the repeated questions and ignoring everyone's advice. Op is just causing more problems for him/herself.

I'm really serious, why would i make this up? I wish i wouldn't be in this situation and not have to post.
Did you read my last few posts?
I'm very much actively following the advice given, I thought pattycakes plan was reasonable and made sense.
I want to ultimately get accepted, I spent many years on this and dont want to give up everything.

 

[Toss]

Realistically the next MCAT you could take would be the August 9th one, that leaves your primary unverified until mid to late september

Verification has nothing to do with the MCAT score.

My personal take, from reading this thread: There are some really good posts filled with information and OP seems to have either ignored them or glossed over and instead only replies with "Why can't I apply now and get in" (paraphrased). This makes me think he is not completely aware of his surroundings or might not have the self awareness that the ADCOMs are looking for.

Pretty much this.

It seems here that applying early is a huge deal and that if your application isnt in early there's no point of applying? That's the impression I'm getting, even though i know plenty that got in and were complete September.

 

[mehc012]

Verification has nothing to do with the MCAT score.



Pretty much this.

Any clarification on that graph? If the y-axis is "acceptance rate", why does it only go up to 20ish? What do the points represent? What data is this drawn from?

nvm, I found that post...looking for the actual thread now for more details!

 

[Toss]

Any clarification on that graph? If the y-axis is "acceptance rate", why does it only go up to 20ish? What do the points represent? What data is this drawn from?

The graph is linked to the relevant clarification.

 

[mehc012]

The graph is linked to the relevant clarification.

Yup, that's why I edited my post! Kind of 'eh' data, but better than squat, right?

 

[hopeles]

What's the bottom line am i submitting to a throw away school?

Sent from my fone

 

[Buzz Me]

I applied last year mid september with a 28 mcat, perfect gpa, excellent extra curriculars, letters etc. received 5 MD interviews and 1 DO, everyone I spoke to said i shouldn't have a problem, Ill get in to one school.
Fast forward a few months.. 2 Rejections and 4 waitlists, I thought i did really well on my interviews and was really talkative, answered all questions well etc.

Did you apply widely? To many programs?

Your MCAT is below the mean for matriculants. You didn't submit the first day possible. It behooves you to give yourself as many advantages as possible when you apply for the first time.

 

[mehc012]

What's the bottom line am i submitting to a throw away school?

Sent from my fone

Dude, you heard everyone's opinions...do some freaking research and make your own decisions. You're applying to go to MED school, if you can't even decide when to submit your app (hint: everyone thinks you should wait a year, all other suggestions are trying to compensate for your stubborn refusal to make the smart move), how do you hope to demonstrate that you are capable of making real choices?

You got your advice, now make your moves.

 

[hopeles]

Dude, you heard everyone's opinions...do some freaking research and make your own decisions. You're applying to go to MED school, if you can't even decide when to submit your app (hint: everyone thinks you should wait a year, all other suggestions are trying to compensate for your stubborn refusal to make the smart move), how do you hope to demonstrate that you are capable of making real choices?

You got your advice, now make your moves.

I thought this is the game plan, what pattycake posted below?

The only plan you should consider at this point for applying this cycle is:

1. Apply to throwaway school to get verified ASAP (still relatively late).
2. Prewrite secondaries. Look for interview practice.
3. Receive score in September. If it's less than 31 (IMO), do not apply this cycle. If it's at least 31, upload school list to AMCAS.
4. Turn secondaries around as quickly as humanly possible. Same business day if you can, but otherwise by SOB the next day. No excuses.
5. Pray.

Versus waiting a year, the risks you accept by applying this cycle:

1. If you are inadequately prepared for the MCAT, you may wind up digging that hole deeper by bombing. Do not take the test if your average practice is not at least 32. Void the test if you feel badly at the end of it.
2. Any school you submit AMCAS to will log it as an application attempt. You will be no faster than last cycle, when timing was part of your problem. You are automatically walking in at a disadvantage compared to your ideal application. In practice, two failed attempts to get into a school often closes the door for good there, unless you cure cancer before the next time around. Think VERY carefully before applying to any place that you applied to last year.
3. Since I am now advising selectivity in your school list, make SURE you still like the schools on your list enough to go to any one of them if offered a spot. Given your already rough application history, it is safe to say the following. If you are offered a spot and decline it in favor of reapplying, you will never get into an American school. The resulting blackballing will be fatal to future applications.

Note that the three above risks have nothing to do with money, and all concern success in FUTURE cycles, not this one. Your best bet to eventually get into medical school is to wait a year. Period.

 

[mehc012]

I thought this is the game plan, what pattycake posted below?

Yes, note the part (which YOU bolded) which states that your best option is to wait until next year. The other plans have only been proposed at all, by anyone, because you insist that you want to pull the trigger this year, despite it being a terrible idea.

 

[gyngyn]

So would you say re-applicants are at a significant disadvantage (i,e just short of the stage of "abandon hope")

A dramatically better second application to the schools that are likely to be receptive is almost as good as an average first application.

 

[hopeles]

You are only required to report schools to which you have previously applied, however many schools ask about the results of previous cycles whether you applied to their school or not. Haphazard application cycles are strongly discouraged.

DO medical schools know how many times you submit the primary application ( does amcas provide them this info)?

Would sending a primary to one school ( throw-away school) but not secondary, would that count as an application for the other medical school?

 

[Status Sciaticus]

To answer the original question, 0 acceptances after 6 IIs obviously points to lacking interviewing skills.

This can be solved by either preparing through mock interviews or by generating a possible list of all interview questions and answering them to maximize your chances.

 

[forever21xo]

Fast forward a few months.. 2 Rejections and 4 waitlists, I thought i did really well on my interviews and was really talkative, answered all questions well etc.

im not sure if being "really talkative" is necessarily a positive. i think that they want people who don't ramble and are more prone to quality listening.

 

[hopeles]

Spoke to a medical school advisor, he said schools expect you to apply again after being rejected, he has seen people apply 5 times.
He said if I got a lot of interviews, I should reapply

He said waiting a year things could change , like the mcat etc

 

[MedGrl@2022]

A dramatically better second application to the schools that are likely to be receptive is almost as good as an average first application.

Why do you say this? Why are re-applicants viewed negatively?

 

[yehhhboiii]

Why do you say this? Why are re-applicants viewed negatively?

because why would you want someone that people didn't want last time

 

[basketcase0a0]

It's not necessarily that re-applicants are viewed negatively. It's that re-applicants who don't do anything to dramatically improve their numbers/EC's/application otherwise are viewed negatively. Hypothetically, for example, if I am rejected with a 3.5/37 despite getting a few interviews thanks to that MCAT, then the next year apply with a 3.5/37 again and no new EC's, I will be seen as lazy and unwilling to better myself. Not only that, but schools will see they (or others) rejected me last year and auto-reject again based upon a lack of improvement. The idea being that if you aren't willing to devote a year to becoming a doctor, why would you devote your whole life to it?

Ultimately every situation is unique, and sometimes being a reapplicant can be great if you have shown the necessary improvement, but it can also hurt if you don't improve.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

It's not necessarily that re-applicants are viewed negatively. It's that re-applicants who don't do anything to dramatically improve their numbers/EC's/application otherwise are viewed negatively. Hypothetically, for example, if I am rejected with a 3.5/37 despite getting a few interviews thanks to that MCAT, then the next year apply with a 3.5/37 again and no new EC's, I will be seen as lazy and unwilling to better myself. Not only that, but schools will see they (or others) rejected me last year and auto-reject again based upon a lack of improvement. The idea being that if you aren't willing to devote a year to becoming a doctor, why would you devote your whole life to it?

Ultimately every situation is unique, and sometimes being a reapplicant can be great if you have shown the necessary improvement, but it can also hurt if you don't improve.

Just a question... if I applied to new medical schools on my second try would these new medical schools know that other medical schools in the past rejected me... How do they know this? Does AMCAS/ACOMAS record this stuff?

 

[Status Sciaticus]

Why do you say this? Why are re-applicants viewed negatively?

because why would you want someone that people didn't want last time

Every adcom I have talked to has said the exact OPPOSITE of this.

Reapplying shows commitment and resilience. However, if you do nothing to improve upon your application, then yes, it can be viewed negatively.

Most admissions staff want you to succeed and, as such, they will offer you critiques so you know where you can improve.

 

[ToldYouSo]

If you got 6 interviews then you obviously meet the academic requirements... it seems to me that either you were extremely unlucky or you interviewed poorly.

 

[katizzle]

ignore this post didnt see the other pages.

 

[Sassafrass23]

Every adcom I have talked to has said the exact OPPOSITE of this.

Reapplying shows commitment and resilience. However, if you do nothing to improve upon your application, then yes, it can be viewed negatively.

Most admissions staff want you to succeed and, as such, they will offer you critiques so you know where you can improve.

Exactly. I blatantly asked a few adcoms if they viewed reapplicants unfavorably and they all said the same thing: "No, just as long as you don't apply with the same application".

 

[yehhhboiii]

Every adcom I have talked to has said the exact OPPOSITE of this.

Reapplying shows commitment and resilience. However, if you do nothing to improve upon your application, then yes, it can be viewed negatively.

Most admissions staff want you to succeed and, as such, they will offer you critiques so you know where you can improve.

how many is that?

 

[Status Sciaticus]

how many is that?

9 AdComs.... from Texas, one from each school.

4 AdComs... from OOS schools.

 

[hopeles]

Every adcom I have talked to has said the exact OPPOSITE of this.

Reapplying shows commitment and resilience. However, if you do nothing to improve upon your application, then yes, it can be viewed negatively.

Most admissions staff want you to succeed and, as such, they will offer you critiques so you know where you can improve.

I'm really confused until now all this thread was saying its detrimental to apply many times. After 3rd time your out..
So which one is it?

Sent from my fone

 

[candbgirl]

You need to stop posting and starting making decisions on your own. But just for the heck of it what have you done to significantly make your new application better?

 

[hopeles]

You need to stop posting and starting making decisions on your own. But just for the heck of it what have you done to significantly make your new application better?

I plan on taking my mcat aug 9, the issue here was lateness so people said i should wait till next Cycle

 

[pandaman2000]

People have to stop being in denial...a re-applicant is definitely at a disadvantage.

You want to apply with your best shot. Do people reapply and get in? Of course! For better or worse however, you have that "re application" mark on your application and the simple question becomes "So what has changed?" I think it's a little crazy when people have applied more than twice. If you didn't get in the first AND second time, you definitely haven't learned your lesson and addressed the holes in your application whether it be applying late/not enough EC's/low stats/bad interviewing/etc. Not getting in twice is NOT just bad luck and there is definitely a hole somewhere to fix.

Take your time and apply with your best shot. If you don't get in your first time, I hope you took time to improve your app during the year. If not, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking some years to improve. Many posters have done just that and gone to great success.

 

[IlDestriero]

Spoke to a medical school advisor, he said schools expect you to apply again after being rejected, he has seen people apply 5 times.
He said if I got a lot of interviews, I should reapply

He said waiting a year things could change , like the mcat etc

Good thinking. The medical school advisors are well known to have their finger on the pulse of the reality of medical school admissions. "Things could change," good advice. Apply with the same application and scores. I predict I won't be seeing you at Grand Rounds in a few years.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

Every adcom I have talked to has said the exact OPPOSITE of this.

Reapplying shows commitment and resilience. However, if you do nothing to improve upon your application, then yes, it can be viewed negatively.

Most admissions staff want you to succeed and, as such, they will offer you critiques so you know where you can improve.

I applied once in 2006 and I was not going to write this in my application. It probably would come up in an interview though. Should I just write about it in the application to explain it? I thought I wanted to go into medicine back then but I think I was unprepared and immature. Now I am reapplying after taking time to re-evaluate and prepare myself to go to medical school. Should I just say that? (There was also a bad MCAT score and a period of economic hardship that was involved as well but I think that needed the time to re-evaluate myself and grow in order to become a better candidate for medical school.)

 

[IlDestriero]

I applied once in 2006 and I was not going to write this in my application. It probably would come up in an interview though. Should I just write about it in the application to explain it? I thought I wanted to go into medicine back then but I think I was unprepared and immature. Now I am reapplying after taking time to re-evaluate and prepare myself to go to medical school. Should I just say that? (There was also a bad MCAT score and a period of economic hardship that was involved as well but I think that needed the time to re-evaluate myself and grow in order to become a better candidate for medical school.)

These are good things to discuss.

 

[candbgirl]

I plan on taking my mcat aug 9, the issue here was lateness so people said i should wait till next Cycle

So you have done nothing else to improve your new application? You are submitting the same exact stuff this year that you submitted last year with the possible exception of a better MCAT score?

 

[487806]

Good thinking. The medical school advisors are well known to have their finger on the pulse of the reality of medical school admissions. "Things could change," good advice. Apply with the same application and scores. I predict I won't be seeing you at Grand Rounds in a few years.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[hopeles]

So you have done nothing else to improve your new application? You are submitting the same exact stuff this year that you submitted last year with the possible exception of a better MCAT score?

I have a few new experiences from over the year to add. Does that count?

Sent from my fone

 

[smuscs]

You have gotten all the advice you need. It is time to make your own decision. Every day you wait is putting you at a greater disadvantage. Just take the year off and make yourself a better applicant.

On another note, if you can't make this decision on your own, you probably shouldn't be going into a profession where you are going to be making much harder and more important decisions.

 

[candbgirl]

I have a few new experiences from over the year to add. Does that count?

Sent from my fone

Oh for heaven's sake. I'm done with you. By the words and tone you are using I am very positive you are trolling us. The End!

 

[dominicandoctor]

I ended up having to take 2 years off... it worked out for me. I had a blast during that extra year and I ended up getting a good opportunity with the CDC. Made a lot of money and had a lot of fun... now I'm ready for med school! It also allowed me to apply early and broadly in the next app cycle and I got into a school by mid October.

🙂

I feel your pain though--- in total I got 12 interviews. I only got 2 acceptances and 5 waitlists.. and nothing ever came out of the waitlists.

 

[chemguy79]

Given the fact that the OP seems completely incapable of taking any of the advice and putting it to good use, it doesn't surprise me that he/she failed to get accepted after receiving 6 interviews.

OP, step away from the thread and apply again next year.

 

[hopeles]

So you have done nothing else to improve your new application? You are submitting the same exact stuff this year that you submitted last year with the possible exception of a better MCAT score?

Why is everyone getting worked up.
I was just answering this question.

 

[Toss]

Why is everyone getting worked up.
I was just answering this question.

Because it looks something like this:

 

[Status Sciaticus]

People have to stop being in denial...a re-applicant is definitely at a disadvantage.

You want to apply with your best shot. Do people reapply and get in? Of course! For better or worse however, you have that "re application" mark on your application and the simple question becomes "So what has changed?" I think it's a little crazy when people have applied more than twice. If you didn't get in the first AND second time, you definitely haven't learned your lesson and addressed the holes in your application whether it be applying late/not enough EC's/low stats/bad interviewing/etc. Not getting in twice is NOT just bad luck and there is definitely a hole somewhere to fix.

Take your time and apply with your best shot. If you don't get in your first time, I hope you took time to improve your app during the year. If not, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking some years to improve. Many posters have done just that and gone to great success.

So youre saying the 13 Adcoms I talked to were all BSing?

Considering that you arent on the admissions committee, I would think their answers are more qualified to the question than your assessment.

I am sure that re-applicants are scrutinized more closely on their applications to determine their competency and aptitude, but to say that they are at a statistically significant disadvantage isnt true.

I applied once in 2006 and I was not going to write this in my application. It probably would come up in an interview though. Should I just write about it in the application to explain it? I thought I wanted to go into medicine back then but I think I was unprepared and immature. Now I am reapplying after taking time to re-evaluate and prepare myself to go to medical school. Should I just say that? (There was also a bad MCAT score and a period of economic hardship that was involved as well but I think that needed the time to re-evaluate myself and grow in order to become a better candidate for medical school.)

I didnt mention my weaknesses at all. LizzyM mentioned that you should let your work speak for itself and that your PS should highlight your strengths instead of making up for your weaknesses.

Why is everyone getting worked up.
I was just answering this question.

No. the MCAT isnt enough. You need to add signficant hours of volunteering, clinical and non-clinical. Add a job or two, preferably in the healthcare field.

Change your PS and letters of rec.

If you spent an entire year in between apps and all you did was retake the MCAT, then you didnt make good use of your time.

 

[physiologist]

Applying in September + 28 MCAT = the kiss of death

I beg to differ. I was complete at the end of October. Low GPA, average MCAT, interviewed December to March. Autism Spectrum Disorder (worked on it for years though). Got in somewhere.

Possibilities:

1) interview skills. Maybe people were put off by your "gung-ho" attitude? One of the feedbacks I got from a school I was rejected at was that I appeared "too aggressive" and "lacked interpersonal skills." (The other three schools ranked me very well in interpersonal skills, oddly enough). Did you appear arrogant or douchey? Maybe try to be more calm and collected?

2) bad LOR. Many (if not most) schools only review LORs post-interview. You may have had a really poor or unremarkable LOR. Maybe your PI secretly dislikes you or something? Something to think about.

3) was it a state school? One of the state schools I interviewed at has a policy of only taking a small number of OOS. They told me I was great but that they can only accept 2 OOS and even then they have to go to the bottom of the wait list. I'm no purple unicorn, so I understood why I wasn't chosen. If you had too many state schools on your interview list that may have been why.

4) you may have not sounded interesting enough. Maybe your experiences sounded too cookie-cutter? There is a happy medium between passionate and naive that must be found in order to sound compelling and mature to interviewers. It also helps to focus on how you learned from your experiences.

5) A combination of small factors with your MCAT being the last nail in the coffin.

All the best! I'm sure you'll bounce back next time. I hope you retook the MCAT. Maybe scoring higher than 28 can correct or compensate for other weaknesses you may not be able to control or are not aware of.

Most importantly, seek feedback from all the schools you interviewed at. With the exception of the school I got into, all schools I interviewed at gave me feedback happily. (My weakness was different at every school: one found me aggressive, likely figured out my ASD; one said I didn't answer their teamwork questions the way they wanted - I have little experience working in teams, which could account for this review; and the third was the state school that only wait lists the top two OOS). Please, do seek feedback, and be receptive to it.

 

[Caristra]

I cannot believe nobody has commented on the fact that you called a school every two weeks to ask about waitlist movement. They probably rejected you at the behest of some secretary who was sick of having to answer your questions by phone every two weeks.

Seriously, if you have nothing substantial to update the school with (letter of intent, paper published etc.) why are you calling them every two weeks? How is this going to help you in any way? It could certainly make you look desperate and unaware of social norms tough.

 

[hopeles]

I cannot believe nobody has commented on the fact that you called a school every two weeks to ask about waitlist movement. They probably rejected you at the behest of some secretary who was sick of having to answer your questions by phone every two weeks.

Seriously, if you have nothing substantial to update the school with (letter of intent, paper published etc.) why are you calling them every two weeks? How is this going to help you in any way? It could certainly make you look desperate and unaware of social norms tough.

I thought that it helps? On sdn everyone says to call, it shows interest?

 

[Toss]

I thought that it helps? On sdn everyone says to call, it shows interest?

Not every two weeks.

You're acting just like a stereotypical clingy girlfriend.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Not every two weeks.

You're acting just like a stereotypical clingy girlfriend.

med schools def don't want level 5 clingers

 

[hopeles]

I took the test felt good about it, wasnt sure about verbal but felt ok. I guess no way to gauge?

But voided just to be on safe side, as anyways even with a good mcat, im better off applying next year right?

I figured if im applying anyways next year might as well take next yr?

 

[487806]

I thought that it helps? On sdn everyone says to call, it shows interest?

Well, that answers why schools don't want you.