I Thought I Did Well, But I Was Put On Hold

[aspiringdoctor]

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i'm really sad, this is the 2nd time I was put on hold. I thought I did pretty well, but Albany put me on onhold. First UW, now albany, i'm not so sure how to prepare for a good interview anymore. Many of you were sad because you ony got one interview, but if you got in from that only interview, it was better than receiving four interview but put on hold for most of them. I don't know when will I see the light, I wonder if i should start apply for post-bacc program now or wait to see.

 

[gluon999]

I recommend sending a letter of intent straight to the Dean of admissions, reiterating your interest in the school and why you would be a good match for them. It can't hurt you.

 

[Labslave]

i'm really sad, this is the 2nd time I was put on hold. I thought I did pretty well, but Albany put me on onhold. First UW, now albany, i'm not so sure how to prepare for a good interview anymore. Many of you were sad because you ony got one interview, but if you got in from that only interview, it was better than receiving four interview but put on hold for most of them. I don't know when will I see the light, I wonder if i should start apply for post-bacc program now or wait to see.

I really don't want to be mean when asking this question, but how's your spoken English? That could be the problem here (after looking at your writing skills), so maybe try mock interviewing with a friend who speaks English as a first language and have them be brutally honest with you.

If they tell you that you're not expressing yourself clearly or that you're coming across as someone the average patient may have problems understanding, you'll know why you're being waitlisted.

If this is the case, good old practice will smoothen things out. Best of luck!

 

[thegenius]

I was put on hold at Albany too. And I had such a good interview there that the guy asked me if I wanted to watch a procedure he did. I presume that is a good thing.

Albany admits 50% of all interviewers. So those are pretty good odds. I'm still waiting to hear from Albany too.

Please do not fret, about half of all positions (by my, one again, guesstimate) are filled after January.

 

[.edu-MD]

[Expired]

 

[ahumdinger]

I really don't want to be mean when asking this question, but how's your spoken English? That could be the problem here (after looking at your writing skills), so maybe try mock interviewing with a friend who speaks English as a first language and have them be brutally honest with you.

If they tell you that you're not expressing yourself clearly or that you're coming across as someone the average patient may have problems understanding, you'll know why you're being waitlisted.

If this is the case, good old practice will smoothen things out. Best of luck!

I don't see how you inferred that aspiringdoc is not a native speaker of english.

 

[robotsonic]

To the OP, don't assume it is your interviewing skills. Your interviewers evaluate you, but whether you are accepted is based on your entire file - so it's not really true that all applicants go to the interviews with the same chances of getting accepted.

 

[DrKitty]

To the OP, don't assume it is your interviewing skills. Your interviewers evaluate you, but whether you are accepted is based on your entire file - so it's not really true that all applicants go to the interviews with the same chances of getting accepted.

I agree with robotsonic. Your interview may have gone well, but the final deisicion is made by the admissions committee, and takes into account your entire file. Interviewers may give you strong evaluation, but the final decision is not under their control. I was actually told that by one of my interviewers. Good luck

 

[MissMary]

i dont think you can judge someone's speech abilities based on a few lines they wrote on an online forum. and i certainly dont think that they descriminate against non-native speakers who can't speak perfectly.

In any case, I think you should wait it out and don't despair in the meantime. You have two more interviews (right?). Focus on your qualities and how you can bring that across in your upcoming interviews.

Good luck!

 

[aspiringdoctor]

thanks guys, i'm very glad that I am part of this SDN community. Everyone is so supportive. YOu are right, it's still early to be worry about this whole process. I wish everyone the best luck

 

[doctorFred]

i was also waitlisted at albany - a fairly large number of applicants who interviewed in october-deceber were. so, too early to panic just yet.

 

[DeigoT]

I was also waitlisted at Albany and plan on withdrawing. Although the majority of my interview went well, I left there knowing I wouldn't get in. The last question the interviewer asked was, "where else have you received interviews or acceptances." I wondered for a moment if being honest would hurt me, and I believe it did. She literally wroted down all the schools for which I had interviews, and before I got to the acceptances, her response was, "You would be stupid to even think of choosing Albany over any of these schools." My friend who is a current student there, thought I should not have been honest. She said Albany realizes they are not the top choice for most people, and if they believe you would get in else where (thus declining their acceptance), they may pass you over.

It still early though, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[thegenius]

I was also waitlisted at Albany and plan on withdrawing. Although the majority of my interview went well, I left there knowing I wouldn't get in. The last question the interviewer asked was, "where else have you received interviews or acceptances." I wondered for a moment if being honest would hurt me, and I believe it did. She literally wroted down all the schools for which I had interviews, and before I got to the acceptances, her response was, "You would be stupid to even think of choosing Albany over any of these schools." My friend who is a current student there, thought I should not have been honest. She said Albany realizes they are not the top choice for most people, and if they believe you would get in else where (thus declining their acceptance), they may pass you over.

It still early though, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Yea, I recognize what you are saying. But it's a dangerous game that Albany plays (or any other school for that matter). Are they trying to only get people who will receive one acceptance (to Albany?)

Hmm...I remember that I was asked how many places I applied to too. I told her 30+ and she was absolutely amazed! She had never heard of that. I told her that I wanted to get in this year, and I wasn't sure where I'll get accepted or how competitive my application would be.

She wrote that down.

I was then waitlisted. Hmm. Maybe there is a pattern here.

 

[tacrum43]

Hmm...I remember that I was asked how many places I applied to too. I told her 30+ and she was absolutely amazed! She had never heard of that.

Obviously, Albany must not interview many people from CA then.

 

[S@xplayer]

i'm really sad, this is the 2nd time I was put on hold. I thought I did pretty well, but Albany put me on onhold. First UW, now albany, i'm not so sure how to prepare for a good interview anymore. Many of you were sad because you ony got one interview, but if you got in from that only interview, it was better than receiving four interview but put on hold for most of them. I don't know when will I see the light, I wonder if i should start apply for post-bacc program now or wait to see.

To the OP; be happy you had an interview! If it went well, be even more happy. Let me just try and give you this small advice; don't try and guess what admissions committees think. We will both be here until we die before we guess correctly.

You had a great interview, but the final decision rests on SO much more than that too, usually. Plus, getting into medical school is semi-random (as in.. you have no clue which schools put emphasis on a certain aspect over a different school) and you have no clue what the certain admissions committees are saying about your file. Just be happy you had a great interview, and see what happens from there!

If you don't have any English restricting you back from a quality interview, keep up the hard work and persistence and it will pay off!

 

[thegenius]

Obviously, Albany must not interview many people from CA then.

Heh...they do actually. The second most number of matriculants come from CA, the first being NY.

 

[DeigoT]

Obviously, Albany must not interview many people from CA then.

There were 11 people in my group, 4 from Cali

 

[tacrum43]

Heh...they do actually. The second most number of matriculants come from CA, the first being NY.

Hmm...well then that lady must not have asked that question to very many people. There's several on SDN (including me) who applied to 30+ schools, and I believe most of us are from CA.

And I think it's that way at a lot of schools, with CA being #2. I think CA is the #2 most represented school at Creighton, Tulane and VCU and probably more. But when you think about it, CA takes up most of the West Coast and has almost 40 million residents, so it's not really that surprising because it's such a big state.