IM Rejections Thread

[GIMed]

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I agree. I was becoming quite despondent over my lack of interviews over the past several weeks and after speaking with my residency advisor, gave NYU (one of my top choices) a call. The secretary told me straight off the bat that I had an interview (and she'd be sending out the email tonight)...She said that they had been going in alphabetical order and there were interviews that just go out later. I think the whole thing is somewhat chaotic and random and only at the programs where you are super-competitive do you get interviews immediately.

 

[DoctorSax]

Got the Northwestern rejection today too. I was also surprised and quite disappointed, especially since I did undergrad there as well as some research at the med school. I must've made unknown enemies there or something, as I was summarily rejected for med school and now residency, even though I've gotten interviews at other quite competetive programs. 🙁

Should I contact the program director? I wonder how much benefit that would have, since I assume a program rejects you for a reason and getting a "pity" interview may just be an exercise in futility.

Sadly, I was also rejected from UW (Seattle) today--not a good day. Maybe I won't have to pare down my list of interviews after all, as I feel the cavalcade of rejections coming now...

I'd say that if they have sent a rejection already, then don't contact the PD. Probably won't change much, and it's a pride hit! 🙂

I'm coming to a very zen place about the whole thing--I'm sure we'll all end up at great programs where we'll be more than happy...I don't want to get stressed out about where I haven't been invited--I'd rather focus my energy on the places that have already shown interest in me.

DS

 

[Zolpidem25]

Got the Northwestern rejection today too. I was also surprised and quite disappointed, especially since I did undergrad there as well as some research at the med school. I must've made unknown enemies there or something, as I was summarily rejected for med school and now residency, even though I've gotten interviews at other quite competetive programs. 🙁

Should I contact the program director? I wonder how much benefit that would have, since I assume a program rejects you for a reason and getting a "pity" interview may just be an exercise in futility.

Sadly, I was also rejected from UW (Seattle) today--not a good day. Maybe I won't have to pare down my list of interviews after all, as I feel the cavalcade of rejections coming now...

i know exactly what you mean -- i can feel a bunch of rejections brewing. or maybe that's just some diarrhea brewing in my bowels. but regardless, something is brewing, and i can tell you that i do NOT have a good feeling about the places i have not yet heard from....

also, i kind of agree with what DrSax is saying about not contacting a program after they have already rejected you.... which is exactly why these next few days are so so crucial. for example, i haven't heard from U Chicago yet, a place that i know i'm really interested in. if my gut feeling is right (ie: that they are preparing to reject my ass), then i need to place the "i'm really interested" phone call NOW, before my window of opportunity closes.

catch my drift?
Z

ps: i'm really not this negative, i just so happen to be in a cynical mood at the moment. you're right Sax, all will work out in the end. i don't know if i've come to a "zen place" per say, but things will work out.... 🙂 👍

 

[ucladukes]

Northwestern and UCSF

 

[Sohalia]

Hey all,

Was rejected from prelim med at UNC (about 2 weeks ago) and University of Washington (maybe last week).

Went ahead and sent out some emails today to follow up on prelim med programs I hadn't heard from at which I am interviewing for residency. U Penn said they were still reviewing my app and would email next week, the others I haven't heard back from yet.

I do have enough prelims scheduled to feel pretty comfortable. A few more wouldn't hurt. I'd mainly like to avoid having to visit cities multiple times...Things are getting pretty expensive!

Hope everyone is doing well

 

[BStein76]

Post which programs have already started rejecting - don't be shy

JHU by email

 

[medlaw06]

The only risk of contacting a program is that the program might offer a courtesy interview which would be a waste of your time and money.

hmmm...interesting that you say that....I kept "harping" 1 program that I REALLY REALLY wanna go to, and I called the program coordinator at like 2 in the afternoon, and then checked my ERAS at around 5 and wouldn't cha know it....I got an interview from there....

don't know if that was just a MASSIVE coinky-dinky, but your statement made me feel depressed!! 🙁 🙁 🙁

 

[DoctorDo-Little]

I was also fortunate enough to recieve one of USCF's "thank you" letters today... Not that it came as a surprise, but I'm a little worried that the flood gates will now open.

 

[DrNick2006]

its been very quite lately...... ITS DRIVING ME NUTS !!AAAHHHHHH

 

[medlaw06]

its been very quite lately...... ITS DRIVING ME NUTS !!AAAHHHHHH

I KNOW!!! WTF!!! Atleast LET me know that I am rejected already!!

 

[Legend]

I emailed Penn yesterday about the status of my application and they wrote back immediately saying my application was still under review.

5 min ago, they sent me a rejection email.

 

[quidnunc]

Chalk up another one for UPenn...

 

[DrNick2006]

I emailed a program that I applied to after I heard they were interviewing and got an interview a day or two later. I then canceled cause I was no longer interested. Felt kinda like a SH*IT, but oh well, thats the game.

 

[Anastacia23]

my list...
ucsd
ucsf
jhu
unc

still waiting for the inevitable "thanks but no thanks letters" from ucla, duke, u wash, stanford...

has anyone heard from ucla-olive view?

ana

 

[metastatic dz]

Well, I'm officially dumbfounded. Got my third rejection today from UPenn

here's my rejection list so far:
Hopkins
UCSF
UPenn

I've noticed that MGH sent out invites today, and I'm assuming that not hearing from them is as good as a rejection today. Ah well, such is life...

 

[Zolpidem25]

Well, I'm officially dumbfounded. Got my third rejection today from UPenn

here's my rejection list so far:
Hopkins
UCSF
UPenn

I've noticed that MGH sent out invites today, and I'm assuming that not hearing from them is as good as a rejection today. Ah well, such is life...

yes, no invite = we could care less.

there is a very rational reason for the two or three day delay between the mass invite and the mass rejection. the program has enough foresight to realize that a few people in the mass invite are going to turn the interview down, because they have made other plans, changed their minds, etc.... so to account for this, they wait a few days, and fill in those few cancellations with a few lucky people who were sitting near the very top of the reject list. then the mass rejection goes out. so in theory, you could still be one of those people. but what does that tell us about the chances of being RANKED?

on another note -- U Penn gave me the official "thanks, but no thanks" earlier today... it actually came at 4pm, but i didn't notice it until right now because it only came to ERAS, not to my e-mail....

later

 

[maddog75]

My penn rejection was also only sitting in my eras. Oh well, I would be very surprised now if I get love from the Harvard schools or Duke. Only holding out for UChicago. I haven't even been checking my eras. I'd better start checking again.

 

[Fermi]

also, i kind of agree with what DrSax is saying about not contacting a program after they have already rejected you.... which is exactly why these next few days are so so crucial. for example, i haven't heard from U Chicago yet, a place that i know i'm really interested in.

Thanks for the advice. I know someone who knows the the PD well, so I'm going to have them put in a word on my behalf, obviously aware that their decision may well be final anyway. It might also be a good idea, as you said, to contact U of Chicago preemptively.

 

[inositide]

UPENN has certainly been on a mission today! They are not missing any targets!

Rejected from UPENN like Mugsy Bogues trying to dunk on Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Dikembe Mutombo all at the same time.

 

[stat!!]

Just got the penn reject as well.... Looking forward to the stanford rejection tomorrow... Strange that it was only to eras, I thought those were forwarded to email automatically?

 

[Legend]

called up UCLA to inquire about the status of my application.

"sorry, we couldn't offer you an interview"

 

[Legend]

anyone got rejected by Cornell or Columbia thus far?

 

[Legend]

damn... just got rejected by MGH as well.... (literally 5 seconds after my previous post).

 

[raph91]

MGH ... the options are slowly going away

 

[mellow yellow]

"undoubtedly, many applicants destined for distinguished careers in medicine are turned away..."

"decisions about interviews are somewhat inevitably arbitrary..."

Gotta love the MGH rejection letter... haha 🙂

 

[BStein76]

Stats:
USMLE Step I: 245
USMLE STEP II CS: Not taken
USMLE Step II CK: Not taken
Not AOA at Top 20 school in the South
Basic Science:Mostly Pass, some honors
Honors: every core rotation except HP in pediatrics
3 research publications
No away rotations
Excellent on MSPE (our school has outstanding, excellent, very good, good)
Neither of my parents are physicians
Application complete with transcripts, letters (except MSPE) since 10/10/05
I never saw my recommendation letters, but they were all from tenured full professors.

Interviews:
Emory (email)
Washington University (email)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (email)
Baylor (email)
UTSW (email)
UCSF (email)
UCLA (email)
BID (email)
Stanford (email)

Awaiting: UCSD, BWH, U Washington

Rejections:
Johns Hopkins (email)
MGH (email)

Awaiting rejection from BWH

 

[Zolpidem25]

"undoubtedly, many applicants destined for distinguished careers in medicine are turned away..."

"decisions about interviews are somewhat inevitably arbitrary..."

Gotta love the MGH rejection letter... haha 🙂

i know, isn't that hilarious....

hey Legend -- I plan on trying to call Cornell & Columbia tomorrow... if I can actually get through to someone, i'll let you know what they say...

 

[BigBadBix]

"undoubtedly, many applicants destined for distinguished careers in medicine are turned away..."

"decisions about interviews are somewhat inevitably arbitrary..."

Gotta love the MGH rejection letter... haha 🙂

MGH as well.

For some reason I liked the way they put it. Even if it's not sincere, it seemed more real - like, "we all know this whole thing is frustratingly random and we're sorry"...way better than that "thank you letter" from UCSF where Dr. Hollander assures us that we all have his "sincere best wishes." Puh-leeze. How can you be "sincere" in wishing me anything when you are wishing it to several hundred others at the same time and you haven't even read past page one of my application?

 

[eidolon]

also, i kind of agree with what DrSax is saying about not contacting a program after they have already rejected you.... which is exactly why these next few days are so so crucial. for example, i haven't heard from U Chicago yet, a place that i know i'm really interested in. if my gut feeling is right (ie: that they are preparing to reject my ass), then i need to place the "i'm really interested" phone call NOW, before my window of opportunity closes.

i highly agree with what has been said here. i was scheduled to be in town for another interview but has not heard from a school in the same location that i was quite interested in. i called and asked if there is any way they can make a decision sooner to help me consolidate my interviews. i got an interview invitation that same day. i think a polite, well-timed phone call to a program that you're genuinely interested can only help. what's the worst that could happen?

 

[BStein76]

i highly agree with what has been said here. i was scheduled to be in town for another interview but has not heard from a school in the same location that i was quite interested in. i called and asked if there is any way they can make a decision sooner to help me consolidate my interviews. i got an interview invitation that same day. i think a polite, well-timed phone call to a program that you're genuinely interested can only help. what's the worst that could happen?

I called BWH the other day to see if my application could be reviewed to coordinate with another Boston interview. The person told me that they were doing "rolling invitations" which I assume is code word for "we are going to send you a rolling rejection soon". She was very polite and helpful so at least I know now I finalize my interview schedule. As long as you are polite and respectful I don't really see the harm at this point when it is later in the interview invitations. I actually emailed Hopkins to thank them for rejecting me quickly instead of keeping me in limbo.

 

[metastatic dz]

i know, isn't that hilarious....

hey Legend -- I plan on trying to call Cornell & Columbia tomorrow... if I can actually get through to someone, i'll let you know what they say...

Hey Zolpidem, I'm really interested in what Columbia has to say. I called earlier last week, but got the "we're still reviewing applications" line. I'm afraid to call again...

 

[Zolpidem25]

Hey Zolpidem, I'm really interested in what Columbia has to say. I called earlier last week, but got the "we're still reviewing applications" line. I'm afraid to call again...

ok, i'm going to try and call them in a couple of hours (when i get out of the hospital...) it seem like Mango has been trying, but is getting an automated answering service... they're probably being flooded with calls. i'll try my best, and if i get anything, i'll post here...

later
Z.

 

[coogmed]

Upenn and MGH out of the picture leaves one more....


..... Has anyone heard from Uwash in regards to applications and rejections / reviewed status?

 

[Fermi]

🙁 It's been a very glum week--rejections only. Just got the notice from Stanford.

 

[Zolpidem25]

Stanford just rejected me. it was an awesome feeling.

Z.

 

[BigBadBix]

Rejected by Stanford today, bringing my list to 3 - MGH, UCSF, Stanford.

Now I'm just waiting on Columbia, BWH, and UCSD. I wouldn't be surprised if Columbia and Brigham rejected me, but UCSD? I thought I would have a good shot there. Maybe I'll call and remind them how much I would love to live in Cali and see if it helps.

BTW, I think a few people have heard from UW but not a lot. Last year they were very late, offering interviews well into December, so perhaps that is the case again.

 

[orientedtoself]

I, too, am a Stanford reject. Seeing the title "Interviewing at Stanford"- I thought I had an invite! Boo. Well, at least this is paring my list down. My advisor has also been suprisingly on target, predicting rejections at UCSF and Stanford. She also said she didn't think I would "fly" at UW- hope she was wrong about that.

 

[synite]

the stanford axe came down today. too bad.

 

[Fermi]

I, too, am a Stanford reject. Seeing the title "Interviewing at Stanford"- I thought I had an invite! Boo.

I agree--what was that about? "Interviewing at Stanford" was more like a Jeopardy clue: "what will the recipients of this email not be doing this year?"

Someone mentioned a geographic "selection" factor. I wonder if there's some merit to it. Coming from the midwest, I've been invited to many top programs in this region but have been denied so far by comparable programs out east and west. I don't have direct ties(I don't live there, didn't go to school there, but close family and in-laws on both coasts) so maybe there was some thought that "this is just a midwesterner applying to Cali on a whim." Not that I would apply anywhere on a whim, nor should programs really expect it, but they do have to be very selective with interviews.

 

[avmd06]

Thought I would put my stats up after having been sooo damn cockey after my boards and knowing that I was applying to the 'ever-so-non-competitive' internal medicine and now realizing how ridiculous this year for IM has been!!!

The Stats:

Step I: 240
Step II: 235
Step IICS: Passed
Basic Sciences: almost all honors, one or two high passes
Clerkships: mostly honors, pass in neuro (who cares...) but HP in medicine (damn that b!tchy resident)
Publications: ZERO! my laziness is now kickin me in the arse

Interviews:

GW
Wash Hospital Center
MCV-at VCU
JHU - did an elective there early in the year that prob saved me from the axe
Albert Einstein
Univ Maryland

Waiting fior a reject...why are they making me agonize??:

BW
BID
Columbia
Cornell
Duke
NYU

Rejects:

MGH
Upenn

 

[metastatic dz]

Stanford just rejected me. it was an awesome feeling.

Z.

yes, I too recieved the Stanford rejection...which was dubiously titled as "Interviewing at Stanford", which, in my eyes, should have read "so you thought you'd be interviewing at Stanford". But it would've hardly been the surprise it was for most when they actually read the short, but sweet, email.

So, the list expands to 5, and I seem to be averaging one rejection per day. Wise these programs are in slowing breaking down my confidence:

MGH
UPenn
Stanford
UCSF
Hopkins

Seems like AOA and a 250 step 1 don't mean squat. Perhaps I need my school dean to change the name of our med school to "top 20"...I've heard that works


no, really...i'm not bitter.

 

[GIMed]

Devastating blow from Brigham this morning....I REALLY wanted that one.

Interviews:
Baylor
MGH
NYU
Cornell
Emory
UC Denver

Rejections: UCSF, Brigham

STILL waiting... Columbia, Sinai, UCSD, UW

 

[Legend]

got axed by BWH this morning.

Doing research there and getting a letter from a prominent faculty at BWH obviously didn't help...

 

[BigBadBix]

Rejected from Brigham today - twice! As if once wasn't enough. Strangely both only came through ERAS, not my e-mail.

So that's four rejections so far, all this week. Wonder if Columbia will go ahead and finish me off before the day is over?

I called UCSD yesterday and the program coordinator told me I had just been granted an interview that morning, and that an invite would be in my e-mail with an hour or two...haven't seen the message yet. All these rejections have made me so paranoid that now I'm worried she was looking at someone else's file yesterday. 🙄

 

[BigBadBix]

Rejected from Brigham today - twice! As if once wasn't enough. Strangely both only came through ERAS, not my e-mail.

So that's four rejections so far, all this week. Wonder if Columbia will go ahead and finish me off before the day is over?

I called UCSD yesterday and the program coordinator told me I had just been granted an interview that morning, and that an invite would be in my e-mail with an hour or two...haven't seen the message yet. All these rejections have made me so paranoid that now I'm worried she was looking at someone else's file yesterday. 🙄

Correction - make that THREE times Brigham has rejected me! Good lord, I get the point.

 

[quidnunc]

Brigham and Women's this morning too...

 

[Fermi]

Son of a...why did the Brigham have to send me three rejection messages? Way to rub it in. The sad thing is, I clicked through them chronologically hoping that one was a correction stating that I would actually be invited.

 

[Zolpidem25]

Son of a...why did the Brigham have to send me three rejection messages? Way to rub it in. The sad thing is, I clicked through them chronologically hoping that one was a correction stating that I would actually be invited.

The Brigham takes one... then two... then three

giant dumps on my head

 

[DrNick2006]

Stanford yesterday, but to positive - no axe from Brigham yet and Igot an interveiw at UCSD yesterday, so I can't complain too much. Waiting on 9 more.

 

[BStein76]

Stats:
USMLE Step I: 245
USMLE STEP II CS: Not taken
USMLE Step II CK: Not taken
Not AOA at Top 20 school in the South
Basic Science:Mostly Pass, some honors
Honors: every core rotation except HP in pediatrics
3 research publications
No away rotations
Excellent on MSPE (our school has outstanding, excellent, very good, good)
Neither of my parents are physicians
Application complete with transcripts, letters (except MSPE) since 10/10/05
I never saw my recommendation letters, but they were all from tenured full professors.

Interviews:
Emory (email)
Washington University (email)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (email)
Baylor (email)
UTSW (email)
UCSF (email)
UCLA (email)
BID (email)
Stanford (email)
UCSD (email)

Awaiting: U Washington

Rejections:
Johns Hopkins (email)
MGH (email)
BWH (ERAS)
BWH (ERAS)
BWH (ERAS)

I guess I won't be seeing much snow on the interview trail this year. I will enjoy touring the sunny weather of North and South California though; I am going to eat my butt off in sushi...