"In the area" emails...

[wepio]

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So, how does one go about informing a school that they'll be in the area? Is it a formal email that requires a lot of blah blah blah or just a simple and concise email stating just that?

How much lead time is one suppose to give?

 

[ruraldr]

My in the area emails were pretty short and to the point. They indicated my continued interest in the school I was pursuing, the dates I would be in the area, and the hope that if they were considering me they could offer me an interview for a date in that range of time.

I sent the email as soon as I knew I would be in the area--to give as much time as possible for the schools to consider the offer.

I sent these emails 5 times and it worked once. The others politely responded that they would get to my application when they were good and ready.

Hope this helps,
rural

 

[wepio]

thank you for the response. The only reason I ask is because I don't want them to rush a decision or come off as "hey, hurry up!". I was actually thinking about just asking for a tour or if I can join a tour. I figured if an interview was forthcoming, then they would mention it - but then again, they are also dealing with thousands of applicants, so I doubt they'll have the time or resources to know what's going on with every applicant. Who knows.

The schools I'm going to update are Michigan State and Wayne State. Did you send an "In the area" email to any of those two?

 

[ruraldr]

didn't apply to either of those schools. 🙂

I can't see how, as long as you stay polite, this kind of correspondence could be seen as negative.

 

[student1799]

I was actually thinking about just asking for a tour or if I can join a tour.

I haven't heard of any med schools that allow tours by students who are not being interviewed, so your request would most likely be denied.

Besides, let's be realistic: at this stage, you don't need tours, you need INTERVIEWS. It's getting to the end of the season for interview invites; according to LizzyM--an adcom who posts here--and specific statements from some schools I've applied to, most invites are issued by the middle of February. So you need to do something quickly if you want to help your chances of getting an interview, and I frankly think that an "in the area" email would be a bit too timid.

I have some experience with this, because I'm also a nontrad with problematic stats (worse than yours, actually). Realizing how bad my chances were going to be unless I did something a little out of the ordinary, I emailed letters of interest to EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL where I applied, as soon as my app was complete, stating my strong interest in each school, my strengths as an applicant, and why I thought I was a fit for that school. (BTW, I also briefly mentioned and addressed what I knew they'd see as my weakness: the numbers.) I concluded my emails by directly asking for an interview. I have 4 interviews so far (3 of them at state schools where I am OOS), and it's possible that I might receive other invites before the season is done.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Get out there and DO IT, and good luck.

 

[gman33]

The request might get them to pull out your app, but it's unlikely to help if they weren't going to offer you an interview.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but based on your stats, I'd start thinking about a reapplication strategy. With an overall GPA and MCAT below average you have some work to do.

I'd start looking into DO programs as well. They will get you to the same place. If you are only going to focus on MD schools, you probably need a SMP and a better MCAT score.

 

[wepio]

Hey, thanks all for the advice.

gman33, I have already started my reapplication process (studying for MCAT retake, revisting statements/activities). I have also started the DO applicaiton process as well. SMP's are out of the questions because I work full time, and am in no position to take such a drastic measure yet (ie. quit job and move), but if I don't get in next cycle, it'll be more of a realistic option.

student1799, I wasn't really concerned about asking for an interview. I'm well aware of who LizzyM is, and have read her posts regarding interviews and the like. I don't want to come off like I've given up hope, but I'm realistic. My app sucks this cycle; I applied late, my MCAT is right at the bottom of OK, and my EC's are too "production line".

Anyways, i figured I would apply this cycle because there wasn't much to lose. What's a few thousand dollars if it means a chance at med school? Anyways, thanks to all for your comments. Good luck to those that are pre/pending/post interview this cycle.

 

[student1799]

student1799, I wasn't really concerned about asking for an interview. I'm well aware of who LizzyM is, and have read her posts regarding interviews and the like. I don't want to come off like I've given up hope, but I'm realistic. My app sucks this cycle; I applied late, my MCAT is right at the bottom of OK, and my EC's are too "production line".

Don't give up on yourself before the game is over--your odds of making something happen might be very low, but they're not zero yet. But they WILL be zero if you don't start believing in yourself ("my app sucks"). If you can't articulate what's good about you and what you'd bring to medicine, how do you expect the schools to see it?

As for "applying late," it's not necessarily the kiss of death that it's made out to be. (I think it varies tremendously from school to school.) I applied to 27 schools total: 15 in late July, and 12 more on October 10th (after I got the score from my MCAT retake, which wasn't much different than the first time). ALL of the 4 interviews I've gotten were at schools I added on 10/10, which is definitely considered late, while I haven't gotten anywhere with the schools I applied to in the "normal" time frame. I think the school's perception of whether you are a good fit outweighs the exact date of your application--except in cases like Vanderbilt, Pritzker and MCW, which are notoriously skewed in favor of early applicants. (Needless to say, I didn't apply to any of those schools.)

So get out of the dumps and try to help yourself this cycle while you still can. It's worth a shot.

 

[wepio]

... So get out of the dumps and try to help yourself this cycle while you still can. It's worth a shot.

Oh man, sorry if I came off as being whiney and like I had given up hope on myself 😳. (I often forget that the internet does an excellent job of only conveying the literal meaing of words. "sucks" was just an off-the-cuff comment that I don't really believe). Anyways, I am far from throwing in the proverbial towel - although, after three cycles, I think the adcoms will just call it a TKO and throw in the towel for me! In all honesty, I'm confident that it'll happen someday. Good luck on your 4 interviews 🙂.

 

[student1799]

Oh man, sorry if I came off as being whiney and like I had given up hope on myself 😳. (I often forget that the internet does an excellent job of only conveying the literal meaing of words. "sucks" was just an off-the-cuff comment that I don't really believe). Anyways, I am far from throwing in the proverbial towel - although, after three cycles, I think the adcoms will just call it a TKO and throw in the towel for me! In all honesty, I'm confident that it'll happen someday. Good luck on your 4 interviews 🙂.

I didn't know this was your third time around, so I'm sorry if I told you a bunch of stuff you already know. I was just trying to give you some encouragement and moral support.

It was not at all my intention to accuse you of being "whiney"; on the contrary, this is a hideous process and we all go through moments of feeling that it's over. But you really need to pick yourself up and give it one last try, and that's what I was trying to convey.

My worst time was early October, right after I got the (lousy) score from my MCAT retake; I posted a really gloomy message here thinking that my chances were nil. (And I'm 45, so it's not as if I have a lot of time to get this done.) I got a lot of responses--some of which were pretty bracing in their tone--and a bunch of useful advice. That give-and-take with the nontrads here is what gave me the idea of adding schools to my app, which helped me feel more hopeful about my chances of getting in somewhere. If not for that, I'd be NOWHERE right now.

And I wasn't trying to boast when I mentioned how many interviews I had (sorry if it came off that way). I was just trying to say that if someone like me--with a cruddy uGPA and a 7 on the PS section in the MCAT--could get this far, anyone can. You just have to use your guts and imagination.

I wish you the best of luck.