Kind of Late App, any wisdom?

[mdorbust2018]

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I submitted amcas in late august, wasn't verified until early october. I finished my last secondaries within about a week of that, then applied to a few more schools in late october. I knew I was running late but I couldn't take the MCAT until July and I wanted my score before applying (I regret waiting).

My stats are a 40 MCAT with adequate if unspectacular (3.6c, 3.5s) grades. I have pretty well rounded extra curricular activities and think I have covered all of my bases.

I started out 2 for 2, with back to back II's received in November then got 3 rejections in december. I still haven't heard from 10/16 schools. Has anyone had experience with getting interviews in january/february/march? I guess I'm just wondering if more II's is a pipe dream and maybe I should just be hoping to get into one of the two schools that gave me interviews. Not that it really matters at this point, but if anyone has any insight I'd really appreciate it.

 

[gumdrops]

I submitted amcas in late august, wasn't verified until early october. I finished my last secondaries within about a week of that, then applied to a few more schools in late october. I knew I was running late but I couldn't take the MCAT until July and I wanted my score before applying (I regret waiting).

My stats are a 40 MCAT with adequate if unspectacular (3.6c, 3.5s) grades. I have pretty well rounded extra curricular activities and think I have covered all of my bases.

I started out 2 for 2, with back to back II's received in November then got 3 rejections in december. I still haven't heard from 10/16 schools. Has anyone had experience with getting interviews in january/february/march? I guess I'm just wondering if more II's is a pipe dream and maybe I should just be hoping to get into one of the two schools that gave me interviews. Not that it really matters at this point, but if anyone has any insight I'd really appreciate it.

Those are some quality stats. What are your EC's like? I knew someone who had virtually identical numbers to yours who was also complete everywhere late November. Granted this was a few years ago but he CLEANED up in terms of interviews. He had something like 15 interviews by the end and eight acceptances to top 15 schools. His EC's were stellar as well.

I'd see your stats and not want to apply late because I'd be scared that applicants like you would get all the late spots. If by some fluke you don't get in this year, you'll kill it next year if you apply earlier. Good luck to you.

 

[aishtr1295]

When I first applied, I finished my secondaries in Nov and had 31 MCAT. Still got 5 interviews. Granted, they were all in Feb-March and I didn't have good results, but they're interviews nonetheless. Have hope!

 

[deutschzweiteil]

DELETED. Here's hoping at least another one or two will come in our way by the end of January!

 

[solitarius]

wisdom? reapply earlier.

 

[URHere]

When I applied to medical school, I was also on the late side - I ended up with 5 interviews (2 in December, 2 in January, and 1 in March).

Several schools did reject me automatically and told me that I had applied too late to be considered. If you are very concerned about the 10 schools who haven't responded to you yet, I would suggest going through some of the school-specific threads and trying to figure out how many interview dates those places have left to offer and whether or not those schools have rolling admissions. My school interviews well into March and does not fill the bulk of class seats until everyone has been interviewed. At schools like this, late applications are less likely to matter.

That being said, your MCAT score will help you and your odds of success are probably better than most other late applicants out there. Keep your head up - if you are still in a bad position in a few months, then think about reapplication.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

You are not alone. I am in similar state, with similar GPA and timeline but lower MCAT (37). I got 3 interviews so far but mass rejections from others. (see my mdapps for detail) I am still waiting to hear from about 9 schools although the chance of more IIs is starting to look grim. Here's hoping at least another one or two will come in our way by the end of January!

Thanks for writing your mdapps. That's really helpful to see for next year when I apply. No publics? No instate?

mdorbust - hopefully those rejections are not from the schools where you interviewed. Nothing to do but stay positive. Maybe send an update, if you have anything good to say. I think this is a lull period in terms of acceptances and new ii. It's not over until it's over. I heard AMCAS is asking all med schools to stop doing their 'silent rejection' routine. I hope that's true. Nothing worse than not knowing where you stand.

Here's how I see the process:
Best of all: scholarships with acceptances
acceptance

waitlist
rejection
Worst of all: silent rejection

 

[Catalystik]

I submitted amcas in late august, wasn't verified until early october. I finished my last secondaries within about a week of that, then applied to a few more schools in late october. I knew I was running late but I couldn't take the MCAT until July and I wanted my score before applying (I regret waiting).

My stats are a 40 MCAT with adequate if unspectacular (3.6c, 3.5s) grades. I have pretty well rounded extra curricular activities and think I have covered all of my bases.

I started out 2 for 2, with back to back II's received in November then got 3 rejections in december. I still haven't heard from 10/16 schools. Has anyone had experience with getting interviews in january/february/march? I guess I'm just wondering if more II's is a pipe dream and maybe I should just be hoping to get into one of the two schools that gave me interviews. Not that it really matters at this point, but if anyone has any insight I'd really appreciate it.

Did you apply top-heavy with little research or peer leadership? Were your LORs luke-warm? Any legal issues or institutional actions? Were many critical ECs of brief duration (less than 6 months)? Are you continuing to engage in appropriate ECs for the sake of update letters and in case you need to reapply?

 

[mdorbust2018]

Thanks for all the responses.

I have about 120 hours split between 3 shadowing experiences, 4 summers in non-medical very high leadership jobs with an npo that I think are pretty interesting, a semester of research, volunteer EMT during undergrad, a decent amount of community service through an organization I was part of and
hundreds of hours of tutoring (mcat/science/math) experience.

The rejections were pre-interview.

 

[DokterMom]

Since you waited until you got your scores to apply, I'm guessing you applied to schools that would be appropriate for based on those scores -- so TOP schools.

While your MCAT and ECs are really, really good, there are many other applicants at those schools with similar stats, so your late app is going to hurt you more there than at an upper-mid-tier where you'd be a "Wow!" applicant that, like another poster said, would bump someone else off the ii list...

All you can do now is wait, cross your fingers, and keep up with your ECs in case you need to reapply next year.

 

[gumdrops]

You are not alone. I am in similar state, with similar GPA and timeline but lower MCAT (37). I got 3 interviews so far but mass rejections from others. (see my mdapps for detail) I am still waiting to hear from about 9 schools although the chance of more IIs is starting to look grim. Here's hoping at least another one or two will come in our way by the end of January!

You also applied to top schools across the board. I think those schools tend to interview people later because they can afford to take whoever they want. I wouldn't be surprised if you heard from more schools in February/March. Good luck!

 

[mdorbust2018]

Since you waited until you got your scores to apply, I'm guessing you applied to schools that would be appropriate for based on those scores -- so TOP schools.

While your MCAT and ECs are really, really good, there are many other applicants at those schools with similar stats, so your late app is going to hurt you more there than at an upper-mid-tier where you'd be a "Wow!" applicant that, like another poster said, would bump someone else off the ii list...

All you can do now is wait, cross your fingers, and keep up with your ECs in case you need to reapply next year.

Thanks again, its pretty cool that people take the time to think about other peoples situations and discuss them.

I applied fairly broadly though it is true that I have only been rejected by schools with 34< mean mcat. I thought I'd be a shoe in for my state school (NY) but those are the ones I haven't heard back from. I guess I'm trying to get a read on whether these 10 schools that are still sitting on my application just havnt considered it yet, are considering it, or have put it on the back burner and will probably just reject me after they stop interviewing.

 

[DokterMom]

They might figure that you're likely to go to a higher-ranked school since your numbers are so high and that they don't really have a realistic chance at luring you there.

Honest question: Would you rather go to one of those lower-ranked schools this year? Or wait for a top tier next year? If you'd rather go this year, pick the top one or two and send a letter of interest explaining why you're serious about that school to let them know they're not your safety.

But really, I do think it's too early to give up hope for more IIs

 

[mdorbust2018]

Thanks, since I posted here I've gotten 4 more interviews and an acceptance to one of my favorite schools. Definitely was too late to be getting so disheartened.

 

[Catalystik]

Thanks, since I posted here I've gotten 4 more interviews and an acceptance to one of my favorite schools. Definitely was too late to be getting so disheartened.

Congrats! That's good to hear.

 

[Goro]

This verifies that patience is indeed a virtue! Good luck!

Thanks, since I posted here I've gotten 4 more interviews and an acceptance to one of my favorite schools. Definitely was too late to be getting so disheartened.