Lots of interviews, failed to get in

[hereigoagain]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Sorry to make a boring post, but I'd appreciate some advice. I was very excited to get 8 interviews this cycle, but it looks like I will not be going to medical school this year. My answers have gone

Rejected
no word
hold
waitlist
waitlist
no word (March)
no word (March)
Feb 12th

Now, it seems that if I was going to get in with 8 interviews, I would have done it in 5. The kicker is that I've been told by both friends and bosses that I'm a good interviewer. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have any advice? Success stories would also be nice from people who took a while to get in

basic stats
3.65, 40O, standard amt of research, lower than average (but some) clinical experience and shadowing, some other volunteering

 

[thamsenman]

Sorry to make a boring post, but I'd appreciate some advice. I was very excited to get 8 interviews this cycle, but it looks like I will not be going to medical school this year. My answers have gone

Rejected
no word
hold
waitlist
waitlist
no word (March)
no word (March)
Feb 12th

Now, it seems that if I was going to get in with 8 interviews, I would have done it in 5. The kicker is that I've been told by both friends and bosses that I'm a good interviewer. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have any advice? Success stories would also be nice from people who took a while to get in

basic stats
3.65, 40O, standard amt of research, lower than average (but some) clinical experience and shadowing, some other volunteering

Those are incredible stats, first of all. I was in your same situation, but was able to overcome it. Read my other thread for advice: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=699334

 

[sassilysweet]

Waitlists aren't a death sentence, there's still hope there for sure...

I guess it depends on what schools you interviewed at--were they really competitive? "Fit" schools, that your secondary answers seemed to meld well with their goal, but this didn't come across in your interview?

I really don't know what to tell you, except to just try and be patient and wait to hear from the other schools you have not heard from yet. Send update letters, and/or pick your top choice and send a letter of intent. Call the schools you were rejected from to find out why.

Good luck!

p.s. How would your friends know you are a good interviewer??

 

[BlueElmo]

Yeah, maybe you will get off a waitlist or two. I wouldn't quite toss in the hat right now, February just began, and waitlists and holds should be moving down the line. By the way, awesome MCAT.👍

 

[hereigoagain]

Sorry I didn't mention, I work with some of my friends, so they would know.

There were some schools I thought of as a good fit. I would really like to go to Wake Forest, Emory, UNC, or Penn State but alas it is not likely to be.

Unfortunately one of the ones I have yet to hear from is Duke and I'm not exactly holding my breath. My interviewer seemed to like me, but I'm not ambitious enough for that school.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

You keep saying you've "failed to get in", "looks like I will not be going to medical school this year", etc.

You still have yet to hear back from 3 interviews and have another one scheduled in a few weeks. That's 4 responses. Half of your total interview offers. Not to mention 2 waitlists. Basically you are out of the game at the one rejected school, and that's it.

Way too premature to make this post IMO.

Good luck to you!

 

[Morsetlis]

You keep saying you've "failed to get in", "looks like I will not be going to medical school this year", etc.

You still have yet to hear back from 3 interviews and have another one scheduled in a few weeks. That's 4 responses. Half of your total interview offers. Not to mention 2 waitlists. Basically you are out of the game at the one rejected school, and that's it.

Way too premature to make this post IMO.

Good luck to you!

I would ask the rejecting schools WHY they rejected you.

I also agree: 4 more chances means a LOT of hope.

 

[GoBeers]

start brown nosing those schools with Letters of Interest buddy. u'll get in somewhere.

great schools btw!

 

[Antibodies]

What? You are expecting to get into all 8? You only have 1 rejection. Still 7 shots to get in. Chill.

 

[JJMrK]

Sorry to make a boring post, but I'd appreciate some advice. I was very excited to get 8 interviews this cycle, but it looks like I will not be going to medical school this year. My answers have gone

Rejected
no word
hold
waitlist
waitlist
no word (March)
no word (March)
Feb 12th

Now, it seems that if I was going to get in with 8 interviews, I would have done it in 5. The kicker is that I've been told by both friends and bosses that I'm a good interviewer. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have any advice? Success stories would also be nice from people who took a while to get in

basic stats
3.65, 40O, standard amt of research, lower than average (but some) clinical experience and shadowing, some other volunteering

You still have an excellent chance. Depending on the school, a WL can turn into an acceptance pretty quickly, and you have 3 other schools that haven't told you anything. Hang in there. 👍

 

[BBender716]

Yes, you're a good interviewer according to those who know you, but can you write letters like nobody's business? Because if you can then there's no reason you shouldn't get in SOMEWHERE. Write letters or update/interest to them ASAP and let them know you want to attend, why, and what more has gone on since your first app to make you an unbelievable candidate.

 

[Infinitydrop]

This is why I am addcited to SDN, only here do I find people who can actually relate.

OP, I am in the EXACT SAME situation and I feel the same way.
8 interviews, one rejection, 2 WL, and silence from the rest and I have already made up a timechart for repplication next year. So I get the insecurities that you are feeling.

Maybe you should try making up a plan B? It made me feel a lot better to have on paper exactly what I will do if I fail to get it and made me feel less panicky about the whole process.

 

[Sammich117]

I understand the freaking out, but you guys still have a bunch of schools to hear from!!! I wouldn't fret yet.

Good luck!!!!

 

[Infinitydrop]

I am accepted the fact that I will fret until I get an acceptance.

 

[hereigoagain]

wow, it's nice that someone else is in the same position as me (although I'm sorry for you, Infinitydrop)

It stinks because I was really hoping to hear from somewhere by now (so my poor boyfriend can start looking for a job there), and it seems like everyone else with 8 interviews has like 2-3 acceptances already.

I have my plan B already. It is a pretty good one, and that did make me feel a lot better.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Yeah, maybe you will get off a waitlist or two. I wouldn't quite toss in the hat right now, February just began, and waitlists and holds should be moving down the line. By the way, awesome MCAT.👍

Definitely 👍. That will help.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I would ask the rejecting schools WHY they rejected you.

I also agree: 4 more chances means a LOT of hope.

Definitely. 👍

Assuming you don't get in this year, though, the two most likely problems, as I see them are:

1) You're a bad interviewer, despite what your friends say.
2) You're a decent interviewer and have incredible credentials. However, you have a lukewarm rec letter or two that, in light of everything else being awesome, didn't stop you from getting an interview but kept you out of the acceptance pile.

In any case, multiple waitlists probably means you'll get an acceptance from somebody. It just might take a little longer than you'd hoped.

 

[naijaboi]

Sorry to make a boring post, but I'd appreciate some advice. I was very excited to get 8 interviews this cycle, but it looks like I will not be going to medical school this year. My answers have gone

Rejected
no word
hold
waitlist
waitlist
no word (March)
no word (March)
Feb 12th

Now, it seems that if I was going to get in with 8 interviews, I would have done it in 5. The kicker is that I've been told by both friends and bosses that I'm a good interviewer. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have any advice? Success stories would also be nice from people who took a while to get in

basic stats
3.65, 40O, standard amt of research, lower than average (but some) clinical experience and shadowing, some other volunteering

You're stats are very good. It would seem that you failed to wow them during your interviews. As BBender716 intoned, your friends are not the most objective people to ask about your interviewing skills. The lower than average clinical experience can also be the reason for the silence. Still, I think that you will get in somewhere . You still have several decisions pending. If you have another interview left, prep hard for it. I could give you some pointers if you would like.

Yes, you're a good interviewer according to those who know you, but can you write letters like nobody's business? Because if you can then there's no reason you shouldn't get in SOMEWHERE. Write letters or update/interest to them ASAP and let them know you want to attend, why, and what more has gone on since your first app to make you an unbelievable candidate.

I would follow this advice. Send love letters to all the schools and keep updating them. You are still in the running for 7 schools. That is a good number. And a waitlist is by no means the worst place to be in. Someone with similar scores is bound to choose a different school that the ones you applied to. Just make sure you are the secondary.

I am accepted the fact that I will fret until I get an acceptance.

Keep fretting. It is probably good for you, but put all that energy into action. Be patient but hurry up. Draft and send those love letters in quick. If you have any new developments, call their attention to it. Think of your biggest weakness (maybe lack of clinical experience), and try to address it in those letters. I will speak with BBender because he knows how to schmooze like nobody's business.

 

[DrSmooth]

Hey Hereigoagain,
I hate to be critical. But you are asking for honest feedback, right? First, I can't imagine you will not get in somewhere, unless as someone said you have a poison apple in your LORs. The only other explanation I would offer in the unlikely scenario that you don't get accepted is that maybe you showed as much negativity in your interviews as you do in your posts and handle. After all, no one wants an Eeyore in their incoming class. If you think this might be the case, write those letters and let some positivity and confidence come through, you got a ####ing 40 on your MCAT, man! Good luck and I hope you get into Duke.

 

[Infinitydrop]

wow, it's nice that someone else is in the same position as me (although I'm sorry for you, Infinitydrop)

It stinks because I was really hoping to hear from somewhere by now (so my poor boyfriend can start looking for a job there), and it seems like everyone else with 8 interviews has like 2-3 acceptances already.

I have my plan B already. It is a pretty good one, and that did make me feel a lot better.

yeah, i was hoping to hear by now too, its feb already!! I can't believe that at one point in my life, I though I might have an oct accpetance. AndI agree, everyone else with more than 5 interviews seem to have multiple acceptances.

That said, we both still havn't heard from FIVE schools, so there's definately still hopeleft (although i try not to hope too hard in case things don't work out).

Hang in there, your stats are better than mine, with a 40, you are still in good shape. I might need to retake my 35 if I don'tmake it this cycle.

 

[Catalystik]

You have been plugging the holes in your application, right? Hopefully, you have some ongoing clinical experience you could report in an update letter, or if worse comes to worst, that would improve the level of clinical experience you reported when you last applied?

 

[imnastywitit]

Hey Hereigoagain,
I hate to be critical. But you are asking for honest feedback, right? First, I can't imagine you will not get in somewhere, unless as someone said you have a poison apple in your LORs. The only other explanation I would offer in the unlikely scenario that you don't get accepted is that maybe you showed as much negativity in your interviews as you do in your posts and handle. After all, no one wants an Eeyore in their incoming class. If you think this might be the case, write those letters and let some positivity and confidence come through, you got a ####ing 40 on your MCAT, man! Good luck and I hope you get into Duke.

Good point. its VERY important to be positive and optimistic in the interview. Our culture values optimism and a positive outlook.

 

[casillas]

Maybe your friends were just being nice and you aren't a good interviewer. Are these people who you would trust to tell you the truth? and another option is that perhaps you are a good interviewer but maybe you got kind of arrogant with your 8 interviews and that may have showed through.

anyway, you have an extremely high chance of getting in somewhere off a waitlist so start writing those update letters and make sure they sound sincere.

 

[hereigoagain]

Haha, I guess I do sound negative. I'm usually positive, but I did have 3 rejections (2 pre, 1 post) yesterday alone, so I was kind of peeved.

Thanks for the advice, I have already written letters to every school that I've interviewed at, so hopefully that will work.

I'm also doing more clinical experience (training to be a doula) and I shadowed some more.

I think the most frustrating part of this process is that I feel like I'm doing everything I'm supposed to and it doesn't seem to be having any effect. 🙁

Hopefully next week I'll have a really sheepish post to make about all this worry being for nothing 🙂 and hopefully Infinitydrop will reply saying the same

 

[slowbutsteady]

wow, it's nice that someone else is in the same position as me (although I'm sorry for you, Infinitydrop)

It stinks because I was really hoping to hear from somewhere by now (so my poor boyfriend can start looking for a job there), and it seems like everyone else with 8 interviews has like 2-3 acceptances already.

I have my plan B already. It is a pretty good one, and that did make me feel a lot better.

Anecdote that (might) make you feel better:

Friend of mine a couple of cycles ago with super stats and 16 interviews received her first acceptance in late February. She ended up getting into several schools.

 

[Catalystik]

Hopefully next week I'll have a really sheepish post to make about all this worry being for nothing 🙂 and hopefully Infinitydrop will reply saying the same

I hope both of you report back so we can cheer for you.

 

[WashMe]

Last cycle I applied to 8 schools, had 5 interviews, and ended up with 4 WL's and 1 rejection. I got off 1 WL in April and 1 in May though. I had a higher GPA but a lower MCAT. Just hang in there.

 

[mikey014]

it's hard to stay positive when you're waiting. but chances are good that you will make it in. good things will probably come in may. a lot of acceptances happen to be given out after may 15th. and it's highly unlikely that someone with good stats & 8 interviews doesn't get at less one. assuming a ~1/3 accept rate you should get 2-3 acceptances. but it probably won't happen for another few months. just hang in there.


most of us are telling you this from experience. the waiting game isn't fun but don't give up.