No interviews yet....anyone in the same boat?

[lalalaaaaaa]

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So you just submitted more secondaries?

Yikes! I don't think I have the strength to complete another application... nor the money!

 

[r1d1]

backup options

Caribbean?

 

[mishaS]

One of my friends in my class was literally the last person interviewed at my school. I don't remember what month it was, but suffice it to say it was as late as possible. He only had the one interview, and he was accepted. Don't give up hope just yet.

 

[BrandNewDay]

So you just submitted more secondaries?

Nuh uh. Non-med school backups. No sense in reapplying when there's only so much I can do to improve my application. If I don't get in this cycle, I'll start something ranging from an SMP to a PhD program. I may or may not apply next cycle.

 

[mipp0]

Nuh uh. Non-med school backups. No sense in reapplying when there's only so much I can do to improve my application. If I don't get in this cycle, I'll start something ranging from an SMP to a PhD program. I may or may not apply next cycle.

Very smart plan. I would encourage speaking to AdComm for suggestions on improving your app, then consider an SMP if that's right for you. Also, consider hospital employment (not EMT) like ER Scribe, ER Tech, medical interpreter, etc. if clinical experience is lacking.

You live once brother. Might as well go all out, apply the following cycle, and go to a medical school you WANT to attend.

👍

 

[BurntFlower]

Nuh uh. Non-med school backups. No sense in reapplying when there's only so much I can do to improve my application. If I don't get in this cycle, I'll start something ranging from an SMP to a PhD program. I may or may not apply next cycle.

Why would you want to do a PhD program if your main goal is to get into medical school?

 

[kpcrew]

Why would you want to do a PhD program if your main goal is to get into medical school?

probably because they want to do a research as an attending but aren't competitive enough for straight md/phd programs probably. i know someone who has done that.

 

[octupus]

Nuh uh. Non-med school backups. No sense in reapplying when there's only so much I can do to improve my application. If I don't get in this cycle, I'll start something ranging from an SMP to a PhD program. I may or may not apply next cycle.

Good luck with SMP and current cycle. Will you consider DO next year concurrent with reapplying MD? Are you really into research and is willing to possibly spend 7 years in a PhD program, working >50 hours/week? I thought about doing that too, but then living with two PhD candidates and being a second year research assistant, I can tell you that it wasn't for me. I love research and would like to pursue it further down the road, but I cannot be happier with choosing NOT to go through with my PhD applications (I even took my GRE and sent out my scores). Don't go PhD simply because you didn't get into a MD program this year though. PM me if I can be of any help.
-best wishes

 

[BrandNewDay]

Very smart plan. I would encourage speaking to AdComm for suggestions on improving your app, then consider an SMP if that's right for you. Also, consider hospital employment (not EMT) like ER Scribe, ER Tech, medical interpreter, etc. if clinical experience is lacking.

You live once brother. Might as well go all out, apply the following cycle, and go to a medical school you WANT to attend.

👍

Truthfully, the most likely problem with my app isn't something that can be so easily fixed with a new MCAT or (marginally) higher GPA. I'll make a decision on what backup option I pursue based on what acceptances I get.

probably because they want to do a research as an attending but aren't competitive enough for straight md/phd programs probably. i know someone who has done that.

Nuh uh. A PhD for me would be an opportunity to explore an alternative career, gain maturity, life experience, etc., and further prove myself to ADCOMs. I don't foresee doing research as an attending (although I don't know as much about clinical research- that is a possibility).

Good luck with SMP and current cycle. Will you consider DO next year concurrent with reapplying MD? Are you really into research and is willing to possibly spend 7 years in a PhD program, working >50 hours/week? I thought about doing that too, but then living with two PhD candidates and being a second year research assistant, I can tell you that it wasn't for me. I love research and would like to pursue it further down the road, but I cannot be happier with choosing NOT to go through with my PhD applications (I even took my GRE and sent out my scores). Don't go PhD simply because you didn't get into a MD program this year though. PM me if I can be of any help.
-best wishes

Fortunately, the two PhD programs I'm applying to both have average completion times of 5 years- slightly easier to stomach. I'm still not sure where I stand on DO- even though I understand that MD and DO are, for all intents and purposes, identical in practice, I am quite averse to the idea of being looked down upon by other doctors (even if it's a small facet of the population) or continually asked and distrusted by the general public who isn't familiar with the degree.

I'm pretty sure that is a run-on sentence. My old English teacher would be so ashamed.

 

[bvand086]

I really don't feel like I'm going to get an offer anywhere at this point (30Q, 3.55 [sGPA is about 3.72 with update letters]) and at this point I would just like closure so I can just know for sure what I am up for next year. I just want to re-evaluate my application and go fullboard for June 1st 2012.

 

[phnerd1105]

I really don't feel like I'm going to get an offer anywhere at this point (30Q, 3.55 [sGPA is about 3.72 with update letters]) and at this point I would just like closure so I can just know for sure what I am up for next year. I just want to re-evaluate my application and go fullboard for June 1st 2012.

I have a 30Q, 3.6sGPA and 3.63 sGPA. Just got another interview today, so don't give up!


for everyone in here 🙂

 

[ZsaZsaM]

I really don't feel like I'm going to get an offer anywhere at this point (30Q, 3.55 [sGPA is about 3.72 with update letters]) and at this point I would just like closure so I can just know for sure what I am up for next year. I just want to re-evaluate my application and go fullboard for June 1st 2012.

I am in the same boat. I had a few II, but they haven't gone anywhere. I am planning on reapplying, but I would like some closure on my pending apps. They will all (or at least most of them) probably end up being silent rejections, I guess.

 

[ilubse7en]

i had one MD interview, 2 DO interview, and about 15 rejections, i mean i applied to 39 schools MD + DO, but looking back it was a stupid idea, i feel that i applied to be rejected at many schools, if i were to apply again, i would not apply to half the once i did this year,

i haven't heard from the MD school, but i was accepted at a DO school, so i guess i am set either way, i will wait for MD school b/c its a great school, but if i don't get in there, i can always attend DO, im content...

i know there is DO vs. MD thing, even my parents aren't too comfortable with the idea much less ppl around me, but i don't think it would hold me back from becoming a good doctor, so it doesn't matter to me...

 

[bvand086]

I have a 30Q, 3.6sGPA and 3.63 sGPA. Just got another interview today, so don't give up!


for everyone in here 🙂

That gives me some hope. Wish I had strong EC's, no excuses but I received advice from a canadian med school adcom member to "not bother volunteering just focus on school" which was a real bummer.. fixing that this year.

 

[dartmouthmdphd]

Hi everyone! I am really really worried. I haven't gotten any interviews yet. Anyone heard from Dartmouth, Columbia, Mount Sinai, UPenn, Emory, Baylor, Tufts, Harvard???

 

[BrandNewDay]

Hi everyone! I am really really worried. I haven't gotten any interviews yet. Anyone heard from Dartmouth, Columbia, Mount Sinai, UPenn, Emory, Baylor, Tufts, Harvard???

Yowzer, do you really have the stats to match those schools?

 

[Ebola4Breakfast]

Nuh uh. A PhD for me would be an opportunity to explore an alternative career, gain maturity, life experience, etc., and further prove myself to ADCOMs. I don't foresee doing research as an attending (although I don't know as much about clinical research- that is a possibility).

👍 I never attempted to apply to medical school straight out of undergrad. I knew I didn't have the maturity. Going through graduate school was simultaneously the most painful and the greatest experience of my life. I gained maturity, independence, and a host of other skills in addition to being trained as a scientist. Being used to the execution style "love" of lab meetings and committee meetings made interviews a breeze. It's an excellent time investment. I was out in 5.5 years with a very complicated project that included basic science and a clinical aspect. But, at the end of the day, you'd better love science and research. Those who don't tend to struggle. It may be easier to get into a PhD program, but it still requires a lot of work to make it out. Just a warning 🙂.

 

[Chir0nex]

Tufts has sent out some invites already. I haven't heard anything from harvard columbia or emory either. I get the impression that Harvard tends to be really slow throughout the process.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Nuh uh. A PhD for me would be an opportunity to explore an alternative career, gain maturity, life experience, etc., and further prove myself to ADCOMs. I don't foresee doing research as an attending (although I don't know as much about clinical research- that is a possibility).

If that's your attitude, you will burn out and quick. I f'in loved research and I burned out. A PhD isn't something to pad your resume with, it's a full career path. There are far easier ways to beef your application up than to get a PhD. You should be going into a PhD thinking that science is your wife (or husband). That's the level of devotion you need. When I was pursuing my PhD, my typical day started at 8am and ended around 7:30pm. I only had one day off a week, since Saturdays are almost mandatory in most laboratories. I worked on Black Friday, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve/Day and most other holidays (eg MLK Day). You are expected to work these days.

 

[BrandNewDay]

👍 I never attempted to apply to medical school straight out of undergrad. I knew I didn't have the maturity. Going through graduate school was simultaneously the most painful and the greatest experience of my life. I gained maturity, independence, and a host of other skills in addition to being trained as a scientist. Being used to the execution style "love" of lab meetings and committee meetings made interviews a breeze. It's an excellent time investment. I was out in 5.5 years with a very complicated project that included basic science and a clinical aspect. But, at the end of the day, you'd better love science and research. Those who don't tend to struggle. It may be easier to get into a PhD program, but it still requires a lot of work to make it out. Just a warning 🙂.

Do you think you would have been as successful without the clinical aspect of your PhD?

If that's your attitude, you will burn out and quick. I f'in loved research and I burned out. A PhD isn't something to pad your resume with, it's a full career path. There are far easier ways to beef your application up than to get a PhD. You should be going into a PhD thinking that science is your wife (or husband). That's the level of devotion you need. When I was pursuing my PhD, my typical day started at 8am and ended around 7:30pm. I only had one day off a week, since Saturdays are almost mandatory in most laboratories. I worked on Black Friday, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve/Day and most other holidays (eg MLK Day). You are expected to work these days.

Perhaps I'm just a masochist, but I knew all of what you said already. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting to have even one day off a week, so... I'm actually a bit relieved.

I would love to hear more about both of your individual stories- please pm me if you wouldn't mind. (And thanks for your lovely MDApps, Ebola)

 

[Ebola4Breakfast]

Do you think you would have been as successful without the clinical aspect of your PhD?



Perhaps I'm just a masochist, but I knew all of what you said already. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting to have even one day off a week, so... I'm actually a bit relieved.

I would love to hear more about both of your individual stories- please pm me if you wouldn't mind. (And thanks for your lovely MDApps, Ebola)

Most interviewers seemed to really like it. I did a lot of recruitment, which involved a lot of one-on-one patient interaction that deviated from what was usually seen with most med school applicants. I think they also liked the level of responsibility the project required. I had to deal with IRB approval and compliance, organize recruitment and tissue collection schedules between my technicians and me, keep track of consent forms, etc. It came up in nearly every interview.

 

[robertch8]

i had one MD interview, 2 DO interview, and about 15 rejections, i mean i applied to 39 schools MD + DO, but looking back it was a stupid idea, i feel that i applied to be rejected at many schools, if i were to apply again, i would not apply to half the once i did this year,

i haven't heard from the MD school, but i was accepted at a DO school, so i guess i am set either way, i will wait for MD school b/c its a great school, but if i don't get in there, i can always attend DO, im content...

i know there is DO vs. MD thing, even my parents aren't too comfortable with the idea much less ppl around me, but i don't think it would hold me back from becoming a good doctor, so it doesn't matter to me...

You say that, but honestly you really have no idea where you're going to get interview invites and where you're going to get accepted from. Before the cycle, I targeted some schools that I thought I had a chance to interview at and now looking back, they weren't the same schools at all I targeted.

 

[10Acious]

Are II's still sent out during the holiday week(s)? (say from next week until New Years)

 

[BrandNewDay]

Are II's still sent out during the holiday week(s)? (say from next week until New Years)

I received an interview on 12/22 last year.

 

[LizzyM]

Are II's still sent out during the holiday week(s)? (say from next week until New Years)

Some adcom people will be working through Friday of this week to set up interviews in Jan (maybe even early Feb). At most places, next Monday is the holiday for the office staff (because Christmas falls on Sunday), and I suspect many people will be taking some time off to be with family, etc given most (all) schools suspend interviews while the students are on break. That said, issuing interview invitations is done electronically through a web interface and thus can be done even if the director of admissions is spending most of the day enjoying some time off in the mountains, the beach or the golf course.

 

[bvand086]

Hi LizzyM,

I am wondering if you could shed any light on the application review process. I have been under review at many schools for ranging from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. I finished all of my secondaries by September 1 or 2, and I have yet to be rejected/II/hold at many. at this point I would just like closure of whats going to happen.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi LizzyM,

I am wondering if you could shed any light on the application review process. I have been under review at many schools for ranging from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. I finished all of my secondaries by September 1 or 2, and I have yet to be rejected/II/hold at many. at this point I would just like closure of whats going to happen.

Some schools won't send you a "deny admission" message until March or later. We are still reading applications at my school and I suppose at other schools too. Most of these were complete much later than September but sometimes an application can get shunted aside for weeks and weeks and then surface & get read.

I do think that if you get interviews at more than 20% of the schools to which you apply, you are in good shape. You can't expect to interview at every school to which you apply.

 

[johnnytheman]

I do think that if you get interviews at more than 20% of the schools to which you apply, you are in good shape. You can't expect to interview at every school to which you apply.

Hi LizzyM, has it be always like that for the past years, or is this year particularly tough due to the exploding applicant pools and does that figure apply even to most qualified ones (with stats greater than 3.8/36)?

Would you also elaborate on what you meant when you said that they are in 'good shape'? Did you mean that they wouldn't have 'redflags' on their apps? Thank you!

 

[Whatyousay]

Hi everyone! I am really really worried. I haven't gotten any interviews yet. Anyone heard from Dartmouth, Columbia, Mount Sinai, UPenn, Emory, Baylor, Tufts, Harvard???

All of those schools have sent out IIs.

I can't speak for any of the other schools, but I know that Baylor is more than halfway through it's interview season (first interviews in September).

Tufts has sent out some invites already. I haven't heard anything from harvard columbia or emory either. I get the impression that Harvard tends to be really slow throughout the process.

Harvard does whatever Harvard feels like doing.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi LizzyM, has it be always like that for the past years, or is this year particularly tough due to the exploding applicant pools and does that figure apply even to most qualified ones (with stats greater than 3.8/36)?

Would you also elaborate on what you meant when you said that they are in 'good shape'? Did you mean that they wouldn't have 'redflags' on their apps? Thank you!

My school has never interviewed more than 20% of the applicant pool... (I don't want to give a more exact number). Yes, we are unable to interview all of the most qualified by the numbers and have to pick and choose by the numbers plus a reading of the application (some schools wait & read the application & letters after the interview). In any case, we generally get through the reading of the applications by 1/1 and the interview invites continue for weeks after that as we don't want to issue invitations too far in advance as it increases the likelihood that people will ask to reschedule, etc.

In my opinion, if you have at least 3-4 interviews (20% of 15-20 applications) and you have reasonable interview skills, you should get at least one offer of admission. That's what I mean by "good shape".

 

[underdog427]

LizzyM, quick question: if i received one invite and received an acceptance but have heard nothing back from others, is it safe to say that at this point in time i'm out of luck for the others. (don't get me wrong I am very thankful for the one acceptance).

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM, quick question: if i received one invite and received an acceptance but have heard nothing back from others, is it safe to say that at this point in time i'm out of luck for the others. (don't get me wrong I am very thankful for the one acceptance).

I've still got 50+ applications to read... statistically speaking, there will be a few interview invites in that stack. So no, even if you haven't heard yet, you aren't out of luck and you are among the most lucky because you are headed into the interview with an offer of admission.

 

[DocMom1]

Some schools won't send you a "deny admission" message until March or later. We are still reading applications at my school and I suppose at other schools too. Most of these were complete much later than September but sometimes an application can get shunted aside for weeks and weeks and then surface & get read.

I do think that if you get interviews at more than 20% of the schools to which you apply, you are in good shape. You can't expect to interview at every school to which you apply.

Why would an application get "shunted aside" and then "resurface" ? As you describe it, the process seems quite quite random and unsystematic. Is this so?

 

[mipp0]

Why would an application get "shunted aside" and then "resurface" ? As you describe it, the process seems quite quite random and unsystematic. Is this so?

Perhaps applications from applicants with lower stats are set aside and evaluated later? Man, there are a lot of negative posters this morning...

 

[smarts1]

I've still got 50+ applications to read... statistically speaking, there will be a few interview invites in that stack. So no, even if you haven't heard yet, you aren't out of luck and you are among the most lucky because you are headed into the interview with an offer of admission.

What do you mean by this, LizzyM? Do you mean people who are getting interview invites now are students you definitely want to see in your med school class?

 

[deleted261193]

i think she's saying that one is in a very lucky position if they already have a med school acceptance and are still going to interviews

 

[LizzyM]

Why would an application get "shunted aside" and then "resurface" ? As you describe it, the process seems quite quite random and unsystematic. Is this so?

Applications are distributed to volunteer readers (mostly faculty, some upperclassmen in the med school class). If a reader doesn't evaluate an application and pass it back within x weeks, it gets redirected electronically to another reader. I've seen a few that have been redirected a couple times as people just didn't get to them.... Sorry to be imprecise earlier. It can happen that a file that is good just isn't "gotten to" until pretty late in the season. We're volunteers; we are doing this on top of teaching loads, administrative assignments, clinical responsibilities, etc.

Back in the days of paper files, I don't want to think what could happen to a file to delay its review but I'm sure our old file clerks could tell some tales.

 

[LizzyM]

What do you mean by this, LizzyM? Do you mean people who are getting interview invites now are students you definitely want to see in your med school class?

No one gets an interview invite unless they look good enough on paper for us to want them in the med school class (or they are related to a big wig in the university system and get invited as a courtesy; that's much less than 1% of the interview invites).

Out of every 100 applications I review, I tend to recommend about 25-35% for interview. Whether there are enough slots for that many applicants is another story and someone else makes those hard decisions. So if I have 50+ left to review, it is possible that some will be recommended for interview and actually get an invitation.

 

[plumazul]

Over two cycles, there are about 4,458 applicants with a 36 or higher and a 3.8 or higher. That's about 2,229 per year. ... As it is, only ~4,000 of that group are considered worthy of admission so it could be said that about 10% of that elite group don't get in anywhere.

Would you please explain why someone in this "elite group" would be "unworthy"? Is it mostly weak LORs or is it something else?

 

[LizzyM]

Would you please explain why someone in this "elite group" would be "unworthy"? Is it mostly weak LORs or is it something else?

Odd behavior is far more common in that elite group that in the general pool of applicants. Lack of eye contact, monosyllabic responses, lack of interest in clinical care,lack of experiences (spent all their time on studying).

Some may have institutional actions that are deal breakers.

 

[TenderRender]

Hey Lizzy, since you've been nice enough to come give a bit of insight into admissions for us, I figured I'd ask:

I know I'll sound like a total jerk for asking this, but out of curiosity do some schools "yield protect"? I haven't heard any good news so far from the schools I thought were "matches", but I heard back from a few that I had considered "reaches". I mean, I'm ecstatic to have heard back from the schools that I have, but I was also genuinely looking forward to at least getting a closer look at some of my match schools. To be honest, I would be feeling much more comfortable to have an interview and a shot at, say, 4 match schools rather than at 2 reach schools, because I feel like the odds would be much more in my favor.

I hope it doesn't sound like I'm complaining, I just find this pattern very surprising to me.

 

[Knocked Up]

My school has never interviewed more than 20% of the applicant pool... (I don't want to give a more exact number). Yes, we are unable to interview all of the most qualified by the numbers and have to pick and choose by the numbers plus a reading of the application (some schools wait & read the application & letters after the interview). In any case, we generally get through the reading of the applications by 1/1 and the interview invites continue for weeks after that as we don't want to issue invitations too far in advance as it increases the likelihood that people will ask to reschedule, etc.

In my opinion, if you have at least 3-4 interviews (20% of 15-20 applications) and you have reasonable interview skills, you should get at least one offer of admission. That's what I mean by "good shape".

😱 Ouch. Some schools really just assign interviews solely by numbers? They really don't actually read the application until AFTER the interview? So much for the holistic approach... Glad I took all that time to write out those wonderful secondaries for a few schools who I am quite confident did exactly just that. Luckily some schools are still interested in the applicants as people, and not just numbers to fit numerical quotas. LizzyM, please tell me you do actually read the whole application before passing judgement on applicants.

 

[kpcrew]

😱 Ouch. Some schools really just assign interviews solely by numbers? They really don't actually read the application until AFTER the interview? So much for the holistic approach... Glad I took all that time to write out those wonderful secondaries for a few schools who I am quite confident did exactly just that. Luckily some schools are still interested in the applicants as people, and not just numbers to fit numerical quotas. LizzyM, please tell me you do actually read the whole application before passing judgement on applicants.

I thought you of all people would know that the MCAT is the end all, be all.

 

[LizzyM]

😱 Ouch. Some schools really just assign interviews solely by numbers? They really don't actually read the application until AFTER the interview? So much for the holistic approach... Glad I took all that time to write out those wonderful secondaries for a few schools who I am quite confident did exactly just that. Luckily some schools are still interested in the applicants as people, and not just numbers to fit numerical quotas. LizzyM, please tell me you do actually read the whole application before passing judgement on applicants.

I generally don't but someone on my team does. I tend to read selectively based on my team member's assessment. Then there is a third pair of eyes on the application before an II is made. Some schools, I'm told, just go "by the numbers" (school/gpa/MCAT) and read the application after the interview. Those schools tend to interview more people and admit fewer of them.

Regarding yield: I do suspect that some schools eschew students who appear to be uninterested despite their good grades/scores/essays and even interviews. Some guys don't want to ask the Rose Bowl queen for a date for fear of being shot down or because they assume she's going to be asked by the quarterback of the football team, others figure they'll never get a chance with her unless they ask ... who knows, maybe she'll say "yes".

 

[Guero]

I generally don't but someone on my team does. I tend to read selectively based on my team member's assessment. Then there is a third pair of eyes on the application before an II is made. Some schools, I'm told, just go "by the numbers" (school/gpa/MCAT) and read the application after the interview. Those schools tend to interview more people and admit fewer of them.

Regarding yield: I do suspect that some schools eschew students who appear to be uninterested despite their good grades/scores/essays and even interviews. Some guys don't want to ask the Rose Bowl queen for a date for fear of being shot down or because they assume she's going to be asked by the quarterback of the football team, others figure they'll never get a chance with her unless they ask ... who knows, maybe she'll say "yes".

Lizzy, will you admit me? 😍

 

[BrandNewDay]

Who else in here is applying to SMPs? Please join me in the Post-bacc forum if you are (it's lonely in there)!

 

[r1d1]

In any case, we generally get through the reading of the applications by 1/1

It doesn't seem all the reading can be done on time this year year, does it? Most schools receive more than 5000 applications, some over 10000.

 

[r1d1]

😱 Ouch. Some schools really just assign interviews solely by numbers? They really don't actually read the application until AFTER the interview?

Given the number of applications per adcom member, it's hardly surprising, is it? They have to come up with a realistic way to do it.

 

[BrandNewDay]

Given the number of applications per adcom member, it's hardly surprising, is it? They have to come up with a realistic way to do it.

Fair enough- but if schools would just say "we won't interview anybody below a 3.7 and 32 MCAT", then plenty of us could have saved the money and work applying. 😡

 

[r1d1]

Fair enough- but if schools would just say "we won't interview anybody below a 3.7 and 32 MCAT", then plenty of us could have saved the money and work applying. 😡

They wouldn't say it because they do want to encourage URMs with lower stats to apply.