No word from schools yet! Is it a good thing?

[MorieRo]

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I am applying for a bunch of MD/PhD and MD-only programs and I have not heard from at least 15 schools on my list. A lot of these schools, if I am not mistaken, have interviews in February. So, is it a good thing or a bad thing that I have not heard from them yet? I feel like I would need to get my interview notifications NOW so I can make it down in february. Please help me out, I am very bummed out about all this.

 

[FinchHead]

Yes, it's a very good thing that they haven't contacted you.

 

[Maxprime]

I am applying for a bunch of MD/PhD and MD-only programs and I have not heard from at least 15 schools on my list. A lot of these schools, if I am not mistaken, have interviews in February. So, is it a good thing or a bad thing that I have not heard from them yet? I feel like I would need to get my interview notifications NOW so I can make it down in february. Please help me out, I am very bummed out about all this.

When were you complete?

 

[MorieRo]

Yes, it's a very good thing that they haven't contacted you.

r u being sarcastic?

i completed my applications from august to november.

 

[Maxprime]

r u being sarcastic?

i completed my applications from august to november.

He was being sarcastic. (wow, tough one to pick up)

That's a 4 month span, details?

 

[MorieRo]

He was being sarcastic. (wow, tough one to pick up)

That's a 4 month span, details?

i just didn't want to believe he'd be such a jerk...until I read his posts on other threads.

i applied to some schools in august, some in september and some in november. i don't really think it matters when i applied at this point. most schools have their last interview day around mid-february. is it common to get invited for an interview 2 weeks before the interview date?

i feel like they would have contacted me by now if they were interested. however, there is a possibility that they may still be considering me, which is why they have not contacted me yet. could this be the case or have they simply not looked at my file yet?

 

[Maxprime]

i just didn't want to believe he'd be such a jerk...until I read his posts on other threads.

Well it is kind of a stupid question. Obviously, if schools have sent out a lot of interview invites and acceptances and you haven't gotten any - it is not a good thing.

i don't really think it matters when i applied at this point. most schools have their last interview day around mid-february. is it common to get invited for an interview 2 weeks before the interview date?

Not to my knowledge, time is definitely running out - but until you get a rejection notice the possibility still exists. A lot of us haven't heard from a handful of schools, it's not because they're too lazy to send out rejection letters - there are still some interview spots left.

i feel like they would have contacted me by now if they were interested. however, there is a possibility that they may still be considering me, which is why they have not contacted me yet. could this be the case or have they simply not looked at my file yet?

If you've been complete for a few months, I think odds are pretty good they've seen your file.

 

[MorieRo]

Well it is kind of a stupid question. Obviously, if schools have sent out a lot of interview invites and acceptances and you haven't gotten any - it is not a good thing.



Not to my knowledge, time is definitely running out - but until you get a rejection notice the possibility still exists. A lot of us haven't heard from a handful of schools, it's not because they're too lazy to send out rejection letters - there are still some interview spots left.



If you've been complete for a few months, I think odds are pretty good they've seen your file.

well, i do not think it's that much of a stupid question given that those last interview sport have to be filled somehow. and i'd expect to have gotten rejection letters in the mail, which has not happened. i think it's quite allright to be a worried and optimistic about it all, that would make ask questions like this, given that if not accepted to any schools, i'll have to go back to my home country and bury my dreams.

that is why it is not cool to be sarcastic about my situation. it sure as hell is not funny.


thanks for your reply.

 

[Maxprime]

well, i do not think it's that much of a stupid question given that those last interview sport have to be filled somehow. and i'd expect to have gotten rejection letters in the mail, which has not happened. i think it's quite allright to be a worried and optimistic about it all, that would make ask questions like this, given that if not accepted to any schools, i'll have to go back to my home country and bury my dreams.

that is why it is not cool to be sarcastic about my situation. it sure as hell is not funny.


thanks for your reply.

People get edgy because we're in the same situation - we hate getting our hopes up every day, walking to the mailbox, and getting nothing but another flyer to save 10 cents on motor oil. It's a community of stressed out, over-worked people waiting for life-changing news. Just sit back and wait for a serious reply, it's all you can do. 🙂

Again, a lot of us are in the same situation - I haven't heard anything from 11 schools. I'm assuming at least 10 of them are rejections, but hoping for the best. Again, as I always say, I'm not the best measure - I have screwy stats.

 

[custard]

Maxprime, congrats on your acceptance!

OP, have you tried calling the schools you haven't heard from? If you ask if you've been reviewed yet, sometimes they'll tell you if you're on hold etc. It's definitely not a good thing to have not heard from schools at this point (I have several I haven't heard from as well). In my experience, interviews are typically given for spots about a month in advance, so I'm sure for a lot of schools, much of Febuary is already filled out. Some schools interview through March though.

 

[soulspokn]

hey i waited for forever for news. got 4 rejections then. I only applied to 12 schools. Mostly california. and my grades and stats are really below what you would expect to go to a california school. but a couple weeks ago, UCSF contacted me for an interview. and this week, USC. (I've been complete forever). So now I'm looking at my 6 remaining schools, and I'm thinking I totally might get a response from some of them still. though I'm COMPLETELY happy with my existing interviews, having a few more would make me feel as though I have a better chance of getting into med school. I guess what I'm saying is, be patient.

If you are really worried, send an update letter, letters of interest, and a letter of intent to your top school. I've done all three in the wait period. maybe it had something to do with my interviews.

 

[mattng]

hey i waited for forever for news. got 4 rejections then. I only applied to 12 schools. Mostly california. and my grades and stats are really below what you would expect to go to a california school. but a couple weeks ago, UCSF contacted me for an interview. and this week, USC. (I've been complete forever). So now I'm looking at my 6 remaining schools, and I'm thinking I totally might get a response from some of them still. though I'm COMPLETELY happy with my existing interviews, having a few more would make me feel as though I have a better chance of getting into med school. I guess what I'm saying is, be patient.

If you are really worried, send an update letter, letters of interest, and a letter of intent to your top school. I've done all three in the wait period. maybe it had something to do with my interviews.

How are you normally contacted for an interview? Also, letter of update, what to do with that?

 

[custard]

How are you normally contacted for an interview?

Sometimes e-mail, sometimes phone call.

Also, letter of update, what to do with that?

Do a search for this. There's a TON of threads about it.

 

[MorieRo]

Sometimes e-mail, sometimes phone call. Do a search for this. There's a TON of threads about it.

i sent update letters to 19 schools circa new year's. hopefully, i have attracted some attention. after all, all i really need is one interview+acceptance. that's what it's all about. i applied to schools like SUNY-upstate, penn state, and howard u which interview for as long as they have to. i am still hopeful but i have sent a ton of emails to people i might end up working for next year. so i am looking into my options. being an international student, i do not have the option to bum around for a year and apply again--neither does ant other competitive applicant, i suppose.

the funny thing is that my stats are pretty good and i have been doing research for 3 years, volunteering at hospice, giving seminars to medical school faculty and i am national coach of the year and all-american selection for water polo. i thought i would have a stronger suit than last minute interviews... oh well..

 

[custard]

the funny thing is that my stats are pretty good and i have been doing research for 3 years, volunteering at hospice, giving seminars to medical school faculty and i am national coach of the year and all-american selection for water polo. i thought i would have a stronger suit than last minute interviews... oh well..

Your activities do sound great, and if your MCAT/GPA is above average (for non-international students at least) perhaps the fact that you are an international student is holding things back.

 

[MorieRo]

Your activities do sound great, and if your MCAT/GPA is above average (for non-international students at least) perhaps the fact that you are an international student is holding things back.

i feel like that may very well be the case. now i realize that maybe going for md/phd was a bad idea given my foreign status. i still hope to hear from at least dartmuoth, though. they accepted 3 internationals from my school (grinnell) last year so i am guessing they would be open for one more.. ehehe

i am the only competitive applicant as an international student from my school, which should have worked in my favor. i now truly understand why people think the admissions process is random. there is no telling what's gonna happen until the last minute.

oh btw, my stats are 3.6 gpa (3.7 science gpa), honors in biology, 12 phy 8 verbal 11 biol S in the MCAT, 4 research awards (1 national 3 school), 3 poster presentations, 3 student seminars (2 to medical school faculty in u of istanbul and 1 to biology students and faculty in grinnell).

 

[medguy83]

Are you sure every school you applied to ends interviews in Feb? I know of some that continue through mid march.

 

[MorieRo]

Are you sure every school you applied to ends interviews in Feb? I know of some that continue through mid march.

not all of them

i am waitlisted at suny upstate and penn state. both schools keep giving interviews "until classes are filled".

i still have some hope (i.e. a fool's hope) but it's depressing, you know..

 

[Jnye33]

People get edgy because we're in the same situation - we hate getting our hopes up every day, walking to the mailbox, and getting nothing but another flyer to save 10 cents on motor oil. It's a community of stressed out, over-worked people waiting for life-changing news. Just sit back and wait for a serious reply, it's all you can do. 🙂

Again, a lot of us are in the same situation - I haven't heard anything from 11 schools. I'm assuming at least 10 of them are rejections, but hoping for the best. Again, as I always say, I'm not the best measure - I have screwy stats.

I only applied to 5 schools this year, and have only heard back from 1 school (1 interview). I swear that I check my email just about every hour and I can say that the mail has come between 10:30 and 11:00 every day for the last 2 months. As far as people "waiting for life-changing news", my wife is 39 weeks pregnant on top of all this application crap!
Maybe the big dude upstairs wants me to concentrate on being a father next year and thats why I haven't been accepted anywhere yet!

 

[Crixivan]

It's pretty late for MD/PhD programs, but you still may get some interview invitations for MD slots. You might consider making an mdapps profile for more directed advice.

 

[MorieRo]

It's pretty late for MD/PhD programs, but you still may get some interview invitations for MD slots. You might consider making an mdapps profile for more directed advice.

my mdapps profile
i would appreciate all comments. it's very nice of you to spare the time to help me out with my med school melancholy.

http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=9669

 

[MorieRo]

I only applied to 5 schools this year, and have only heard back from 1 school (1 interview). I swear that I check my email just about every hour and I can say that the mail has come between 10:30 and 11:00 every day for the last 2 months. As far as people "waiting for life-changing news", my wife is 39 weeks pregnant on top of all this application crap!
Maybe the big dude upstairs wants me to concentrate on being a father next year and thats why I haven't been accepted anywhere yet!

i usually seem to be in the focus of the big dude upstairs' magnifying glass hehehe

 

[LizzyM]

Your research is OK, your grades are average or a bit below avg, and your clinical experience might be somewhat limited (how many hours? over how many months?)

The problem for international students applying MSTP is that some federal funding for doctoral programs is limited to US citizens. This means that a school needs to have an alternate source of funding to support an international student for the 7+ years it takes to do the MD/PhD. That's a big investment for a school and one that they don't make except for the most extraordinary applicant.

 

[MorieRo]

Your research is OK, your grades are average or a bit below avg, and your clinical experience might be somewhat limited (how many hours? over how many months?)

The problem for international students applying MSTP is that some federal funding for doctoral programs is limited to US citizens. This means that a school needs to have an alternate source of funding to support an international student for the 7+ years it takes to do the MD/PhD. That's a big investment for a school and one that they don't make except for the most extraordinary applicant.

3.6 for Grinnell College is pretty high given the highest science GPA last year was 3.86. I have been responsible for my own projects for the past 2 years for my research here but, as yo may already know, big-time research rarely hits liberal arts colleges...

My formal clinical experience is limited but both my parents are doctors so I spent a significant amount of time in and around hospitals. I have lost pretty much all hope on MD/PhD anyway. I am looking to get into an MD-only program where I can pay/loan the financial burden away so the schools can give me a decent consideration. MD/PhD was my dream and I pursued it. I had to take my chances--didn't quite work out for me.

Thank you very much for your comments. I appreciate your perspective. I think I might end up getting a research internship at Penn or Temple to improve on my research.