Note to Future Applicants: Don't Expect Anything

[Dr Gerrard]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I thought I would get into most of the schools I applied, with scholarships at some.

I didn't apply to some schools because I knew I would not choose X school over a scholarship at Y school.

I unfortunately did not get a scholarship to Y school or any other school for that matter lol.

Not only that, but being overconfident made me so much more neurotic and depressed this cycle. I'm sure some users on her can attest to how annoying I had become in particular topics lol.




cool story bro

 

[wanderer]

Yea you only got in to Vanderbilt and MSSM. Sounds like you really underachieved this cycle.

 

[Dr Gerrard]

i never said i wasn't happy with what i got..

just not what i expected

 

[yankeesmed]

Yea you only got in to Vanderbilt and MSSM. Sounds like you really underachieved this cycle.

Haha, yeah Gerrard I have no idea what you are talking about.

Accept it: you destroyed this application cycle. There's nothing you can do to change the fact that you got into two top twenty schools.

 

[raab32]

Good point OP. There's too many people applying for there to be any certainty. Approach medical school admissions with humility. The whole process is a manifestation of chaos theory.

 

[NickNaylor]

Damn dude, get some humility. People expect too much and think they're too awesome than what they really are. You should expect nothing going into this process, regardless of what your application looks like.

 

[WESTSIDE LOC]

Damn dude, get some humility. People expect too much and think they're too awesome than what they really are. You should expect nothing going into this process, regardless of what you're application looks like.

This.👍

 

[tabascosauce]

This.👍

This. 👍👍

 

[drizzt3117]

Damn dude, get some humility. People expect too much and think they're too awesome than what they really are. You should expect nothing going into this process, regardless of what your application looks like.

There's a fine line between being confident and being a douche, try to stay on the right side of the line.

 

[ha87]

Note to Future everybody: Don't Expect Anything

 

[Dr Gerrard]

Damn dude, get some humility. People expect too much and think they're too awesome than what they really are. You should expect nothing going into this process, regardless of what your application looks like.

Thats exactly my point bro... read the title of the topic

And get some humility? TBH, there isn't much difference between this and posting about how one school gave you a full ride with living expenses and you are asking another school that already gave you money for more.

Point being, there are always going to be applicants who want more.

Whether its wanting an acceptance
Wanting an acceptance to a top 20
Wanting a scholarship
Wanting more scholarships

 

[Geekchick921]

A month ago you made two different threads about uncertainty about pursuing medicine and deferring for a year.

Now you're bummed because you didn't get any scholarships, and you have to choose between two excellent schools that accepted you (not to mention at least one other excellent where you're waitlisted).

I cannot make sense of you one tiny bit.

 

[Doctor Salk]

Damn dude, get some humility. People expect too much and think they're too awesome than what they really are. You should expect nothing going into this process, regardless of what your application looks like.

😀

 

[Kaustikos]

A month ago you made two different threads about uncertainty about pursuing medicine and deferring for a year.

Now you're bummed because you didn't get any scholarships, and you have to choose between two excellent schools that accepted you (not to mention at least one other excellent where you're waitlisted).

I cannot make sense of you one tiny bit.

Poor guy. Must suck having options like that.

 

[NickNaylor]

Thats exactly my point bro... read the title of the topic

And get some humility? TBH, there isn't much difference between this and posting about how one school gave you a full ride with living expenses and you are asking another school that already gave you money for more.

Point being, there are always going to be applicants who want more.

Whether its wanting an acceptance
Wanting an acceptance to a top 20
Wanting a scholarship
Wanting more scholarships

There is no harm in asking for or wanting anything. The problem (and where your disappointment is rooted) is expecting or demanding the things that you ask for. Those are two very different things. Many people on this site EXPECT to get acceptances at x schools or scholarships from x schools. That's a pretty malignant mindset.

There is nothing wrong in aiming high or dreaming big. You are perceived as a tool if you're entitled or think you deserve those things.

 

[Dr Gerrard]

There is no harm in asking for or wanting anything. The problem (and where your disappointment is rooted) is expecting or demanding the things that you ask for. Those are two very different things. Many people on this site EXPECT to get acceptances at x schools or scholarships from x schools. That's a pretty malignant mindset.

There is nothing wrong in aiming high or dreaming big. You are perceived as a tool if you're entitled or think you deserve those things.

TBH, i did feel like i deserved a scholarship before i started the process. But I was very humbled by the caliber of students that I interviewed with and now it is definitely more of just wanting rather than expecting.

I'm sure I would have come off as a tool before, but this entire process has been a huge learning experience for me that I know I really needed in the end.

Hence, I made a topic that you should never expect anything, whether it is an acceptance, acceptance at a top school, partial scholarship or full scholarship.

Glad we are on the same page

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Yeah man sorry you had to find it out the hard way but really all anyone who is applying has to do is pick up an MSAR to realize that the possibility of scholarships is pretty low. Everyone has a 4.0, everyone has done a crapload of every activity imaginable and lots of people have the same MCAT score when you're looking at top schools (unless you're hitting like a 41-42+). If you really want a guaranteed scholarship, apply for an HPSP scholarship (almost guaranteed) or a NHSC scholarship. Sure you have to give some stuff up but you can't expect something for nothing...

And what is up with all these expected scholarship threads lately? When I applied I seriously didn't even know places gave out merit scholarships until they told me they did.

 

[Phange]

I thought I would get into most of the schools I applied, with scholarships at some.

I didn't apply to some schools because I knew I would not choose X school over a scholarship at Y school.

I unfortunately did not get a scholarship to Y school or any other school for that matter lol.

Not only that, but being overconfident made me so much more neurotic and depressed this cycle. I'm sure some users on her can attest to how annoying I had become in particular topics lol.




cool story bro

It took me five years to get over my hubris and work hard to get in. They know if you're arrogant and won't accept you. Good doctors are not self-serving and are not arrogant. Perseverance and improving oneself are the two most redeeming qualities in an application.

 

[Suncrusher]

where's ButImLeTired's special little snowflake quote when you need it 🙄

 

[rhcarolina]

I agree with you, Dr Gerrard, but I think your phrasing may have rubbed people the wrong way. I have learned that there are no guarantees when applying to medical school and that one should expect the unexpected. The application process itself appears, at least to me, completely random. If you take a look at the grid of MCAT scores vs GPA of accepted/applicants to US MD schools, there are some with 40+ and 4.0 who did not get in. I also learned one really cannot have a "first choice," as was the case with undergraduate colleges. It's really the schools that do the choosing rather than the applicants (except in the few who are lucky enough to garner multiple acceptances).

Congrats on your acceptances! 👍

 

[skyhyp2009]

I thought I would get into most of the schools I applied, with scholarships at some.

I didn't apply to some schools because I knew I would not choose X school over a scholarship at Y school.

I unfortunately did not get a scholarship to Y school or any other school for that matter lol.

Not only that, but being overconfident made me so much more neurotic and depressed this cycle. I'm sure some users on her can attest to how annoying I had become in particular topics lol.

cool story bro

Seeing many of your posts, I understand how you might feel that way......but......seriously, didn't you talk to people who applied to medical school in previous years/friends from other schools who have talked to people who have applied to medical school in previous years?

It's really hard to predict what happens in the cycle...

And I don't see how so many people think they would get into most of the medical schools they apply to.

I've always been told that a "picture perfect applicant" (36+, 3.9+, 2 years research experience, at least 200+ hours of clinical experience and community service) at my school, which is an Ivy by the way, would get interviews at 40-50% of the school he/she applied to, and at best (barring URM status or Nobel Prize/Nature publications), get accepted at half of the schools he/she interviewed at. That's something like a 20-30% overall "success" rate.

Granted...most people at my school apply to ONLY the top 20 schools, so this number interviewed/accepted might be lower than the average applicant's chances at an average medical school (which I think is like 40% or something), but seriously, I went into the cycle frightened and scared....and applying to as many schools I could....

 

[bucks2010]

A lesson we all learn at some point. Some people can become used to outperforming their peers in undergrad. Then they get to the medical school application process and realize they're just another fish in an ocean full of high-achieving 20-somethings. Humility goes a long way.

 

[Longshanks]

Be more humble and appreciative of life and the things you have in it. Seriously, you got into two amazing schools, and you're complaining? Complaining you didn't get the scholarship you so rightfully "deserved"? No one deserves anything or entitled to something simply because they exist, you earn it. Essentially, your message in the OP is to not expect anything because you didn't get the scholarship or acceptances you imagined yourself being entitled to? Well done, sir. You may have reached a new level of arrogance on SDN. That is quite the accomplishment and something you've earned.

You complain about Cole, because he earned a scholarship and is attempting to negotiate with schools for fin aid or grants? That's completely ethical and he's in the position to do so. And for what Geek pointed out, you're uncertain if you want to puruse medicine? Maybe you should have figured that out earlier on. Having more conviction, experience, and humility may have helped you earn the things you felt entitled to. Or is it because these schools just aren't as good as your other ones?

The rest has been said and done on this thread already, but I'll repeat it again for emphasis: it is great to have high expectations or goals for yourself, and striving for those goals, but don't assume having those expectations or the goals themselves merit them being earned or accomplished. This process is extremely humbling. It is better to be confident of yourself, but go in without the expectation that you deserve anything anymore than the person next to you.

 

[music2doc]

OP, it sounds like you did pretty well. Why the grumpy thread? I absolutely "expect" something going into my application phase. I expect I will do my best. I expect I will likely get in somewhere. I expect I will put for the effort to persist until I get there. I do not have control over what others may choose but I absolutely have control over my own attitude and perseverance. If you don't go in expecting anything, you're never going to get anything. However, going in thinking you're entitled to something is going to be a problem too. Why not take a middle ground approach?

 

[Dr Gerrard]

Be more humble and appreciative of life and the things you have in it. Seriously, you got into two amazing schools, and you're complaining? Complaining you didn't get the scholarship you so rightfully "deserved"? No one deserves anything or entitled to something simply because they exist, you earn it. Essentially, your message in the OP is to not expect anything because you didn't get the scholarship or acceptances you imagined yourself being entitled to? Well done, sir. You may have reached a new level of arrogance on SDN. That is quite the accomplishment and something you've earned.

You complain about Cole, because he earned a scholarship and is attempting to negotiate with schools for fin aid or grants? That's completely ethical and he's in the position to do so. And for what Geek pointed out, you're uncertain if you want to puruse medicine? Maybe you should have figured that out earlier on. Having more conviction, experience, and humility may have helped you earn the things you felt entitled to. Or is it because these schools just aren't as good as your other ones?

The rest has been said and done on this thread already, but I'll repeat it again for emphasis: it is great to have high expectations or goals for yourself, and striving for those goals, but don't assume having those expectations or the goals themselves merit them being earned or accomplished. This process is extremely humbling. It is better to be confident of yourself, but go in without the expectation that you deserve anything anymore than the person next to you.

I understand all of the hate in this thread but I know it is mostly just due to my poor wording.

My goal after deciding to go to medical school was to go with a scholarship.

This is all right according to you guys, right?

I did well in undergrad, well on the MCAT, had some pretty unique ECs + the necessary research/clinical experience

I felt as though I had done well enough overall to maybe get a scholarship somewhere.

And I didn't, so I am disappointed. Is that such a big deal?

The equivalent is someone who has all of the numbers and basic ECs necessary to get into medical school, but doesn't. They may expect to get in since they felt they were adequately qualified, but didn't. I am sure they would be disappointed too.

Sure its life that someone will outcompete me. I know this first hand and have always known this. But its also life that one will set goals for themselves and be disappointed when they don't achieve them.

And take note... I am not at all disappointed that I didn't get in everywhere. I saw the applicants I was competing against and completely understand this.

But not getting a scholarship is something that will affect me for the next 20-30 years. If this is not something to be disappointed in, I don't know what is.

 

[tabascosauce]

I understand all of the hate in this thread but I know it is mostly just due to my poor wording.

My goal after deciding to go to medical school was to go with a scholarship.

This is all right according to you guys, right?

I did well in undergrad, well on the MCAT, had some pretty unique ECs + the necessary research/clinical experience

I felt as though I had done well enough overall to maybe get a scholarship somewhere.

And I didn't, so I am disappointed. Is that such a big deal?

The equivalent is someone who has all of the numbers and basic ECs necessary to get into medical school, but doesn't. They may expect to get in since they felt they were adequately qualified, but didn't. I am sure they would be disappointed too.

Sure its life that someone will outcompete me. I know this first hand and have always known this. But its also life that one will set goals for themselves and be disappointed when they don't achieve them.

And take note... I am not at all disappointed that I didn't get in everywhere. I saw the applicants I was competing against and completely understand this.

But not getting a scholarship is something that will affect me for the next 20-30 years. If this is not something to be disappointed in, I don't know what is.

Dr Gerrard i dont hate you anymore than i hate horchata.

stay strong ok. you havent even started med school and youre worrying about all this other ancillary stuff. focus my child! dont become so gd cynical. i hope you dance.

i have some meaningful compliments that i am going to share with you. maybe ill just have some statements thatll like occasionally surprise you and challenge you to like think outside of the box because thats how we learn. thats how we grow. right? we never stop learning we never stop growing. we learn through sharing. here ill share something with you right now. i dont trust people. i got trust issues. its difficult to change they say. but maybe with some time and with your help maybe you could be there when i finally learn to trust people again. wouldnt that be special? wouldnt that be a wonderful thing?

you got into fantastic schools with lots of opportunities. youll be fine. take advantage of those opportunities to grow so that you can do whatever you need to do out there in the world to help ppl.

 

[garconfrancais]

.

 

[drizzt3117]

Why is it a requirement for people to be "humbled and grateful" for getting into a school even if they're an ideal candidate? Certainly admission is a privilege but it's not like you didn't earn it through hard work (and will continue to earn it)

 

[LizzyM]

Professional fund raisers go out and ask people for money. They raise money for medical research, for starving orphans in foreign lands, for victims of catastrophies, for opera companies, museums, symphonies, private schools, colleges, universities, for religious groups, whales, pregnancy prevention, abortion prevention, human rights, gay rights, and animal rights. There are people who feel strongly about all of these causes and they give generously.

It is hard to get people excited about giving for medical school scholarships. Medical students have chosen to go into a profession with almost zero unemployment and where an annual income of < $100,000 for full time clinical work is rare. On the flip side, it costs a bloody fortune to attend medical school. On the other hand, lending institutions are willing to lend the cost of attendance to students because students will have the income necessary to pay back the loans.

Your education is going to cost $$$ but it is going to make you $$$$ and very few people feel the need to give/donate/contribute to make your education less expensive when they are also considering other needy causes.

Don't go into this expecting a scholarship.... it is very, very uncommon.

 

[Narmerguy]

Why is it a requirement for people to be "humbled and grateful" for getting into a school even if they're an ideal candidate? Certainly admission is a privilege but it's not like you didn't earn it through hard work (and will continue to earn it)

I agree with this but at the same time I understand. Certainly we should all value and celebrate hard work sacrificed for some lofty goal, but at the same time we value people to acknowledge the struggles of others, the hard work of others that goes uncelebrated, and the particular advantages/help one may have head along the way.

However, on SDN there seems to be this overreaction to anyone who has high scores and expresses disappointment at not getting scholarships or interviewed at school x or missing out on something else. Suddenly when you have a 3.9+ GPA you can't struggle, feel sorry for yourself, or look for advice like the rest of the dang forum on here?

To be honest I'm pretty sure a lot of it is jealousy or bitterness but whatever the reason it's really not fair whenever I see it happen to other individuals.

 

[drizzt3117]

I guess my point is that there's a difference between being entitled and disingenuous.

If you have a 4.0/40+ and are an ideal candidate with ECs that you're passionate about and research and are clearly strongly motivated, you SHOULD get into med school, because you have all the tools to be a good clinician-scientist and what society wants is people who can help move them forward in both clinical medicine/patient care and research. If you're not getting interviews, it's probably b/c schools don't think you'd actually attend.

Saying you're shocked you got in anywhere and humbled etc... is just a LIE. Maybe it's a white lie meant to make marginal candidates who don't gain admission a little bit less bitter, but it's still a lie.

A hard working, intelligent, passionate candidate would be an asset for any school/program/institution that was lucky enough to have them, why shouldn't they be upset they didn't receive acceptance or a scholarship?

Entitlement is defined as the belief that one is due certain rights or privileges, what's unsaid is that it's usually used to describe people who believe they are due rights/privileges that they don't deserve. If they DO deserve them, I don't see what the problem is.

I agree with this but at the same time I understand. Certainly we should all value and celebrate hard work sacrificed for some lofty goal, but at the same time we value people to acknowledge the struggles of others, the hard work of others that goes uncelebrated, and the particular advantages/help one may have head along the way.

However, on SDN there seems to be this overreaction to anyone who has high scores and expresses disappointment at not getting scholarships or interviewed at school x or missing out on something else. Suddenly when you have a 3.9+ GPA you can't struggle, feel sorry for yourself, or look for advice like the rest of the dang forum on here?

To be honest I'm pretty sure a lot of it is jealousy or bitterness but whatever the reason it's really not fair whenever I see it happen to other individuals.

 

[searun]

Well, the OP does sound like a whiner and someone who is suffering from delusions of grandeur. My response is barf. As in puke. Like you got too many medals for participating in first grade soccer and think that is how the world works. It does not work that way.

 

[drizzt3117]

Well, the OP does sound like a whiner and someone who is suffering from delusions of grandeur. My response is barf. As in puke. Like you got too many medals for participating in first grade soccer and think that is how the world works. It does not work that way.

I don't disagree with you, I'm just noting that every post asking for advice starts with "I'd like to start out by saying I'm thrilled with my acceptances, humbled, and shocked that I even got in."

 

[Kyotoh]

I understand all of the hate in this thread but I know it is mostly just due to my poor wording.

My goal after deciding to go to medical school was to go with a scholarship.

This does come off as somewhat arrogant. Most people are just trying to get in, or to get in to a school they like. Making a scholarship your medical school goal seems pretty haughty to me.

 

[drizzt3117]

This does come off as somewhat arrogant. Most people are just trying to get in, or to get in to a school they like. Making a scholarship your medical school goal seems pretty haughty to me.

So setting high goals for oneself isn't ok? We should all settle for mediocrity? Close to 50% of applicants get in, it's not like medical students are unique snowflakes even though they think they are.

 

[Dr Gerrard]

Well, the OP does sound like a whiner and someone who is suffering from delusions of grandeur. My response is barf. As in puke. Like you got too many medals for participating in first grade soccer and think that is how the world works. It does not work that way.

I'm also not going by what I myself think but what multiple people have told me. Sure, people like my family and friends may not be knowledgeable about the process but they still put ideas in my head.

I only had one other close premed friend at my undergrad, and he did end up getting a full scholarship to my state school.

Thats all I really have to compare it too.

I did have a 4.0/39 while applying as a biochem major with minors in philosophy and business administration, i did have some extracurriculars i felt were unique and that i was really passionate about, i was able to study abroad in europe and travel to Africa on an award from my university to work on a really cool project and i also had various leadership activities

PRIOR to knowing what the application process was really like, i did feel like I had done as much as i possibly could and that my hard work earned me a scholarship at some schools known to give out a ton of aid.
THEN I went and interviewed and saw what the competition was actually like. I saw why I may be mistaken.

Hence my reason for making this topic. I thought I DESERVED a scholarship because of my achievements and hard work (not ENTITLED, I feel like this has less to do with actual accomplishments).

 

[Hoya2009]

Waaaaaa.
You didn't get a scholarship, now you'll have to take out loans/win the lottery/join the army. No one should feel sorry for you; and set more realistic expectations next time.
If you were so hot on going to school on scholarship that it would get you "neurotic" and "depressed" you should have applied to law schools.

 

[BushidoBrown]

I'm also not going by what I myself think but what multiple people have told me. Sure, people like my family and friends may not be knowledgeable about the process but they still put ideas in my head.

I only had one other close premed friend at my undergrad, and he did end up getting a full scholarship to my state school.

Thats all I really have to compare it too.

I did have a 4.0/39 while applying as a biochem major with minors in philosophy and business administration, i did have some extracurriculars i felt were unique and that i was really passionate about, i was able to study abroad in europe and travel to Africa on an award from my university to work on a really cool project and i also had various leadership activities

PRIOR to knowing what the application process was really like, i did feel like I had done as much as i possibly could and that my hard work earned me a scholarship at some schools known to give out a ton of aid.
THEN I went and interviewed and saw what the competition was actually like. I saw why I may be mistaken.

Hence my reason for making this topic. I thought I DESERVED a scholarship because of my achievements and hard work (not ENTITLED, I feel like this has less to do with actual accomplishments).

ruh-roh

 

[MB333999]

guys get passed the OP's personal situation and think about the message hes actually trying to get across... do not be over confident when applying.

i for one agree with you OP, i think its a good message for any future applicant.

 

[Signifier]

There's always someone who has done more, seen more, learned more, lived more.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

I'll reiterate this again...if people are so sad they'll have to actually pay for med school JOIN THE MILITARY OR APPLY FOR NHSC SCHOLARSHIPS. Both have extremely high rates of acceptance (military is basically 100% for Army/Navy, not necessarily Air Force though, if you have very low minimum GPA/MCAT). You knew how much it cost to begin with and if it shocks you so much, there are ways to get it paid for.

Will you have an obligation (for both)? Yes. Are there downsides? Yes but nothing in life is free. If you don't want to join military/NHSC because of the negative things posted about it (no control over your life, little control over residency, red tape, etc.) then suck it up and pay. Like I said, I didn't even know these merit scholarships EXISTED before I was in the process of applying to medical school and learned about them on interview days.

And yes, I was about to do it before anyone asks. I was in the process of filling out an Army HPSP application and was scheduled for the physical required for the application when I learned I was lucky enough to get one of those merit scholarships these people are longing for. So yeah, I apparently I was on par with these thread starters who think they're "qualified" for scholarships. The only difference was that I didn't have any delusions of grandeur. Chances are low and if you want to change those chances...do it.

 

[skyhyp2009]

I'm also not going by what I myself think but what multiple people have told me. Sure, people like my family and friends may not be knowledgeable about the process but they still put ideas in my head.

I only had one other close premed friend at my undergrad, and he did end up getting a full scholarship to my state school.

Thats all I really have to compare it too.

I did have a 4.0/39 while applying as a biochem major with minors in philosophy and business administration, i did have some extracurriculars i felt were unique and that i was really passionate about, i was able to study abroad in europe and travel to Africa on an award from my university to work on a really cool project and i also had various leadership activities

PRIOR to knowing what the application process was really like, i did feel like I had done as much as i possibly could and that my hard work earned me a scholarship at some schools known to give out a ton of aid.
THEN I went and interviewed and saw what the competition was actually like. I saw why I may be mistaken.

Hence my reason for making this topic. I thought I DESERVED a scholarship because of my achievements and hard work (not ENTITLED, I feel like this has less to do with actual accomplishments).

noticed the bold part in many of your posts....

I seriously doubt your parents are as overbearing as mine are. Honestly, even though I feel that I'm one of the rare applicants who OVER achieve in the application cycle, here's what I hear from my parents every single day...."why didn't you get into Harvard...blah blah blah" I had to live with that same statement ringing in my ears (yes every single day) for all four years of my undergrad too.

Do I get affected? Sure. I get annoyed as hell. Do I take what they say as truth or let what they say really sink it? Hell no. I have my own opinions and thoughts.

You have a mind...use it. Don't just use it just for the rote memorization that helped you do well on the MCATs, use it to think for yourself and create your own opinions. It's possible that you might not have done as well as you thought on your interviews because you gave such cliche and common answers that you thought your interviewers might want to hear.

Be your own person and live your own life.

Also, if you only compared yourself to only one person before applying, then you have a serious problem of not being resourceful. Maybe this was because you weren't sure about applying to medical school last spring, but wow......that's like trying to cross a busy street blindfolded and without the right of way.

 

[Geekchick921]

guys get passed the OP's personal situation and think about the message hes actually trying to get across... do not be over confident when applying.

i for one agree with you OP, i think its a good message for any future applicant.

This is pretty much common sense, though. Don't expect anything, especially going into a process as seemingly random as applying to medical school. It's a surefire way to get disappointed.

 

[MB333999]

This is pretty much common sense, though. Don't expect anything, especially going into a process as seemingly random as applying to medical school. It's a surefire way to get disappointed.

it is common sense but, you'd be surprised how many ppl go in with the "ill get in for sure mentality"

 

[Hejman]

I feel the need to post this link again, because peeps need to realize that THERE ARE ALWAYS BETTER PEOPLE OUT THERE!!!!

SEE FOR YOURSELF: http://www.pdsoros.org/current_fellows/

 

[gravitywave]

This is pretty much common sense, though. Don't expect anything, especially going into a process as seemingly random as applying to medical school. It's a surefire way to get disappointed.

most assuredly not common sense, considering the nature of a lot of the traffic we get here.

i get what OP is trying to say, and i really approve. people should take what s/he's saying to heart, because s/he's not the only one this has happened to, or will happen to. humility will take you a long way in this process, and i say that as someone who learned that the hard way.

 

[Geekchick921]

most assuredly not common sense, considering the nature of a lot of the traffic we get here.

I wouldn't consider most of our user base to be burdened with too much of that stuff, though. 😉

 

[FlowRate]

When you:
Feel like you're a perfect fit for a school
Are in the top 1% of applicants, in terms of quantifiables... maybe even better
Have good EC's and unusually interesting passions

...and then you get rejected, or waitlisted; maybe you didn't even garner an interview--it sucks. I think there are a lot of people who have this same experience, yet people on this forum will hate you for posting about it, because you did get accepted to a school or two. Even after all that punishingly hard work in undergrad.

 

[Silverfalcon]

I suppose what irks some users is that OP got into two excellent medical schools and remain upset that he didn't get the scholarship as the friend who will be attending the state school. I don't see the problem wrong with being disappointed by not receiving the scholarship in the sense that OP believed that his qualifications were in similar level as other people who DID get the scholarship.

But here's a reality check for OP, who may/may not know the real life besides his comfort zone. There are MANY MANY people who DESERVE jobs in this economy and are unemployed. There will also be some people who may have looked better than you in the paper AND not get into the two medical schools that you got into. That's life, and a part of how admission works is that it's a mutual thing - whatever you are match with whatever school wants. You may think you DESERVED the scholarship but the admission may have thought differently. So, there, get over it, and move on. Otherwise, you will be that guy who will be miserable rest of the life because you always found someone who was one step better than you and got everything that you wanted.

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

I feel the need to post this link again, because peeps need to realize that THERE ARE ALWAYS BETTER PEOPLE OUT THERE!!!!

SEE FOR YOURSELF: http://www.pdsoros.org/current_fellows/

that's the most hideous group of glamor shots i've ever seen.