- Joined
- Sep 12, 2015
- Messages
- 1,057
- Reaction score
- 1,644
This is getting depressing..🙁
Official 2015-2016: Oh no, I don't have a single Interview Invite thread!
- Thread starter iDOliveinMD
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2015
- Messages
- 551
- Reaction score
- 612
-My MCAT is the new one ( so I think I'm ok for a while)
-My undergrad GPA is definitely the problem ( especially my science GPA) so I need more undergrad science classes (hopefully A's ) to raise it to a more competitive level. Wont take the same classes over,maybe I can take new things like genetics etc. I am a liberal arts major so I didn't take a tremendous amount of science classes. Only a few over the requirements.
-maybe 10 schools is "too little". I was being dramatic. lol.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2015
- Messages
- 1,057
- Reaction score
- 1,644
I dont think you should worry that much yet!! I told you I get a feeling for you with NYMC. You got the invite so you half way there.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
Waitlisted. Honestly, this is just about the lowest I've ever felt in my entire life. So many things have gone wrong for me lately. Personally, financially, you name it. The list goes on. But the root of it all is that despite devoting so many years to this goal, nobody seems to recognize me as someone who could be a doctor. This was going to be the panacea that fixed everything and made the struggles I've had over the past year worth it. I was going to be free. Cheers to another year of agonizing self doubt. I'm so tired of my life.
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2015
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 379
I wish I were in your shoes, for me to offset my sGPA I'd need to do another 4 year degree, and get straight As. Chocolate, I know you don't want to retake your MCAT but that may be the easiest fix in your case (although I have no idea how much time and effort you put into the previous ones). I know the previous times I had taken the MCAT it was always secondary to everything else I was doing (defending my MSc, following a summer of travelling) so when I took last summer off to study (and only study) I was able to achieve a substantial increase.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2015
- Messages
- 1,057
- Reaction score
- 1,644
Im so sorry..how much does the waitlist generally move at that school...Didnt you have like 3 invites?
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2015
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 379
Its not over yet, just remember, waitlisted is better than rejected and there is still hope. Don't get down on yourself, its not that they don't think you'd make a great doctor or they wouldn't have interviewed, or waitlisted you. The thing I keep telling myself is that, I'm going to be a doctor regardless of what these adcoms decide, the rejections/silences aren't a reflection on my ability, but a reflection of the outstanding work that everyone else has done in their goals to becoming a physician. We are competing against the best and brightest, and there is no shame in reapplying or choosing another route to your goals. We've all worked hard, and will continue to work hard, to get where we need to be.
- Joined
- May 21, 2013
- Messages
- 5,411
- Reaction score
- 7,831
Shoot. I'm really, really sorry to hear that. Do you have a good chance of getting in off the waitlist?
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
I thought my interviews went so well; I know it's stupid, but I really thought I had a chance here. All I know now is that I can't do this anymore. The thought of interviewing for another waitlist spot is not something I can face. All I've ever wanted to do was be a doctor. Even though I've never met any of you, I appreciate all of you, and it is my profound hope that you all achieve your dreams. It's time for me to go away now.
- Joined
- May 21, 2013
- Messages
- 5,411
- Reaction score
- 7,831
I know it probably feels pretty crappy right now. Give yourself a few days to be sad for yourself. But don't let this setback stop you from pursuing your dream. You'll probably regret it forever if you give up now.
please don't get discouraged. my first interview resulted in a rejection. i thought it went well enough to not be rejected and i was devastated. i just had my second interview a week ago, and while i thought it went well, i don't know the decision yet. i also had similar feelings of interviewing again after i received the first rejection and even if my second interview doesn't get me an acceptance, i know that i tried my best while preparing for the interview. and even with a waitlist, its not over at all! someone close to me got 3 waitlists and was accepted at one and is now an MS2!
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2015
- Messages
- 234
- Reaction score
- 389
Hey you were waitlisted for a reason. It means you're good enough but they're tight on space. Otherwise they would have rejected you. So it's logistics. Which means apply again or do more interviews and you're probably in.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2015
- Messages
- 795
- Reaction score
- 1,286
I started calling schools too but most of them don't pick up.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2015
- Messages
- 795
- Reaction score
- 1,286
@bananafish94, you are still in undergrad and you got yourself an interview AND waitlisted. You should be damn proud of yourself, because guess what, not many of us can say that. a lot of people on here are nontraditional applicants who didn't get into medical school or interview in undergrad. So there is something about you that clearly medical schools want and that's fantastic! Do not feel low. I know right now it feels that way because you've been waiting for that acceptance, but you know what, you aren't rejected. Be proactive. See if sending a letter of intent works, why Rush. Ask where you are on the waitlist. Make your case. There are people who move off the waitlist, and you may be one of them. I know what I say right now won't mean anything to you and I know right now, any positive words, you're going to ignore because this just happened today. But come back on here after this weekend, and take pride in who you are and your accomplishment because this is one. I, like many others, recognize that you will be a doctor. Keep forging onward!!!!!!!
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2015
- Messages
- 795
- Reaction score
- 1,286
That test kills me @Ari77! But, if I do take it again, I literally have to not work and just devote myself to MCAT and hope for the increase.
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2011
- Messages
- 28,818
- Reaction score
- 55,101
There may be other reasons for a Master's, but this will not reduce risk aversion secondary to a low undergrad gpa.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
That's not true; your words mean a great deal to me. I am not going to pretend that I still have a chance at Rush--their waitlist is hundreds of people long. I have an interview next week that will hopefully prove fruitful. Unfortunately, that does mean another month of waiting. But such is life.
I would also like to add, for what it's worth, that as a patient I would much rather have one of you as my physician than a 4.0/39 robot that has never experienced failure. Good luck and godspeed to all of you.
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2015
- Messages
- 297
- Reaction score
- 376
For the applicant with a low undergrad GPA, would you weigh a strong post-bacc of science courses to raise undergrad gpa more heavily then a high graduate gpa? I understand some schools have hard gpa cutoffs, and if the undergrad gpa is below the threshold then it makes sense to boost the undergrad gpa, but I did not believe retaking courses would be looked at too favorably. Of course I am no authority on this matter this is simply based on the collection of information I've gathered over the past few years.
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2014
- Messages
- 530
- Reaction score
- 823
This became such a sad thread all of a sudden. It hurts me to see you guys, who undoubtably have the ability to become amazing doctors, not getting the oppurtunity to do so.
If your main goal is to become a doctor, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE start applying to DO medical schools. I work at a dermatology practice where 2/5 physicians are DOs, one of which gets the MOST patients out of all of them and every patient loves him. The doctors all collaborate with each other when they have a rare/difficult case. I get to see first hand how equal these two "titles" are, so disregard the misconceptions saying otherwise.
The point is: DON'T WASTE A YEAR. Apply DO your first cycle as a back up. There are so many medical school applicants that I think everyone at this point should apply to DO schools as a back up if their goal is to become a doctor. Is DO EASIER to get in to? Sure it is. Is it EASY to get in to? Absolutely not.
If your main goal is to become a doctor, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE start applying to DO medical schools. I work at a dermatology practice where 2/5 physicians are DOs, one of which gets the MOST patients out of all of them and every patient loves him. The doctors all collaborate with each other when they have a rare/difficult case. I get to see first hand how equal these two "titles" are, so disregard the misconceptions saying otherwise.
The point is: DON'T WASTE A YEAR. Apply DO your first cycle as a back up. There are so many medical school applicants that I think everyone at this point should apply to DO schools as a back up if their goal is to become a doctor. Is DO EASIER to get in to? Sure it is. Is it EASY to get in to? Absolutely not.
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2011
- Messages
- 28,818
- Reaction score
- 55,101
Absolutely. Graduate gpa does not help an MD application at all (though it can hurt if below a 3.8). DO schools view this differently.
Retaking classes is more useful for a DO application as well.
No love from DO schools either chocolate? Has it been silent or have you been rejected? Which schools did you apply to? Wishing you all the best. Its not over for DO yet...
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2015
- Messages
- 400
- Reaction score
- 683
That's the worst part about the MCAT in my eyes. For those of us that had to work when we were studying, it was much more of a struggle. I know someone who scored in the 90th percentile...but to do so they had to take 6 months of work off, take a test prep course, and treat studying like their 9-5. I'm ok with my score but obviously I would have liked to have been able to be in that position!
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2015
- Messages
- 795
- Reaction score
- 1,286
I've been silent but I just added some more today because I thought why not. I applied to NYIT COM, PCOM, Touro COM, LECOM, VCOM, and others I cannot remember off the top of my head right now, but when I do, I shall list them here! thank you for your kind words =)
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2015
- Messages
- 795
- Reaction score
- 1,286
yeah and some of us can't afford test prep courses, but I know if I could, I would kill this test. I actually had my friends find the books for me online because I couldn't afford to buy them for the new MCAT.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
The MCAT is really the only thing schools care about. At the end of the day, no matter how many publications you have, no matter how many hours of volunteering you have, no matter how compassionate you are or how good your letters are, there's only one statistic that schools can use to assert their dominance over each other. I would trade every single qualitative achievement I have for 5 more points on the MCAT.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2015
- Messages
- 234
- Reaction score
- 389
Hey I got a 521 and only 2 IIs so far, so you'd be surprised how far good ECs go.
- Joined
- May 21, 2013
- Messages
- 5,411
- Reaction score
- 7,831
I feel it. I would do so many things differently if I could do this over again. At least now I know what to focus on for med school. Research and good grades/step 1 scores.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2015
- Messages
- 583
- Reaction score
- 334
I'm sorry you have had to go through this grueling process so many times. What were your stats and ECs like? You say you took the MCAT 3 times. Even if you scored well on your last attempt many schools will average all your attempts so you may be at a disadvantage there. There are schools who will weigh your latest attempt the most so you should do your research on which schools they are and definitely look into those. You also mentioned in an earlier post that you did a masters, correct? Was it an SMP or were you at least taking courses with med students or at a medical school? Regular masters programs are often inflated so they don't hold much weight in MD admissions. DO schools will count it toward the cGPA. Have you considered posting a thread in the WAMC forum? Gyngyn and Goro are admissions officers at an MD and DO school respectively and give great advice on where you can improve as well help in forming a good, strategic list. There are also many others in the forum who can advise you on areas where you can improve.
I certainly hope things work out for you this cycle but if they don't, I think skipping an app cycle and taking time to seriously improve the weak areas of your application wouldn't be a bad idea. Wish you the best.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2015
- Messages
- 109
- Reaction score
- 182
.
Last edited:
probably retaking as well, just started studying today. my last interview was at a school that at the adcom meetings post-interview, they're not even allowed to bring up MCAT scores so i'm really crossing my fingers, as they're my only hope at the moment
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
There's nothing I would do-over per se, but there are things I would change if I had the power. Obviously, I prepared diligently for the MCAT. On the practice exams (I took like 7), I was ranging from 31 to 35. I got a 31. Had I been on the other side of that spectrum, I'd be doing an awful lot better right now. So it upsets me that whatever random factors happened to be at play on the MCAT on that particular day had such a profound effect on my future.
- Joined
- May 21, 2013
- Messages
- 5,411
- Reaction score
- 7,831
Yeah and it's also crazy that a 31 isn't considered good enough anymore =/
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
Everyone and their brother, including the "ad-coms" on this website told me not to retake a 31. They were wrong.
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2015
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 379
Everyone told you not to retake? Are you 100% sure that is the weakest point of your application then? I've been told not to retake my MCAT as well and I scored what would now be considered a 30. Is your score evenly distributed across sections as well? I ask because it would really suck to spend all that time retaking an exam only to find out that the issue was on clinical hours, or a less than stellar reference letter.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2014
- Messages
- 1,301
- Reaction score
- 1,474
37 and only 2 II's here
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2014
- Messages
- 530
- Reaction score
- 823
I understand your frustration with this whole process, but that's really not true. Look at this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/any-27-29-mcat-with-interviews.351659/page-55#post-17372023
So many people have success with their low MCAT scores. Also, many people are unsuccessful with their high MCAT scores.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
I have spent many a night trying to figure this out. I've narrowed the bad parts of my application to this:
1. Bad MCAT score (31 11P,9V,11B)
2. Bad LOR (although I remain skeptical that I would get four interviews with a bad LOR). Also, I knew all of my writers well so they would have to be serious sociopaths to do that.
3. Bad PS (I consider this to be completely plausible, although I had a lot of qualified people read it who helped me refine it and who liked the product). Again though, if my PS blows, why invite me for an interview in the first place?
4. Low shadowing hours (like 20 if I recall correctly).
5. Poor interview skills (I cannot objectively speak to this, but I have extensive public speaking experience and have historically gotten pretty much all positions involving an interview).
I have hundreds of hours of clinical experience across a variety of settings, hundreds of hours of volunteering in two labs including a publication, significant teaching experience, significant leadership experience, and a good GPA. None of that can logically be the problem.
Again though, I really don't think schools truly care about anything other than the MCAT, and to a lesser extent, the GPA. At the end of the day, their primary objective is to increase the "ranking" and prestige of the school, right? You don't do that by accepting a guy with a good story but average statistics. Whenever there is a difficult analytical problem, look at the extremes and work inwards. Say two people have a solid, above average GPA. Let's just say 3.75. Assume person A got a 39 on the MCAT and hasn't volunteered a day in his life. Person B got a 27 on the MCAT and has 500 volunteering hours and a first author publication. Based solely on what I've read and experienced this semester, person A could walk in to any mid-tier school in America and Person B probably wouldn't get a single interview. Just my two cents.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
Have you heard your post-interview decisions yet?
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2014
- Messages
- 1,301
- Reaction score
- 1,474
None so far and one was way back in September.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
I have every bit of confidence you'll get into one, if not both.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2015
- Messages
- 109
- Reaction score
- 182
.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
I have to ask myself the question, "What do I do for a medical school?" What does the medical school really want? They want somebody that helps them in some statistical category. I'm generally in about the 85th+ percentile for GPA depending on the school, so I have that going for me. But besides that? Not a whole lot. My MCAT doesn't help anybody. I don't contribute to the diversity of the class. Regardless of my fit for any given school's alleged mission, I'm really not a good sell.
I also call into question a lot of the statements held to be truth that are thrown around a lot on this site. On many occasions, I have heard people (including some of the adcom members) say that if every school wanted to fill its entire class with 4.0/35+ students, they could. But they don't, because they also consider the entire applicant in terms of ECs, etc. Well, this isn't remotely true. That MCAT score is the 96th percentile. Roughly 80000 take it every year, meaning roughly 3200 people score a 35+ (or whatever the equivalent is for the new one) each year. Even if we assume that three years of MCAT scores are on the table for each application cycle, there are about 20000 med school seats in the country. It is most assuredly not true that schools could fill their classes with these people--there's simply too few of them. They consider students with lower MCAT scores as a last-resort measure.
I also call into question a lot of the statements held to be truth that are thrown around a lot on this site. On many occasions, I have heard people (including some of the adcom members) say that if every school wanted to fill its entire class with 4.0/35+ students, they could. But they don't, because they also consider the entire applicant in terms of ECs, etc. Well, this isn't remotely true. That MCAT score is the 96th percentile. Roughly 80000 take it every year, meaning roughly 3200 people score a 35+ (or whatever the equivalent is for the new one) each year. Even if we assume that three years of MCAT scores are on the table for each application cycle, there are about 20000 med school seats in the country. It is most assuredly not true that schools could fill their classes with these people--there's simply too few of them. They consider students with lower MCAT scores as a last-resort measure.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,426
- Reaction score
- 12,944
Real talk...I hate this so much. I'm so tired of feeling this way. I haven't been the person I'm used to being in a long time. I don't feel sad, I'm just numb and listless. I try to find things to be happy about but it gets hard when something like this is looming over me. I miss the person that I was before I sent in my applications.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2015
- Messages
- 82
- Reaction score
- 144
I am sorry that some of you guys are struggling this cycle. But I did just want to quickly say a few things. I have been fairly quiet on the forums throughout the application process but now that things are winding down, I feel like I can offer a few thoughts. I do have to disagree that schools only care about numbers and their rankings.
After the cycle is completely over I will definitely write a post with a little about my story (or feel free to PM me). But at the core of the matter I applied this cycle with a LizzyM of less than a 67. (GPA<3.5 MCAT<32) I had been lucky to get 5 MD/PhD II including a top 10 school and 3 MD II. I have been accepted at 5 programs thus far. I am probably an outlier but I do feel that it is entirely possible to get interviews/acceptances without having scores in the 95%+. Here are a few thoughts on why I think I have been successful.
1. I have a cohesive story that showed an organic real journey to where I am today and how I became interested in medicine. I told that story plain and simple without purple prose. I didn't try to be the next David Foster Wallace, BS anyone, or elevate myself beyond what I am. I was simply me in my writing. I did have a current MD/PhD student once tell me that they should be able to know the the ebauche "brand" is by reading my application. Have a hook but don't be dramatic and over the top. And tell a real story.
2. I did very little/no resume padding. The volunteering I did fell in line with my research interests and what I ultimately would like to pursue clinically. This helped build an accurate representation of who I am as a person. By that I mean that I didn't do activities to list on AMCAS but because I wanted to do it. (I only had a couple hundred community service hours spread over a few years. But all the organization/activities were near and dear to my heart. I really cared about them) Much of which was not directly medically related but related to outdoor leadership and teaching.
2. I took time away from school after college. I have been out of college for several years working full time in a lab. I have in that time published several papers in high impact factor journals. This shows a serious commitment to the scientific process and further validates a candidates aptitude for science. It also shows maturity and indicates that my decision into medicine was not taken lightly but germinated after considerable thought.
3. I asked for help, and I mean a lot of help. I had almost everyone I know read my personal statement as well as my secondaries. (I was at the point where I was annoying myself asking other people question). I think that all too often someone will have a beautifully written primary statement and then follow them up with crappy secondaries. This can raise eyebrows as if you didn't write your primary or that you don't care about the school....both are equally bad.
4. Close relationships with faculty mentors. These worked hard to developed these over several years in schools in addition to staying in touch with faculty after graduating. Not just for the rec letters but for the real career and life advice. They are wise and many have gone through this part of life already. Get close and listen to what they have to say.
5. Recognizing my imperfections but not dwelling on them. My GPA is a prime example. I did not start out so hot in college but had a heavily upward trend. Instead of grovel in it, I used it as a key life lesson that taught me maturity, motivated me to reassess my life goals, etc. Everyone has flaws. I verbalized how these flaws helped me grow as a person as well as a student when given the chance but did not repeatedly bring undo attention to my mistakes. Knowing them and recognizing them early is not always a bad thing.
6. I think that admission criteria differ widely between institutions and they select for what they feel fits their institution the best so picking schools wisely is of the utmost importance. Just picking off of the MSAR list based on stats is a horrible idea. I think this happens a lot when people ask "What are my chances". They receive a list of schools to start with and then don't really narrow them down but just use a school list generated by strangers. Don't speak Spanish...why apply to a school that predominantly serves a hispanic population? Don't like research....why apply to a research powerhouse school? Doesn't make much sense to just because your MCAT score is similar.
7. Don't get so bogged down in school or an application cycle that you forget to live life and explore your actual passions. No one is passionate about med school admissions. So why waste time doing meaningless extra circulars if they mean nothing to do. Taking the extra time away from school if you have to do an extra application cycle will give you a chance to really explore your passions and the med school "pre-reqs" will begin to organically fall into place. Getting a B here and there or not getting an A on every test because you were out doing something that actually helped/made another human being be happy is far better payoff in my books.
I am by no means and expert on any of this. I am merely and example that qualitative traits do in fact matter and that it is not all about quantitive metrics. I also know this post wont take the sting out of any of the feelings that people have right now. But that being said, I do want people to know that it is more than possible to do well in this process despite having lower metrics on paper. Don't be down. PS. Sorry for the long post.
After the cycle is completely over I will definitely write a post with a little about my story (or feel free to PM me). But at the core of the matter I applied this cycle with a LizzyM of less than a 67. (GPA<3.5 MCAT<32) I had been lucky to get 5 MD/PhD II including a top 10 school and 3 MD II. I have been accepted at 5 programs thus far. I am probably an outlier but I do feel that it is entirely possible to get interviews/acceptances without having scores in the 95%+. Here are a few thoughts on why I think I have been successful.
1. I have a cohesive story that showed an organic real journey to where I am today and how I became interested in medicine. I told that story plain and simple without purple prose. I didn't try to be the next David Foster Wallace, BS anyone, or elevate myself beyond what I am. I was simply me in my writing. I did have a current MD/PhD student once tell me that they should be able to know the the ebauche "brand" is by reading my application. Have a hook but don't be dramatic and over the top. And tell a real story.
2. I did very little/no resume padding. The volunteering I did fell in line with my research interests and what I ultimately would like to pursue clinically. This helped build an accurate representation of who I am as a person. By that I mean that I didn't do activities to list on AMCAS but because I wanted to do it. (I only had a couple hundred community service hours spread over a few years. But all the organization/activities were near and dear to my heart. I really cared about them) Much of which was not directly medically related but related to outdoor leadership and teaching.
2. I took time away from school after college. I have been out of college for several years working full time in a lab. I have in that time published several papers in high impact factor journals. This shows a serious commitment to the scientific process and further validates a candidates aptitude for science. It also shows maturity and indicates that my decision into medicine was not taken lightly but germinated after considerable thought.
3. I asked for help, and I mean a lot of help. I had almost everyone I know read my personal statement as well as my secondaries. (I was at the point where I was annoying myself asking other people question). I think that all too often someone will have a beautifully written primary statement and then follow them up with crappy secondaries. This can raise eyebrows as if you didn't write your primary or that you don't care about the school....both are equally bad.
4. Close relationships with faculty mentors. These worked hard to developed these over several years in schools in addition to staying in touch with faculty after graduating. Not just for the rec letters but for the real career and life advice. They are wise and many have gone through this part of life already. Get close and listen to what they have to say.
5. Recognizing my imperfections but not dwelling on them. My GPA is a prime example. I did not start out so hot in college but had a heavily upward trend. Instead of grovel in it, I used it as a key life lesson that taught me maturity, motivated me to reassess my life goals, etc. Everyone has flaws. I verbalized how these flaws helped me grow as a person as well as a student when given the chance but did not repeatedly bring undo attention to my mistakes. Knowing them and recognizing them early is not always a bad thing.
6. I think that admission criteria differ widely between institutions and they select for what they feel fits their institution the best so picking schools wisely is of the utmost importance. Just picking off of the MSAR list based on stats is a horrible idea. I think this happens a lot when people ask "What are my chances". They receive a list of schools to start with and then don't really narrow them down but just use a school list generated by strangers. Don't speak Spanish...why apply to a school that predominantly serves a hispanic population? Don't like research....why apply to a research powerhouse school? Doesn't make much sense to just because your MCAT score is similar.
7. Don't get so bogged down in school or an application cycle that you forget to live life and explore your actual passions. No one is passionate about med school admissions. So why waste time doing meaningless extra circulars if they mean nothing to do. Taking the extra time away from school if you have to do an extra application cycle will give you a chance to really explore your passions and the med school "pre-reqs" will begin to organically fall into place. Getting a B here and there or not getting an A on every test because you were out doing something that actually helped/made another human being be happy is far better payoff in my books.
I am by no means and expert on any of this. I am merely and example that qualitative traits do in fact matter and that it is not all about quantitive metrics. I also know this post wont take the sting out of any of the feelings that people have right now. But that being said, I do want people to know that it is more than possible to do well in this process despite having lower metrics on paper. Don't be down. PS. Sorry for the long post.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2015
- Messages
- 795
- Reaction score
- 1,286
seriously, you are describing exactly how I have become and right now, I can't even try to make you feel better cuz i am right there with you. people are like you've been out of college for six years, how are you not happy/enjoying life. I tell them it's because I am not where I want to be, and with each rejection, it just pushes me further into sadness, which slowly becomes numbness. I get it. I completely get it.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2013
- Messages
- 124
- Reaction score
- 245
Haha, here's another for the sad-train. I feel the same way too. I feel like I'm in a holding pattern. My friends are advancing their careers, building families, establishing nests, or even just ****ing around. While no one's having the time of their lives (except maybe the last one), they at least have something to show for the last 6 years. I've got a med school application that's probably as useful as used toilet paper.
I hate what this application process has done to me. I used to be a very carefree and happy-go-lucky person (perhaps too carefree). Absolutely nothing used to bother me. Not lazy doctors, not shout-y doctors, not even doctors that went out of their way to make my day a little worse. Rolled right off the proverbial back. But now I have a terribly short temper and I'm always tense/anxious about one thing or another. I want to think that this will all go away when I (if I) get accepted but I'm terribly afraid that it won't.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2015
- Messages
- 795
- Reaction score
- 1,286
I am right there with you. They have something to show. I have nothing. I barely have an income, which mostly goes to paying bills, and people my age have real salaries, real jobs, are getting married, and here I am living at home at 28 with no real job, and no medical school interview. I seriously feel like I have failed at everything. My degrees mean nothing to me. Oh I have a bach and a masters, I can do so much with that, no, no I can't.
I have had a tough disadvantaged life but I NEVER let it show, get to me, or make excuses. When s*** happens in life, sure you can spend your entire life thinking I wish I wasn't in this situation (trust me I have) or I wish I was like the other kids who are already getting into medical school while I am literally just sitting here "behind" and in a situation which I can't get out of but if I was privileged or born into another family, this wouldn't be the case. Yes I have thought that but I have never let it show or used it as an excuse, but now, today, today, I feel so so tired. I've been reading the posts today and I want to respond but at the same time I don't. I have nothing to say because I am in the same failed boat. I know our struggles make us stronger, I know the strongest person is the one who has been through hell and back, but when you've faced hell your entire life and not let it bother you, and you finally finally find your passion and want it so badly, and you get rejected three times in six years, you seriously fall down. Man, I am exhausted, I am angry, I am unhappy, and truth be told, I have been through all extents of hell, and nothing made me feel this way except medical school rejections, and I know that once I get an interview and show someone how passionate I am, I will finally be happy, and I know that's hard for people to understand and that's ok, but I know myself, and I promise you @FumblyBumbly, you too will be happy once you get accepted.
I agree, I have a borderline MCAT score and have been fortunate enough to receive 2 interviews. My ECs and experience in medicine have absolutely helped me get interviews.
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2015
- Messages
- 551
- Reaction score
- 612
I was thinking about 6 more A's would do the trick for me. Since I took so little science classes ( minimum courses plus calc and stat and biochem), 1 or 2 C's brought my science gpa way down. I'm over the minimum cutoffs ( barely) but still competing with the other 5000 people that made the minimum cutoffs also. On a positive note, since I took so little science classes, a few A's should bring up my sgpa quickly.
This is my hope
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2014
- Messages
- 148
- Reaction score
- 101
38 and 1 American II so far.
