~*~*~*~*OFFICIAL NUTCASE APPLICANTS THREAD*~*~*~*~

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HomeSkool

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As requested. Post your stories about the strangest and/or most head-scratchingly inappropriate applicants you've seen!

I know I said "inappropriate", but keep it clean. There are children present.
 
I've interviewed two people with a complete flat affect, one convicted felon (our standards are higher now), several people who were dismissed from MD schools, and several more who were dismissed from UG for cheating. One guy had had someone else take an exam for him.

While I didn't interview these types, we've rejected some people for being "scary".

The wise @gyngyn has reported of one applicant who had a single digit MCAT score. No, not single digits in each category...but for the entire exam! He also had one person who applied to literally every MD school in the US!
 
Goro said:
I've interviewed two people... one convicted felon ....
Click to expand...

When even convicted felons get interviews and all you've gotten so far are rejections

19162w.jpg
 
((hopefully this isn't just for adcoms))

At one of my interviews, the other applicant interrogated the faculty presenter (an adcom member) about their exact board pass rates, and then compared them (out loud!) to other schools they had interviewed at previously. 😱
 
Goro said:
The wise @gyngyn has reported of one applicant who had a single digit MCAT score. No, not single digits in each category...but for the entire exam! He also had one person who applied to literally every MD school in the US!
Click to expand...
Single... Digit...? This applicant needs to be a genius. Even if you guessed on every single question you would still have a higher score.
 
Goro said:
The wise @gyngyn has reported of one applicant who had a single digit MCAT score. No, not single digits in each category...but for the entire exam! He also had one person who applied to literally every MD school in the US!
Click to expand...
@gyngyn...this is multiple call-outs. Spill it. 🙂

ekmf27050 said:
((hopefully this isn't just for adcoms))
Click to expand...
This is most definitely not just for adcoms. All comers are welcome!
 
Here is a story about my friend (whom I love dearly but really needs to get his head out of his ass)

-straight up 4.0 as a biochemistry major
-517 MCAT
-only extracerricular is 100 hours at a hospital

-He applied to every single T40 and nothing below

-Calls himself "smartest guy in the university". And he's serious.

-Applied in July. Not a single interview yet.

Here's the punch you've been waiting for: blames his lack of success in this cycle solely on the fact that he didn't apply in June
 
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We just got a re-application from someone with multiple MCAT scores below the 1 percentile (474 was the latest score) and a below 2.0 Sgpa who believes their failure in the last cycle was due to their late application.
 
gyngyn said:
We just got a re-application from someone with multiple MCAT scores below the 1 percentile (474 was the latest score) and a below 2.0 Sgpa who believes their failure in the last cycle was due to their late application.
Click to expand...
I am laughing out loud right now! you know, my knee jerk reaction when I see gyngyn post stuff like this is "you're making that up!!!"

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
 
I posted this elsewhere but during one of my interviews, there was a guy from a TOP10 school who wore a very bright color bow tie with his school logo. Black blazer with golden buttons that i’m pretty sure was engraved with his school logo.
I feel like you can all guess which school he went to.
 
Goro said:
I am laughing out loud right now! you know, my knee jerk reaction when I see gyngyn post stuff like this is "you're making that up!!!"

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
Click to expand...
You know I'm not that imaginative...
 
gyngyn said:
MCAT scores below the 1 percentile (474 was the latest score) and a below 2.0 Sgpa
Click to expand...

Don't most schools have auto-screens for MCAT/GPA's that low? Would imagine with numbers like that, the applicant would get an auto-reject and adcoms would never know that the re-applicant existed
 
At one of my first interviews, another applicant offered to give me a tour of the medical school during some down time on our interview day. Trying to be friendly and pleasant, I agreed, assuming he had done research there or something. It became apparent as we got very lost that he had never been to the school before, and just enjoyed hearing himself talk.

Later, during the student-led tour, he interrupted the tour guide several times to "correct" her information and/or add in a fact or anecdote he had read online somewhere (several of which seemed to be misinformed or straight up false, judging by the tour guide's reaction).

The best part? After quizzing me about where else I was interviewing, he asked what specialty I wanted to pursue. I shrugged and gave my typical "here are a few broad categories I'm interested in but I'm sure I'll change my mind in medical school" answer and asked what he was interested in. His answer: "I'm going to be a neurosurgeon."
 
I guess I'll out myself since I am not above self-deprecation.

During a hospital tour, we split into two groups, each going different ways. My group was being led by an assistant admissions fellow while the other group was being led by the D of A.

Both groups ended up packed into a single floor where we were touring an ICU unit. Since the unit was too small for everyone, the DOA said that his group would go first while my group waited outside the ICU.

As D of A led his group into the unit, like an uncontrollable tick, I quietly shouted, "Saving the best for last." The D of A overheard and responded, "I heard that."

D'oh!!!
 
DV-T said:
I guess I'll out myself since I am not above self-deprecation.

During a hospital tour, we split into two groups, each going different ways. My group was being led by an assistant admissions fellow while the other group was being led by the D of A.

Both groups ended up packed into a single floor where we were touring an ICU unit. Since the unit was too small for everyone, the DOA said that his group would go first while my group waited outside the ICU.

As D of A led his group into the unit, like an uncontrollable tick, I quietly shouted, "Saving the best for last." The D of A overheard and responded, "I heard that."

D'oh!!!
Click to expand...
Dude, that's not bad. That's awesome. +1!
 
HomeSkool said:
Dude, that's not bad. That's awesome. +1!
Click to expand...

Haha. At the time, I didn't know whether the D of A had a sense of humor or not. So I was kinda panicking immediately after I opened my big mouth...
 
imxpandanese said:
Don't most schools have auto-screens for MCAT/GPA's that low? Would imagine with numbers like that, the applicant would get an auto-reject and adcoms would never know that the re-applicant existed
Click to expand...
Holistic review requires a complete evaluation of all candidates...
 
My favorite (least favorite?) personal statements:
First one talked about how they knew doctors didn't have time to read essays nor did they care about anything other than stats.
Second one talked about how they lived a privileged life and never realized other people could have problems until a significant other was devastated by a death in the family.

Each time I was SORELY tempted to contact each applicant to tell them how poorly they came across but it is against school policy.
 
famous story among orthopods, one i know to be true. not a med school but residency applicant. Got drunk at the pre-interview dinner, hit on a current resident’s wife, and ended up coming to the interview the following morning with a black eye. *facepalm


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
famous story among orthopods, one i know to be true. not a med school but residency applicant. Got drunk at the pre-interview dinner, hit on a current resident’s wife, and ended up coming to the interview the following morning with a black eye. *facepalm


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

Who gave him the shiner? The resident or his wife?
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
famous story among orthopods, one i know to be true. not a med school but residency applicant. Got drunk at the pre-interview dinner, hit on a current resident’s wife, and ended up coming to the interview the following morning with a black eye. *facepalm


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

Lol surprised dude even showed up. I'd think he'd be DOA after that in that program.
 
Goro said:
I've interviewed two people with a complete flat affect, one convicted felon (our standards are higher now), several people who were dismissed from MD schools, and several more who were dismissed from UG for cheating. One guy had had someone else take an exam for him.

While I didn't interview these types, we've rejected some people for being "scary".

The wise @gyngyn has reported of one applicant who had a single digit MCAT score. No, not single digits in each category...but for the entire exam! He also had one person who applied to literally every MD school in the US!
Click to expand...
I thought @gyngyn was a girl.... dang
 
Group interview format. Each interviewer asks specific questions to each interviewee. Yet one hyperacheiver wanted ot answer questions delivered to other people, something like this;

Me (to Joe): So where do you think you'll be in 10 years?
Jane: (before Joe can open his mouth): Oh, can I answer that?
Me: You'll get your turn.

My student interviewer had enough of her.
Jack: Describe yourself in only three words.
Her ....dead silence.

This is one example of how someone with a 4.0 and 520 MCAT can get rejected outright.
 
At one of my interviews last cycle, the person conducting the welcome session asked us to take turns stating our names, majors, institutions of choice, and an interesting fact. Pretty standard stuff, right?

So it seemed obvious to me that "institution of choice" was a cute attempt at undergraduate institution. And that is what the administrator was expecting.

The first person "My name is John Doe, I'm a physics major at UofWherever, my institution of choice is HMS, I play violin"
5 more people take their turn, each stating their #1 MEDICAL SCHOOL CHOICE, none of them mention the place we are interviewing (!!!).

My turn, I answer the questions as they were intended.

Then another 5 people go after me and all mention some first choice school that isn't the one where we are interviewing. The dean had a look of uncomfortable shock the entire time. I was so embarrassed for them. I wonder if any of them were accepted? I was, btw.
 
Anonysaurus Rex said:
At one of my interviews last cycle, the person conducting the welcome session asked us to take turns stating our names, majors, institutions of choice, and an interesting fact. Pretty standard stuff, right?

So it seemed obvious to me that "institution of choice" was a cute attempt at undergraduate institution. And that is what the administrator was expecting.

The first person "My name is John Doe, I'm a physics major at UofWherever, my institution of choice is HMS, I play violin"
5 more people take their turn, each stating their #1 MEDICAL SCHOOL CHOICE, none of them mention the place we are interviewing (!!!).

My turn, I answer the questions as they were intended.

Then another 5 people go after me and all mention some first choice school that isn't the one where we are interviewing. The dean had a look of uncomfortable shock the entire time. I was so embarrassed for them. I wonder if any of them were accepted? I was, btw.
Click to expand...

I have no idea how you're supposed to get "your undergrad" from "institution of choice" at a med school interview. That is really poorly worded lol. I guess it's a good way to screen out the people who don't understand social norms.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
I have no idea how you're supposed to get "your undergrad" from "institution of choice" at a med school interview. That is really poorly worded lol. I guess it's a good way to screen out the people who don't understand social norms.
Click to expand...

Or they were trying to cute? Now they know a great way to screen those who don’t get it out....
 
At my school, there is a tale of a specific interviewee that gets repeated every interview season (and rightfully so?)...

Our school used to have interviewees run through two standardized patient encounters. In the interview invite email, it stated, essentially, that "in no way, shape, or form is any medical knowledge or equipment required, we are simply trying to gauge your social/personal/cultural skills...".

Well, a higher up at the school would make jokes, etc. before the encounter session in an attempt to ease everyone's nerves. He would even remind them that they just needed to have a conversation with each 'patient'...

A particular interviewee didn't get the message. After his number was called, he threw his stethoscope around his neck and walked down the hallway to greet the first patient. He was told, repeatedly, that he didn't need it. His response? "It makes me look more professional and you never know, I may actually need it!". The kicker? He didn't know how to use it.

He was rejected.
 
BadSanta said:
At my school, there is a tale of a specific interviewee that gets repeated every interview season (and rightfully so?)...

Our school used to have interviewees run through two standardized patient encounters. In the interview invite email, it stated, essentially, that "in no way, shape, or form is any medical knowledge or equipment required, we are simply trying to gauge your social/personal/cultural skills...".

Well, a higher up at the school would make jokes, etc. before the encounter session in an attempt to ease everyone's nerves. He would even remind them that they just needed to have a conversation with each 'patient'...

A particular interviewee didn't get the message. After his number was called, he threw his stethoscope around his neck and walked down the hallway to greet the first patient. He was told, repeatedly, that he didn't need it. His response? "It makes me look more professional and you never know, I may actually need it!". The kicker? He didn't know how to use it.

He was rejected.
Click to expand...

Hahahaha this made my day.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
BadSanta said:
At my school, there is a tale of a specific interviewee that gets repeated every interview season (and rightfully so?)...

Our school used to have interviewees run through two standardized patient encounters. In the interview invite email, it stated, essentially, that "in no way, shape, or form is any medical knowledge or equipment required, we are simply trying to gauge your social/personal/cultural skills...".

Well, a higher up at the school would make jokes, etc. before the encounter session in an attempt to ease everyone's nerves. He would even remind them that they just needed to have a conversation with each 'patient'...

A particular interviewee didn't get the message. After his number was called, he threw his stethoscope around his neck and walked down the hallway to greet the first patient. He was told, repeatedly, that he didn't need it. His response? "It makes me look more professional and you never know, I may actually need it!". The kicker? He didn't know how to use it.

He was rejected.
Click to expand...
This reminds me of the guy who used a photo of himself apparently conducting a cardiac exam (with a stethoscope, naturally) on a little girl. She is standing, lightly clothed, looking up (sadly) at the camera. A woman is sitting on her haunches on the ground off to the side. Other children are scattered in the background, playing. It appears that they are in a hot, dusty location. I looked through his application to see if he had any training in pediatrics (or cardiology...) and finding none, contacted him to see if he had just neglected to include it. I also asked if he had her parent's permission for the use of the child's image. He told me it was "just a photo op" from his medical mission...
I have become accustomed to the use of children in developing countries for medical school applications. I still don't like it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
gyngyn said:
This reminds me of the guy who used a photo of himself apparently conducting a cardiac exam (with a stethoscope, naturally) on a little girl. She is standing, lightly clothed, looking up (sadly) at the camera. A woman is sitting on her haunches on the ground off to the side. Other children are scattered in the background, playing. It appears that they are in a hot, dusty location. I looked through his application to see if he had any training in pediatrics (or cardiology...) and finding none, contacted him to see if he had just neglected to include it. I also asked if he had her parent's permission for the use of the child's image. He told me it was "just a photo op" from his medical mission...
I have become accustomed to the use of children in developing countries for medical school applications. I still don't like it.
Click to expand...
Just keep rejecting their medical tourist butts and eventually the message will sink in!
 
Not sure if I can post this here but just contributing to your fun.

I want to share this story happened around me from the last cycle. Student A really wanted to go to school X. His parents somehow reached out to an admission officer of school X to look over his applicant. The administrator told them that his application looks good and most likely will get an interview. Student A was thrilled. Later he claimed that he got an interview invite (Bragging on our faces but never showed us the email). He posted a selfie with the school in the back on social media and stated School X class of 2022. He told us in the comment that the dean called him on the drive back that he's been offered acceptance for being an outstanding applicant, on the same day of the interview. We were happy for him. Last week he made a post trashing school X for reincarnated his acceptance and now he has to go to a Caribean school because school X "ffffed" him over.

...

It made us doubt if something truly went wrong, or that he didn't get an acceptance in the first place...
 
gonnif said:
True story as relayed to me by an Admissions Dean: having a female applicant being escorted by an extremely pregnant secretary across the street to another interview, The pregnant woman falls down and the applicant is completely absorbed in possibly being late for he interview by staring at her watch and tapping her foot. Only after a minute or two does she even seem to realize that perhaps she should assist this pregnant woman to her feet. Word went quickly up the chain and before the applicant completed this session, her next one was abruptly cancelled and she was told she could go. This was in the days before email and dean ended her telling of this, it may have been the only time she hoped the rejection letter made it back to applicant's home before she did
Click to expand...

It's a shame, many, many applicants would have done the same (especially in more prestigious MD programs), so its unlucky she was the only one that had that task.
 
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