purgatory

[Mimidoc^2]

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Sorry to start a somewhat negative thread, but I had to get this off my chest. I am WAITLISTED at each school I interviewed at!! Is anyone else in this position? One program says I am ranked "very high" on the waitlist, but this is still pretty ambiguous in terms of probability of and time to acceptance.

My morale has taken quite a blow, and I'm trying simultaneously to (1) resurrect it (mainly with prayers, seeking encouragement of other ppl), (2)figure out how to "woo" the schools appropriately, and (3) devise 4 separate action plans for moving into an MSTP or staying put (which means retaking the Godforsaken MCAT and applying for new lab position). I am not having fun anymore..

 

[paramus]

Sorry to start a somewhat negative thread, but I had to get this off my chest. I am WAITLISTED at each school I interviewed at!! Is anyone else in this position? One program says I am ranked "very high" on the waitlist, but this is still pretty ambiguous in terms of probability of and time to acceptance.

My morale has taken quite a blow, and I'm trying simultaneously to (1) resurrect it (mainly with prayers, seeking encouragement of other ppl), (2)figure out how to "woo" the schools appropriately, and (3) devise 4 separate action plans for moving into an MSTP or staying put (which means retaking the Godforsaken MCAT and applying for new lab position). I am not having fun anymore..

I'm all waitlists and a rejection at the MSTPs where I interviewed. I don't honestly believe this myself, but it's probably true anyway: Those schools where you are highly ranked on the waitlist will probably end up taking you. Think about it. If someone says you're very high on the waitlist, it probably means you're no more than five names down the list; most schools will go through at least that many people and probably more depending on the program. It's still annoying - I have been angry and depressed for the better part of a month now - because being highly ranked on a waitlist doesn't really do you any good unless the list moves enough to save you, but if you can manage to take a nap until May 16, you may well wake up to a pleasant surprise.

In the meantime, get to work on those backup plans; it will give you something constructive to do with all that worried energy. I'm putting mine together this week as soon as my MSTP futility becomes official at every school. What alternatives are you looking at?

In Catholic theology, purgatory is only a period of purification en route to heaven. It feels a little like hell, but it isn't.

 

[Mimidoc^2]

I'm all waitlists and a rejection at the MSTPs where I interviewed. I don't honestly believe this myself, but it's probably true anyway: Those schools where you are highly ranked on the waitlist will probably end up taking you. Think about it. If someone says you're very high on the waitlist, it probably means you're no more than five names down the list; most schools will go through at least that many people and probably more depending on the program. It's still annoying - I have been angry and depressed for the better part of a month now - because being highly ranked on a waitlist doesn't really do you any good unless the list moves enough to save you, but if you can manage to take a nap until May 16, you may well wake up to a pleasant surprise.

In the meantime, get to work on those backup plans; it will give you something constructive to do with all that worried energy. I'm putting mine together this week as soon as my MSTP futility becomes official at every school. What alternatives are you looking at?

In Catholic theology, purgatory is only a period of purification en route to heaven. It feels a little like hell, but it isn't.

Thanks for the reply! I am sorry you are having to wait too, and we are definitely having the same emotional tendencies over this thing! I think that is what upsets me the most..I am usually very optimistic and composed, but its taking lots of effort to maintain that attitude now. Your reasoning about the "very high" waitlist ranking makes sense, and a couple other people have told me something similar. I'm just going to assume this is an eventual acceptance and stop worrying about it.
Yes, I think forcing myself to work on back-up plans now is a good idea for several reasons. Regarding alternatives, if not accepted to MSTP, I'll consider (1) applying to work full-time in different research lab. All my experience has been in epidemiology or patient-oriented clinical research, so I'd like to acquire some skills/understanding in wet bench research. Will also take 1-2 Master's level science courses a semester. Will start studying (May 1) for August MCAT.
(2) applying (late?) to do an MPH or Master's in biotechnology, biostatistics, something like that.
Since I may still be accepted, I want to contact potential investigators at each school for the this summer's lab rotation. Namely, I want to contact the scientists that I hit it off with at interviews to inquire about space, suggested readings, techniques used by the lab, etc. I also want to contact current students I met to get advice on apartments for rent, compile a list of affordable possibilities.
What are your alternatives? Are you preparing for an acceptance(s) in ways I haven't thought of?
Thanks a ton!

 

[Neuronix]

Sorry to start a somewhat negative thread, but I had to get this off my chest. I am WAITLISTED at each school I interviewed at!! Is anyone else in this position? One program says I am ranked "very high" on the waitlist, but this is still pretty ambiguous in terms of probability of and time to acceptance.

It's not negative, it's reality. Now, how many schools are you waitlisted at? Do you mind telling us which ones?

My morale has taken quite a blow, and I'm trying simultaneously to (1) resurrect it (mainly with prayers, seeking encouragement of other ppl), (2)figure out how to "woo" the schools appropriately

There's no need for (3), I bet you're going to get in. Now how to figure out (2). I'll have you answer my first question, and we'll go from there.

Good luck!

 

[Mimidoc^2]

It's not negative, it's reality. Now, how many schools are you waitlisted at? Do you mind telling us which ones?



There's no need for (3), I bet you're going to get in. Now how to figure out (2). I'll have you answer my first question, and we'll go from there.

Good luck!

Thank you for offering to help! Ok, I'm only waitlisted at 3 programs. I guess this is the part that worries me some, just because of the probability factor. The schools are Emory (won't tell me position on list), Vanderbilt (very high on list), and Medical U of South Carolina (on "hold list," they do things a bit differently). Finally, if I am Petrarch, Emory is my "Laura." I've already expressed in post interview thank-yous that this MSTP is my top choice.

 

[paramus]

Thanks for the reply! I am sorry you are having to wait too, and we are definitely having the same emotional tendencies over this thing! I think that is what upsets me the most..I am usually very optimistic and composed, but its taking lots of effort to maintain that attitude now. Your reasoning about the "very high" waitlist ranking makes sense, and a couple other people have told me something similar. I'm just going to assume this is an eventual acceptance and stop worrying about it.
Yes, I think forcing myself to work on back-up plans now is a good idea for several reasons. Regarding alternatives, if not accepted to MSTP, I'll consider (1) applying to work full-time in different research lab. All my experience has been in epidemiology or patient-oriented clinical research, so I'd like to acquire some skills/understanding in wet bench research. Will also take 1-2 Master's level science courses a semester. Will start studying (May 1) for August MCAT.
(2) applying (late?) to do an MPH or Master's in biotechnology, biostatistics, something like that.
Since I may still be accepted, I want to contact potential investigators at each school for the this summer's lab rotation. Namely, I want to contact the scientists that I hit it off with at interviews to inquire about space, suggested readings, techniques used by the lab, etc. I also want to contact current students I met to get advice on apartments for rent, compile a list of affordable possibilities.
What are your alternatives? Are you preparing for an acceptance(s) in ways I haven't thought of?
Thanks a ton!

Keep in mind that what you do to strengthen your application depends on its current weaknesses. I don't know what your application looks like, but they probably wouldn't have interviewed you at the schools you listed if your numbers weren't already high enough. I'm not sure how important extra classes or a whole MS would be unless you were an English major or had a low science GPA. You might also have trouble finding master's programs that are still taking applications for the fall semester.

The same goes for the MCAT. Unless your last test is too old to count for another application cycle or you're absolutely sure you will do better by retaking it, I would channel my energy into more productive endeavors where you can get a guaranteed payoff. And just as a side note, prep courses themselves are worthless, but the optional study materials that come with them are fantastic!

I think that your best bet would be to get a job in a wet lab. Full-time work for a year or two after school seems to be one of the favorite routes to the MSTPs, and I think people do quite well by following it. If nothing else, chances are good that if you go in and work hard, you're going to come out with some things to talk about in your future interviews and a good letter from your boss.

My situation is complicated because there's a lot of gray to it. I actually have two acceptances, but they're to schools I'm not sure I'd want to attend for eight years for several reasons. I also have an MD acceptance with an MSTP waitlist at a school I really like, which is an option; the first thing I'll do once the last school's decision comes in will be to talk to the director there about the opportunities available to me if I don't make it off of their waitlist.

A couple of schools have told me that I am "high" and "fairly high" on their waitlists, so what I'm really hoping for is an eventual acceptance from one of them or one of the schools where they won't tell me my rank. That said, I did not honestly believe going in that I would be in the position of needing to think about backup plans. I have learned my lesson: "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." You can't count on the committees to agree with your version of reality.

For me, the clear choice is to work in a lab somewhere if I decide not to go with one of the acceptances I have - which is sooooo much easier said than done when your application expenses have largely been bankrolled by relatives who are ecstatic that there's going to be a doctor in the family. I looked into master's programs too just because I would feel more comfortable as a student - and because the loans that paid for my fifth year of undergrad wouldn't come due - but what I really need is another year or two of research experience to round out an otherwise solid application, in which case a master's would be a somewhat roundabout way of doing things.