Rant

[PickaGodnPray]

Apologies in advance, not sure if I’m even going to post this but I just need to type this out.

This was my fourth application cycle and I was just deferred from my top choice which was only the second interview I had this cycle. Yes I know I could be accepted still but my gut is telling me this is the end.
My first app was bad, but I made adjustments every cycle. I’ve interviewed at Wayne, Oakland, MSU, and Umich since, but haven’t been able to get an A. Some of the schools I’ve applied to have given feedback which was helpful the first two cycles (talk less about research and retake MCAT) but since then I’ve been met with responses such as “I don’t know why you didn’t get in, your interviewers loved you” or “I don’t know why you didn’t get an interview, I would have flagged you for one”. I’ve had docs, people on adcoms, and friends that are now graduating medical school look at my app and have made adjustments but I still can’t get in.
I thought I was a competitive applicant with above 90% MCAT and above 3.8 GPA with numerous first author publications in research and thousands of clinical volunteer hours in the hospital, hospice, and EMS. I guess I just don’t really know where I went wrong.
This was sadly my last application cycle as I can’t afford to dip into my savings anymore at almost 30. I’m also just tired and can’t fight anymore.

Something they can’t teach you is how hard it is watching a dream die which is why I think I needed to say all of this. Hoping maybe other people reading this in the future know they aren’t alone when things seem so futile in the application process.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[ecobio]

Im hoping for the best for you, my friend. This process can be brutal and life-sucking. I hope you get into one of the schools you interviewed at, it sounds like you are well-deserving.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Apologies in advance, not sure if I’m even going to post this but I just need to type this out.

This was my fourth application cycle and I was just deferred from my top choice which was only the second interview I had this cycle. Yes I know I could be accepted still but my gut is telling me this is the end.
My first app was bad, but I made adjustments every cycle. I’ve interviewed at Wayne, Oakland, MSU, and Umich since, but haven’t been able to get an A. Some of the schools I’ve applied to have given feedback which was helpful the first two cycles (talk less about research and retake MCAT) but since then I’ve been met with responses such as “I don’t know why you didn’t get in, your interviewers loved you” or “I don’t know why you didn’t get an interview, I would have flagged you for one”. I’ve had docs, people on adcoms, and friends that are now graduating medical school look at my app and have made adjustments but I still can’t get in.
I thought I was a competitive applicant with above 90% MCAT and above 3.8 GPA with numerous first author publications in research and thousands of clinical volunteer hours in the hospital, hospice, and EMS. I guess I just don’t really know where I went wrong.
This was sadly my last application cycle as I can’t afford to dip into my savings anymore at almost 30. I’m also just tired and can’t fight anymore.

Something they can’t teach you is how hard it is watching a dream die which is why I think I needed to say all of this. Hoping maybe other people reading this in the future know they aren’t alone when things seem so futile in the application process.

Well heck. I'm sorry that it's still a dream deferred.

Did you apply DO, which is our customary advice after one failed cycle? I know you didn't after three, so I wasn't sure you bit the bullet and applied to AACOMAS this cycle.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

Well heck. I'm sorry that it's still a dream deferred.

Did you apply DO, which is our customary advice after one failed cycle? I know you didn't after three, so I wasn't sure you bit the bullet and applied to AACOMAS this cycle.

Yeah I applied to MSU DO and got no love this cycle. Probably should have added more but honestly didn’t think I’d struggle this much after retaking the MCAT and getting the score I did. I also added a LOT of MD programs OOS friendly and lower in stats, but no luck.

 

[LizzyM]

Sadly, if you started out with a strong application but did not apply early or wisely, you become tainted goods. Folks look at your graduation year, year you took the MCAT and deduce that you are a reapplicant, even if not to that school. Then they wonder why you didn't get snatched up earlier.

Also, when asked "what do you think you need more of?" when you have great grades and scores, tons of research and sufficient clinical experience the correct answer might be "humility" and not "I don't know".

You've had some bad breaks. The point now is to decide what alternate career will scratch the itch.

 

[AJS59]

I'm so sorry. You still have 1, maybe 2 schools left to hear from. Keep up hope and just be ready in case you get that call

 

[LindaAccepted]

Apologies in advance, not sure if I’m even going to post this but I just need to type this out.

This was my fourth application cycle and I was just deferred from my top choice which was only the second interview I had this cycle. Yes I know I could be accepted still but my gut is telling me this is the end.
My first app was bad, but I made adjustments every cycle. I’ve interviewed at Wayne, Oakland, MSU, and Umich since, but haven’t been able to get an A. Some of the schools I’ve applied to have given feedback which was helpful the first two cycles (talk less about research and retake MCAT) but since then I’ve been met with responses such as “I don’t know why you didn’t get in, your interviewers loved you” or “I don’t know why you didn’t get an interview, I would have flagged you for one”. I’ve had docs, people on adcoms, and friends that are now graduating medical school look at my app and have made adjustments but I still can’t get in.
I thought I was a competitive applicant with above 90% MCAT and above 3.8 GPA with numerous first author publications in research and thousands of clinical volunteer hours in the hospital, hospice, and EMS. I guess I just don’t really know where I went wrong.
This was sadly my last application cycle as I can’t afford to dip into my savings anymore at almost 30. I’m also just tired and can’t fight anymore.

Something they can’t teach you is how hard it is watching a dream die which is why I think I needed to say all of this. Hoping maybe other people reading this in the future know they aren’t alone when things seem so futile in the application process.

I hope you hear good news this cycle, in which case the rest of this post is irrelevant.

I once listened to a podcast (not mine) with someone who applied 5 times and was accepted on the fifth attempt.

So if you are not accepted this time and don't want to try again, that's understandable. If you change your mind, apply to many more DO programs. Also get interview prep before you interview again. If you had 4 (or even 3) interviews and couldn't turn them into one A, I'd start wondering about your interview skills.

 

[Sandman23]

Apologies in advance, not sure if I’m even going to post this but I just need to type this out.

This was my fourth application cycle and I was just deferred from my top choice which was only the second interview I had this cycle. Yes I know I could be accepted still but my gut is telling me this is the end.
My first app was bad, but I made adjustments every cycle. I’ve interviewed at Wayne, Oakland, MSU, and Umich since, but haven’t been able to get an A. Some of the schools I’ve applied to have given feedback which was helpful the first two cycles (talk less about research and retake MCAT) but since then I’ve been met with responses such as “I don’t know why you didn’t get in, your interviewers loved you” or “I don’t know why you didn’t get an interview, I would have flagged you for one”. I’ve had docs, people on adcoms, and friends that are now graduating medical school look at my app and have made adjustments but I still can’t get in.
I thought I was a competitive applicant with above 90% MCAT and above 3.8 GPA with numerous first author publications in research and thousands of clinical volunteer hours in the hospital, hospice, and EMS. I guess I just don’t really know where I went wrong.
This was sadly my last application cycle as I can’t afford to dip into my savings anymore at almost 30. I’m also just tired and can’t fight anymore.

Something they can’t teach you is how hard it is watching a dream die which is why I think I needed to say all of this. Hoping maybe other people reading this in the future know they aren’t alone when things seem so futile in the application process.

Unfiltered viewpoint but you clearly have personality with that username and profile pic. Gotta love it. But not to beat a dead horse, I think the best thing you can do rn is update letters. It got me 4-5 interviews that I can confidently say were a direct result of those letters bc of how quickly I got them after sending in an update letter. The school I go to now is one of them. Now the needle mover is the substance of those update letters. I had a VERY concerning academic past - at least in some regards. Tons of transferring (I'm talking 10 total transcripts) bc of a lotta extraneous stuff that probably came across as fluff to most adcoms, as much as I tried to shed honest light on it & make it a positive somehow. Killer extracurriculars got me so far - I was an average MCAT, decent GPA applicant without it. It gave me something to talk abt in interviews, my secondaries & my update letters. I'd send update letters like clock work, separating them out by a reasonable amount and grinding to have substance to talk about. Ik it's on the tail end of January, but if you're down for it, I'd be open to personally talking with you about things that are high impact that could still be done in a short time frame. Shoot me a DM if you wanna talk over it

This might be the cycle. Ik hope is a dangerous thing tho so imho, I think the best thing one can do is expect the worst and hope for the best. I can't say that like it's easy bc dang, it is soul sucking to go through this year-long thing time and time again. if i can make it better in any way or help out, you got me on your side

 

[mistafab]

If this doesn't work out, take some time and think about what you liked about the idea of medicine.

Some paths like dentistry, podiatry, PA school may provide a lot of the same things.

Good luck

 

[casperhater123]

I was a reapplicant and in a very similar boat as you. Based on the way you're writing, I can tell you're a very pragmatic and logical person. You know that you are good enough and deserve to get in, but can't seem to understand why you keep failing even after everybody around you tells you that you should be accepted. It's so incredibly frustrating.

Idk what gender you are, but I am a very stereotypical, masculine male. I'm not warm/fuzzy, not emotional, etc. However, in order to be successful, I had to, for lack of a better phrase, pretend to be someone I wasn't. I had to tap into my soft side in my writing and my interviews, and I went from 0 II to double digit IIs by doing so. I'm gonna make a great doctor, and I care and support the patients I work with, but just in a different way.

I say that to make this point: you have to play the game. To get to where you want to be, you have to say what people want to hear. Sucks, but it's true.

And if this gets hate, whatever.

 

[ron_johnson]

Yeah you gotta write your PS in a way that makes you look like the kind of person who appeals to faculty at medical schools

 

[TIN25]

I don’t feel qualified to give you reapplication advice, but do want to validate how you feel. I’m so sorry you’be had some unfortunate luck and pray with all my heart you see success this cycle. Keep your head up champ!

 

[Konigstiger]

Your biggest mistake was not adding a ton of DO schools on your second application cycle. The fact that you didn't even do it on your third is quite puzzling.

But to be honest, medicine is not that great of a career to make it worth applying five times.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

Your biggest mistake was not adding a ton of DO schools on your second application cycle. The fact that you didn't even do it on your third is quite puzzling.

But to be honest, medicine is not that great of a career to make it worth applying five times.

Thanks for the perspective. I did not apply DO at first as I have a strong basic science and translational research background that I hope to continue utilizing within an academic medicine position. It is within an already niche field that is underfunded and underserved, which I was told by other DOs would be hard to complete with added barriers they face in research opportunities. Not sure if that is actually true, but overall should have applied more broadly.
Moving forward I will try to find a way to continue serving this population through my research and disability advocacy, but I may not be able to be the person actually administering the care.

 

[TheRealBibFortuna]

Thanks for the perspective. I did not apply DO at first as I have a strong basic science and translational research background that I hope to continue utilizing within an academic medicine position. It is within an already niche field that is underfunded and underserved, which I was told by other DOs would be hard to complete with added barriers they face in research opportunities. Not sure if that is actually true, but overall should have applied more broadly.
Moving forward I will try to find a way to continue serving this population through my research and disability advocacy, but I may not be able to be the person actually administering the care.

I’m no expert, but have you thought about DO/PhD? The PhD would probably circumvent any DO bias from the NIH (assuming it exists by the time we graduate), so the only hurdle would be choosing a project that the school can support that is as close to your desired field as possible. Food for thought. I’m pulling for you at UMich though <3, deferred is a hell of a lot better than rejected at this stage, especially considering the 80% acceptance rate includes deferred and waitlisted students.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

I’m no expert, but have you thought about DO/PhD? The PhD would probably circumvent any DO bias from the NIH (assuming it exists by the time we graduate), so the only hurdle would be choosing a project that the school can support that is as close to your desired field as possible. Food for thought. I’m pulling for you at UMich though <3, deferred is a hell of a lot better than rejected at this stage, especially considering the 80% acceptance rate includes deferred and waitlisted students.

I’m not interested in a combination program with a PhD as it isn’t necessary for me to complete the type of career I want and will require too much time to complete. Also might be arrogant but I’m currently working at a late graduate student/post doc level within my lab. I’ve been awarded grants for my research and am currently regarded as a leader within my field. I will contemplate just a PhD as a back up option but the combination is too much for this stage of my life.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I’m not interested in a combination program with a PhD as it isn’t necessary for me to complete the type of career I want and will require too much time to complete. Also might be arrogant but I’m currently working at a late graduate student/post doc level within my lab. I’ve been awarded grants for my research and am currently regarded as a leader within my field. I will contemplate just a PhD as a back up option but the combination is too much for this stage of my life.

This leads to the question: so now what? You have applied 4 times. You have had chances to interview, network, and work with the academic medicine community. If it's no longer financially feasible to go through another cycle, what is your Plan B? You've already spent 4 years in this chase.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

This leads to the question: so now what? You have applied 4 times. You have had chances to interview, network, and work with the academic medicine community. If it's no longer financially feasible to go through another cycle, what is your Plan B? You've already spent 4 years in this chase.

At the moment thinking of applying PhD and utilizing the work in my current lab to finish on schedule or sooner. The patient care aspect is important to me, but so is completing the work I’ve been doing to help remove disability barriers faced by the population my work is serving.