Reapps not getting any love this year

[Talpa]

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Are there any other reapplicants who still haven't been accepted this cycle. I might have to reapply a 3rd time. 🙁 🙁 🙁

 

[DrVanNostran]

Are there any other reapplicants who still haven't been accepted this cycle. I might have to reapply a 3rd time. 🙁 🙁 🙁

Im here with you🙂 Ill be reapplying for the 3rd time? 4th? not sure this April if I dont get into one of two schools left. I got into SGU but I reallllly dont want to head overseas just yet. Keep your head up.

Im a bit depressed myself, but its our struggle that will make us better physicians, and more importantly better people.

Just some encouragement, a family member didnt get in 3 years in a row, he eventually did, he scored a 99 on his step one and is now a resident in Neurosurgery. IT can be done.

Note to self: Try to take my own advice 🙄

 

[MechE]

I'm feeling you guys. Last year I had three interviews, two waitlists and no acceptances. This year I've had five interviews three waitlists and no acceptances. I still have one interview left for next week, but that's really late in the application cycle so I don't have much hope for an acceptance. Hopefully something will pan out this year so I won't have to reapply next year.

 

[DrVanNostran]

I'm feeling you guys. Last year I had three interviews, two waitlists and no acceptances. This year I've had five interviews three waitlists and no acceptances. I still have one interview left for next week, but that's really late in the application cycle so I don't have much hope for an acceptance. Hopefully something will pan out this year so I won't have to reapply next year.

Keep your head up and be confident. That final interview could be the one🙂

Good luck

 

[CatsandCradles]

I'm feeling you guys. Last year I had three interviews, two waitlists and no acceptances. This year I've had five interviews three waitlists and no acceptances. I still have one interview left for next week, but that's really late in the application cycle so I don't have much hope for an acceptance. Hopefully something will pan out this year so I won't have to reapply next year.

Old saying:

Those who are first will yet be last. And those who are last will yet be first. 👍

 

[mustangsally65]

I'm a reapplicant this year, and I'm going to be one again next year.

I'ts hard to be a reapplicant again, but I think it does make us better prepared for life in general. Things don't always go your way, and you have to learn to live wiht that. But it sure would have been nice to have learned that lesson in another way! 😉

I feel like I'm never going t oget these two years of my life back. I know that's dumb, but everyone I know is starting med school this year, going into second or thrid year, or even starting residency, and I'm still a lowly pre-med. It's hard to watch everyone else go off to follow their dreams whiel you're still spinning your wheels and going nowhere. 🙁

 

[bubbleyum]

I'm a reapplicant this year, and I'm going to be one again next year.

I'ts hard to be a reapplicant again, but I think it does make us better prepared for life in general. Things don't always go your way, and you have to learn to live wiht that. But it sure would have been nice to have learned that lesson in another way! 😉

I feel like I'm never going t oget these two years of my life back. I know that's dumb, but everyone I know is starting med school this year, going into second or thrid year, or even starting residency, and I'm still a lowly pre-med. It's hard to watch everyone else go off to follow their dreams whiel you're still spinning your wheels and going nowhere. 🙁

i totally sympathize with you, mustangsally. i'll be in the same boat as you, submitting my amcas again coming june.

 

[doctorjoy]

Just keep swimming swimming, just keep swimming swimming. I had to reapplly four times until I got in. I was at the point where I was teaching pre-meds and they were going to medical school before me. But I learned to be greatfully for where I am and where I was. There was something for me to learn each time. Hope this is some encouragment 😉

 

[DrVanNostran]

I havent posted in a couple days, so I hope you all didnt think I commited suicide (not that I havent thought about it 🙄 )...anyways, I shall be back soon to listen to everyone and complain like usual....

We are a good moral support group🙂

 

[RxnMan]

Just keep swimming swimming, just keep swimming swimming. I had to reapplly four times until I got in. I was at the point where I was teaching pre-meds and they were going to medical school before me. But I learned to be greatfully for where I am and where I was. There was something for me to learn each time. Hope this is some encouragment 😉

Ha Ha Ha! This happened to me too. I just found out that one of the guys I taught o-chem to just got into Nebraska. Sad thing is, I'm thinking of teaching Kaplan courses to make ends meet.

By the way, I will be reapplying myself, and this will be my fourth time tossing the dice. If nothing else, this process has shown me that the paper resume means nothing. I've seen great, compassionate, intelligent kids passed over, and f'ed up wackos get in.

 

[RxnMan]

I'm a reapplicant this year, and I'm going to be one again next year.

I'ts hard to be a reapplicant again, but I think it does make us better prepared for life in general. Things don't always go your way, and you have to learn to live wiht that. But it sure would have been nice to have learned that lesson in another way! 😉

I feel like I'm never going t oget these two years of my life back. I know that's dumb, but everyone I know is starting med school this year, going into second or thrid year, or even starting residency, and I'm still a lowly pre-med. It's hard to watch everyone else go off to follow their dreams whiel you're still spinning your wheels and going nowhere. 🙁

I don't know if this is the right way to look at things. You life isn't wasted - you lived during those years, right? Those kids getting in ahead of you are just on a different path. So what? We live so long (70+ years!) and we can be docs 'till the day we die. I'll enjoy my career right now and apply on the side, sort of a hobby. I still want to get in, and I still want to help make a difference in others' lives. But I'm not going to kill myself every year trying to plan how to more competitive and look better in some ADCOM's eyes and somehow let the other things in my life take a back seat!

 

[DrVanNostran]

I think adcoms have David Spade write their rejection letters. With that in mind, i seriously think they have a picture of me and have an auto-reject stamp....

 

[yanky5]

You guys should also apply to DO schools. I hope you are doing that since it makes a good fallback option. (If I didn't apply to DO schools too, I would be in the same boat as you guys but instead I'm almost done with my first year of NYCOM)

 

[happydays]

You guys should also apply to DO schools. I hope you are doing that since it makes a good fallback option. (If I didn't apply to DO schools too, I would be in the same boat as you guys but instead I'm almost done with my first year of NYCOM)

This is good advice. There's nothing an MD can do that a DO can't. Also, ever thought about being a PA? You do the exact same work with less schooling. (These are just other options besides going to the Carrib.)

 

[makingmd]

If you guys don't mind me asking what were you starting with and what have you done in between apps to make it better? (on paper at least). If anyone wants to mail direct (I check that more often) it is [email protected].

Best and good luck the whatever # time around.

 

[RxnMan]

If you guys don't mind me asking what were you starting with and what have you done in between apps to make it better? (on paper at least).

I don't want to use email, but here's what I've done to look better on paper: I got a job that got me publications, presentations, posters, and patient-contact time. If you search out some of my past posts, you'll see some of what I've written on how to fill out your ECs to maximize their effectiveness. In short, doing more and different things made me look like a more balanced candidate. This same job let me get LOR from several of the medical school faculty. I also earned a master's degree, and my thesis is medically-related. I rewrote my PS and secondaries, reflecting what I'd done over the last year. Actually, every year I've re-applied I've rewritten everything, so I'd do that as a general rule.

That's pretty much it. I retook the MCAT and improved my score. Once I got to the inteview stage I prepared for that differently (also look up my posts about that), and they went much better for it.

 

[julie29524]

If you guys don't mind me asking what were you starting with and what have you done in between apps to make it better? (on paper at least). If anyone wants to mail direct (I check that more often) it is [email protected].

Best and good luck the whatever # time around.

I've had conversations with deans of some medical schools because i didn't get in the 1st time either. I asked them if I should do basic science research and stuff, her response was like "No! take more classes! upper division biology and chemistry classes, show us you can make A's in those, or go to grad school, get more education, show us that you are eager to learn new things...."

so yeah, I am completing my thesis component of Masters of Public Health right now, then I am going the school of 1st choice after I am done.

 

[rachmoninov3]

1. Taken 2 years of post-bac classes with a GPA of 3.5 compared to undergrad of 2.3
2. Increased my MCAT from 9-9-9 = 27 to 9-10-12 = 31
3. Planning on completing a masters in immunology by spring 2007
4. I work in healthcare (CNA) full time to pay for school/mortgage/life, and have done so for the past 6 years, so I haven't really done anything special as far as volenteering goes.

So makingmd, what would you suggest for those of us still struggling to get in?

 

[driverabu]

Look, after having a 3.2 cumulative GPA and 3.5 science GPA at Baylor University and a 27,27,24 on my 3 attempts at the MCAT, I got a few med school interviews in Texas but did not get in. I was also thinking of taking some upper level science classes, getting a masters, PhD, etc., etc. After taking 1 year off and working full time as a certified pharmacy tech, I said the hell with it and applied to medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico...the best med school (at least for americans) in Mexico. After two years, I said the hell with this mexico crap and transferred to Ross University. I can honestly say that Ross is one of the better off-shore medical schools...besides SGU which is the best of the carribean med schools. I worked my butt off, got a 219/89 on the step 1, 242/98 on the Step 2 CK and passed the Step 2 CS on the first try. I am now going to be starting residency in Anesthesiology...one of the more competitive specialities out there right now at the University of Missouri Kansas City starting July 1st. Go to the Ross ( www.rossmed.edu ) website, the Guadalarjara website www.uag.edu and the SGU website...not sure what it is and look for yourself at the residencies attained by former students.....pretty impressive for IMGs if you ask me. I am very glad that I did not waste my time re-applying to med school here in the States and wasting my money on upper level classes to prove to some schmuck that I can handle the workload. Is it a big sacrifice...perhaps, but it is all worth it in the end....

 

[Taurus]

Never give up! I know one person who got two acceptances on their 4th try! And he goes to an upper tier school too.

 

[retroMD]

Look, after having a 3.2 cumulative GPA and 3.5 science GPA at Baylor University and a 27,27,24 on my 3 attempts at the MCAT, I got a few med school interviews in Texas but did not get in. I was also thinking of taking some upper level science classes, getting a masters, PhD, etc., etc. After taking 1 year off and working full time as a certified pharmacy tech, I said the hell with it and applied to medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico...the best med school (at least for americans) in Mexico. After two years, I said the hell with this mexico crap and transferred to Ross University. I can honestly say that Ross is one of the better off-shore medical schools...besides SGU which is the best of the carribean med schools. I worked my butt off, got a 219/89 on the step 1, 242/98 on the Step 2 CK and passed the Step 2 CS on the first try. I am now going to be starting residency in Anesthesiology...one of the more competitive specialities out there right now at the University of Missouri Kansas City starting July 1st. Go to the Ross ( www.rossmed.edu ) website, the Guadalarjara website www.uag.edu and the SGU website...not sure what it is and look for yourself at the residencies attained by former students.....pretty impressive for IMGs if you ask me. I am very glad that I did not waste my time re-applying to med school here in the States and wasting my money on upper level classes to prove to some schmuck that I can handle the workload. Is it a big sacrifice...perhaps, but it is all worth it in the end....

you give me hope in case I need to go to carrib. 👍

 

[rgerwin]

Agreed. It's a personal choice, but mine is to not waste anymore time reapplying. If you can get inton a decent Carib, want to do a specialty that is feasible as an IMG, and want to live in an IMG-friendly area, why wait? Life is too short.

 

[eccles1214]

This is good advice. There's nothing an MD can do that a DO can't. Also, ever thought about being a PA? You do the exact same work with less schooling. (These are just other options besides going to the Carrib.)

True, to some extent, but only if you want to practice in the U.S. DOs, NPs, and PAs are uniquely-American phenomena, and thus such degrees are not universally recognized outside the U.S. DOs, PAs, and NPs can work outside the U.S. if they are under the auspices of, or sponsored by, an American organization or government. MDs, too, but the "universal recognition" of the degree makes getting work and doing work easier, without hassles. Increasingly, DOs are allowed to practice privately, but there is still much misunderstanding and resistance: countries either accept them or have no policy. Only a few nations, (e.g. Uganda) refuse to recognize them. (But with a civil war in nearby Sudan, and guerilla warfare at in the countryside, Uganda may not be the best place to practice.)

 

[happydays]

eccles1214: if getting an MD is the only way to float your boat, then do it. To each's own.

For those considering foreign programs:
FOREIGN MEDICAL SCHOOLS: PROs and CONs
Usually, the biggest attractions to a foreign medical school are the fact that:

--They grant an MD (vs. a DO) degree. Depending on the individual, this factor alone will carry much weight in their decision.

--Their selectivity criteria are not as rigid as U.S. medical schools and the MCAT may not be required. In fact, it is possible to gain admission to some foreign medical schools with less than a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and without ever taking the MCAT. However, while it is true that many foreign medical schools tend to be less selective than U.S. medical schools, students will still need to work very hard once they are admitted. The attrition rate at many foreign medical schools with a more liberal acceptance policy tends to be, in fact, rather high compared to U.S. medical schools' attrition rates. In other words, some of the foreign medical schools may be more flexible about accepting applicants, but students will still need to prove themselves academically once they are accepted; perform well on the USMLE Part I and II; and earn strong endorsements from the directors of their clinical rotations, ideally in the U.S.

--Re-applicants don't need to wait for another entire application cycle since many foreign medical schools have multiple entering classes in any given academic year. This means that, potentially, an applicant who applies to a foreign medical program this spring (or even later) could still gain admission into a summer, fall (and beyond) class. This means that this individual would not need to wait until summer/fall of 2007 to start medical school, which would be the case if the candidate were to reapply for an MD or DO program in the U.S. this summer.

While the pursuance of a medical education abroad has become a successful and satisfying endeavor for many individuals, this is a path that may not suit everybody's personal, professional and financial circumstances. Some of the most frequently lamented challenges of going abroad to pursue a medical education with the intention of coming back to the U.S. are:

--Not all foreign medical schools enjoy the same academic reputation in the U.S. Some individuals fear the "stigma" that is at times associated with being an International Medical Graduate (IMG) trying to practice in the U.S.

--Passage rates of IMGs on U.S. qualifying exams tend to be from somewhat lower to much lower than passage rates of U.S. medically educated graduates. Because some of these scores (USMLE I-II) along with performance in the clinical years (and the location of the rotations) carry so much weight during the competition for residencies, this can be a concrete disadvantage for IMGs.

--The number of residencies in the U.S. that are open to IMGs continues to be a topic of heated debates. If that number were to fluctuate considerably, it would have a major impact on the ability of IMGs to secure residencies in the U.S. Each year, IMGs compete for some 24,000 positions, alongside some 16,000 graduates of U.S. allopathic medical schools and some other 17,000 independent applicants that include D.O. graduates, physicians who return to the Match after graduation to add a new specialty, and international medical graduates like themselves.

--Cost. While a small number of foreign medical schools qualify for federal financial aid, this is not true of all schools. The sheer cost of pursuing a medical education abroad without any form of aid could make this endeavor prohibitive for some.

--Finally, living abroad for an extended period of time is not feasible for everybody. From flexibility and adaptability issues to dual career family constraints, the prospect of coupling the rigor of medical school with the realities of adjusting to another country, culture, and perhaps even language can be daunting.

 

[P-Bone]

Don't get down on yourself . . . this is my third year applying. My first year I had a 28 on the MCAT and got two interviews, and was rejected by both. Then I retook the MCAT and did research for a year. Got a 29 and only one interview, again rejected--this time it REALLY hurt. The third time I took the MCAT I got a 34--plus, I kept doing the research and now have a couple pubs. I applied for the 3rd time this year . . . and have gone to 6 interviews, accepted to Georgetown and USC, and just had an interview at Stanford! It can be done if you believe in yourself, don't give up, and truly want it enough. YOU CAN DO IT. 👍

 

[CatsandCradles]

Don't get down on yourself . . . this is my third year applying. My first year I had a 28 on the MCAT and got two interviews, and was rejected by both. Then I retook the MCAT and did research for a year. Got a 29 and only one interview, again rejected--this time it REALLY hurt. The third time I took the MCAT I got a 34--plus, I kept doing the research and now have a couple pubs. I applied for the 3rd time this year . . . and have gone to 6 interviews, accepted to Georgetown and USC, and just had an interview at Stanford! It can be done if you believe in yourself, don't give up, and truly want it enough. YOU CAN DO IT. 👍

Talk about perseverance and hard work. That was good to read. 👍

 

[RxnMan]

Talk about perseverance and hard work. That was good to read. 👍

I'm going to have to change my tune - I got some ADCOM-love this year.

My story's similar - I had to apply 3 times, but I got my acceptance Tuesday. Keep trying, to heck with the nay-sayers, and follow your dreams.

 

[Cpt.Hook Hamate]

I am a 4th year med student here in the states and am very glad that my last day of med school is today. This achievement is somewhat blunted by the fact that I have a big surgery coming up right before my Residency and won't be able to enjoy my much needed month of vacation I was looking forward to.

It very inspiring to read the posts in this thread and has helped remind me to count my blessing.

I think people who reapply and reapply really get caught up into scores too much...just my personal opinion. Through my experience an observation, I think people are mislead that scores are every thing and neglect one of the most crucial , if not the most crucial, concept when applying to med school. This is level of commitment.


I think it is very very important to show your level of commitment in your personal statement and not sound like a thousands of other applicants in your statement.

Medical school is a very very tough journey and your mental toughness and desire is what going to get you through. Not a photographic memory. Not a 39 on the MCAT, etcs.


The Committee really want to see if they accpet you, will you have the mental toughness and desire to get through because you will feel like quiting at some point and have doubts. That moment of thoughts of quitting during my medical education is the most nasty and memorable moment of my life.

So, to put it simply, emphasize your desire to be a doctor and get through medical school with fire. Peopel who reapplly 4 times show that fire but it is very possibl to show it the first time through.

 

[CatsandCradles]

I'm going to have to change my tune - I got some ADCOM-love this year.

My story's similar - I had to apply 3 times, but I got my acceptance Tuesday. Keep trying, to heck with the nay-sayers, and follow your dreams.

Yeah man. You did it! 🙂

 

[mari1126]

this is my 2nd time (and still i applied pretty late for some of the do schools)
got mostly rejections so far, and still a lot waiting. Im ok w/ going to sgu or smu this fall if I dont get in here.
but who knows, with my luck something always comes up and screws my plans, so I might be reapplying, maybe.

good luck

 

[RayhanS1282]

This is my third time. I actually got interviews this time but no acceptances yet. Acceptance/rejection/reapplication rides on 1 waitlist....no pressure though. 😀

 

[RxnMan]

This is my third time. I actually got interviews this time but no acceptances yet. Acceptance/rejection/reapplication rides on 1 waitlist....no pressure though. 😀

Hey that's crummy. In early April I thought that my rejection from CU meant that I was going to get a job in Texas, do a post-bacc, and reappy in two years (which boils down to doing lots of hard work I don't want to, in a place I don't like, just for the possibility of being rejected again). Then I got the email from Albany out of the blue (I thought I was past their deadline) with the interview offer. Thank god their turn-around time is fast.

Good luck RayhanS1282!

 

[RayhanS1282]

Hey that's crummy. In early April I thought that my rejection from CU meant that I was going to get a job in Texas, do a post-bacc, and reappy in two years (which boils down to doing lots of hard work I don't want to in a place I don't like just for the possibility of being rejected again). Then I got the email from Albany out of the blue (I thought I was past their deadline) with the interview offer. Thank god their turn-around time is fast.

Good luck RayhanS1282!

Thanks Dr. Rxnman.

 

[DrVanNostran]

This is my third time. I actually got interviews this time but no acceptances yet. Acceptance/rejection/reapplication rides on 1 waitlist....no pressure though. 😀

Rayhan, I hope you get into SLU this year so you dont have to go through this hell again. Anyways, if you do reapply, you might want to consider apply to a hell of lot more schools--30ish---you have the numbers and activities.

Good Luck

 

[RayhanS1282]

Rayhan, I hope you get into SLU this year so you dont have to go through this hell again. Anyways, if you do reapply, you might want to consider apply to a hell of lot more schools--30ish---you have the numbers and activities.

Good Luck

Thanks for the luck.

I am gonna apply to a lot more OOS schools this time around because they seem to be the ones who are somewhat interested in me. NYS schools blow.

I have met the devil and his concubine, they are reapplication and the MCAT.

 

[LUBDUBB]

I have to say I'm excited to have just found this thread.

So this is my 2nd time applying, last year I had 6 interviews and 6 waitlists. This year I applied later, had 4 interviews and 3 waitlists, despite 1.5 yrs of added awesome full-time clinical work.

Once again I'm on waitlists, and I prepare to reapply for next year. This is going to be my last year applying (as my mcat is from April 2004). And the worst part of it is, that I spend more time thinking about and researching backup options than I do writing LOI's to my waitlisted schools.

I wish all of you the best of luck. May 15 is close, those of you on waiting lists will hopefully get some good news. For myself, after having had 10 interviews, countless meetings with the Deans of Admissions, I feel like I'm shipwrecked and with everyday that goes by I begin to feel the rescue ships will never come. I begin to accept the inevitable: that soon, these morsels of a fading dream will no longer suffice to sustain me. Anyway, sorry for the somber picture.

In the end, whats really important in life is how you treat people. And for those of us who might have to pursue backup options, whats important is how you treat patients. Once in practice, ppl quicky forget where you went to school - but everyone will remember how you treat patients.

oh btw, just to introduce myself i guess,
graduated 2002
MCAT 9 11 10, april 2004 (no other scores)
3.52cum/3.52sci
Currently in MBA program