Rejection for Re-Applicants?

[HurricaneKatt]

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So I got my rejection letter from Nevada today, and I'm a little surprised and confused. I interviewed at the school last year but didn't get in. My interview went super well, but I didn't make the cut. I was told that if I improved my application in the areas they felt I was weak in, my chances as a re-applicant would be even higher than other OOS applicants. I improved in the areas they said needed work and re-applied. I got more clinical experience (the biggest thing they wanted), sent in fewer LORs (they said I had too many 😕 ), did more volunteer work, etc. This year I got rejected pre-secondary. 🙁

I am really disappointed as they were tied as my top choice school. I'm also now anxious because I felt like of all of the schools I applied to, I had the best chances of getting into UNR. I felt pretty confident that in the very least, I would get an interview considering I got one last year and did what they told me and then some in regards to improving my application...

I'm just wondering if anyone has input on this? Or experience. Is there possibly somewhere I messed up? Is this common for re-applicants to schools? I know that they opened their OOS spots up to a few other states this year too, so perhaps that majorly upped the game, but even still I'd think I would at least have received a secondary. I am going to call them of course, but I thought perhaps someone here might have some constructive input...

 

[NCPremed]

So I got my rejection letter from Nevada today, and I'm a little surprised and confused. I interviewed at the school last year but didn't get in. My interview went super well, but I didn't make the cut. I was told that if I improved my application in the areas they felt I was weak in, my chances as a re-applicant would be even higher than other OOS applicants. I improved in the areas they said needed work and re-applied. I got more clinical experience (the biggest thing they wanted), sent in fewer LORs (they said I had too many 😕 ), did more volunteer work, etc. This year I got rejected pre-secondary. 🙁

I am really disappointed as they were tied as my top choice school. I'm also now anxious because I felt like of all of the schools I applied to, I had the best chances of getting into UNR. I felt pretty confident that in the very least, I would get an interview considering I got one last year and did what they told me and then some in regards to improving my application...

I'm just wondering if anyone has input on this? Or experience. Is there possibly somewhere I messed up? Is this common for re-applicants to schools? I know that they opened their OOS spots up to a few other states this year too, so perhaps that majorly upped the game, but even still I'd think I would at least have received a secondary. I am going to call them of course, but I thought perhaps someone here might have some constructive input...

I got rejected from UNC last year, which really stung because I have strong ties to North Carolina and (at the time) I wanted to stay here to do primary care, andI was a fairly competitive applicant. Sometimes, this process is really random, so please don't make the mistake I made and think there is something wrong with you. I let my self-esteem suffer as a result of my rejections, but this cycle I've "come back" and now I have two acceptances! 🙂 Persistence pays off for medical school admissions; you occasionally come across posts here on SDN from people who have applied 3+ times and ultimately get in.

And if for some reason you can't get into a US medical school but are dead set on MD, there are some international options that aren't bad. After my rejection last year, I seriously considered going to Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, in Mexico, which has graduates practicing in all 50 states of the US. Plus, you'd learn Spanish, which could be a major asset to your career!

In any case, I always try to recall these words of a social psychology professor, which are applicable to so many parts of life, particularly the medical school admissions process:

"Sometimes we can do everything right, make no mistakes, and STILL lose. If you want to learn to live, you must accept this by doing your best and rolling with the punches."

Good luck!

 

[JoeM]

I'm sorry to hear that. I've definitely been there.

I am a 3x reapplicant this year. I have received 1 MD II so far and it is from the last school I would have expected to get an II from. Over the summer the admissions office there even told me directly that I wouldn't have a shot at an II. On the other hand, I have been rejected by several schools I am quite competitive at and really expected to get II's from. I think a lot of it has to do with luck. Almost all med schools receive more applications from qualified individuals than they can interview. That's why they say apply broadly, I guess. In many ways, it's a numbers game. Still, it sucks that it has to be one of your top choices. Good luck with your other apps!

 

[1289]

hey reapplicant here too.. sorry to hear this. I wouldn't sweat it too much, as you said you're OOS at Nevada? I just looked at us news for that school and it said they interviewed 36 out of 1200 some OOSers, I think at this school in particular it may just have come down to too few OOS spots for many qualified applicants. plus, the competition changes year to year, - this is something that worried me as a reapplicant, that a school who told me I was okay last year but "just missed the mark" may be bombarded with tons of super qualified people this year. but anyway, i wouldn't judge this app cycle based on this school alone, hopefully you've received good news elsewhere? good luck!

 

[WorldChanger36]

Your chances change based on the applicants that apply and changes the adcom put into motion. Remember the chances that you calculate from MSAR and on here are based on past years and are simplifications. Just keep in mind anything can happen from year to year and while it sucks maybe this year you were just outmatched compared to other applicants. The only thing you can do is continue to improve and hope you get in.

 

[jrut73]

Hey OP,
I don't have any insight for you, but if it makes you feel better, I am a re-applicant and I re-applied to a school where last year I was on the alternate list but this year was rejected pre-interview. I'm not sure if we can ever know why except if we ask.
Best of luck at your other schools!