Rejection thread

[strangeattractor]

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hey jjmack.

don't get down...i think you're right in assuming it's a crap shoot. the wording on the rejection letter? well, i'm kind of in the same place. as such, i would recommend doing what i do when i get a rejection letter. rip it up and throw it away. and say "f*** em" even if you don't mean it. it feels better, more healthy than wondering why you didn't get into x school. and focus on the schools you still are in the running for.

good luck!

 

[BandGeek]

Last week was tough....
Northwestern
Case Western Reserve

Northwestern didn't even have me submit a secondary! Now that letter is hilarious.

Case sent an e-mail......I find that distasteful. At least spend my application fee on some postage!

 

[ImmunoANT]

Originally posted by strangeattractor
hey jjmack.

don't get down...i think you're right in assuming it's a crap shoot. the wording on the rejection letter? well, i'm kind of in the same place. as such, i would recommend doing what i do when i get a rejection letter. rip it up and throw it away. and say "f*** em" even if you don't mean it. it feels better, more healthy than wondering why you didn't get into x school. and focus on the schools you still are in the running for.

good luck!

StrangeAttractor has a good point. When I received that direful rejection letter from Cornell/Tri-I, was depressed for a whole week (going from denial, to desperation, to self-doubting, and finally to acceptance). Now to think of it, it might have been healthier just to rip up the letter and shout FxxK 'em. Hum, their loss.🙄 🙄

 

[BandGeek]

University of Colorado Health Sciences

Yet another e-mail...
It is nice to know fast, but it still feels cheap!

 

[vixey1230]

bye bye to U Mich for me.

Open question: If you get put on the waiting list for admissions, do they keep in touch with you to let you know with each review cycle? Or do they ever tell you your number on the list? Or is it just "wait until we call you... maybe next month, maybe in Aug."? (I actually know a friend who got pulled off the waitlist for med school the day before classes started.)

 

[jjmack]

how did you hear that you were put on the U Mich wait list? From the website or through a letter? I get a weird msg when I log into the u mich website.

 

[vixey1230]

Oh, no... I wasn't waitlisted for U Mich. I was rejected there.

The waitlist thing was just an open question... I've been waitlisted at some other schools. I was just wondering how this whole waitlist thing works.

 

[coldchemist]

I'm starting to get the impression that they're sort of like, "Wait until we call you."

 

[Neuronix]

(This is from my post in the Acceptance Thread, it also seems to have come up here, so I'm duplicating it)

I remember last year I waited for a very long time (6 months) for a rejection from the UMich MD/PhD program. During this time, they would not tell me that I had been waitlisted, but only that a decision had not yet been reached. I called and e-mailed the office and director several times, as I waited into May, sent application updates, and then I was finally rejected. Meanwhile, I received an acceptance from the MD program right after I interviewed.

I can only guess as to the true sequence of events or what it might mean for you guys.

In general waitlists are like "Don't call us, we'll call you." Typically you actually get notified that you're on one, but sometimes you don't even get that courtesy. For these schools if you call you'll just get "a decision has not been reached." You're certainly welcome to send application updates or LOIs (except for Hopkins--they told me it wouldn't help), but they aren't really going to update you until they have made a decision on you.

 

[ManchotPi]

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[duncanfj]

Rejected from Pitt post-interview.

 

[Turgenev13]

Rejected for Johns Hopkins - that's my third.

 

[ImmunoANT]

rejected from U Pitts too. (is it true they only interview until Dec?)
my #2 rejection, hah hah hah.

but that's ok, was just told that am accepted to Case. 🙂 🙂

 

[strangeattractor]

congrats to immunoANT!

rejection from pitt post interview. i thought they liked me too...guess there's no way to ever know.

oh well, <shrug>...i can always fall back on a tap dancing career, hee hee.

 

[duncanfj]

Yup, all of Pitt's interviewing is done. They are dropping around 15-20 people now, then elimintating the rest the Weds. before the second look weekend.

Don't feel bad guys, I work for Pitt and was bounced. Really loved the fact the director didn't even sign the letters, they used an electronic signature. Classy.

 

[BandGeek]

U Pitt and Mayo

I hate finals week!

I am praying for some holiday good cheer (i.e. and interview) before the holidays so I am no a total Grinch

 

[crackerj]

U Washington at St. Louis and Vanderbilt =(

So now I am applying to the MD program at U Washington. If I am admitted, how hard would it be to 'transfer' to the MD/PhD program after a freshman year?

 

[Neuronix]

Originally posted by crackerj
So now I am applying to the MD program at [WashU]. If I am admitted, how hard would it be to 'transfer' to the MD/PhD program after a freshman year?

I had this same dilemma last year when I was rejected from WashU's MD/PhD program. I contacted the MD/PhD office and received a nice reply from Brian Sullivan about how likely it would be for me to be accepted from the first year. Typically, they accept around 75% of the people who apply from the first year of medical school. However, he cautioned me not to gamble my MD/PhD future if I didn't have to. Personally, I think that it's unwise to go to a MD program with MD/PhD hopes unless you have some compelling reason to be at that location or you don't get in MSTP anywhere else.

I highly recommend that before you make your decision on whether or not to interview for the MD program there that you contact the MD/PhD office and see what they have to say. I decided not to interview for the MD program, and in the end I landed my first choice anyway.

One SDNer (I'll let him jump in if he wants) went to his WashU MD interview days after landing an acceptance at one of his top choices. From what I understand, he blew off the interviews (I don't remember if he even went) and took the opportunity to hand-deliver the MSTP office a LOI and talk to the director. All it got him was a second rejection letter.

Good luck!

 

[ImmunoANT]

yup, just got a letter from Cornell last night. Now even their MD program doesn't want to give me an interview. 🙄 🙄 👎 👎 CAN'T BELIEVE THIS..... <sigh...> what is it that this school holds against me???
Thank you StrangeAttractor. Good luck to you too. 🙂 🙂

 

[ManchotPi]

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[coldchemist]

I recently had an epipheny. I don't trust the US News rankings at all, especially when it comes to MD/PhD programs. I've had seven interviews, and the program that I liked the most (Penn State) is not ranked at all. But there is one thing that the rankings are really good for--probably because it's a fairly objective measure--and that is the ranking of student selectivity. So far I have received interviews from mostly schools that are considered not-so-selective, and none from schools that are considered selective. With that, here are my rejections so far:

Pre-interview--

Albert Einstein
Dartmouth
Johns Hopkins
NYU
University of Chicago
University of Pittsburgh


Post-interview--

Boston University


For anyone who's interested, here are my numbers:

MCAT: VR=11, PS=11, BS=10, WS=O
GPA: 3.61
2 yrs full-time research at NIH

Despite the fact that my numbers are significantly lower than the average MD/PhD matriculant, I am still being considered by the following schools post-interview:

Georgetown
Jefferson
Penn State
Tufts
UConn
University of Maryland

Based on numbers alone, I think my situation fits fairly well with the way US News measures selectivity.

Just thought I'd share my little insight...🙂

 

[strangeattractor]

i double posted...oops...the original message is below.

 

[strangeattractor]

i'm really impressed with your research - 2 years at the nih...sounds like that would outweigh a little tiny tiny tiny dip in your numbers. i'm hoping that my graduate degree will work in my favor in that respect.

 

[Turgenev13]

Well, I got the rejection email from UNC-Chapel Hill this morning. Oh well, I was going to decline an interview anyway.

 

[strangeattractor]

me too (rejection from unc chapel hill) BUT i got an interview at northwestern which tempers the bad news very nicely. 🙂

 

[coldchemist]

Originally posted by strangeattractor
i'm hoping that my graduate degree will work in my favor in that respect.

I bet your graduate degree will get you farther than my research! I still don't really have anything to show for it. I do appreciate the encouragement, however.

Oh yeah, I got the UNC rejection this morning as well...

 

[BandGeek]

UNC-Chapel Hill added

I still haven't heard from 11 schools regarding interview and/or rejections. I am a later applicant, but I still hate this limbo.

I do have two interview coming up, which is a consulation.

 

[Enrique6000]

No go for Hopkins, UPenn, UCSF and offered and MD only at Stanford.

I figure I'd start my first post on the right foot.

 

[ImmunoANT]

see, Enrique6000, it's funny. I was rejected (pre-interview) by both the MSTP and MD program at Cornell/Tri-I, but got invited to UPenn and UCSF. guess I have to kiss goodbye w/ my dream of living in NYC - so happened that the only school in NYC I applied was Cornell. still can't believe that even the MD program didn't want to give me an interview... ... Congrat on your acceptance to Cornell and WashU.

 

[Enrique6000]

Yeh, ImmunoANT, it's a craps shoot sometimes, I guess. I tell myself that I didn't get invited to UPenn because my secondary essay sucked though...it helps keep self-esteem up..ha

But seriously, it seems arbitrary sometimes. I honestly thought I'd get invited to at least do the secondary at UCSF... eh...no worries. I'm going somewhere next year, right?

 

[tofurious]

As someone who has been observing this thread, I just have a question for you all:

Why do you share with others what schools rejected you? Is there a sense of unity by being rejected by the common schools? Or are you simply expressing your anger at the people who never read these posts (the ad coms)? I can sort of understand how seeing someone with a GPA of 4.0, MCAT of 40 and 30 pubs get rejected can be both therapeutic and rewarding in a sick way, but how does seeing a mediocre to above average applicant get rejected by a particular school help anyone in the application process since that happens so much it's probably more interesting to report having run into someone hot at a particular interview (which is much rarer)?

 

[looseygoosey]

Originally posted by tofurious
it's probably more interesting to report having run into someone hot at a particular interview (which is much rarer)?

There was a hot second year at Cornell. San Diego had several talented gals as well.

 

[BandGeek]

Duke MSTP
Looks like North Carolina is out of the picture for me.
It would be nice to live somewhere is warmer weather (-29 this morning...brrrr!)

 

[ImmunoANT]

Hah, it's funny. Coming from S. Cal , I am looking for schools in the north (at least it gotta snow in winter....)
don't know if anyone is like me, yearning for a geographical change (ie from W to E, from S to N)....

 

[exigente chica]

Originally posted by BandGeek
Duke MSTP
Looks like North Carolina is out of the picture for me.
It would be nice to live somewhere is warmer weather (-29 this morning...brrrr!)

So not true..it was 78* for the past three days and today it was about 67*. A cold front is coming in tommorow..but no where near -29*...nah🙄

It is moderatly warm here year round, and rarely any snow. A nice climate to live in..trust me..👍

 

[BandGeek]

University of Washington

Probably couldn't of finished it in time anyway.

 

[BandGeek]

Yale MSTP
Case Western MD
Duke MD

 

[BandGeek]

I guess I own this page.....
Iowa MSTP (post-interview....ouch!)

 

[coldchemist]

I'm slowly becoming convinced that I must have ZERO interviewing skills. How else do you explain getting rejected by Georgetown with decent numbers and two years full-time research at NIH?

Of course it doesn't help that one of my Alabama interviewers yesterday actually told me that I have ZERO interviewing skills. Current students later told me that they all hate that particular interviewer...hopefully the rest of the committee hates him, too.

 

[Doctor&Geek]

Bah. I missed you. Sorry about that.

Yours,

JP

 

[adesua]

Originally posted by coldchemist
I'm slowly becoming convinced that I must have ZERO interviewing skills. How else do you explain getting rejected by Georgetown with decent numbers and two years full-time research at NIH?

Of course it doesn't help that one of my Alabama interviewers yesterday actually told me that I have ZERO interviewing skills. Current students later told me that they all hate that particular interviewer...hopefully the rest of the committee hates him, too.

Hi Cold Chemist. I don't know how many more interviews you have but is it possible to do a mock interview with someone at your present institution who could perhaps give you feedback as to some things you are not doing right or could change. Its unfortunate that when schools reject you they don't tell you why.
All the best.

 

[GlcNac]

Originally posted by coldchemist
I'm slowly becoming convinced that I must have ZERO interviewing skills. How else do you explain getting rejected by Georgetown with decent numbers and two years full-time research at NIH?

Of course it doesn't help that one of my Alabama interviewers yesterday actually told me that I have ZERO interviewing skills. Current students later told me that they all hate that particular interviewer...hopefully the rest of the committee hates him, too.

Hi ColdChemist,
Sorry to hear of your bad luck...I agree with adesua that a mock interview could be helpful. Additionally, maybe you could call up Georgetown and politely ask if they can provide you with advice on how to improve your application. (I know some schools are more receptive to this than others and I'm not sure where Georgetown falls.) If there's some concrete reason why you were rejected, you might still have time to address this in an update to your application at schools where your file is still active...

And don't get discouraged by that one interviewer who said you have no interview skills -- he might have just been trying to push your buttons and gauge your response.

 

[coldchemist]

Good pointers, guys...definitely worth considering. I'm not actually as discouraged as I might seem as the UAB student I referred to was really trying to convince me to lodge a formal complaint against the interviewer (she really thinks he should not be on the committee).

JP--sorry I missed you...were you out of town? Anyway, the other students I met were great--I've never seen a more friendly, outgoing, happy group of students! You guys belong to a great program and I hope I'll get the opportunity to join up!

Late,
CC

 

[Newquagmire]

Originally posted by BandGeek
I guess I own this page.....

No, it's just that the rest of us are busy licking our wounds and crying in a dark dark corner.

 

[researchprof]

Originally posted by coldchemist
I'm slowly becoming convinced that I must have ZERO interviewing skills. How else do you explain getting rejected by Georgetown with decent numbers and two years full-time research at NIH?

Of course it doesn't help that one of my Alabama interviewers yesterday actually told me that I have ZERO interviewing skills. Current students later told me that they all hate that particular interviewer...hopefully the rest of the committee hates him, too.

Geez! For an interviewer to say "ZERO" interviewing skills indeed sucks. I will suggest speaking reasonably slow (if you talk fast like me, moreso with an accent) and taking time to think before you speak--this should help.

 

[coldchemist]

Alright guys...I guess that's what I get for trying to be facetious on a message board. My interviews went really well at Georgetown...I don't actually know the reasons for my rejection, but I'm betting it has to do with their small entering class and my sub-par MCAT's (32).

The University of Alabama interviewer that I spoke of was either a complete jerk or a social idiot. I was told by a current student that a recent interviewee actually yelled at him and stormed out of his office when he made some rude comment to her during the interview. My bad experience was not my fault, so thanks all for your advice and concern, but despite the tone of my earlier post I am actually very confident in my ability to communicate well during interviews.😎


But it still sucks that I got rejected from Georgetown (especially since it was five months post-interview)!!!