Rejections 2005

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My rejections so far:

University of Florida
Medical College of Georgia
Loyola

I have 9 interview invites, 2 pendings (i.e., got specific notice they are waiting/reviewing my app), and I still have heard nothing from 27 programs!! I applied back in September.

🙄

-Skip

 

[cak]

My rejections so far:

University of Florida
Medical College of Georgia
Loyola

I have 9 interview invites, 2 pendings (i.e., got specific notice they are waiting/reviewing my app), and I still have heard nothing from 27 programs!! I applied back in September.

🙄

-Skip

Hey Skip. I just posted this in the "Last Minute Switch" Thread, but it definitely applies to you too. There's still hope!


Here's my post.....

I just want to try to reassure you and others that, from my experience last year, it is still not too late to get interviews. If you haven't heard from a program, it's possible that that's equivalent to a rejection, but that's not always true. Some of my interviews last year (for gen surg) came in late December and even early January!! As applicants complete all their early interviews, many of them will feel satisfied that they have done enough and will cancel their late interviews. Start contacting programs next month when the cancelations start rolling in and they may have an invitation for you. Don't get discouraged.

 

[chillindrdude]

northwestern prelim IM today...my first

i'm gonna go cry now... 🙁

 

[Swaydaa]

Oregon today via email...that sucks! BUt, I did get Maine Medical Center....so I feel a little better.

 

[googled]

I would like to thank the following programs for reviewing my application but choosing not to interview me this season: Wake, Michigan, and UNC

Seriously, no bitterness here, life is too short. 🙂

 

[impetigo]

I would like to thank the following programs for reviewing my application but choosing not to interview me this season: Wake, Michigan, and UNC

Seriously, no bitterness here, life is too short. 🙂

Amen to that.

UC Irvine for me.

 

[Rocuman]

Utah today....that sucks. I'll have to pack my bags and ski somewhere else 🙁

234 step 1 2nd quartile, 1 publication
Rejected from Oregon
interviews at wake forest, alabama, baylor, UF, Wash U, Cleveland Clinic, UTMB, Vanderbilt, Case western,

 

[alsp99]

ya whats up with that have same profile as u but got rejects from oregon, colorado and accepts from columbia cornell ucsf and ucsd so far....so strange!!

 

[Atropine]

ya whats up with that have same profile as u but got rejects from oregon, colorado and accepts from columbia cornell ucsf and ucsd so far....so strange!!

Yes, it just shows how unscientific the evaluation process is and how subjective it is. You must distinguish yourself to the program before you'll ever step foot into their offices. Just having good step 1&2 scores isn't enough; in fact, unless you are over(or under) 2 standard deviations from the mean, what can these scores possibly tell the program? Not much... It does not accurately predict who will pass the board certification exams of any specialty. It also does not tell program directors which candidates potentially have a personality disorder.

It seems a few programs 'may' emphasize absolute Step 1 & 2 scores as their only criteria for offering interviews but most emphasize your letters of rec, US grad status, your state of residence(yes, they take it into account where you're from), the size and location of their program(many programs, despite mediocre reputation, are more competitive simply because of location and sheer lack of availability), your photo(yes, it's absolutely true), other worldly experiences, and most importantly, your personal statement.

 

[jtw]

Yes, it just shows how unscientific the evaluation process is and how subjective it is. You must distinguish yourself to the program before you'll ever step foot into their offices. Just having good step 1&2 scores isn't enough; in fact, unless you are over(or under) 2 standard deviations from the mean, what can these scores possibly tell the program? Not much... It does not accurately predict who will pass the board certification exams of any specialty. It also does not tell program directors which candidates potentially have a personality disorder.

It seems a few programs 'may' emphasize absolute Step 1 & 2 scores as their only criteria for offering interviews but most emphasize your letters of rec, US grad status, your state of residence(yes, they take it into account where you're from), the size and location of their program(many programs, despite mediocre reputation, are more competitive simply because of location and sheer lack of availability), your photo(yes, it's absolutely true), other worldly experiences, and most importantly, your personal statement.

Mine so far:
UCSF, UCSD, Stanford, Oregon, Virginia Mason--guess the west coast is out of the question!
However, I've been invited to nearly all the East Coast programs I applied to such as MGH, BID, Cornell, Dartmouth, SLR, BU, Tuft's, Wake Forest, UF. Definitely a geographic bias that I find puzzling. Anyone else noticing this, or is the west coast just that more competitive?

 

[alsp99]

that is so ridiculous...why wouldnt u just take the best person for the job..what difference does it make where u trained as long as u are willing to move wherever residency spots are available...and these are the people making decisions for patients....god please dont tell me photo matters - i didnt submit one (look terrible in pics!)

on an unrelated note i added a few programs to my list yesterday since i have gotten a low number of invites so far- any value in doing this so late in the game?

 

[gasgodess]

that is so ridiculous...why wouldnt u just take the best person for the job..what difference does it make where u trained as long as u are willing to move wherever residency spots are available...and these are the people making decisions for patients....god please dont tell me photo matters - i didnt submit one (look terrible in pics!)

on an unrelated note i added a few programs to my list yesterday since i have gotten a low number of invites so far- any value in doing this so late in the game?

What's considered a low amount? You can PM me, I'm just curious, since there are people on this site that have like twenty invites. Just wondering if I should be concerned with the number I have too.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

that is so ridiculous...why wouldnt u just take the best person for the job..what difference does it make where u trained as long as u are willing to move wherever residency spots are available...and these are the people making decisions for patients....god please dont tell me photo matters - i didnt submit one (look terrible in pics!)

on an unrelated note i added a few programs to my list yesterday since i have gotten a low number of invites so far- any value in doing this so late in the game?

There is a lot that goes into a program's decision toward who is the "best person for the job." It isn't as easy as just looking at scores and class rank.

For example, last year we had 3 CA-1 spots held outside of the match for July, 2004. There was a particular candidate who had credentials as good or better than any of the people this person was competing against for one of those three spots. On the interview, one of three interviewers had a lukewarm impression of this person, but not enough to really be a detraction. However, this person had a couple of letters of recommendation from the program this person was training at, that were positive in some ways but basically said this person was a "lame duck" resident, who was basically being lazy and even antagonistic to the attendings of that program and already had one foot out the door.

That made it difficult for us to accept this person even though this person was in Dallas and even though this person seemed like a reasonable candidate with a strong academic record from medical school, because we had to consider if this was a behavior pattern and work ethic that would continue into our residency.

All things being equal, some programs may profess to a regional preference, knowing that the majority of residents from that area are likely to want to stay and not relocate to another part of the country.

I agree that the most qualified should be given strong consideration, but the reality is that you can get burned without getting the most global picture of each candidate you interview.

 

[undecided05]

although I've been lucky enough to only get one rejection from all the places I applied to for Anesthesia (UCSD), they felt the need to reitterate (sp?) that they did not want me and sent me another rejection yesterday.... ouch

 

[Huskie]

although I've been lucky enough to only get one rejection from all the places I applied to for Anesthesia (UCSD), they felt the need to reitterate (sp?) that they did not want me and sent me another rejection yesterday.... ouch

I got denied to UCSD as well. They said they had over 550 applicants so far this year! That is why the west coast is tough to get I think. Huge number of applicants for so few spots.

 

[jtw]

although I've been lucky enough to only get one rejection from all the places I applied to for Anesthesia (UCSD), they felt the need to reitterate (sp?) that they did not want me and sent me another rejection yesterday.... ouch

also got the double reject from UCSD--not cool.