Serious Red Flag? Rejected Pre-Interview Already

[zaben]

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Edit: So because of this super early rejection, I became incredibly paranoid and filled out 30 secondaries. I am now sitting on 7 interview invites after believing that I had a serious red flag due to U chicago's really early rejection right after sending in my secondary on like july 2nd or something. Moral of the story: U chicago rejects people really early, but they might still be applicants with very good chances elsewhere.

 

[Selladore235]

Call them and ask. At this point what've you to lose by asking?

 

[mcloaf]

It's one school and it's only July. Chill out.

 

[zaben]

I will call when they are open tomorrow. I just don't know if they would disclose something that was so serious that they didn't even put me in the typical silent rejection holding pattern like most rejections are. I am considering applying to more schools with just one of my letters missing from each to find out if I have a letter that says, "do not under any circumstances ever accept this person."

 

[zaben]

It's one school and it's only July. Chill out.

I would be fine just not hearing back for awhile, or being put on hold indefinitely until May as a silent rejection. But it seems that blatant pre-interview rejections are pretty rare, especially this early. So I feel as if it is cause for worry, I am just wondering whether or not anyone has heard of this happening before due to something besides a low gpa/mcat screen or a bad letter.

 

[mrh125]

they're the university of chicago. you may have done nothing wrong, but they're a very selective school.

 

[acquiescing]

UChicago is also known for being very "fit"-oriented, so it very well may have just been that they don't think you "fit" with the class they're trying to build. Which is not an insult, every school and admissions committee is different. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Person0715]

Fit-oriented or not, that seems pretty harsh so early in the game. Are you sure you are not misunderstanding their email or something? Keep your head up, OP.

 

[Lawpy]

Chicago rejects pretty fast even early at the game. I wouldn't worry about it

 

[zaben]

Fit-oriented or not, that seems pretty harsh so early in the game. Are you sure you are not misunderstanding their email or something? Keep your head up, OP.

the email:

"The Committee on Admissions has completed its review of your application and has decided not to pursue your application further. Thank you for your interest in the Pritzker School of Medicine and the effort you invested in your application. Best wishes to you as you pursue your interests in medicine."


Oh well. Thanks for the encouragement, but nothing I can do about it now I guess. If the pre-interview rejections start rolling in I'll have to change up everything for next cycle I guess.

 

[Amba]

UChicago is also known for being very "fit"-oriented, so it very well may have just been that they don't think you "fit" with the class they're trying to build. Which is not an insult, every school and admissions committee is different. Just something to keep in mind.

Chicago rejects pretty fast even early at the game. I wouldn't worry about it

This. Chicago has very fast turnaround. I have also noticed that Pritzker tends to like applicants with some sort of ties to the midwest. I wouldn't worry yet.

 

[Person0715]

This. Chicago has very fast turnaround. I have also noticed that Pritzker tends to like applicants with some sort of ties to the midwest. I wouldn't worry yet.

I've been complete for 4 days...guess I'm screwed as well

 

[Muvis]

This happened to me today as well, with similar stats when compared to the OP. I also have no ties to the midwest, so that seems like it could be a good explanation.

 

[acquiescing]

This. Chicago has very fast turnaround. I have also noticed that Pritzker tends to like applicants with some sort of ties to the midwest. I wouldn't worry yet.

Just curious because you've obviously developed a theory: my dad grew up in Chicago but there's no hint of that in my application other than on the primary where it asks for your parents' alma mater and my father's is Univ of Illinois. Do you think I could be tossed out with the "no Midwest connection"?

 

[Lawpy]

This. Chicago has very fast turnaround. I have also noticed that Pritzker tends to like applicants with some sort of ties to the midwest. I wouldn't worry yet.

Doesn't it have to do more with the diversity secondary?

 

[Amba]

Just curious because you've obviously developed a theory: my dad grew up in Chicago but there's no hint of that in my application other than on the primary where it asks for your parents' alma mater and my father's is Univ of Illinois. Do you think I could be tossed out with the "no Midwest connection"?

It's probably better than nothing. I'm not saying that it is impossible to get into Pritzker if you've spent your entire life on the coasts - I just think it's more difficult. Similar to how I have spent my whole life in the midwest, interviewed at some awesome schools in the midwest (including Pritzker), but received little love from the coasts.

Doesn't it have to do more with the diversity secondary?

Perhaps. "Fit" is emphasized at most schools, but it seemed especially important at Pritzker.

Of note, I merely interviewed at Pritzker and other users like @NickNaylor and @Tots might have a completely different point of view as students there. My perspective is simply the sum of anecdotal evidence from my cycle and years of observing the results from others on SDN and in real life.

 

[Heplayer92]

OP you have a 90%+ shot of getting into a medical school with those stats. At the same time, you're probably going to be rejected a bunch of times too.

Seriously, the numbers are on your side. Like everyone else has said...it's early, U of Chicago is pretty unique in that you have to fit in their niche (even for Undergrad). I don't know why a LoR writer would ever say "never accept this person as a physician" if they were willing to even write one for you in the first place. Seems silly.

You will be FINE.

 

[Essee]

Just curious because you've obviously developed a theory: my dad grew up in Chicago but there's no hint of that in my application other than on the primary where it asks for your parents' alma mater and my father's is Univ of Illinois. Do you think I could be tossed out with the "no Midwest connection"?

Of course not. I met people from all around the US and even outside the US at their second look.

Also OP look at pritzker's thread for the 2013-2014 cycle. You'll see tons of high stat competative applicants rejected fairly quicky within days. They care about fit a lot.

 

[acquiescing]

Of course not. I met people from all around the US and even outside the US at their second look.

Also OP look at pritzker's thread for the 2013-2014 cycle. You'll see tons of high stat competative applicants rejected fairly quicky within days. They care about fit a lot.

I didn't imagine so, but I wanted to hear more about the Midwest theory. It intrigued me.

 

[Goro]

Concur with Selladore. Also, consider that U Chicago last year received >5000 apps, and they interviewed 604. Therefore, you're in the same boat as those other 85% applicants.

Which tells me those 600 were pretty spectacular, given OP is no slouch in numbers.

OP, I suggest that whatever killed you was in here:

1+ year research with posters/pub
200+ hours clinical volunteering
100 hours nonclinical volunteering
100 hours shadowing
multiple semesters TAing

Call them and ask. At this point what've you to lose by asking?

 

[LizzyM]

Were you born, raised and educated on either coast? They may be assuming that given a choice between Stanford & UChicago or Hopkins/Harvard & UChicago you will pick the school close to home. With those numbers you should have other suitors and UChicago may not want to "waste" an interview slot on someone likely to dump them for a "better offer".

 

[Essee]

I didn't imagine so, but I wanted to hear more about the Midwest theory. It intrigued me.

Understandable, though no ties to the midwest certainly isnt grounds for rejection 🙂. I had no ties to the midwest and was accepted. I actually was told at my interview that the reason they invited me was because they thought I would be an excellent fit for their school. If you feel this way about Pritzker too, make sure to clearly illustrate that on their secondary. I think that's more important to getting an II than ties.

 

[Lamel]

If you check a school specific thread, a couple of very high stats applicants were rejected today.

 

[Lawpy]

Were you born, raised and educated on either coast? They may be assuming that given a choice between Stanford & UChicago or Hopkins/Harvard & UChicago you will pick the school close to home. With those numbers you should have other suitors and UChicago may not want to "waste" an interview slot on someone likely to dump them for a "better offer".

And yet for the past few years, UChicago accepts applicants and gives them scholarships only to be turned down for "better schools". Doing the same for this year will be no different

But yeah. A UChicago rejection is just dust on jacket. Other top schools will be more serious with the process

 

[zaben]

Concur with Selladore. Also, consider that U Chicago last year received >5000 apps, and they interviewed 604. Therefore, you're in the same boat as those other 85% applicants.

Which tells me those 600 were pretty spectacular, given OP is no slouch in numbers.

OP, I suggest that whatever killed you was in here:

1+ year research with posters/pub
200+ hours clinical volunteering
100 hours nonclinical volunteering
100 hours shadowing
multiple semesters TAing

Maybe. I didn't go fully in depth with all of my activities cause I don't really want to be recognized. But it is not that I didn't get into U Chicago that is a big deal.....it is that they rejected me right from the start. It is not that they had me on hold to see if they could find someone better and then silent rejected me later like every other school, but instead decided that they would no longer even consider me for the school. I hope you guys are right and U Chicago is just way more likely to reject right off the bat unlike almost every other school that will at least keep you on hold or something just in case their applicant pool isn't as strong as expected.

edit: I am from a coast btw. Maybe I should have mentioned I lived in Pennsylvania for 5 years? midwest theory sounds as good as any.....at least I would like to believe in it lol.

 

[basketcase0a0]

Maybe. I didn't go fully in depth with all of my activities cause I don't really want to be recognized. But it is not that I didn't get into U Chicago that is a big deal.....it is that they rejected me right from the start. It is not that they had me on hold to see if they could find someone better and then silent rejected me later like every other school, but instead decided that they would no longer even consider me for the school. I hope you guys are right and U Chicago is just way more likely to reject right off the bat unlike almost every other school that will at least keep you on hold or something just in case their applicant pool isn't as strong as expected.

Some schools are just like that, and the likelihood of Pritzker having any problems finding competitive applicants is 0.00000001%. I got rejected by BU like 2 weeks after I was complete last year. Still ended up with multiple acceptances. Frankly, you'll be glad by the end of this long process because it's one less school you have to wonder about for months on end. Harsh, but with your app you'll almost certainly get in somewhere. Best of luck with the rest of the cycle.

 

[Goro]

In this game, you need to have a thick skin, and be able to take rejection, immediate or not. If it makes you feel any better, I've had papers rejected within 48 hours of submission.

Maybe. I didn't go fully in depth with all of my activities cause I don't really want to be recognized. But it is not that I didn't get into U Chicago that is a big deal.....it is that they rejected me right from the start. It is not that they had me on hold to see if they could find someone better and then silent rejected me later like every other school, but instead decided that they would no longer even consider me for the school. I hope you guys are right and U Chicago is just way more likely to reject right off the bat unlike almost every other school that will at least keep you on hold or something just in case their applicant pool isn't as strong as expected.

edit: I am from a coast btw. Maybe I should have mentioned I lived in Pennsylvania for 5 years? midwest theory sounds as good as any.....at least I would like to believe in it lol.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

OP, saying that your stats are amazing would be an understatement. You have a stronger app than I do in ALL aspects except nonmedical volunteering just from a first glance. I'm sure you'll get in somewhere. I agree with everyone who said "fit" matters because quite simply, it does. I only picked schools that I believe I'd have a good "fit" for, which happened to be a lot of places that loved community service as much as I do.

 

[LizzyM]

Which is worse, getting a rejection in July or being strung along until March without an interview invite? At least this way, you know where you stand and if you'd put all your eggs in the Hyde Park basket (I almost said Hype Park) , it would still be early enough to add more schools to your AMCAS application.

Also, it isn't that UChicago requires midwest ties but they may reject superstars who they expect will find that school less attractive than the many alternatives the superstar applicant will have. Keep in mind, schools eventually see where the applicants who turned them down ended up. UChicago may be saving themselves interview slots and trying to improve their yield.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/fastest-rejection-ever.837161/

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

Which is worse, getting a rejection in July or being strung along until March without an interview invite? At least this way, you know where you stand and if you'd put all your eggs in the Hyde Park basket (I almost said Hype Park) , it would still be early enough to add more schools to your AMCAS application.

Also, it isn't that UChicago requires midwest ties but they may reject superstars who they expect will find that school less attractive than the many alternatives the superstar applicant will have. Keep in mind, schools eventually see where the applicants who turned them down ended up. UChicago may be saving themselves
interview slots and trying to improve their yield.

What she said! If anything, you should send them a thank you letter for being so prompt! You'll realize when you have 16 brands in the fire and you're impatiently staring at your inbox that even a rejection can lower your stress levels.

 

[Lawpy]

Frankly, if Pritzker and others will respond with a fast turnaround rate, it's better for these schools to implement a pre-secondary rejection scheme. It's sure better than wasting applicants' time on secondaries and ripping them off their cash. But hey, when has schools cared about applicants in the first place?

 

[itsraininbunnie]

OP, saying that your stats are amazing would be an understatement. You have a stronger app than I do in ALL aspects except nonmedical volunteering just from a first glance. I'm sure you'll get in somewhere. I agree with everyone who said "fit" matters because quite simply, it does. I only picked schools that I believe I'd have a good "fit" for, which happened to be a lot of places that loved community service as much as I do.

May I asked what schools you applied to because of their emphasis on community service? I also have a lot of service and tried to apply to schools with a similar emphasis, but I just wanted to see if there are others that I should add? Thanks!

 

[Essee]

Frankly, if Pritzker and others will respond with a fast turnaround rate, it's better for these schools to implement a pre-secondary rejection scheme. It's sure better than wasting applicants' time on secondaries and ripping them off their cash. But hey, when has schools cared about applicants in the first place?

I think Pritzker especially values the secondary to show fit for their school. What would the screen even be based off of? MCAT/GPA? Because that wouldn't have applied to the OP who has stellar stats (as do many other rejected stellar applicants to Pritzker). If not an MCAT/GPA screen, and rather they read your entire application before sending you a secondary, that seems really inefficient as they would have to re-review following reciept of secondary (which they do for applicants on hold).

To be fair they also send II just as fast as they reject, which I'm sure most applicants appreciate.

 

[Psai]

Did you expect acceptances from every school?

 

[Ace Khalifa]

May I asked what schools you applied to because of their emphasis on community service? I also have a lot of service and tried to apply to schools with a similar emphasis, but I just wanted to see if there are others that I should add? Thanks!

SLU, Miami, Tulane, EVMS, Georgetown, WVU, Rush, Loyola, Albany are the big ones for service. The others had enough about service to make me interested but it's not their primary focus.

 

[pharmolu]

Uchicago asked about if you used a committee letter in the secondary. did you put down you had a committee service and decided not to use it? that could be 'red flag' you're looking for.

 

[zaben]

Just an update,

I got an interview at a top 20 school recently and I got small pooled at a couple more.....so I just have no idea how this process works. Also, I asked the school why the swift rejection and they said they can't say until like April. Let this be a lesson to apply broadly I guess.

 

[VanEman]

Just an update,

I got an interview at a top 20 school recently and I got small pooled at a couple more.....so I just have no idea how this process works. Also, I asked the school why the swift rejection and they said they can't say until like April. Let this be a lesson to apply broadly I guess.

I also think it's a good reason to mix up your letters, just in case some letter writer "damned with faint praise" or otherwise wrote something unexpected.

 

[zaben]

Yep, although I did send the exact same letters to the school I got an interview at I was paranoid and applied to a couple more schools with mixed letters. If I had a bad letter though the writers would have to be sick to smile at me and wish me good luck while rooting for failure.

 

[Hobakie]

Just my opinion but from what I know about Pritzker is that the school missions are ultimately diversity and innovation in science (research) if you look at the mission statement it even says "innovators in science and medicine for the betterment of humanity" listing science first. I wouldn't get to worked up about it, but I do think you just didn't fit in with the mission. UChicago is extremely research oriented so that may have been a reason and also maybe they were looking for a more diverse applicant or one that could better explain their diversity aside from race and culture. Im not applying right now ,but from what I am seeing medical school may seem like its crapshoot ,but its ultimately whether or not they feel you have the same purpose and intentions as the school.

 

[DermViser]

Did you expect acceptances from every school?

I always love all your responses. I think I have a bromance with you.

 

[slz1900]

Med school applications are humbling. Stop calling schools and asking why you were rejected and accept that even with those numbers, there are a lot of applicants who are better than you. You'll probably end up getting into some really good schools barring a complete lack of interviewing skills.

 

[ct303]

Just an update,

I got an interview at a top 20 school recently and I got small pooled at a couple more.....so I just have no idea how this process works. Also, I asked the school why the swift rejection and they said they can't say until like April. Let this be a lesson to apply broadly I guess.

You would do yourself much good, and months of heartache if you didn't try to understand the process.

 

[ace12345]

Just an update,

I got an interview at a top 20 school recently and I got small pooled at a couple more.....so I just have no idea how this process works. Also, I asked the school why the swift rejection and they said they can't say until like April. Let this be a lesson to apply broadly I guess.

U Chicago is notoriously really quick at getting back to applicants, and for interviewing early in the cycle (Which, rejected or not, I think is a great thing for planning purposes).

It is still SOOOOO early in the game. I was verified on day 1, got secondaries in immediately, and did not hear anything from the school where I will be matriculating until December. You've got to relax, it is a long, long process and the stress will probably only being going up from here (October 15th can be a fun day). Good luck on the first interview, I would bet there are more to come.

 

[repititionition]

Many rejections will come.

Hope only to have an acceptance (even if not your first choice) before Thanksgiving (spoiler: with those stats you likely will), and then just hold on tight until May or until your first choice comes through, whichever is first.

All: Please feel free to copy and paste this in to 3/4 of all threads in Pre-Allo for the next 6-9 months.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

Many rejections will come.

Hope only to have an acceptance (even if not your first choice) before Thanksgiving (spoiler: with those stats you likely will), and then just hold on tight until May or until your first choice comes through, whichever is first.

All: Please feel free to copy and paste this in to 3/4 of all threads in Pre-Allo for the next 6-9 months.

Totally agree. All it takes is ONE acceptance to know that you're on the way to medical school!