So I'm a reapplicant

[dopaminesurge]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Is that necessarily a point against me?

I don't expect to get off waitlist, and I've decided I want to study in the US so I'm reapplying. I think I'm reapplying to the 8 CA schools that aren't Loma Linda, to U Wash, Cornell (because living in NYC would be fun and would negate the effects of the cold) Duke and UNCCH (because my best friend is there). Ultimately, I've decided location/company are more important to me in med school than the actual program, because they're all variations on the same theme anyway.

Is 12 still too few for a CA applicant? I'm considering Columbia and NYU, but I never really heard good things about either of them. I suppose I should do more research before applying.

How else are other people choosing their lists?

Babble, babble.

 

[Law2Doc]

Is that necessarily a point against me?

I don't expect to get off waitlist, and I've decided I want to study in the US so I'm reapplying. I think I'm reapplying to the 8 CA schools that aren't Loma Linda, to U Wash, Cornell (because living in NYC would be fun and would negate the effects of the cold) Duke and UNCCH (because my best friend is there). Ultimately, I've decided location/company are more important to me in med school than the actual program, because they're all variations on the same theme anyway.

Is 12 still too few for a CA applicant? I'm considering Columbia and NYU, but I never really heard good things about either of them. I suppose I should do more research before applying.

How else are other people choosing their lists?

Babble, babble.

I think 12 applications is fine if you choose them smartly. If you truly want to get in someplace this cycle, you want to apply to more places outside of the top 20 though -- perhaps half or more of your applications should be going to this next tier. You also want to try and find out where you came up short in the last cycle, and fix that. Good luck.

 

[MollyMalone]

I concur that you really do need to broaden your selection of schools. If you don't want to drop any of the ones on your list, then you should just apply to more, period, and broaden your criteria. The locations you've picked are the ones where lots of people want to be. Think about choosing some Midwestern schools... unless location more important to you than getting in at all.

From your mdapps profile, you did a good job of addressing the weak spots, so I think you'll fare much better this cycle. But do you really want to risk having to do this again? I would suck it up and apply to some "lower tier" schools. If you hate them and hate their locations and would really rather not go to school at all than go there, you can withdraw post-interview. Who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised. I would go for 17-20 total. Yeah, it might be overkill. If you get an early acceptance, you can withdraw from any remaining schools you're not interested in. If you don't get an early acceptance, you'll be awfully glad you have more schools on your list.

Good luck this year!

 

[Rzarecta]

I concur that you really do need to broaden your selection of schools. If you don't want to drop any of the ones on your list, then you should just apply to more, period, and broaden your criteria. The locations you've picked are the ones where lots of people want to be. Think about choosing some Midwestern schools... unless location more important to you than getting in at all.

From your mdapps profile, you did a good job of addressing the weak spots, so I think you'll fare much better this cycle. But do you really want to risk having to do this again? I would suck it up and apply to some "lower tier" schools. If you hate them and hate their locations and would really rather not go to school at all than go there, you can withdraw post-interview. Who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised. I would go for 17-20 total. Yeah, it might be overkill. If you get an early acceptance, you can withdraw from any remaining schools you're not interested in. If you don't get an early acceptance, you'll be awfully glad you have more schools on your list.

Good luck this year!

Agreed.

Paying a little more now in terms of a few extra primaries and secondaries beats paying a hell of a lot more later.

 

[badlydrawnvik]

apply to columbia!

 

[eastsidaz]

If I had had happen to me what just happen to you, I would overcompensate wildly in the opposite direction and apply to 20-25 all over the country and across all tiers. You'll feel a lot better about yourself at the end of the next cycle when you're sitting on 10-12 acceptances (with your record, not an impossible feat). Look at all the allo schools in the US and add to your list any place you'd be willing to go. Then whittle it down to a semi-reasonable number, if only to save money.

 

[kupono3]

if you have some vested interest in the west coast, i'd try ohsu along with uw - it's much more out-of-state friendly. uw is practically an impenetrable fortress if you're not a wwami resident.

i'd also agree with whoever said that you might like somewhere you didn't expect - that's what happened to me.

 

[UCLAstudent]

I concur that you really do need to broaden your selection of schools. If you don't want to drop any of the ones on your list, then you should just apply to more, period, and broaden your criteria. The locations you've picked are the ones where lots of people want to be. Think about choosing some Midwestern schools... unless location more important to you than getting in at all.

From your mdapps profile, you did a good job of addressing the weak spots, so I think you'll fare much better this cycle. But do you really want to risk having to do this again? I would suck it up and apply to some "lower tier" schools. If you hate them and hate their locations and would really rather not go to school at all than go there, you can withdraw post-interview. Who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised. I would go for 17-20 total. Yeah, it might be overkill. If you get an early acceptance, you can withdraw from any remaining schools you're not interested in. If you don't get an early acceptance, you'll be awfully glad you have more schools on your list.

Good luck this year!

I agree with this.

Also, OP, there are only 8 CA schools, including Loma Linda --- so your list is actually only 11 schools if you don't apply to LLU.

 

[dopaminesurge]

I agree with this.

Also, OP, there are only 8 CA schools, including Loma Linda --- so your list is actually only 11 schools if you don't apply to LLU.

Right, that's what I meant, sorry. Ok, I'll throw in Columbia and NYU. Heh. Ohio. I just basically know I don't want cold weather - it makes me cease functioning. So outside of NYC, I would be fairly displeased with life. I'll look into other schools. Perhaps WashU and Tulane are reasonable. I'm sure there are others. You're all probably right. I just can't believe I have to do this again, even though I knew all along it would probably be the situation. Sigh.

 

[jebus]

what about emory, baylor, utsw, oregon, northwestern, chicago (too cold?), and vandy?
You love the durrty durrty and sip sip sippin on sizzurp.

 

[argonana]

what about emory, baylor, utsw, oregon, northwestern, chicago (too cold?), and vandy?
You love the durrty durrty and sip sip sippin on sizzurp.

agreed. i would pass over tulane and apply to a couple of these guys instead.
emory and baylor are probably your best bets--the others are either too cold or rainy or waitlist too many people (vandy). utsw still requires TMDSAS, right? that would be a hassle.

unc is pretty hard to get into if you don't have connections in-state. perhaps you should also consider uva?

washu is a great option. definitely consider it. i was turned off from applying by stl, and i now wish i'd applied.

not that it's been suggested, but i would avoid applying to gw, georgetown, etc. because they put so many people on hold (and have the most expensive app fees in the country).


i don't think being a reapplicant at the CA schools would necessarily count against you, especially if you're aggressive with your app (speaking to the dean about what you could improve upon, writing updates, appealing if you get put on hold, etc.). maybe you should try talking to nikibean--she's a reapplicant who's been granted interviews at nearly all of the UCs this year.

 

[dopaminesurge]

what about emory, baylor, utsw, oregon, northwestern, chicago (too cold?), and vandy?
You love the durrty durrty and sip sip sippin on sizzurp.

Heh... Those are all good but the Chicago schools, It hink. Where are Baylor and UTSW, actually?

 

[pnasty]

Is that necessarily a point against me?

I don't expect to get off waitlist, and I've decided I want to study in the US so I'm reapplying. I think I'm reapplying to the 8 CA schools that aren't Loma Linda, to U Wash, Cornell (because living in NYC would be fun and would negate the effects of the cold) Duke and UNCCH (because my best friend is there). Ultimately, I've decided location/company are more important to me in med school than the actual program, because they're all variations on the same theme anyway.

Is 12 still too few for a CA applicant? I'm considering Columbia and NYU, but I never really heard good things about either of them. I suppose I should do more research before applying.

How else are other people choosing their lists?

Babble, babble.

a good way of applying to schools, and one that worked for me, is to really apply to a diverse array of schools. This means that you need to apply to 25% lower tier, 50% middle tier, and 25% upper tier. Cornell, UWash, and most CA schools are upper tier. I'm sure you will get into one of those next year, but just in case you want to apply to some other schools as well.

 

[jebus]

baylor = houston. you can get messed up on purple drank with mike jones and bun b. just get them pop out grillz before you go.

utsw = dallas. i'm sure they have stuff there, too. just with less purple drank.

 

[ChocolateKiss]

Definitely apply to U Mich. I know you don't want to be in the Midwest, but U Mich gives out lots of acceptances early (beginning at midnight on 10/15), and it is an amazing and very well respected school, so if you got in there early, you could drop all of the schools below U Mich on your list (maybe everything besides those schools you listed in your original post).

Just curious- why aren't you reapplying to Yale? I thought that was your dream school?

 

[somewhere2010]

hey dopa! i know you don't feel like going through this whole process again, but seriously, it's worth the extra $$ and time/effort to apply as widely as is reasonable this time around, unless the idea of med school apps round #3 doesn't make you as nauseous as it would me!

that being said, only apply to places where (as much as you can gauge without visiting yet!) you think you might go if it's the only school you got into. apply to high, medium, and lower tier schools because you seriously have no idea what's going to happen! i got into some great places and didn't even get interviews at lower ranked schools in which i was more confident.

a couple other potential schools that aren't tooooo cold: GWU and georgetown. it's like 70 degrees out here in DC right now, and the winters really aren't too bad! i can definitely relate to being squeamish about the cold, and i'm from illinois! 🙄

best of luck to you! i'm sure it will work out well for you this time around!

 

[crazy_cavalier]

What are you going to do in the interim time?

 

[Taurus]

You're a strong applicant. Apply early and to many schools. Sprinkle your school selection from all rankings, not just the top 10. Chances are you'll get into a top 10, but you never know...

 

[NotAnMD]

if your a re-app, then you probably should consider some "SAFETY SCHOOLS"

all those you listed are hard to get into. 15-20 is probably a better #. Include schools that have ave stats below your numbers. I cant tell you how many schools I got passed over by or waitlisted at that I thought "fall backs". Applying sucks, but it's a #'s game.

PS. you are a good applicant on paper. It should work out well for you. Good luck.

 

[ChocolateKiss]

Be careful about applying to lower tier schools. I applied to 12 schools. 8 of them were top ten schools, and 9 of them were top 11 schools. 3 were middle tier (1 of which was my state school).

I got interviews at all of the schools EXCEPT the lowest ranked one. My numbers were much better than the averages at the lower ranked school, and I think they probably realized it was my "back-up".

You may be throwing away your money at some lower schools because of your high stats.

Just a thought.

 

[yellowpersuazio]

I concur with the general concensus around here. It's stupid to reapply to only 11 schools that are in the top 20 after failing to gain admission the first time around. I think the biggest weak point in your application was the small number of highly selective schools which you applied to.

Don't base your school selection on weather alone. That is just simply naive. And what's this "company" you speak of, because there is no way you can tell who your future classmates are going to be. You'll make friends either way, unless you're the reclusive type.

 

[Saluki]

If I were you, I would add a few of the following:

NYU
Northwestern
UPitt
Vanderbilt
U of Chicago

and then maybe UMich and Wash U...

 

[Taurus]

Be careful about applying to lower tier schools. I applied to 12 schools. 8 of them were top ten schools, and 9 of them were top 11 schools. 3 were middle tier (1 of which was my state school).

I got interviews at all of the schools EXCEPT the lowest ranked one. My numbers were much better than the averages at the lower ranked school, and I think they probably realized it was my "back-up".

You may be throwing away your money at some lower schools because of your high stats.

Just a thought.

Schools aren't stupid. If your #'s and EC's are much better than their average, they think that they won't have a shot at you. But not all schools think like that. It's a crapshoot for them too to try to get candidates who they normally wouldn't get.

IMHO, you can never apply to too many schools, if time permits. Put it in persepctive. Every year you sit out, you are looking at a lost year of income at a doctor's salary. So, you can save one or two thousand dollars by not applying to many schools. If you don't get in, you, oh, lose a few hundred thousand dollars in income. Need I say more?

 

[FenderHM]

If you like NYC maybe think about applying to Einstein and Sinai as "middle tiers" and SUNY downstate and NYMC as safeties?

 

[crazy_cavalier]

DS - you seem like an outstanding applicant! I am positive you will see a good turn-around in your second application cycle 🙂

Try to spend the "year off" wisely and accomplish something or gain some good experience; that way you'll have good material in interviews if they should ask what you have done since the last time you applied.

 

[mustangsally65]

I'm an NC resident and I'd definitely advise you to apply to both Duke and UNC. Yes, it's difficult to get into UNC as an out-of-stater, but your MCAT is great and I think you'd have a good shot at UNC. I didn't apply to Duke (not big on research) but since it's private it would probably be a good one for you to apply to. Have you thought about Wake Forest? They don't give much NC preference either.

Lots of luck! Maybe your waitlist will work out for you.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Definitely apply to Columbia and WashU (I visited WashU. Trust me, you'll like it.)

But I agree, apply across the board a bit more. Learn from your mistakes.

I'll suggest a few:
SUNY (Stony Brook)
Georgetown
URoch
Mount Sinai
UNC
Northwestern
UT-Southwest
Vanderbilt
UChic
UPitt
UMich-Ann Harb.
Baylor
Duke
UPenn
Yale
Obviously, you should only pick some from that list (or of course find your own). Just research them.

Honestly, I was shocked you didn't get in somewhere (there's still hope for Yale).

My god, if Natalie Portman can't get into medical school, I'm doomed.

I'm going to go watch Star Wars Ep. 2.
Adios.
-Dr. P.

 

[jebus]

(I visited WashU. Trust me, you'll like it.)

Can we give people like this a blue dot to show that they're high school students? "I visited WashU. Trust me, you'll like it"? Based on that alone, it's pretty clear you're either
A) a high school student
B) a ******ed college student
C) a very smart chimp
Please, refrain from talking about medical school admissions until you've graduated from high school, I implore you.

 

[dopaminesurge]

Just curious- why aren't you reapplying to Yale? I thought that was your dream school?

1. Hurt pride and 2. My best friend would graduate at the end of my first year, which decreases its appeal. I do weigh my social situation/weather more heavily than some, admittedly. But if they take me this year, I will be overjoyed. I can't imagine being happier at a different school. I just couldn't take two rejections. I don't see why they would take me next year if they didn't this year.

What are you going to do in the interim time?

Good question. See the thread I'm about to start regarding doing one year of med school out of the country for pure personal enrichment. Otherwise, either RA in the US or Israel, or try to go a completely different route for the year - take history classes and learn to paint, while working part time. Med schools don't have to know that, though. I'll just say I'm working and volunteering, which I will be.

My god, if Natalie Portman can't get into medical school, I'm doomed.
I'm going to go watch Star Wars Ep. 2.
Adios.
-Dr. P.

Hahaha. "Smoke up my ass," in the words of Mota. Well, we are both Israeli, so we're probably cousins.



Jesus, guys... thank you so much for all of the advice. This is bookmarked. I know I don't know any of you, but I have to tell you, SDN support's been profoundly meaningful.

 

[dbhvt]

I'm taking 1:3 she gets in at Yale.

 

[dbhvt]

Seriously though, what are you doing to get off that wait list?

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Can we give people like this a blue dot to show that they're high school students? "I visited WashU. Trust me, you'll like it"? Based on that alone, it's pretty clear you're either
A) a high school student
B) a ******ed college student
C) a very smart chimp
Please, refrain from talking about medical school admissions until you've graduated from high school, I implore you.

(Searching for a blue dot).

Yes Jebus, you are correct in that I am a high school student (though I don't think the multiple choice was necessary.) 😉

You are right in the fact that I did not describe WashU very well. Since I was in St. Louis for a few days, I visited both the undergrad campus and barnes-jewish/med school (combination of too much time and the glamour of barnes-jewish), and I personally thought that it was a great school and the location was pleasant. I suggested certain schools, but I only said to dopamine that she would specifically like WashU because it is a great school (which is a given), and even though St. Louis isn't the best location, I personally thought it was in a pretty great area. Since dopamine said that she wanted to go somewhere where she would be happy, I suggested that she apply to WashU for the aforementioned reasons.

But even then, I understand that it is a bit peculiar that a high school student is giving advice on anything pertaining to medical school. Either way, I had good intentions (even with the Ep.II comment) and I simply based the schools on what I thought would match dopamine's profile.

Either way, I will do you one better and make the "blue dot" manifest.
-Dr. P. (high school student) 👍

 

[Law2Doc]

Be careful about applying to lower tier schools. I applied to 12 schools. 8 of them were top ten schools, and 9 of them were top 11 schools. 3 were middle tier (1 of which was my state school).

I got interviews at all of the schools EXCEPT the lowest ranked one. My numbers were much better than the averages at the lower ranked school, and I think they probably realized it was my "back-up".

You may be throwing away your money at some lower schools because of your high stats.

Just a thought.

This was more likely true the first time the OP applied. As a reapplicant, the lower schools may feel they have a better shot at actually landing the OP, since the top schools already passed once.

 

[top]

Dopaminesurge, you are a superior applicant and perhaps in a different year you would have been accepted to half the schools on your list straight up. Nevertheless, for one reason or another you're doing this again. You OWE IT TO YOURSELF to apply to Yale again if you think you would be happy there. I'm sorry, and I'm sure you're hurting, but "hurt pride" is a ridiculous reason not to apply to a school you believe you will love. Worst case scenario -- you get rejected again. It'll hurt, again, but it's the flawed judgment of a med school admissions committee, not St. Peter. I'm sure you will get over it if it happens. Isn't it worth the risk?

P.S. You once described Yale as your "med school soulmate." Even if your best friend leaves, those're pretty strong words. Apply again.
P.P.S. I'm withdrawing from Yale. Hopefully that gets you higher up on the waitlist queue and you'll stop these desperate sounding threads 🙂 good luck!!!

 

[dopaminesurge]

Seriously though, what are you doing to get off that wait list?

I got two recs: one from the hospital director/professor where I volunteer, and one more specifically from the ward director I shadow. They're different enough. I sent in another letter, and at my old tour guide's advice, a picture one of my students drew of the two of us as doctors. I'm still not sure that wasn't a kitchy move, but he insisted they would love it. I figured he knows better than me. I call in, but they haven't been picking up lately.

P.P.S. I'm withdrawing from Yale. Hopefully that gets you higher up on the waitlist queue and you'll stop these desperate sounding threads 🙂 good luck!!!

Hahaha. Man, you're right. I have to stop depressing the forum. 😉

 

[willthatsall]

Is that necessarily a point against me?

I don't expect to get off waitlist, and I've decided I want to study in the US so I'm reapplying. I think I'm reapplying to the 8 CA schools that aren't Loma Linda, to U Wash, Cornell (because living in NYC would be fun and would negate the effects of the cold) Duke and UNCCH (because my best friend is there). Ultimately, I've decided location/company are more important to me in med school than the actual program, because they're all variations on the same theme anyway.

Is 12 still too few for a CA applicant? I'm considering Columbia and NYU, but I never really heard good things about either of them. I suppose I should do more research before applying.

How else are other people choosing their lists?

Babble, babble.

The funny (well, not really at this point) is that the reason you didn't get in is probably a little bit of bad luck mixed with a very tough selection of schools. For instance, we have similar credentials and I think I had a pretty successful application process (Applied to 9, 7 interviews, 4 accepts, 2 WLs, 3 no interview or reject) but out of the schools we both applied to, we had the same results (reject at Harvard, WL at Yale). And the rest of the places you applied are just as tough, if not even tougher to get into. So I think the only thing you really need to do is apply again and get a little bit luckier and expand your choices of schools. Even if you apply to all top 10 or top 20, you are going to get in somewhere if you apply to more schools. Throw in a couple of safety schools and you will be fine.

 

[abc(123)]

i agree with the idea of applying to places that get back to you on the early side. i heard from northwestern in late november, which was great. i have friends who heard from mount sinai early enough to dump other interviews. and i heard from SUNY downstate in january after interviewing in december, so the earlier you applied there the better your shot of hearing even earlier would be. and definitely reapply to yale! (unless they wise up and take you in the next couple of weeks )

(and i think history and painting classes sound better than doing 5 years of med school -- you don't need it twice, and it'd probably be easier to do this second application round from the states?)

::stepping off the advice-giving high horse::

 

[pattayapus]

you've written an LOI to yale, right? told them how much you really love them? i hope so, and i really hope they're smart enough to know you're telling the truth. but if they aren't, seriously, apply again. i swear your chances will be reeeeely good the second time.

best of luck, really! and when you get in, let us know!

 

[dopaminesurge]

you've written an LOI to yale, right? told them how much you really love them? i hope so, and i really hope they're smart enough to know you're telling the truth. but if they aren't, seriously, apply again. i swear your chances will be reeeeely good the second time.

best of luck, really! and when you get in, let us know!

I mean, why would you think my chances at Yale would be any different a second time around?

 

[drmota]

damn. that sucks dopagirl. what about some philly schools : temple? jefferson? or U of Miami. Duke. Emory. I've heard good things about NYU. UMich. add those to your list and you're golden. And if you apply to Tulane, keep in touch with me and i'll put in a good word for you.
-mota

 

[pattayapus]

I mean, why would you think my chances at Yale would be any different a second time around?

because they're already seriously considering you, because they'll remember you, and because the second time around you'll have the advantage of knowing (even unconciously) what's important to say and what's not, and you'll be able to address maybe why you didn't get in the first time--like maybe you'll take the extra year to do something meaningful to you which yale will be happy about...

but anyway, this is all just a guess...really, it's just the impression i get from other SDNers: applying the second time is easier, and you'd be surprised by some of the responses you might get from the schools.

 

[dopaminesurge]

damn. that sucks dopagirl. what about some philly schools : temple? jefferson? or U of Miami. Duke. Emory. I've heard good things about NYU. UMich. add those to your list and you're golden. And if you apply to Tulane, keep in touch with me and i'll put in a good word for you.
-mota

Thanks, M... I was thinking of applying Tulane, because I know someone who won't stop raving about it.

Also, other than GWU and Georgetown, what DC schools would ya'll recommend?

 

[sen]

If you like NYC maybe think about applying to Einstein and Sinai as "middle tiers" and SUNY downstate and NYMC as safeties?

\

I would definately concur about Sinai--Sinai is an awesome school, and its in a great location w/nice housing for students!! The Sinai hospital is also great! Definately apply there. You might also want to think about Penn. Philadelphia's not too much colder than DC, and while not NYC, Philly's a great city.

 

[plainolerichie]

Broaden your schools! At least some schools that aren't top 20 (even top 50).

 

[LJDHC05]

Dopamine,
I did the re-applicant thing last year and got in. One thing that I noticed was that the schools that already had an idea of who I was from the first round of apps rejected/interviewed me the second time around too, so I had to bump up from the 15 that I really liked to 22 total. Like it has been said above, definitely pop a few of the private northeastern schools and southern schools on your app too. If you can stand Gtown's super-conservative agenda, it's a good school. Definitely toss Tufts, NYMC, Drexel and Rosie Franklin on the list. And don't forget about the mid-western schools (Creighton, SLU and Chicago schools) because they love californian expats. PM me if you want to talk about re-applying tips!

~LJD