so no vandy secondary by now means rejection?

[fizzbot]

---

Members do not see this ad.

so no vandy secondary by now means rejection?
*weeps* wall of shame

 

[SpeedRacer]

so no vandy secondary by now means rejection?
*weeps* wall of shame

no no no....i don't think they've interviewed everyone they need to this year.

or maybe i'm just telling myself that... 🙁

 

[pistachio]

so I called vandy today to check on the status of my application, and the lady who answered couldn't even find my AMCAS (completed the first week of july). it might be a good idea to call them and see what's up ... i'm pretty disappointed if it's true they don't even have my AMCAS verified after 6 weeks.

 

[drbriggz]

so I called vandy today to check on the status of my application, and the lady who answered couldn't even find my AMCAS (completed the first week of july). it might be a good idea to call them and see what's up ... i'm pretty disappointed if it's true they don't even have my AMCAS verified after 6 weeks.

WTF????? Are you kidding me? ****!!!!!

 

[pistachio]

No joke. Not to mention my friend called after I told him, and they couldn't find his AMCAS either (completed mid-July). I'm not sure if the person I talked to didn't know what they were doing or what ... maybe they actually do have my AMCAS. If they do, I don't know. Pretty ridiculous, though, considering they've probably mailed out close to half of their interviews already.

 

[jc11011]

No joke. Not to mention my friend called after I told him, and they couldn't find his AMCAS either (completed mid-July). I'm not sure if the person I talked to didn't know what they were doing or what ... maybe they actually do have my AMCAS. If they do, I don't know. Pretty ridiculous, though, considering they've probably mailed out close to half of their interviews already.

You guys should chill out. I just had my interview today, and I was notified on August 1st that I would be interviewing. My AMCAS was submitted on June 17th and verified on the 21st. Hence, if my logic isn't faulty and you submitted your AMCAS in mid-July (a month later than I did), you should be hearing from them at the beginning of September (also a month later than I did). Best of luck.

 

[45408]

relax, guys, there's still hundreds of invites left, I believe

 

[pistachio]

I hope you guys are right ... =/

 

[speranza]

Pretty ridiculous, though, considering they've probably mailed out close to half of their interviews already.

Are you kidding me? They've already sent out that many interviews?! Great, does this mean August MCATers don't have any chance of even getting an interview unless they have phenomenal stats... 🙁

 

[willthatsall]

I seriously doubt they've sent out half of their interviews already.

 

[SpeedRacer]

You guys should chill out. I just had my interview today, and I was notified on August 1st that I would be interviewing. My AMCAS was submitted on June 17th and verified on the 21st. Hence, if my logic isn't faulty and you submitted your AMCAS in mid-July (a month later than I did), you should be hearing from them at the beginning of September (also a month later than I did). Best of luck.

i was verified on the 13th, and i haven't heard a peep.

 

[SpeedRacer]

so I called vandy today to check on the status of my application, and the lady who answered couldn't even find my AMCAS (completed the first week of july). it might be a good idea to call them and see what's up ... i'm pretty disappointed if it's true they don't even have my AMCAS verified after 6 weeks.

what did they say they were going to do about it??

 

[aamartin81]

what did they say they were going to do about it??

I was verified June 16 and have yet to hear from them. My grades and MCAT are competitive with their accepted student profile in MSAR. I am also in-state. Don't worry too much about it, at least you haven't gotten a rejection letter.

Good luck,

Adam

 

[chattkis]

I've been waiting over a month and finally got a real thin rejection letter snail mail. They will send that to you. If you have gotten nothing then they haven't looked at your file yet.

 

[pistachio]

I talked to a different person today and my AMCAS *is* in. Either they downloaded it yesterday, or it's been there all along. Now just a matter of time till rejection =)

 

[SpeedRacer]

so apparently they didn't lose my application because i just got rejected. 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁

did i mention 🙁 ?

 

[princessd3]

so apparently they didn't lose my application because i just got rejected. 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁

did i mention 🙁 ?

When was you AMCAS verified? Mine was verified 7/21 so just curious as to whether I should be expecting any correspendence just yet.

 

[MoosePilot]

I have it on good authority that they will promptly send you a rejection letter when they reject you. 😛

 

[45408]

WTF? why would I get a pre-secondary rejection? (which I just did) I guess I should've gone to a more prestigious school, because that's really the only part of my app that's lacking enough to reject pre-secondary, IMO.

 

[MoosePilot]

WTF? why would I get a pre-secondary rejection? (which I just did) I guess I should've gone to a more prestigious school, because that's really the only part of my app that's lacking enough to reject pre-secondary, IMO.

If it's true that their secondary is the same as an interview invite, then they just make the first huge cut pre-secondary instead of later.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to go anywhere that doesn't want me. Screw 'em.

 

[45408]

If it's true that their secondary is the same as an interview invite, then they just make the first huge cut pre-secondary instead of later.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to go anywhere that doesn't want me. Screw 'em.

I know, but I don't know what my app lacks - good GPA, high MCAT, research, clinical experience, volunteer, etc. Whatever. At least they reject me before asking for $80 and LORs. I didn't have my heart set on the school or anything.

 

[MoosePilot]

I know, but I don't know what my app lacks - good GPA, high MCAT, research, clinical experience, volunteer, etc. Whatever. At least they reject me before asking for $80 and LORs. I didn't have my heart set on the school or anything.

Well, with a great app like that you'll get in somewhere else. It *is* disappointing, but they're the first school that I've gotten the impression read my app prior to sending a secondary.

 

[45408]

Oh, I'll live. I wasn't *crushed* or anything, just a bit perplexed.

 

[SpeedRacer]

When was you AMCAS verified? Mine was verified 7/21 so just curious as to whether I should be expecting any correspendence just yet.

6/13

 

[silas2642]

I know, but I don't know what my app lacks - good GPA, high MCAT, research, clinical experience, volunteer, etc. Whatever. At least they reject me before asking for $80 and LORs. I didn't have my heart set on the school or anything.

Don't underestimate the amcas essay-- did you blow off your statement of purpose and rely on your mcat score and gpa to get you in? From what I hear, that's a no-no.

 

[willthatsall]

I think the undergrad school definitely matters a lot at Vanderbilt. From seeing the people at my interview, the vast majority were from top 20 schools (Harvard, Yale, WashU, Northwestern, Hopkins, etc.) with a couple from good state schools like UVA and the like. There was one guy from Univ of Utah, that was probably the only other person from a school that isn't that great. I'm not sure how big the undergrad effect at Vandy is, but if you had the same stats and went to Yale, they probably would have interviewed you.

 

[silas2642]

I think the undergrad school definitely matters a lot at Vanderbilt. From seeing the people at my interview, the vast majority were from top 20 schools (Harvard, Yale, WashU, Northwestern, Hopkins, etc.) with a couple from good state schools like UVA and the like. There was one guy from Univ of Utah, that was probably the only other person from a school that isn't that great. I'm not sure how big the undergrad effect at Vandy is, but if you had the same stats and went to Yale, they probably would have interviewed you.

Not true: there were matriculants from all over-- Calvin, Notre Dame, and a ton of state schools along with schools I've never even heard of. Let's remember here that these are MATRICULANTS too, not just the institutions of all the accepted students, nor the institutions of all the interviewees. Yale or no Yale, Prowler's stats are among the best, so I doubt the name of his undergraduate institution makes too much of a difference in the eyes of admissions committees.

 

[AxlxA]

is the invite lost in mail?

 

[willthatsall]

Not true: there were matriculants from all over-- Calvin, Notre Dame, and a ton of state schools along with schools I've never even heard of. Let's remember here that these are MATRICULANTS too, not just the institutions of all the accepted students, nor the institutions of all the interviewees. Yale or no Yale, Prowler's stats are among the best, so I doubt the name of his undergraduate institution makes too much of a difference in the eyes of admissions committees.

I realize there are matriculants from all over. And I'm not saying that you don't have a chance unless your from a big name school, but I think numbers of students that aren't from the top schools might need to be even higher than the norm for Vandy. By the way, Notre Dame is a top school (top 20, maybe?)

 

[Wiggy73]

I'm sorry for all those who have been rejected, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything about your application. This process is so ridiculously random.

Vandy seems to like top undergrads, judging by my class, but people who went to lower-ranked schools do get in. We assign your school a tier (I think it's 1-6 but don't quote me on that) when looking at your application; Vandy itself is a tier 2, which is very good. But it's not a deal-breaker or anything.

At least Vandy sends out rejections reasonably promptly and doesn't keep you waiting through March because you still have a chance!! even though you really don't. Until you get the R-letter, you're still in the running, and if you haven't heard either way you probably don't have too long (in the grand scheme of the cycle) to wait. to all those waiting!

 

[SpeedRacer]

I think the undergrad school definitely matters a lot at Vanderbilt. From seeing the people at my interview, the vast majority were from top 20 schools (Harvard, Yale, WashU, Northwestern, Hopkins, etc.)

i went to wash u...and no love

 

[frostynorthwind]

I just received my rejection letter from Vandy today via snail-mail and honestly, I can't say that it wasn't expected. I know that med school admission is competitive and this early in the game, an applicant either has strength in GPA and MCAT or doesn't.

Wiggy, I would disagree that rejections say nothing of an applicant's application or an applicant's competitiveness this early "in the game". It comes as no surprise that schools recruit applicants with high scores, and although these students aren't guaranteed to produce the best doctors, the AAMC justifies using the MCAT as a screening mechanism due to a correlation between GPA, MCAT, and USMLE step 1 scores...

Well, 2 rejections, 2 interview invites, and 2 secondaries to go (16 completed)... when is this process going to end??? 🙄

 

[Wiggy73]

Wiggy, I would disagree that rejections say nothing of an applicant's application or an applicant's competitiveness this early "in the game". It comes as no surprise that schools recruit applicants with high scores, and although these students aren't guaranteed to produce the best doctors, the AAMC justifies using the MCAT as a screening mechanism due to a correlation between GPA, MCAT, and USMLE step 1 scores...

Really? Schools recruit applicants with high scores? You didn't look at my mdapps, did you. I stick by what I said, with the clarification that a few early rejections don't necessarily mean anything about an applicant's competitiveness.

 

[dilated]

Really? Schools recruit applicants with high scores? You didn't look at my mdapps, did you. I stick by what I said, with the clarification that a few early rejections don't necessarily mean anything about an applicant's competitiveness.

Not to derail the thread or anything but did you ever find out what was wrong with your app? It looks like something in the primary or secondary. Jeez.

In a way I'm glad I didn't put the work in to have a better GPA because then I'd be set up for shattering disappointment if I didn't get in to a top school. 😛

 

[argonana]

Not to derail the thread or anything but did you ever find out what was wrong with your app? It looks like something in the primary or secondary. Jeez.

In a way I'm glad I didn't put the work in to have a better GPA because then I'd be set up for shattering disappointment if I didn't get in to a top school. 😛

Not to pry, but I'm curious as well, Wiggy. What the heck happened?! Not that you didn't end up in a great place, but I can't believe how rough the process was on you.

 

[Wiggy73]

Not to derail the thread or anything but did you ever find out what was wrong with your app? It looks like something in the primary or secondary. Jeez.

In a way I'm glad I didn't put the work in to have a better GPA because then I'd be set up for shattering disappointment if I didn't get in to a top school. 😛

Not to pry, but I'm curious as well, Wiggy. What the heck happened?! Not that you didn't end up in a great place, but I can't believe how rough the process was on you.

I saw this coming as soon as I hit submit on that last post, so I guess the thread derail is my fault. 😳 🙄

The short answer is, there was nothing wrong with my app. I was light on clinical experience, and maybe my PS could have been better (since I had no clue what I was doing when I wrote it), but from my conversations with adcom members those things (especially the latter) weren't app-killers. After all, I got some pretty darn good interviews. Mainly, I had rotten luck. My professors and advisors were totally shocked, and they've seen a few applicants in their day. But this process really is so random - luck plays a bigger role than it's politically correct to admit - and it can definitely be very rough on people.

That's why I leave my mdapps on my signature. Right now, you prospective 2010ers have a rose-colored romantic idea that adcoms reward the most deserving applicants and everything turns out happy with sunshine and puppies (allow me some dramatic license here). And I hope things turn out great for you, really I do. Just be warned. What should happen may not, and I guarantee it won't for a lot of people on this board. Then you get to be all bitter and cynical like me. 😎 But hey, I 😍 my class, so 'sall good.

 

[MoosePilot]

I saw this coming as soon as I hit submit on that last post, so I guess the thread derail is my fault. 😳 🙄

The short answer is, there was nothing wrong with my app. I was light on clinical experience, and maybe my PS could have been better (since I had no clue what I was doing when I wrote it), but from my conversations with adcom members those things (especially the latter) weren't app-killers. After all, I got some pretty darn good interviews. Mainly, I had rotten luck. My professors and advisors were totally shocked, and they've seen a few applicants in their day. But this process really is so random - luck plays a bigger role than it's politically correct to admit - and it can definitely be very rough on people.

That's why I leave my mdapps on my signature. Right now, you prospective 2010ers have a rose-colored romantic idea that adcoms reward the most deserving applicants and everything turns out happy with sunshine and puppies (allow me some dramatic license here). And I hope things turn out great for you, really I do. Just be warned. What should happen may not, and I guarantee it won't for a lot of people on this board. Then you get to be all bitter and cynical like me. 😎 But hey, I 😍 my class, so 'sall good.

I've got to think something is up. PS or cocky attitude during interviews. Sorry if I believe the system has some integrity, but your numbers couldn't be better. Literally there are probably only a handful of people every year that have those numbers. You even applied super early and come from a strong undergraduate program. Something has to have freaking counter balanced them.

 

[SpeedRacer]

and maybe my PS could have been better

i thought you meant your physical sciences section, i was like "@sshole...."

 

[titoincali]

i thought you meant your physical sciences section, i was like "@sshole...."

Ha! That was my first thought too.

 

[argonana]

I saw this coming as soon as I hit submit on that last post, so I guess the thread derail is my fault. 😳 🙄

The short answer is, there was nothing wrong with my app. I was light on clinical experience, and maybe my PS could have been better (since I had no clue what I was doing when I wrote it), but from my conversations with adcom members those things (especially the latter) weren't app-killers. After all, I got some pretty darn good interviews. Mainly, I had rotten luck. My professors and advisors were totally shocked, and they've seen a few applicants in their day. But this process really is so random - luck plays a bigger role than it's politically correct to admit - and it can definitely be very rough on people.

That's why I leave my mdapps on my signature. Right now, you prospective 2010ers have a rose-colored romantic idea that adcoms reward the most deserving applicants and everything turns out happy with sunshine and puppies (allow me some dramatic license here). And I hope things turn out great for you, really I do. Just be warned. What should happen may not, and I guarantee it won't for a lot of people on this board. Then you get to be all bitter and cynical like me. 😎 But hey, I 😍 my class, so 'sall good.

Do you think your amazing stats could actually have been a disadvantage? It's not hard to imagine that adcoms at any school except, say, Harvard just wouldn't expect you to matriculate.

I'm impressed that you're willing to share your story! That must mean you're not TOO bitter...

 

[argonana]

Unless you're intentionally trying to freak the hell out of us.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Do you think your amazing stats could actually have been a disadvantage? It's not hard to imagine that adcoms at any school except, say, Harvard just wouldn't expect you to matriculate.

I'm impressed that you're willing to share your story! That must mean you're not TOO bitter...

I think medical schools are more disposed to giving scholarships to spectacular students to entice them to come than rejecting them outright because they aren't likely to matriculate.

 

[45408]

Don't underestimate the amcas essay-- did you blow off your statement of purpose and rely on your mcat score and gpa to get you in? From what I hear, that's a no-no.

Not at all. My first personal statement was written two years ago, and that current draft was under way since February/March. To be honest, my best guess is that they either don't like my undergrad school (there are no matriculants at Vandy from my school), and I have heard that one bad apple from a school can spoil it for others, or maybe I didn't talk up research enough in my PS or something.

Lucky for me, the school I have my heart set on the most is an in-state school that has pretty average numbers. I really like it though.

 

[Phil Anthropist]

You know Wiggy, I remember running into your profile last fall (mid-October maybe?) and thinking, "What on earth? Is this some kind of joke?!" And then sometime later I ran into one of your posts on SDN and thought, "But she doesn't sound like a troll -- IS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?!"

It's a good thing that you were accepted. Otherwise, I think all the future applicants on SDN would just throw in the towel pre-primary! 😛

I remember a particular SDNer applied for the entering class of 2004 and had no luck. He went to a top tier undergrad, had a strong GPA and excellent MCAT, decent ECs, applied to some schools that you would think he'd be a shoe-in, and yet he received ZERO acceptances that year -- he was even denied by one of his state schools! He got a bunch of unwarranted crap on SDN along the lines of, "OMG!!! How could you get those stats and not earn a single acceptance?! You must have a horrible personality and poor social skills!" As if he probably didn't feel crushed enough... 🙄

The good news is that he reapplied for the entering class of 2005 and received multiple acceptances to US allo schools (at least four).

I suppose there are a few stellar applicants each year that just have rotten luck.

I'm glad it worked out for ya Wiggy. Good luck with your four more years at Vandy! = )

 

[Wiggy73]

I've got to think something is up. PS or cocky attitude during interviews. Sorry if I believe the system has some integrity, but your numbers couldn't be better. Literally there are probably only a handful of people every year that have those numbers. You even applied super early and come from a strong undergraduate program. Something has to have freaking counter balanced them.

Nope, nothing's up. Cocky? No way, I was as nervous as anyone and I had to step carefully to deal with the clinical experience questions. (Plus, bad interview skills wouldn't explain all the pre-interview rejections.) My Vanderbilt interviewer told me I did fine when I saw him again after getting the WL letter, and on top of that he specifically said I had no red flags - so nothing to do any "freaking counterbalancing" - anywhere in my app. As for PS, right before he offered me my acceptance the dean told me he thought it was very good. He also asked me why I thought I'd had a rough trip, and afterwards said I had good insight into what had happened. So FWIW I don't think the things you mentioned were the problem. The only explanation is that my numbers didn't help me like people on here seem to think they should have, which means schools don't care as much for figures beginning with fours as per conventional wisdom. Whether that means 42 vs. (say) 35 doesn't help or actually hurts, like argonana suggested, is another can of worms.

Unless you're intentionally trying to freak the hell out of us.

Nah, just the heck. 😀

 

[Wiggy73]

You know Wiggy, I remember running into your profile last fall (mid-October maybe?) and thinking, "What on earth? Is this some kind of joke?!" And then sometime later I ran into one of your posts on SDN and thought, "But she doesn't sound like a troll -- IS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?!"

It's a good thing that you were accepted. Otherwise, I think all the future applicants on SDN would just throw in the towel pre-primary! 😛

I remember a particular SDNer applied for the entering class of 2004 and had no luck. He went to a top tier undergrad, had a strong GPA and excellent MCAT, decent ECs, applied to some schools that you would think he'd be a shoe-in, and yet he received ZERO acceptances that year -- he was even denied by one of his state schools! He got a bunch of unwarranted crap on SDN along the lines of, "OMG!!! How could you get those stats and not earn a single acceptance?! You must have a horrible personality and poor social skills!" As if he probably didn't feel crushed enough... 🙄

The good news is that he reapplied for the entering class of 2005 and received multiple acceptances to US allo schools (at least four).

I suppose there are a few stellar applicants each year that just have rotten luck.

I'm glad it worked out for ya Wiggy. Good luck with your four more years at Vandy! = )

Thanks, Phil! I appreciate it. And this:

OMG!!! How could you get those stats and not earn a single acceptance?! You must have a horrible personality and poor social skills!

Yeah, I get that.

 

[MoosePilot]

Nope, nothing's up. Cocky? No way, I was as nervous as anyone and I had to step carefully to deal with the clinical experience questions. (Plus, bad interview skills wouldn't explain all the pre-interview rejections.) My Vanderbilt interviewer told me I did fine when I saw him again after getting the WL letter, and on top of that he specifically said I had no red flags - so nothing to do any "freaking counterbalancing" - anywhere in my app. As for PS, right before he offered me my acceptance the dean told me he thought it was very good. He also asked me why I thought I'd had a rough trip, and afterwards said I had good insight into what had happened. So FWIW I don't think the things you mentioned were the problem. The only explanation is that my numbers didn't help me like people on here seem to think they should have, which means schools don't care as much for figures beginning with fours as per conventional wisdom. Whether that means 42 vs. (say) 35 doesn't help or actually hurts, like argonana suggested, is another can of worms.

Wiggy, first I completely apologize for being rude. You're simply a case that I'm interested in. Because you're accepted to an awesome school I hope you'll forgive delving into a subject that might be painful to you.

Well, your GPA is awesome. Your MCAT is top tier. You came from a high tier undergrad and submitted early.

The only other things I could imagine pre-interview would be PS, LORs, clinical experience. Whatever it is has to offset the previous factors that I'd rate 10/10. I don't know, I just thought cockiness, because the stage would be preset for that by your strengths.

 

[argonana]

Nah, just the heck. 😀[/QUOTE]

I stand corrected! 🙂

 

[DrYo12]

Perhaps, and this has actually happened before, but perhaps it has something to do with the high GPA and MCAT. Admissions committees that see those kinds of numbers think to themselves that the applicant has been highly successful to this point and will have a hard time adjusting to the fact that they might not do as well in medical school as they did previously. Many a student will be an A student in college and will get Bs and Cs in medical school. Students that have never experienced any kind of failure will fall very hard in medical school if they haven't learned how to cope with it in their lives beforehand.

 

[Wiggy73]

Wiggy, first I completely apologize for being rude. You're simply a case that I'm interested in. Because you're accepted to an awesome school I hope you'll forgive delving into a subject that might be painful to you.

Well, your GPA is awesome. Your MCAT is top tier. You came from a high tier undergrad and submitted early.

The only other things I could imagine pre-interview would be PS, LORs, clinical experience. Whatever it is has to offset the previous factors that I'd rate 10/10. I don't know, I just thought cockiness, because the stage would be preset for that by your strengths.

Moose, no problem. If I were you I'd be interested in me too, and I get this a lot. Thanks for apologizing; most people don't. Just don't pull that stunt with your future patients, will ya? 🙂