Stanford decisions and letters of interest

[med007]

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i think that the bulk of people who take the year off (probably a little over half), do so to do research but there are also many people in my class and below who had taken time off to (actual cases)
-get MPH degrees from various other schools (we have a formal arrangement with berkeley but others have gone to places back east and in the U.K.)
-work abroad for the entire year
-get married
-have a baby!
-work for a VC firm
-write a book

so, the bottom line is that you are allowed to take a year, but it does not have to be for research. stanford treats its students like adult colleagues: if you have a compelling reason to take time off, you are encouraged to do so. i found many of my classmates who were straight from undergrad used that year to do a mix of work and travel. pretty cool. and the best part is that residency programs seem to universally find the extra year or two positive; aka: it either beefs up your application from research or policy...or it just makes you a more interesting person with more stories when interviewing 🙂

hope that clarifies!

Sounds good to me. No calls for anyone tonight?

 

[marmals]

waitlisted last week... snail mail...... ( interviewed in Nov)

did anyone else who got the letter thought it was a bit harsh about not waiting around and to pick other schools...oh well =)

anyways does anyone know if there is an alternative list( top tier) and waitlist ( lower tier)? I'm just trying to judge the likelihood of getting of this waitlist... though I kind of doubt it.

 

[A Wall]

Yeah, I completely agree, definitely didn't go out of their way to keep our hopes up. Although, I suppose, people generally complain when these schools give them false hope, so maybe it's actually almost kinder this way.

waitlisted last week... snail mail...... ( interviewed in Nov)

did anyone else who got the letter thought it was a bit harsh about not waiting around and to pick other schools...oh well =)

anyways does anyone know if there is an alternative list( top tier) and waitlist ( lower tier)? I'm just trying to judge the likelihood of getting of this waitlist... though I kind of doubt it.

 

[med007]

bump😴

 

[ihatescience]

bump😴

Sigh, argh!

 

[med007]

Sigh, argh!

I suppose I can commiserate. No decision yet for me, but I've been waiting more than three months, and two months longer than I was told I'd have to wait. Seeing wave after wave of letters and phone calls go out doesn't leave me with much hope for a positive response. At this point, I just want my absolution--good or bad.

 

[fourchambered]

I suppose I can commiserate. No decision yet for me, but I've been waiting more than three months, and two months longer than I was told I'd have to wait. Seeing wave after wave of letters and phone calls go out doesn't leave me with much hope for a positive response. At this point, I just want my absolution--good or bad.

I'm right there with you, man. It's been months. Have you called or anything? I'm thinking about giving them a jingle and seeing what's new.

 

[med007]

I'm right there with you, man. It's been months. Have you called or anything? I'm thinking about giving them a jingle and seeing what's new.

Hey there. It's certainly nice to know I'm not alone in this. I actually called twice. I was told at my interview to expect a decision in early December. In January I called and was told to wait until February and to call back if I received nothing by then. Didn't get anything, so I called in. They apologized again and said I should hear in the next two weeks. Getting close, I guess.

They were nice about it though. I'm just glad my file wasn't lost or something, since I've heard that can happen at many schools with tons of applicants. If you're concerned about it, I'd call in and speak with one of the admissions coordinators. I felt bad calling in so many times, but they were really helpful.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[hra87]

Did any of the people who got in not have any pubs? I have a great letter from my PI about how I'm the best student ever, my research had lots of great and unexpected results, how I designed my own project, etc. etc., but no pubs. I'm kinda worried Stanford is so focused on research that I basically have no chance. Any input on this?

 

[ihatescience]

Did any of the people who got in not have any pubs? I have a great letter from my PI about how I'm the best student ever, my research had lots of great and unexpected results, how I designed my own project, etc. etc., but no pubs. I'm kinda worried Stanford is so focused on research that I basically have no chance. Any input on this?

I think you should be fine!

 

[hra87]

I think you should be fine!

Heh, I didn't sound cocky did I? My PI exaggerates (a lot, thank god).

Edit: I also may have made an honest mistake (not a freudian slip) that could hurt me (I hate scrutinizing over interviews after I had them, but I always do)...when asked where I see myself in 10 years, I talked about fellowships, academic appointments, grants, starting up a lab...then I said something like "starting up a practice...well, is that what you call it in academic medicine...the physician I shadowed, you know, had a clinic with his own patients...but anyway, seeing patients, etc."

Is it called a practice? I have no idea, I've only ehard it called that in "private practice." I hope that doesn't make me seem like I'm not interested in academic medicine (I am). But you know, surgeons have their own clinics that are in some sense their own even if they are attendings with academic appointments as well. That's all I meant. ARGH! Stop thinking about it. Just wait for the letter.

 

[med007]

*bump* Maybe this week will be the one?

 

[med007]

Ooooooookay. It's officially Thursday again. I really hope this week breaks the long (two week) silence out of Palo Alto. Anyone else hoping with me? 😳

 

[sasdaddy]

received rejection letter today post secondary, pre-interview. letter was sent feb. 20th. good luck all

edit: the date on my rejection letter was Jan. 28 and they didn't mail it until Feb. 20...way to string me out!

 

[med007]

received rejection letter today post secondary, pre-interview. letter was sent feb. 20th. good luck all

edit: the date on my rejection letter was Jan. 28 and they didn't mail it until Feb. 20...way to string me out!

Sorry to hear that Sasdaddy. I'm feeling quite strung out myself. Interviewed in October and told I would get a decision in December. A phone conversation with Stanford in January and a call in February have left me no closer to understanding what's going on with my file. I was hoping to hear this week, but it's already been more than the 7-10 days I was told I'd have to wait at the beginning of this month. I don't think I'll call again, but I hope it won't take waiting until April for me to find out. This process has been anything but rolling for me when it comes to Stanford.

Any news for anyone else this week?

 

[TigerSoup]

Haha, I interviewed at the beginning of the month, and it only took them until today to decide they didn't want me (waitlisted). So many the ones who've been strung along for months are better off. Better luck to the rest of ya!

 

[silverlining1]

Haha, I interviewed at the beginning of the month, and it only took them until today to decide they didn't want me (waitlisted). So many the ones who've been strung along for months are better off. Better luck to the rest of ya!

Darn... I'm sorry. Good luck with your other apps 🙂

 

[kgirl11]

Haha, I interviewed at the beginning of the month, and it only took them until today to decide they didn't want me (waitlisted). So many the ones who've been strung along for months are better off. Better luck to the rest of ya!

bummer! i'm sure you'll have other great choices though 🙂

i was wondering if you live on the east or west coast. i interviewed mid-jan and am still waiting to hear...(not sure if i should start bracing myself for a letter or not)

 

[TigerSoup]

bummer! i'm sure you'll have other great choices though 🙂

i was wondering if you live on the east or west coast. i interviewed mid-jan and am still waiting to hear...(not sure if i should start bracing myself for a letter or not)

I'm on the east coast, so I'm especially amazed that I heard back so soon! Guess they really really didn't like me, haha. And yeah, as much as I loved Stanford, I'm lucky enough to have some great alternatives. I definitely had been fantasizing about moving out west though. Good luck!

 

[hra87]

What size is the acceptance envelope? If it's the same size as rejection/waitlist, it's going to be the most stressful 5 seconds of my life.

 

[med007]

What size is the acceptance envelope? If it's the same size as rejection/waitlist, it's going to be the most stressful 5 seconds of my life.

Don't know about envelope sizes, but chances are you will know when you have an acceptance coming. Most admitted students get a phone call from Dr. Garcia before getting letters.

 

[RandomBlackManX]

Don't know about envelope sizes, but chances are you will know when you have an acceptance coming. Most admitted students get a phone call from Dr. Garcia before getting letters.

Envelopes for acceptances are big (the envelope houses a folder which is at least 8.5*11 inches) .

 

[life2008]

i got the rejection yesterday...thin envelope. good luck to everyone else! at least this has made me feel a lot happier about my georgetown acceptance!

 

[kgirl11]

i got the rejection yesterday...thin envelope. good luck to everyone else! at least this has made me feel a lot happier about my georgetown acceptance!

when was your interview? and congrats on georgetown--thats awesome!

 

[Boston Red]

Is anyone still waiting for a post-secondary communication RE: Interview/rejection? Seems like I have been waiting forever!

 

[sasdaddy]

Is anyone still waiting for a post-secondary communication RE: Interview/rejection? Seems like I have been waiting forever!

i was waiting forever too...complete about 3.5 months ago and received a rejection preinterview 3 days ago...the sad thing is the letter was dated jan. 28 and it took them about 1 month to send it (sent feb 20). good luck

 

[silverlining1]

I had been complete for a little over 4 months when I received my invite (see MDapps for details). Good luck!

 

[life2008]

when was your interview? and congrats on georgetown--thats awesome!

no interview...i was complete for months

 

[Doublecortin]

no interview...i was complete for months

yeah, the story of my life. 🙁👎

 

[Genesis12]

waitlist, letter dated 2/11/08

interviewed early january

good luck all

 

[med007]

This is all so depressing. Has anyone actually gotten an acceptance letter or phonecall in the past 4 weeks? Or are they just sending out only bad news for now?

Best of luck to those still waiting!

 

[MamadP]

Why doesnt Stanford just reject me if they dont wanna interview me???

 

[CardiacCathRat]

well you have to put the letter (after you insert the name on the top of the form) in an envelope and stamp it.

there are so many letters to mail out, they can't do it all at once?

 

[med007]

well you have to put the letter (after you insert the name on the top of the form) in an envelope and stamp it.

there are so many letters to mail out, they can't do it all at once?

What I find interesting is that some letters are dated January and mailed late February (delayed a few weeks after being written) while others have been going out within days of being written. I guess it's just a messy process in general?

From the call I put in at the beginning of this month, I am under the impression that a final decision has been made on my file (interview late Oct), but for whatever reason I'm just not getting anything. I should probably consider it a blessing since no news is still "good" news...for now.

 

[pntgrd]

If any of you are concerned about Stanford's clinical training, this email newsletter from the Dean this week might make you feel better, as he acknowledges the problem and is addressing it:

"An observation and concern that emerges from various surveys and reviews is that we do not, as an institution, place sufficient value in clinical education (and, to a degree, in education overall) and the roles played by faculty in patient care activities in comparison with some of our peers. In tandem with this is the need to better determine the metrics by which to evaluate the clinical performance of medical students in a manner that is data driven and transparent. This is especially important as we seek to better define the tools used to evaluate student performance more broadly, including the official school letter (or "Dean's Letter"). A review of these important issues will be led by Dr. Charles Prober, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, in collaboration with Drs. Hannah Valantine, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Leadership, and Gabe Garcia, Associate Dean for Medical Student Admissions."

 

[hra87]

If any of you are concerned about Stanford's clinical training, this email newsletter from the Dean this week might make you feel better, as he acknowledges the problem and is addressing it:

"An observation and concern that emerges from various surveys and reviews is that we do not, as an institution, place sufficient value in clinical education (and, to a degree, in education overall) and the roles played by faculty in patient care activities in comparison with some of our peers. In tandem with this is the need to better determine the metrics by which to evaluate the clinical performance of medical students in a manner that is data driven and transparent. This is especially important as we seek to better define the tools used to evaluate student performance more broadly, including the official school letter (or "Dean's Letter"). A review of these important issues will be led by Dr. Charles Prober, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, in collaboration with Drs. Hannah Valantine, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Leadership, and Gabe Garcia, Associate Dean for Medical Student Admissions."

So he's saying that residencies are pissed off at the lack of clinical grades, and that they will soon install some, or at least make it blatantly obvious in the dean's letter what the general ranking is?

 

[Gatinha]

Rejection letter dated Jan. 28th received over this past weekend. That's just ridiculous... 🙁

 

[wjustice]

Rejection letter dated Jan. 28th received over this past weekend. That's just ridiculous... 🙁

What's the postmark date on your letter? Yeah, that definitely is ridiculous!

 

[resina]

I just got my rejection letter yesterday. Dated Jan 28 postmarked Feb 20....

 

[hra87]

Has anyone been accepted to Stanford recently? It's been awhile since there've been reports, I'm just curious.

 

[pink scrubs]

Has anyone been accepted to Stanford recently? It's been awhile since there've been reports, I'm just curious.

BUMP....anyone?

 

[silverlining1]

I interviewed earlier this week and was told I would receive a decision in "at least 4 weeks", and I got the impression that I would find out some time in April.

 

[pink scrubs]

nooo 🙁

just received a wait list letter today dated Feb 29. Interviewed mid-February.

🙁

 

[silverlining1]

nooo 🙁

just received a wait list letter today dated Feb 29. Interviewed mid-February.

🙁

Wow... fairly quick turnaround. I'm sorry to hear that it's not an outright acceptance, but I've got my fingers crossed for you!

 

[hra87]

nooo 🙁

just received a wait list letter today dated Feb 29. Interviewed mid-February.

🙁

Sorry to hear it.

I interviewed at the very end of January...what does that mean? Should I give them a call? Next week is the 6th week. Am I rejected and they haven't sent anything out? AHHHH!!!!!!!!

 

[omam]

Sorry to hear it.

I interviewed at the very end of January...what does that mean? Should I give them a call? Next week is the 6th week. Am I rejected and they haven't sent anything out? AHHHH!!!!!!!!

I'm guessing it may not be a bad thing that its taking that long. I just got a call this evening after interviewing in early Jan. Be patient!

 

[IceColdPenguin]

I interviewed 2/5. got a rejection letter in the mail today. this is going to be closing in on a 90-100% rejection rate for me haha.

 

[medsrchr]

Does anyone know if Stanford's receptive towards letters of interest post-interview?

 

[pparikh]

Waiting on the interview call...is this normal? I'm canadian, don't know much about how it works in the states.

 

[silverlining1]

Does anyone know if Stanford's receptive towards letters of interest post-interview?

I asked Jonnie Perez, and he said that "being here is like a letter of interest, but you can send a letter of update" or something to that effect. Kind of a fuzzy answer - I'm going to send a combined letter of interest and letter of update. I also need to send thank you notes...