Time for some support

[dabiophyz]

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I'm having a freakout moment that I do not have any interviews yet. My applications were complete in late September/early October. If I am lucky enough to get interviews at this point, will they only be for waitlist spots? Need some encouraging words, or the honest truth. Either one.

Thanks!

 

[Bacchus]

Removed: More info given later on in post that makes this post unusable.

 

[Luxian]

I'm having a freakout moment that I do not have any interviews yet. My applications were complete in late September/early October. If I am lucky enough to get interviews at this point, will they only be for waitlist spots? Need some encouraging words, or the honest truth. Either one.

Thanks!

Really don't worry! I've gotten two interviews, one was two weeks after I completed a secondary and one was two months after. You could easily not hear till after Thanksgiving and STILL have a good chance to get in. Your applications were complete well before deadline, but just as someone else said, they showed up at peak times. They may not have even cracked open your October ones yet.

Breathe! It'll all be okay!

 

[dcgirl2007]

friend of mine last year got an interview at Tufts in January. accepted two weeks later. attends Tufts.

 

[Soggun]

I'm having a freakout moment that I do not have any interviews yet. My applications were complete in late September/early October. If I am lucky enough to get interviews at this point, will they only be for waitlist spots? Need some encouraging words, or the honest truth. Either one.

Thanks!

Woah, calm down. I didn't even submit most of my secondary apps til late December/early January. My interview with Downstate was in mid Februrary and I still got accepted without being put on the waitlist (and by GPA/MCAT, I'm pretty average amongst matriculating students). Obviously the timetable varies from school to school, but don't worry about only interviewing for waitlist spots until February or March. You have a looooooooooong way to go before you need to be worried. The fact that you got in your apps this early puts you in a much better position than those who (like me) will be applying months from now. Good luck and try not to get overly anxious.

*edit: I nearly forgot - if you've been complete only since late Sept/early Oct, you really, really don't have anything to worry about. I'm just about 100% sure most schools haven't even looked at your file yet. It is very routine to have a month and a half or two months go by before being invited for an interview.

 

[dabiophyz]

Thanks for the words of wisdom everyone! Keep it comin!lol

 

[brainfry]

I try to have faith that everything works out the way it's supposed to. Not in the biblical sense necessarily, but if I think back over times in my life when I thought things were going horribly wrong, in the end they worked out. I also believe that if you want to be a doctor badly enough (and aren't a complete idiot or A-hole), you'll get into medical school eventually. Okay, so I am not at all saying that you won't get in this cycle. (You were complete barely a month ago!!!!! Don't panic!) But, I always like to think of the worst case scenario. Which would be not getting in and spending a year improving your application to the point where you'll get into an even better school next cycle. But that's the absolute worst case scenario. Relax--they give out interviews into the spring!!!


S

What are your stats anyway??? And what schools did you apply to?

 

[dabiophyz]

My stats are 3.2/35(12PS 12VR 11BS), but my amcas gpa is a little lower....probably around a 3.0 because of retaken classes? Good ECs, research experience, shadowing, etc. Applied to what I hope to be a good range of schools. I am a NY resident. I know my GPA is a huge hole in my app, but people have said my PS is very strong, and my recs should be good. Am I just going to have to wait it out bc of my low GPA? What else can I do at this point? Also, I am in a very competitive, unique major at a top undergrad, if that matters.

Albert Einsten
Baylor College of Medicine
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Drexel
George Washington
Georgetown
Hopkins
Jefferson
Mount Sinai
New York Medical College
NYU
Pittsburg
SUNY Buffalo
SUNY Downstate
SUNY Stonybrook
SUNY Upstate
Temple
Tufts
Yale
Rochester

 

[drizzt3117]

Yeah, your GPA is going to really hurt you applying that late. That said, you never know. I do think that you are aiming a little high with your list, a third of your schools are top 25, and 2/3 are top 50. You could have also applied a bit more broadly, but it's a bit too late to worry about that.

 

[dabiophyz]

I agree...I guess I am just really hoping for the SUNYs to pull through, or one of the other schools to see something they like.

 

[Soggun]

I agree...I guess I am just really hoping for the SUNYs to pull through, or one of the other schools to see something they like.

Good call... SUNYs = 👍

 

[maristella]

i'm in the same boat, i applied mid-late sept and haven't heard a peep yet. however when i call my schools, most of my schools haven't even GOTTEN to my app yet, with the huge surge of applicants this year and all.

you might wanna try calling some of them before you start freaking out. 🙂

 

[dabiophyz]

Whenever I call they say Im complete and under review. What do you ask/what do they respond?

 

[jamilla_w]

You will be interviewing for a waitlist spot.

That sounds bad, but it is not really. Since some people hoard acceptances until the very last minute a lot of spaces will eventually open up at lower tier schools and so the waitlists will move at the schools you applied to.

I'd give you a 30-35% chance of getting in this cycle.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

I'm having a freakout moment that I do not have any interviews yet. My applications were complete in late September/early October. If I am lucky enough to get interviews at this point, will they only be for waitlist spots? Need some encouraging words, or the honest truth. Either one.

Thanks!

How are your stats like? (unless you dont want to share for privacy reasons or etc.)

My bro heard back early from about 2 and i think the other 2 didnt show up until 2-3 months later...so you'd be ok as long as you applied broadly and have decent stats i figure 🙂.

Im rooting for ya at least 👍

 

[dabiophyz]

You will be interviewing for a waitlist spot.

That sounds bad, but it is not really. Since some people hoard acceptances until the very last minute a lot of spaces will eventually open up at lower tier schools and so the waitlists will move at the schools you applied to.

I'd give you a 30-35% chance of getting in this cycle.

Really that low?

 

[dabiophyz]

How are your stats like? (unless you dont want to share for privacy reasons or etc.)

My bro heard back early from about 2 and i think the other 2 didnt show up until 2-3 months later...so you'd be ok as long as you applied broadly and have decent stats i figure 🙂.

Im rooting for ya at least 👍

I posted them earlier in the thread. Thanks for the support!

 

[drizzt3117]

Really that low?

Just to be honest, I'd actually put your chances at a little lower than that. The average pre-med applicant has 3.4/29 or so, and only about 40-45% of them will be accepted somewhere. The accepted matriculants average about 3.55/30.5.

With 3.0/35, your LizzyM score is right around the average for accepted matriculants at average schools, but the problem is, you applied late, and to many extremely competitive schools.

As I said before, you never know, and I wouldn't lose hope by any means, but your chances are not especially high for admission this cycle.

Sorry if my opinion is negative, but thats just what I think.

 

[jad2121]

My stats are 3.2/35(12PS 12VR 11BS), but my amcas gpa is a little lower....probably around a 3.0 because of retaken classes? Good ECs, research experience, shadowing, etc. Applied to what I hope to be a good range of schools. I am a NY resident. I know my GPA is a huge hole in my app, but people have said my PS is very strong, and my recs should be good. Am I just going to have to wait it out bc of my low GPA? What else can I do at this point? Also, I am in a very competitive, unique major at a top undergrad, if that matters.

Albert Einsten
Baylor College of Medicine
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Drexel
George Washington
Georgetown
Hopkins
Jefferson
Mount Sinai
New York Medical College
NYU
Pittsburg
SUNY Buffalo
SUNY Downstate
SUNY Stonybrook
SUNY Upstate
Temple
Tufts
Yale
Rochester

jesus we applied to like the exact same schools at like the exact same time with VERY similar stats. hopefully ill be seeing you on some interviews soon. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[jad2121]

and don't listen to this negative ****. How do they know if you are good or not, are they on the admissions committee? No, they just look at alot of MDapplicants pages and SND threads. It by no means makes them experts on whether you are competitive. I think your stats are great-especially your mcat score

 

[dabiophyz]

and don't listen to this negative ****. How do they know if you are good or not, are they on the admissions committee? No, they just look at alot of MDapplicants pages and SND threads. It by no means makes them experts on whether you are competitive. I think your stats are great-especially your mcat score

thanks for the kind words. I hope to see you on the interview trail!!!!

 

[jr doctor in sd]

I think you've got a shot at SUNY stonybrook and Syracuse.

i agree that too many top schools are on the list though!

 

[raf7m]

No offense to those posting "odds" on you getting an interview, but I don't think you should listen to a word of it. The whole process is so convoluted that there is no way to know what percent chance someone has to get interviewed/accepted. Just think positively and know that it is still early in your process if you have only been completed for several weeks. I know plenty of people who applied previous years and received interviews months after they were initially completed. Just hang in there!

In the meantime, if there is anything to add to your file (volunteer experiences, shadowing, etc...), make sure to let the schools know!

 

[searun]

I'm having a freakout moment that I do not have any interviews yet. My applications were complete in late September/early October. If I am lucky enough to get interviews at this point, will they only be for waitlist spots? Need some encouraging words, or the honest truth. Either one.

Thanks!

Relax. You are fine. I was complete last year in late September/early October. I got my first interview at the end of October and ultimately had 10interviews with 6 acceptances. I now attend a top 10 med school where I interviewed in late January. In other words, it is still October, don't panic, you are still in the game. Good luck.

 

[nata723]

Ahh, the beauty of SDN! How I wish we could always just encourage each other. 🙂

To the OP, I've also had TONS of freak-out moments. Yesterday was especially terrible. I've been complete at 15 schools since mid-October, and I've got like 12 more secondaries to finish. And most of these schools on my list are top-10 and top-20.

At least, you know that you're not alone! Good luck to you!

 

[dcgirl2007]

Relax. You are fine. I was complete last year in late September/early October. I got my first interview at the end of October and ultimately had 10interviews with 6 acceptances. I now attend a top 10 med school where I interviewed in late January. In other words, it is still October, don't panic, you are still in the game. Good luck.

this is may favorite post of all time!!!! thanks!!!

 

[drizzt3117]

Ahh, the beauty of SDN! How I wish we could always just encourage each other. 🙂

To the OP, I've also had TONS of freak-out moments. Yesterday was especially terrible. I've been complete at 15 schools since mid-October, and I've got like 12 more secondaries to finish. And most of these schools on my list are top-10 and top-20.

At least, you know that you're not alone! Good luck to you!

Look, I'm just trying to do what the OP asked and give honest advice. If what they wanted was "I'm sure you'll get in, don't worry" then that's what they should have asked for.

 

[nata723]

I totally agree that this forum should be used for honest advice. That comment about encouragement was in regards to the post by Searun, whose post is right above mine. That's all that I meant by it. I should probably start using the quote tool, huh...

 

[jamilla_w]

Last year =/= this year

Last year the August people (1/3+ of applicants) would be just getting their MCAT scores and starting to be complete.

This year everyone has had their MCAT scores for a while and only the procrastinators are getting complete in October or later.

You applied late and have a dismal GPA. Sorry to not be sugar coating everything, but you need to be realistic and plan for what you will do next year if you don't get in.

 

[Soggun]

Last year =/= this year

Last year the August people (1/3+ of applicants) would be just getting their MCAT scores and starting to be complete.

This year everyone has had their MCAT scores for a while and only the procrastinators are getting complete in October or later.

You applied late and have a dismal GPA. Sorry to not be sugar coating everything, but you need to be realistic and plan for what you will do next year if you don't get in.

Obviously it is always good to have a contingency plan in place, but the negativity is unwarranted. Granted things may be different this year in terms of when most applicants apply, but your stats are not terrible by any stretch. A 3.2 with a 35 is absolutely doable. Some schools might not consider you as strongly, but judging from my class (where I know many people with stats not far from that) I would say that Downstate (as well as most other schools I'm sure) would absolutely be willing to accept you as long as you have some good ECs, a good letter, and a good interview.

Good luck, and don't let the nay-sayers get you down.

 

[drizzt3117]

The OP has a 3.0

 

[154465]

Last year =/= this year

Last year the August people (1/3+ of applicants) would be just getting their MCAT scores and starting to be complete.

This year everyone has had their MCAT scores for a while and only the procrastinators are getting complete in October or later.

You applied late and have a dismal GPA. Sorry to not be sugar coating everything, but you need to be realistic and plan for what you will do next year if you don't get in.

I'm sorry but thats crap. This might be the case for SDN, but in the real world almost every single person that I know is just getting complete.

 

[jamilla_w]

I'm sorry but thats crap. This might be the case for SDN, but in the real world almost every single person that I know is just getting complete.

Almost every single person that you know is applying to med school? Wow. Time to make some new friends.

 

[dabiophyz]

Jamilla, I appreciate your honest opinion. BUT, as the thread goes on, you're just turning into an ass to people. Not sugarcoating things is one thing, but why not get a grip?

 

[dabiophyz]

the rockies could use some support right now...

some run support

Anything to stop Boston!

 

[154465]

Almost every single person that you know is applying to med school? Wow. Time to make some new friends.

You're right, I should base who I hang out with on their intended career path.

Yes, most of the people that I know are pre-meds, my school has a very large pre-med population, we happened to all have the same classes for the past 3 years and have become friends. But screw those guys, I should go out and experience humanities majors! because I need to be well rounded, especially when choosing the people I keep close!

Thanks for the advice 👎

 

[Soggun]

The OP has a 3.0

OP actually said they had a 3.2 but that on AMCAS it might be a little lower "probably around 3.0 because of retaken classes?"

Regardless, my point still stands...

 

[medguy83]

I'm having a freakout moment that I do not have any interviews yet. My applications were complete in late September/early October. If I am lucky enough to get interviews at this point, will they only be for waitlist spots? Need some encouraging words, or the honest truth. Either one.

Thanks!

If you were complete by that time period you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Even if you have hopes of attending a school with rolling admissions you have as good a chance now as you would have if you applied from day 1. Granted, you may not get an interview next week (still possible), but there are many (MANY) applicants who end up getting accepted even with late applications. I know of people who interviewed in late september and are already on waitling lists, so your chances are still very good. Now, if you haven't got an interview by late feb, I'd say it's time to start freaking out.

 

[acurax]

I'm sorry but thats crap. This might be the case for SDN, but in the real world almost every single person that I know is just getting complete.

Same at my school, most people just got complete or are still finishing secondaries around here. I've been done with those for awhile, but I wasn't complete at places until Oct. because I was waiting on the bleepin' committee letter. Mine was in the first batch that they sent out since I was nagging them in the office for awhile 🙂

Anyway, I've got 3 interviews so far at places who didn't need LORs to invite. Hopefully I will hear from some others in the next month or so.

 

[154465]

Same at my school, most people just got complete or are still finishing secondaries around here. I've been done with those for awhile, but I wasn't complete at places until Oct. because I was waiting on the bleepin' committee letter. Mine was in the first batch that they sent out since I was nagging them in the office for awhile 🙂

Anyway, I've got 3 interviews so far at places who didn't need LORs to invite. Hopefully I will hear from some others in the next month or so.

I was complete mid October for the same damn reason...LORs. I'm not worried though, hopefully things work out. But I was in the office every single day bothering the hell out of everyone.