What do I do?

[MasterOogway]

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It’s currently February and I’m still waiting on hearing back from over 10 schools. I haven’t gotten any IIs yet and I applied both MD and DO. I have a strong MCAT and perfect GPA. I’m not an author when it comes to writing but I spent a lot of time perfecting my writing and listening to input. My activities are aligned with what schools expect and I thought I stood out with a couple unique activities D1 athletic involvement and public official. I’m not really sure what to do differently because obviously there’s hope but I thought I’d have at least one II by now. I am extremely thankful for all insight!

 

[The OTC]

Hard to provide insight without ECs, stats, school list, etc. Sorry for your luck with the cycle but hope you get some action in round 2!

 

[MasterOogway]

Hard to provide insight without ECs, stats, school list, etc. Sorry for your luck with the cycle but hope you get some action in round 2!

True but my school list was very private and in state public heavy with focus towards not top programs. I applied to some schools with greater numbers of applicants like GW and Loyola and more smaller private schools out of state. ECs were a mix of research, clinical volunteering, teaching, d1 athletics, and community volunteering. I was very research heavy too with posters at conferences in different disciplines.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Need a WAMC profile to address your questions (or your AMCAS+secondaries, but don't post that).

It's not entirely over... a couple of posts elsewhere suggest a few schools have sent out II's today, though I would plan on reapplying.

Roseman will open in AMCAS next month so you can throw a line there. But zero interviews suggests something could be wrong from the jump.

 

[MasterOogway]

Need a WAMC profile to address your questions (or your AMCAS+secondaries, but don't post that).

It's not entirely over... a couple of posts elsewhere suggest a few schools have sent out II's today, though I would plan on reapplying.

Roseman will open in AMCAS next month so you can throw a line there. But zero interviews suggests something could be wrong from the jump.

Thank you. I was considering a WAMC post but I thought it wouldn’t be super helpful either as I’ve really strived to do interesting things while also focusing thousands of hours into research and giving back. That’s what I assume as well at this point. It’s almost like I have a red flag when I don’t understand what it could be when I’ve been honest in my application while also worked hard to form a cohesive story. I will look into Roseman. Do you think as an OOS who’s never been to Nevada has a chance?

 

[tinkertots23]

Thank you. I was considering a WAMC post but I thought it wouldn’t be super helpful either as I’ve really strived to do interesting things while also focusing thousands of hours into research and giving back. That’s what I assume as well at this point. It’s almost like I have a red flag when I don’t understand what it could be when I’ve been honest in my application while also worked hard to form a cohesive story. I will look into Roseman. Do you think as an OOS who’s never been to Nevada has a chance?

Can you post more details about your app? Like EC's and school list. I think that would be helpful for others to help out some!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you. I was considering a WAMC post but I thought it wouldn’t be super helpful either as I’ve really strived to do interesting things while also focusing thousands of hours into research and giving back. That’s what I assume as well at this point. It’s almost like I have a red flag when I don’t understand what it could be when I’ve been honest in my application while also worked hard to form a cohesive story. I will look into Roseman. Do you think as an OOS who’s never been to Nevada has a chance?

Roseman will fill a 60-seat class in 3 months. If you fit what they're looking for (but especially metrics so their first class can "look good"), why not. That's where a WAMC can help discern your chances.

 

[LizzyM]

There is something going on if someone with a LM of 80 does not have even one interview by mid-February (I would have expected you to have at least one before the end of November).

Do you have a Institutional Action that you were honest about? Is there any possibility that someone wrote something negative in a LOR? Did you make a huge typo in your application such as adding an extra 0 to the number of hours you did something making it look completely phony? Are you gunning for an orthopedic residency and state that in your application (I've seen that be a turn off -- particularly when coming from former athletes)?

You need to have someone IRL look at your application and determine if anything (other than the letters which are not available to you) might have scuttled your plans.

 

[MasterOogway]

There is something going on if someone with a LM of 80 does not have even one interview by mid-February (I would have expected you to have at least one before the end of November).

Do you have a Institutional Action that you were honest about? Is there any possibility that someone wrote something negative in a LOR? Did you make a huge typo in your application such as adding an extra 0 to the number of hours you did something making it look completely phony? Are you gunning for an orthopedic residency and state that in your application (I've seen that be a turn off -- particularly when coming from former athletes)?

You need to have someone IRL look at your application and determine if anything (other than the letters which are not available to you) might have scuttled your plans.

Thank you so much for your input! No IA. No drastic typos as confirmed by a few of my own read overs and having family read over it. I alluded to primary care but used it as a motivation for medicine as opposed to a “I want to be a PCP” type of response. I am quite confident in my letters being positive but I can’t be sure they’re glowing for my large scale lectures courses. I also diversified which letters I sent to where just in case of this. Some schools with less stringent requirements only received one of my two science letters and my research one for example. My hours were well balanced I’d say but far from thousands of hours each (exception being the D1 athletics). I applied in July (both MD and DO) then completed secondaries pretty rapidly. I’m far from a fantastic writer but I have watched a ton of Dr. Gray’s videos on YouTube and read up a lot about how to successfully write secondaries. I will look to having new individuals (current MDs I work with) potentially read it over and see if they see anything. As I prep for reapp I think maybe moving away from the narrative pieces I used in my application and look towards more “here’s what I did”. I would like to say I deserved at least one DO interview by now but I’m preparing for future options. I will likely apply to more Florida schools (went to college there and have ties) and more schools overall maybe closer to 30 than 25 like this year with stronger schools on the list. Thank you a lot for your input again, it helped confirm that I’m not crazy for thinking I shouldn’t necessarily be in this position.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you so much for your input! No IA. No drastic typos as confirmed by a few of my own read overs and having family read over it. I alluded to primary care but used it as a motivation for medicine as opposed to a “I want to be a PCP” type of response. I am quite confident in my letters being positive but I can’t be sure they’re glowing for my large scale lectures courses. I also diversified which letters I sent to where just in case of this. Some schools with less stringent requirements only received one of my two science letters and my research one for example. My hours were well balanced I’d say but far from thousands of hours each (exception being the D1 athletics). I applied in July (both MD and DO) then completed secondaries pretty rapidly. I’m far from a fantastic writer but I have watched a ton of Dr. Gray’s videos on YouTube and read up a lot about how to successfully write secondaries. I will look to having new individuals (current MDs I work with) potentially read it over and see if they see anything. As I prep for reapp I think maybe moving away from the narrative pieces I used in my application and look towards more “here’s what I did”. I would like to say I deserved at least one DO interview by now but I’m preparing for future options. I will likely apply to more Florida schools (went to college there and have ties) and more schools overall maybe closer to 30 than 25 like this year with stronger schools on the list. Thank you a lot for your input again, it helped confirm that I’m not crazy for thinking I shouldn’t necessarily be in this position.

Again, you may have done everything you think was right and still not get an interview. Apparently, the advice you took didn't work, whether it's wtiting secondary essays or lack of networking before applying. Now you must figure out how to show significant improvement from last cycle, which is hard if you are convinced you did everything right. It is hard to say, "better writing."

We don't have your essays or your school list. Did you post a WAMC because I don't see one here. If you want our help, this is necessary.

If you are a strong applicant, you should be able to have material to write 3 different personal statements. If you took Dr. Gray's advice on writing, I want to see your W/A sections, MME, and OIE. Your approach holistically to your essays may be off.

You also should get attention from Roseman if you are that good on paper. If you don't get an II, you have made a fundamentally incorrect assumption somewhere.

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TL/DR EDIT: OP, are you seeking empathy, advice, or an audience?