What is it like to get into medical school?

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Bella Swan

Bella Swan

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The final rejection to a horrific year arrived today (well actually a waitlist letter, but it feels like and will turn into a rejection). After applying to a good handful of schools, I thought I would at least be able to experience one acceptance. My MCAT prep is hitting it's usual wall (11-12 sciences but still sub 10 in verbal) so I doubt I will be applying this coming year, an August MCAT would be too late anyway and my score is too low to apply again with. I hope someday to know what it feels like, but for now can you guys that got accepted tell me what it feels like to be able to be going to medical school next year.
 
Bella Swan said:
The final rejection to a horrific year arrived today (well actually a waitlist letter, but it feels like and will turn into a rejection). After applying to a good handful of schools, I thought I would at least be able to experience one acceptance. My MCAT prep is hitting it's usual wall (11-12 sciences but still sub 10 in verbal) so I doubt I will be applying this coming year, an August MCAT would be too late anyway and my score is too low to apply again with. I hope someday to know what it feels like, but for now can you guys that got accepted tell me what it feels like to be able to be going to medical school next year.
Click to expand...

It's like having a huge steak guided to your mouth by a robot who teases you for hours and hours with it (and by that I mean months and months) before he lets you devour the entire damn slab in ONE ****ING BITE.
 
justin_timberlake_jizz_in_my_pants_12_Close_the_Door_Tightly_When_Leaving-s515x293-196677-580.jpg


Seriously though, it was exciting, but more of a relief. The application process is so long it takes away from the excitement just a tad. You can finally relax a little bit too.
 
There is an overload of uncertainty at the beginning of the application cycle. Imagine being trapped in a deep well, yelling for hours and hours. Then all of a sudden, in the midst of treading water, yelling and the failed attempts at climbing out a voice in the far distance mirrors back with "we're coming to save you". Receiving that fateful call (or voice mail, in my case) provided similar relief. Sooner or later, someone is bound to hear you calling. Keep at it.

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Slowpoke said:
There is an overload of uncertainty at the beginning of the application cycle. Imagine being trapped in a deep well, yelling for hours and hours. Then all of a sudden, in the midst of treading water, yelling and failed attempts at climbing out a voice in the far distance mirrors back with "we're coming to save you". Receiving that fateful call (or voice mail, in my case) provided similar relief.
Click to expand...

if you don't get the call, is it like dying?
 
You just start looking at the next mountain.
 
Hemorrage said:
if you don't get the call, is it like dying?
Click to expand...

If you cease putting in continuous effort to applying and perhaps reapplying to medical school, I would interpret that as letting go of the path of medicine and allowing the idea to slowly fade away - until it is no more or replaced with something else.
 
It was one of the greatest feelings I've ever experienced. I remember getting the email on my iphone and reading the title "Application Status Update." Seeing the "Congratulations!" is amazing. I ran around the my apartment for a good 20 minutes and called my brothers and parents when I finally ran out of breath. It's so good to know all the time consuming activities, the studying, nights you had to stay in because you had to study while your friends were out partying, the sacrifice, and all those freaking hoops you had to jump through paid off. No one ever really understands how difficult the med school admissions process is until they apply themselves. What makes it even better is when you see the number of applicants compared to the acceptances and spots available at some med schools. The matriculation is around 2-5%, talk about impressive. Hang in there, keep fighting, it's all worth it!
 
arfc6 said:
You just start looking at the next mountain.
Click to expand...

Yeah, on the one hand it's great to achieve this initial goal, but on the other hand you start in with the WTF have I gotten myself into, am I really going to be able to do this, angst. It's a lot like skydiving -- it's stressful waiting for the plane to take off, but not really any better once the plane is in the air -- only difference is it's a lot harder to back out at that point.
 
Law2Doc said:
Yeah, on the one hand it's great to achieve this initial goal, but on the other hand you start in with the WTF have I gotten myself into, am I really going to be able to do this, angst. It's a lot like skydiving -- it's stressful waiting for the plane to take off, but not really any better once the plane is in the air -- only difference is it's a lot harder to back out at that point.
Click to expand...

^This is a great explanation of how I feel right now.

Initially, when I was accepted, it was like a huge weight of doubt and uncertainty being lifted. When I realized this meant I was about to embark on one of the most strenuous professions possible, doubt and uncertainty found its place back on my shoulders....
 
Looking back, it was the best thing that has happened in my life so far. I was waitlisted/rejected last year.

If this is something that you absolutely want, you should get up and try again.
 
There's always the DO route, not trying to sound defeatist but such a degree would allow you to be a practicing physician and you could likely apply this year and have a good chance of getting in.
 
My little brother's best friend got accepted off the waitlist at a US MD school last week, and when I asked him if he got in anywhere, he said that he had just gotten in and that it felt great, being able to hang up his suit and tie at last. He just got in, and he's never going back -- ass-kissing interviews are all of the past.

For what it's worth, he also stated that it (the acceptance) felt so good when he got it in a thick one (presumably referring to an envelope). When he got in, it literally just happened, and he was going to go online and buy some preppy-ass swag.

😀

---


Anyway, sorry to hear that OP. What are your stats/state of residence, if you don't mind sharing? Also, when was your app complete at most of the schools, and how many did you apply to in total? That would be useful information so some SDN posters in the know can give you some advice
 
DanGee777 said:
My little brother's best friend got accepted off the waitlist at a US MD school last week, and when I asked him if he got in anywhere, he said that he had just gotten in and that it felt great, being able to hang up his suit and tie at last. He just got in, and he's never going back -- ass-kissing interviews are all of the past.

For what it's worth, he also stated that it (the acceptance) felt so good when he got it in a thick one (presumably referring to an envelope). When he got in, it literally just happened, and he was going to go online and buy some preppy-ass swag.

😀

---


Anyway, sorry to hear that OP. What are your stats/state of residence, if you don't mind sharing? Also, when was your app complete at most of the schools, and how many did you apply to in total? That would be useful information so some SDN posters in the know can give you some advice
Click to expand...
RE the bolded, not if he is planning on applying for residencies... 😀
 
Law2Doc said:
Yeah, on the one hand it's great to achieve this initial goal, but on the other hand you start in with the WTF have I gotten myself into, am I really going to be able to do this, angst. It's a lot like skydiving -- it's stressful waiting for the plane to take off, but not really any better once the plane is in the air -- only difference is it's a lot harder to back out at that point.
Click to expand...

It's really odd that you find it necessary to come into every thread showing an OUNCE of happiness regarding medical school and throw in some negative aspects about it. Are you that unhappy with your life? Sound like a half-eaten sour grape in most of your posts.
 
LOL I stumbled upon this video the week before I got accepted, so my response mirrored him. Delayed gratification is sweet.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKQOXYB2cd8[/YOUTUBE]
 
One of the best feelings you can imagine. I applied 3 years ago before I graduated and was rejected, not a single interview. I went back to drawing board, and really thought about if this was what I wanted. I worked in healthcare for 2 years, retook the MCAT, and hoped for the best. This cycle I went to 5 interviews and will finally be starting school in July. Keep your head up. If this is really what you want, then this is just a bump in the road.
 
Getting into a medical school was incredibly gratifying, but it was when I got into one of my top choices that I lost it. It's worth all the hard work and waiting, OP.
 
I literally broke down and cried tears of joy/epicness/existential awe.....

Then proceeded to call or text everyone I knew... maybe even looked up some random phone numbers to tell them too. Oh yeah, I felt an overwhelming urge to thank SDN.
 
Myro said:
It's really odd that you find it necessary to come into every thread showing an OUNCE of happiness regarding medical school and throw in some negative aspects about it. Are you that unhappy with your life? Sound like a half-eaten sour grape in most of your posts.
Click to expand...

Sorry dude, I just replied how it felt. I'm ecstatic with my life, but I'm not going to kid you that everything is rainbows and ice cream on this path. If you don't feel a little trepidation you probably need a reality check.
 
It felt fantastic... until the first day of school 🙁
 
Well never give up on the waitlist first of all, you never know what can happen. But as a reapplicant this year that got in, having gone through a failed cycle makes you appreciate what you accomplish a lot more than getting in right away in my opinion. For me, I was in disbelief for days because the process when you're a reapplicant is so long and all of a sudden you finally get there like that, but trust me it will mean even more to you when you pull it off as a reapplicant having gone through that failure.
 
Happy, excited and then reality kicks in the first week that you have to slave your youth away to studying.
 
Like a dog that just caught its tail.
 
Imagine fasting all day, and in the late afternoon, say 4pm, you summon all your energy by dragging yourself to your favorite pizza parlor. You glance toward the food preparation area and about 17 minutes after ordering, you can see your pizza gradually moving toward the end of the conveyor belt style pizza oven. You see it. The one with the four toppings. You recognize the combination of green peppers, mushrooms, bacon, and pepperoni. You know that's your pizza. You take the box, your eyes light up...is that a tear? No - you're too manly for that. Alas, you take that first bite. You recall no more any of the waiting, the suffering, the anticipation, and surely not the money you spent to get it. All that matters is that first bite. That bite that tells you, "So worth it. Om nom nom."
 
DanGee777 said:
My little brother's best friend got accepted off the waitlist at a US MD school last week, and when I asked him if he got in anywhere, he said that he had just gotten in and that it felt great, being able to hang up his suit and tie at last. He just got in, and he's never going back -- ass-kissing interviews are all of the past.

For what it's worth, he also stated that it (the acceptance) felt so good when he got it in a thick one (presumably referring to an envelope). When he got in, it literally just happened, and he was going to go online and buy some preppy-ass swag.

😀
Click to expand...

Clear reference to Yale's 2011 2nd look video:

[YOUTUBE]ZaIN-hvZKa0[/YOUTUBE]
 
I was accepted on my third try, so I mostly cried, went and surprised my parents, called a few close friends. I guess if I'd been a premed-since-birth-with-doctor-parents straight shooter who'd been making all the right moves since day one, I'd have done some kinda happy dance and thrown a party and thanked whichever one of my relatives gave me a stethoscope as a college graduation present, but for me it was just a tremendous relief.
 
eHombre said:
Clear reference to Yale's 2011 2nd look video:

[YOUTUBE]ZaIN-hvZKa0[/YOUTUBE]
Click to expand...

Yes, but look at my post #25 above. I already had to explain it to people. Oh well, at least you got it!
 
Bella Swan said:
My MCAT prep is hitting it's usual wall (11-12 sciences but still sub 10 in verbal) so I doubt I will be applying this coming year, an August MCAT would be too late anyway and my score is too low to apply again with.
Click to expand...

Where are you trying to get in? Unless your verbal is really bad, I don't see why your MCAT is holding you back (unless your 11-12 sciences are way above your actual on your 1st MCAT).
 
Its like this:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tfZ5iwb-mI[/YOUTUBE]
 
tantacles said:
It's like having a huge steak guided to your mouth by a robot who teases you for hours and hours with it (and by that I mean months and months) before he lets you devour the entire damn slab in ONE ****ING BITE.
Click to expand...

I love the way you put things. That makes getting into med school sounds far more delicious and less loud than my experience was. I made a lot of high-volume "WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" sounds when I got that first letter from UVa.
 
Sorry to hear things are going rough. But, as long as you're still on a waitlist, there are possibilities for you. There are a few people every year who get off the waitlists up until the beginning of class.

Looking back, which I understand you can't do, a year off is a blessing in disguise. You can make some money, not have to rush anything, hang out with friends before the going gets tough. Once the first day of class hits, life can be quite down again.

Best of luck!
 
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