What should I do in the meantime?

[Falconclaw]

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Alright so I applied to 21 schools, got everything in late August, early September. So far I got three interviews and three rejections, all the interviews are upcoming. I also got one regular hold and one hold for Fall grades. It's bothering me how so many schools though haven't gotten back to me at all, and I want to do something to show them that I'm still interested in their program. The obvious answer would be to send them my Fall grades, but not only are these lower than my average, but my final paper for one class was *ahem* problematic and the professor is letting me rewrite it over Winter break and for the meantime I'll have an Incomplete in the course, and I obviously don't want to send out grades with an I in them.
I haven't done anything particularly new this semester. Should I just send a general email telling the schools that I'm still interested, or should I just sit tight?

 

[jqueb29]

Since the new information decreases the quality of your application I would recommend not doing anything

 

[Falconclaw]

Since the new information decreases the quality of your application I would recommend not doing anything

Okay. A general "I'm still interested" email wouldn't help?

 

[TREDWISE]

Okay. A general "I'm still interested" email wouldn't help?

No probably not if you don't have anything new and significant. You will probably have to send out your grades at some point. Am I wrong?

 

[barca4ever]

Sending your grades doesn't add anything to your application. You are probably in the same boat as thousands of other applicants, just be patient and make sure you do well with the upcoming interviews. If you want to show the schools that you are still interested, then I suggest sending them a letter of interest or udpate letter. Check with the schools to see if you accept LOR/update letter first before sending them. Good luck.

 

[Falconclaw]

No probably not if you don't have anything new and significant. You will probably have to send out your grades at some point. Am I wrong?

I'm not sure to be honest. If they accept me, I'll obviously have to send them my final transcript, but that's fine.

Sending your grades doesn't add anything to your application. You are probably in the same boat as thousands of other applicants, just be patient and make sure you do well with the upcoming interviews. If you want to show the schools that you are still interested, then I suggest sending them a letter of interest or udpate letter. Check with the schools to see if you accept LOR/update letter first before sending them. Good luck.

Can you tell me more about this letter of interest thing? I really don't know too much about it.

 

[TREDWISE]

I'm not sure to be honest. If they accept me, I'll obviously have to send them my final transcript, but that's fine.



Can you tell me more about this letter of interest thing? I really don't know too much about it.

I would be careful because sometimes if schools don't receive something they would expect (e.g. Your grades) they perceive that as a red flag. One of the admissions board members at a certain medical school told me that they would be concerned if I didn't get a letter from my PI because at this point I've been in her lab for 3 years.

 

[LizzyM]

If you weren't interested, you would withdraw your application. The fact that you have not done so signals that you are still interested.

Many schools have the resources (interviewers and space) to interview only a small fraction of the applicants to their school. Many just don't have the time and inclination to send rejection messages to thousands of individuals until the end of the season. (And because a rejection is forever, some deans are loath to reject someone only to find out toward the end of the season from "upstairs" that some VIPs grandson hasn't been interviewed and could that happen, please. oops -- we already rejected him. So at some places no one gets rejected until the last possible moment.)

You've got 3 interviews yet to come so focus your energies on being well prepared (but not rehearsed) for those events. Check out the Interview Feedback (link at the top of every page) to get an idea of what to expect. Don't rehearse or write down answers to typical questions but run over them in your mind. Be prepared for whatever travel is required for each interview and line up your interview clothing, haircut, etc so you are ready.

 

[Dr.Freedman MedEdits]

In a letter of interest, you express your specific interest in a medical school. The strongest letters of interest, however, also offer updates about grades, accomplishments, etc. The other thing you could do is call schools and inquire about your status - especially those that are "in the area" of other schools where you are interviewing. If you applied to only 21 schools in late August/September and have three interviews, you must be a strong applicant. Focus on doing well in your interviews!!!!

 

[Falconclaw]

In a letter of interest, you express your specific interest in a medical school. The strongest letters of interest, however, also offer updates about grades, accomplishments, etc. The other thing you could do is call schools and inquire about your status - especially those that are "in the area" of other schools where you are interviewing. If you applied to only 21 schools in late August/September and have three interviews, you must be a strong applicant. Focus on doing well in your interviews!!!!

Yeah, I suppose statistically three interviews means that I have a better than 50% chance of getting in somewhere, so perhaps they will be all I need. Thanks for the advice!

 

[ridethecliche]

Be sure to prep for the interviews!