What's going on/Is this a problem?

[mhssn95]

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I applied to medical school this cycle on August 1st and returned most secondaries by September 1st (Within a week of verification, but it is now December 2nd and I have not received any interviews. So far, 7 of my 21 schools have rejected me and the rest are still considering me for an interview. One of the ones still considering me is a school I interviewed at last year, and yet despite me applying earlier this year with a stronger application, am still pending.

I feel like the fact I am in an MS in Physiology program has something to do with it, considering I do not have any grades posted as of yet. I have a 3.68 GPA overall and science-wise, and a 508 MCAT score with 200 hours of volunteering, 150 hours of shadowing clinically, and 1500 hours of medical research currently ongoing (I spend 40 hours a week doing research in my MS program in addition to coursework).

In terms of last year compared to this year, I've applied much earlier and have received fewer rejections over the same period of time.

Can I still get interviews in the coming months? I've also applied to DO schools but the time passed is not as significant as the MDs.

 

[Lawpy]

What are your state of residence and your school list?

 

[DelayedGratification]

I would presume once fall grades post you will hear something

 

[MDPedigree]

IMO as someone who has similar stats and EC's and is also a reapplicant, I think it may be your secondaries/essays/PS holding you back. I had the same stats/EC's last cycle and got 2 II's. This year I have gotten much more, and the only thing I really changed was how i crafted my EC's (how I wrote about them in AMCAS) and my secondaries. My PS is more or less similar. But I put much more time in my secondaries and have seen the results. If you completed your secondaries that quickly, maybe you didn't put enough time/blood/sweat/tears into them? It took me over 2 months to finish ~30 secondaries.

 

[fourandtwo]

IMO as someone who has similar stats and EC's and is also a reapplicant, I think it may be your secondaries/essays/PS holding you back. I had the same stats/EC's last cycle and got 2 II's. This year I have gotten much more, and the only thing I really changed was how i crafted my EC's (how I wrote about them in AMCAS) and my secondaries. My PS is more or less similar. But I put much more time in my secondaries and have seen the results. If you completed your secondaries that quickly, maybe you didn't put enough time/blood/sweat/tears into them? It took me over 2 months to finish ~30 secondaries.

I agree with this

 

[drmantistobbogan]

Why did you submit so late if you are a reapplicant? For schools with rolling admissions, a September complete day is pretty late in the game. Based on your stats and the fact that you're a reapplicant, you should have submitted on day one to increase your chances.

 

[HomeSkool]

Why did you submit so late if you are a reapplicant? For schools with rolling admissions, a September complete day is pretty late in the game. Based on your stats and the fact that you're a reapplicant, you should have submitted on day one to increase your chances.

Recriminations aren't helpful at this point.

OP, when will your grades post? Do you have anything apart from grades with which to update schools?

 

[MDPedigree]

Why did you submit so late if you are a reapplicant? For schools with rolling admissions, a September complete day is pretty late in the game. Based on your stats and the fact that you're a reapplicant, you should have submitted on day one to increase your chances.

I submitted later than early September and have 7 II's. I don't believe September is late, and even if it is, I don't think that's his problem.

 

[candbgirl]

How did you significantly improve your application over last cycle? Where did you apply? What clinical experiences do you have( not shadowing)? Are you sure your letters are t the problem?

 

[drmantistobbogan]

Recriminations aren't helpful at this point.

OP, when will your grades post? Do you have anything apart from grades with which to update schools?

They asked what the problem could be. It doesn't change their current situation, but considering they applied even later last cycle, it sounds like it might be something that they are unaware of. Worst case scenario, it would be ideal for them to submit their application at the beginning of the cycle if they have to apply a third time.

I submitted later than early September and have 7 II's. I don't believe September is late, and even if it is, I don't think that's his problem.

I was complete in September as well. However, I purposefully did not apply to schools that made acceptances early in the cycle. Without OP's school list and based on their stats, I can only assume that this is an issue since most schools that are realistic choices for them move quickly.

 

[mhssn95]

Here's the list from the excel sheet I used to keep track of secondaries.

MD:
University of Illinois
Medical Col of Georgia (I'm not so sure about this one unfortunately since they were very vague about documents out of state applicants needed for file completion, and I didn't get them to them until they reminded me on December 1st)
Western Michigan: File Closed
Central Michigan
MCW: File Closed
Ohio State
Case Western
OUWB: File Closed (Was my first choice)
University of Toledo
U South Carolina: File Closed (This was very quick as I found out too late they only take South Carolina residents/those with connections)
MSU: File Closed
Rush Medical College
U of Mich
Geisinger Commonwealth
U of Minnesota Duluth: File Closed
UAMS*
Loyola
University of Wisconsin: File Closed
Wayne State (Interviewed me last year)
U of Minnesota Twin Cities

*I have an Aunt and Uncle who work as physicians here and have director positions in their hospital, although the latter passed away last year sadly. Since they prefer out of state apps that have strong connections to the state and my cousin was an out of state and graduated from here, I felt I had a strong chance here.

DO: (Sent in a few weeks ago...yes I know)
MSU COM (Interviewed me last year)
Marian University
Lake Erie, All three campuses

As an explanation, I ended up applying late in August because I was told by an AMCAS/AACOMAS rep that I needed to have a class schedule for a graduate program before finishing my application. This was, unfortunately, wrong since current/future courses listed are non-binding.

 

[Goro]

University of Illinois
Medical Col of Georgia
Western Michigan:
Central Michigan
Ohio State
Case Western
OUWB
University of Toledo
U South Carolina:
MSU
U of Mich
Geisinger Commonwealth
U of Minnesota Duluth
UAMS*
University of Wisconsin
Wayne State
U of Minnesota Twin Cities




For starters, you have a poor school list. You need to invest in MSAR Online and pay very careful attention to the acceptance information pages, especially the IS/OOS ratios. State schools favor the home team, and thus one has to be > for them. IF you are an MI resident, then the MI schools except U MI would be mandatory for your list.

Your other problem is as you surmise: you applied with a weak app last year, and now the schools are wanting to see how you do in your MS program. Keep in mind that research MS programs are not counted by MD schools (due to grade inflation).

Here is a more realistic list: (but cue the wise @gonnif for his posting of what med schools have to say about reapplying too soon.)


U VM
Rush
NYMC
Creighton
Albany
Rosy Franklin
Drexel
Temple
MCW
SLU
WVU
Jefferson
Tulane
Loyola
Wake Forest
Loma Linda (only if you are SDA or a very devout Christian)
VCU
Netter
EVMS
Oakland-B
Gtown
GWU
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)
Any DO program. I can't recommend Touro-NY, or LUCOM, for different reasons
Your state school(s).

 

[Stumpyman]

Based on your described ECs, I think the biggest things to improve on would be volunteering and clinical experiences rather than grad school and more research. Not to put down your research experience and MS program, but in terms of improving your app, it would probably be a good idea to get some more service and clinical experience and maybe eventually send in an update letter.

 

[DBC03]

I think a huge part of the problem is applying to state schools that accept very few, if any, OOS applicants. I made that mistake with one private school, so it happens even with the MSAR subscription. Keep us posted on the other schools as you hear back. I applied to 35 schools and have 6 IIs. Five are from schools I added at the last minute or I thought would never (ever- EVER) send me an interview. It has convinced me that those of us applying with certain discrepancies (low GPA in my case, reapplication in yours) need to apply very broadly and keep an open mind. My guess is that the main issue is school list and possibly essays, but your school list is the main issue. If you have to apply once more, make a careful list, get a lot of eyes on your application, and get those secondaries in before August.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[jazzmetal]

I have a 3.68 GPA overall and science-wise, and a 508 MCAT score

It's possible that those 14 schools that haven't responded to you yet are just now getting to your application. Many schools review apps in order of stats, and it can take a while to get to us middle-stat applicants. I applied to one reach school that screens primaries heavily and got their secondary only last week... Some schools also hold the mid-stats applicants in limbo until they see how many higher-stats applicants are interested in them.

Definitely keep working to make your application better in case you do have to re-apply, but don't give up hope yet. There will be IIs coming out in spring, especially as more acceptances go out and people give up their interview slots at other schools.