whats worse: on going silence or rejection?

[dedicated1989]

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the silence is killing me….

 

[milski]

The rejection, of course. You can get in after a silence, you cannot after a rejection. (The same cycle, of course).

 

[Osteoth]

Really depends on what other stuff you have going on in your cycle.

With alot of options, rejection can kind of be a relief to not have to fly out to somewhere you're maybe middlingly interested

With few options, rejection is yet another percent chance you dont go to med school

Very subjective

 

[milski]

But you can achieve instant rejection any time you think it is better than waiting - you can just withdraw.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

Someone should start a thread, asking for a list of schools that are known for their silent rejections. I hate those silent rejections. Seems passive-aggression to me. If you think my application isn't worthy enough for an ii or an acceptance, then let me know so I can move on.

 

[QofQuimica]

Silence just means they haven't made a decision on your app yet. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be a "maybe" than a "definite no." Especially if I didn't already have an acceptance somewhere.

 

[ThisCouldBeYou]

But what if you never hear?

I'd wonder if they ever actually got my application. If anyone ever read my essays, saw my picture, understood why I wanted to go to medical school. I don't know about you, but when I applied to college years ago, one college never got back to me. No rejection, no WL, no acceptance when everyone else was getting phone calls and letters. Nothing. They completely messed up and did not process my file. As a result of that experience, I'm NOT applying to their medical school. I still don't want to spend $$$ on applications and never hear from the schools again.

 

[DrOMG]

The rejection, of course. You can get in after a silence, you cannot after a rejection. (The same cycle, of course).

Not necessarily. They can reject you behind admissions doors and just not tell you. So no in with the silence either. I'd rather just know so I can move on with my life.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Silence just means they haven't made a decision on your app yet. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be a "maybe" than a "definite no." Especially if I didn't already have an acceptance somewhere.

Yep that is pretty much what a silent rejection usually is. I remember reading about this in Dr. Felnoor's book "The medical school interview." Those students that medical schools are not sure of are put into "pile B." The one thing that has always paranoid me about pile B was that "what if scenario" where they put your app in pile B and forget all about it... Well, not sure if this happens but it makes you wonder.

But what if you never hear?

I'd wonder if they ever actually got my application. If anyone ever read my essays, saw my picture, understood why I wanted to go to medical school. I don't know about you, but when I applied to college years ago, one college never got back to me. No rejection, no WL, no acceptance when everyone else was getting phone calls and letters. Nothing. They completely messed up and did not process my file. As a result of that experience, I'm NOT applying to their medical school. I still don't want to spend $$$ on applications and never hear from the schools again.

Hmm... Did you try calling them about it during the app cycle? This kind of stuff does happen, which is why it is important to call them every so often (wasn't even told about an interview invite I had with one school).

 

[Afford]

Rejection is worse, but only by a bit. The silence between completion and the first invite is terrible because there's always this nagging feeling that something is wrong.

 

[SkipJunior]

Yep that is pretty much what a silent rejection usually is. I remember reading about this in Dr. Felnoor's book "The medical school interview." Those students that medical schools are not sure of are put into "pile B." The one thing that has always paranoid me about pile B was that "what if scenario" where they put your app in pile B and forget all about it... Well, not sure if this happens but it makes you wonder.



Hmm... Did you try calling them about it during the app cycle? This kind of stuff does happen, which is why it is important to call them every so often (wasn't even told about an interview invite I had with one school).

you think I should call all the schools I'm complete in just to remind them? I admit I'm tempted to do so but I'm just worried that it will irritate them? I've been complete at several schools for 2 months with no update. I've emailed some schools already but they all replied stating that they give interview invites till late November if not later and I should just sit and wait.

 

[IslandStyle808]

you think I should call all the schools I'm complete in just to remind them? I admit I'm tempted to do so but I'm just worried that it will irritate them? I've been complete at several schools for 2 months with no update. I've emailed some schools already but they all replied stating that they give interview invites till late November if not later and I should just sit and wait.

I called the schools about my app last cycle. I waited 4 weeks after I sent my secondaries to contact them. After that point I would call them every 1-2 weeks. I think a good rule of thumb would be to call them a bare minimum of once a week. Any sooner, and I agree it would irritate them. Any later than 2 weeks, then you could be interviewing later in the cycle than you should, if the school does not contact you about the interview.

 

[xffan624]

I called the schools about my app last cycle. I waited 4 weeks after I sent my secondaries to contact them. After that point I would call them every 1-2 weeks. I think a good rule of thumb would be to call them a bare minimum of once a week. Any sooner, and I agree it would irritate them. Any later than 2 weeks, then you could be interviewing later in the cycle than you should, if the school does not contact you about the interview.

Are you re-app? That might be why. Do NOT call schools once a week. Call once to confirm they have received your application if you don't receive any notifications to indicate that they did. Otherwise let them do their freaking job (Hint: Their job is slowed down by having to answer calls and e-mails from neurotic pre-meds).

 

[Goro]

Patience is a virtue.

the silence is killing me….

 

[IslandStyle808]

Are you re-app? That might be why. Do NOT call schools once a week. Call once to confirm they have received your application if you don't receive any notifications to indicate that they did. Otherwise let them do their freaking job (Hint: Their job is slowed down by having to answer calls and e-mails from neurotic pre-meds).

For DO schools that was my first cycle. One school did not notify me about the interview (by email, nor by regular mail). I did not contact this school 2 months after they sent my secondaries. If they did their jobs, they should have notified me about the interview (I should not have to call to find this out). People had a similar issue with this one school and others.

 

[dedicated1989]

Patience is a virtue.

so I've heard...

 

[xffan624]

For DO schools that was my first cycle. One school did not notify me about the interview (by email, nor by regular mail). I did not contact this school 2 months after they sent my secondaries. If they did their jobs, they should have notified me about the interview (I should not have to call to find this out). People had a similar issue with this one school and others.

Don't assume this same level of incompetence in MD schools. Most have online application systems that will either notify you via that system or via e-mail or direct phone call. Once again you should really only call to ensure they received your application if you don't already receive notification of it through their system or if you have specific questions.

 

[ASD2019]

I called the schools about my app last cycle. I waited 4 weeks after I sent my secondaries to contact them. After that point I would call them every 1-2 weeks. I think a good rule of thumb would be to call them a bare minimum of once a week. Any sooner, and I agree it would irritate them. Any later than 2 weeks, then you could be interviewing later in the cycle than you should, if the school does not contact you about the interview.

So the first time you called you used the "is my application complete?" excuse, but what the heck were you saying to them on your weekly calls?