Where did I go wrong?

[dkano]

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[Dr.Sticks]

Could be your citizenship status

 

[Catalystik]

I'm non-Canadian international, LM 74-75. Received 2 MD IIs from top 20 schools, but no acceptances.

I feel like almost all IIs have been given out by now, and I'm not sure how to improve my chances if I have to re-apply.
I did my undergrad at one of the Ivies, 4+ years of research, one research scholarship (but no paper), 300+ hours shadowing, 300+ hours clinical volunteering for the underserved, and a couple leadership positions while at college. And, I applied pretty broadly ranging from top - low/mid tier.

Perhaps I don't have sufficient global experiences (like volunteering in the third world countries) despite being an international student?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Do you have nonmedical community service, too? Teaching (TA, tutor, mentor, coach)?

 

[WedgeDawg]

Were you already rejected from these schools or have you not heard back yet?

Did you ensure that all schools you applied to considered international applicants?

 

[Mcatbot]

I'm non-Canadian international, LM 74-75. Received 2 MD IIs from top 20 schools, but no acceptances.

I feel like almost all IIs have been given out by now, and I'm not sure how to improve my chances if I have to re-apply.
I did my undergrad at one of the Ivies, 4+ years of research, one research scholarship (but no paper), 300+ hours shadowing, 300+ hours clinical volunteering for the underserved, and a couple leadership positions while at college. And, I applied pretty broadly ranging from top - low/mid tier.

Perhaps I don't have sufficient global experiences (like volunteering in the third world countries) despite being an international student?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hm your profile looks solid but nothing stands out. Do you have any hook? It's particularly tough for international cookie cutter applicants. There are already too many domestic ones in the top 20 pool.

If you look at the Yale thread, someone mentioned that the international pool is particularly competitive this year, so that might also be part of it.

What's your school list?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Goro]

Most people are lucky to get one II and a single accept.

Your interview skills could be suspect, as is your target list.

 

[dkano]

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[IlDestriero]

Way too top heavy list. You don't seem competitive at all for at least 1/2 your list.


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Il Destriero

 

[RunawayGrape]

Way too top heavy list. You don't seem competitive at all for at least 1/2 your list.

Agreed. @dkano, I don't see many low-tier schools in the list, and most of the mid-tier schools you listed are traditionally considered (by SDN) to be "low-yield."

 

[sophie.lu101]

Thank you all for your input!


Yes I have one semester TA (got LOR from the prof) and taught foreign language for a few years, but my community service were mostly clinical.



Yeah I did have some research experience, but having no paper kinda makes it insubstantial. Do you think I should continue doing research to have a few papers out for the next cycle? And if I have papers come out in the next few months, should I stop doing research and do community service instead to make it more well-rounded?

My schools are: Harvard, Columbia, U Penn, Vanderbilt, Yale, Brown, Mt. Sinai, Tufts, NYMC, Cornell, Emory, UCLA, USC, BU, Einstein, Yale, UVA, Thomas Jefferson, Georgetown, and Baylor (~20 schools). Maybe too top-heavy?

Not an expert, but I'd venture a guess that it's your international status. I have similar stats and "cookie cutter" ecs and pretty much applied to the same list of schools, but have heard back from a couple more schools.

 

[dkano]

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[RunawayGrape]

Hi all, thank you for your inputs again.
So other than applying more low-tiers, do you guys have any suggestions how to go beyond the 'cookie cutter'? I'll probably have a few papers (one of them, first-author) before I re-apply next cycle, but not really sure what else I can do.

I think having a published, first-author paper sets you apart significantly from most applicants. With your stats, it's definitely okay to be a "cookie cutter." You should also look into which schools look more favorably upon international applicants.

 

[efle]

Harvard, Columbia, U Penn, Vanderbilt, Yale, Brown, Mt. Sinai, Tufts, NYMC, Cornell, Emory, UCLA, USC, BU, Einstein, UVA, Thomas Jefferson, Georgetown, and Baylor

Getting IIs to top 20s means there were no glaring flaws or red flags. Which two interviewed you? Did you get rejected, waitlisted, or silence? This can give an idea of how your interview skills are.

Half of that list of schools are reaches for a ~74 LizzyM with cookie cutter researchy app though, I think the extremely top heavy list is to blame for only getting a couple IIs.

 

[kb1900]

I'm a current applicant that is American with a 76 LM

If I applied to that school list I would have 1 interview which resulted in a waitlist.

But I got help in WAMC for a school list and have 7+ IIs and multiple accepts. I would suggest doing the same in the WAMC sub forum.

Also being Canadian, I would apply to at least 30 schools the second time around.

Last thing is, just bc u don't have a paper doesn't mean ur research is insubstantial. In fact I have no pubs but my ability to talk about my research and my PI's LOR have been incredibly well received by interviewers.

 

[droidz]

I feel like the main question you still need to answer OP is which schools gave you the IIs and was there a rejection or silence? Those can tell a lot about whether you need to freak out or just wait a bit

 

[vellez]

I feel it is safe to say that your citizenship status didn't hold you back at the two schools that you interviewed at. At this point, I'd put money on your interviewing skills, since your app on paper looks okay. Have you looked into programs like Toastmasters or things that could help you improve your interviewing skills? Even things like working part time in a coffee shop can drastically improve your social skills.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I'm hesitant at this point to say it was interviewing skills alone because 1) it was only 2 interviews and 2) many of the top schools have post interview acceptance rates of 1/3 or less.

 

[happyfit]

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[dkano]

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[efle]

IIs were from Cornell and UCLA

Your ECs are fine, as evidenced by attention from schools as selective with their interviews and strong in their applicant pools as those two. Just apply more broadly and very early if round 2 ends up being necessary.